GUILDFORD MP ASKS LIB DEM CONFERENCE AUDIENCE TO BACK SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 21st Sep 2004

Sue Doughty MP was invited by the Disability Rights Commission to address an audience this morning at the Liberal Democrat Conference on the issue of sustainable communities.

Sue has introduced bills on this subject in the House of Commons for the last two years. She is helping lead the campaign against 'Ghost Town Britain' so that our villages and high streets do not have their shops and services replaced by faceless chains and out of town retail parks.

Sue said:

"The government's sustainable communities plan is really little more than a house building plan. They ignore the need to protect the vital services that are at the communities, or to look after our local environment and contribute to environmental sustainability.

"I have campaigned hard in Guildford to protect services such as pharmacies and post offices that are vital to the most vulnerable people in a community, such as the elderly or those with disabilities. We also want to protect the things that make our communities enjoyable places to live with their own character.

"Central government must hand back to local communities powers to shape themselves, so that when people visit Guildford, or any of its neighbouring villages, they see vibrant and welcoming communities full of their own unique character."