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Labour’s team in the town centre
Following last Saturday’s successful listening campaign in Newtown, the Dartford Labour team were out in the town centre today (25 May), seeking residents’ views on Dartford. As in Newtown, our approach was simple – we asked what people liked about Dartford and what they’d like to see changed.
Our team received a enthusiastic response and a number of common themes began to emerge. For instance, it’s clear that local people value the market – which continues to draw in a great many visitors, as does Prospect Place. While Dartford’s sense of community was praised and Central Park was highlighted as a much valued asset for the town.
But, with rows of boarded-up properties
….. Continue reading Listening in the town centre
Following the resignation of one of the Borough councillors for Newtown, Labour has selected David Baker as its prospective candidate, trying to win back the seat he held from 1991-2011. Dave is well known as a community campaigner, regularly walking the area and picking up on the detail of problems.
Dave Baker plans to campaign on the issues that really matter most to Newtown residents and which have been neglected for too long by the Tories. That will include the acute parking problems which afflict much of the area, as well as the state of the roads in some parts of the ward. But he’ll also focus on wider issues – such as cuts to local police numbers and the
….. Continue reading Our Man for Newtown
Last Saturday, the Dartford Labour team were out in Newtown. However, this wasn’t the usual campaign session. Instead, the team embarked on the first of a number of listening campaigns – sessions designed to give residents the opportunity to express what it is they value about the community they live in, or to highlight any issues or concerns they have.
What’s it like to live in Newtown? If you could change one thing about living here – what would it be? We received an enthusiastic response and heard a wide variety of answers. We’ll be working closely with residents over the coming months in order to identify areas where we can work together to effect change in the community.
….. Continue reading Listening To Newtown
The NHS is not safe in David Cameron’s hands
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The Dartford Labour Party’s campaign to end legal loan-sharking in the borough has received a boost this week after a Labour sponsored motion – setting out measures to tackle high-priced lending practices in Dartford – was successfully adopted by Dartford Council on Monday (18 March 2013).
“This is a major success for Labour’s campaign to end legal loan-sharking in Dartford,” said Cllr. Geoff Prout, Labour’s shadow leader of the council. “High-cost lending products, such as payday loans, are pushing far too many people into a viscous debt spiral from which they can’t escape – we’ve now won the council’s backing in the fight against these practices.”
Stella Creasy, Labour’s MP for Walthamstow
Upon hearing of this success in the council
….. Continue reading Labour wins early success in campaign to end legal loan-sharking
Labour activists campaigning in Dartford to end legal loan-sharking
Members of Dartford’s Labour Party were in the high street on Saturday (9 March), campaigning to end legal loan-sharking in the town. Activists had a great response from passers-by and it’s clear that the overwhelming majority of local people that our activists spoke to are deeply concerned about the problem of sky-high interest rates charged for products like payday loans.
Unfortunately, our town centre has become something a magnet for high-priced lenders and pawnbrokers – usurious operations that can leave some of society’s most vulnerable members trapped in a viscous debt spiral from which they cannot escape. Indeed, the Office of Fair Trading has recently issued a devastating analysis of
….. Continue reading End legal loan-sharking – Labour gets warm response
Dartford has seen a real increase in payday loan companies or ‘legal loan sharks’, offering loans at rates which push increasing numbers of hard-pressed people into bankruptcy. Brighthouse, Moneyshop, Cash Converters all charge extortionate rates of interest to local residents. Without action to tackle these extortionate rates, these firms are simply legal loan sharks. This Saturday (9th March) Dartford Labour will be in the high street talking to residents about this issue, handing out leaflets and highlighting the work of cheaper, community based alternatives, such as Credit Unions. Please come and help us campaign on this important issue. We’ll be meeting at Labour HQ – 99 Kent Road,Dartford from 10.00am. If you’ve never been campaigning with the party before
….. Continue reading Want To Help End Legal Loan Sharking in Dartford ?
Speaking at Dartford Borough Council’s annual budget meeting on Monday night (25th February), Cllr. Geoff Prout, Labour’s Shadow Leader of the Council, called upon the ruling Conservative administration to “lend a hand” to residents – by helping them to get onto the first rung of the property ladder, through the establishment of a Local Authority Mortgage Scheme (LAMS).
“Dartford’s Tory-run council needs to follow the lead of Labour councils around the country, including nearby Gravesham, who have signed up for LAMS – a scheme which enables young people to realise their dream of owning their own home,” said Cllr. Prout . “Why haven’t the Tories chosen to lend a hand to first-time buyers in our borough?”
See our full press
….. Continue reading Lend a hand to first-time buyers
Dartford Labour Party has today welcomed news that Tesco are now planning to proceed with a revised scheme for the redevelopment of Lowfield Street.
Speaking in response, Cllr Matt Bryant, Labour’s Deputy Leader, said: “Its all very well the Tory-run council expressing their frustration with nearly a decade of delay and inaction by Tesco but this has happened on their watch and ultimately they must take some responsibility.
Park protest, 2004 (Picture: BBC)
“All this delay could have been avoided if Cllr Kite and the Tory leadership had not pursued for so long the hugely controversial scheme which involved driving a two lane road through Central Park. Thankfully that was rejected following a major campaign by thousands of local people
….. Continue reading Town Centre – Tesco latest
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