Dear Paul,

Boris Johnson has today promised, if re-elected, he will extend the Freedom Pass to Londoners aged 60 years or older, reversing the decision taken by Ken Livingstone’s Labour to raise the age at which Londoners are entitled to free travel.

The move rewards those who have worked hard, paid their taxes, done the right thing and were entitled to expect their ticket to free travel on turning sixty.

Boris’s new pledge will mean that any resident of London aged 60 or older will be entitled to free travel on the bus, Tube, DLR and London Overground anywhere, anytime, any place in Greater London.

In 2008, Boris promised Londoners that he would give every 60 year old a 24 hour freedom pass. He delivered on that promise. But he is conscious – and has been increasingly concerned – that his promise of free travel has been eroded by Labour’s decision in 2009 to raise the age where Londoners qualify for free travel.

TfL have already budgeted for this modest cost next year and Boris is confident that his relentless savings drive will deliver the modest sums needed to guarantee it for the duration of the next mayoral term. Unlike Ken Livingstone, Boris only makes promises he can deliver and this promise today means any Londoner over sixty can ride the tube, bus, and overland any time, any place anywhere in greater London as long as he is in City Hall.

In 72 days’ time Londoners decide whether London goes forward under Boris Johnson rather than backwards under Ken

http://www.outsidetheboxcomedy.co.uk/show-listings.htm?id_club=1002  and, to avoid disappointment, you should book now if you wish to see Milton and Patrick.

As ever there is a chance of unannounced drop-ins ( Jon Richardson popped in last week, adding to a great bill headlined by Sean Hughes ) and line-up changes.

At  the Scrutiny Meeting on Thursday 16^th February, Conservative Councillors debated concerns over the proposed Tolworth ‘Greenway’ Project. Cllrs Richard Hudson, Mike Burden and Karen George called in the decision as it failed to address issues around pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, a lack of sufficient consultation and issues around value for money for the tax payer. Leader of the Conservative Group and Chair of the Scrutiny Panel Cllr Howard Jones stated that every Councillor on both sides of the political spectrum supported the regeneration of Tolworth Broadway. However, the number one priority of the local authority should always be the safety of residents and visitors to our towns.

Cllr Jones said “This was not the right scheme for Tolworth, this is simply a ‘vanity project’ from the LibDems who have given the go ahead to a scheme which has received less than 10% feedback from the consultation, whilst also ignoring numerous safety reports conducted by independent auditors, that stated the risk of cyclists and pedestrians colliding with one another on the ‘Greenway’ is very likely.”

 The LibDem Administration were convinced that the scheme was value for money despite 80% of the £2.6m cost of the project going directly to fund the resin-based gravel material, which will form the ‘Greenway’. It was discovered on the evening that Transport for London refused to take responsibility for the ‘Greenway’ if things were to go wrong. RBK will also have to pick up the bill in maintaining the central reservation and renewing the surface every 15years – potentially costing Kingston residents an additional £1m over that period of time.

Cllr Priyen Patel said “It’s ludicrous that we have a scheme which does not deliver what residents and businesses wanted. What is the point of carrying out a consultation if the LibDem Council will simply ignore those views and plough on with a completely different concept? The main improvements residents and local businesses wanted was increased parking and easing of traffic congestion – this scheme does neither.”

After nearly five hours debating it was clear the Lib Dem Councillors were not interested in the concerns of residents in the public gallery or those raised by Conservative Councillors. Cllr George said “This misconceived project for a ‘green utopia’ down one of the busiest intersections along the A3 will be a disaster waiting to happen – if this administration has any concern for the safety of the public, I urge you to halt this proposal.”

 However, with the Lib Dems holding a majority on the panel the ‘Greenway’ was voted through with work expected to start imminently in preparation for the Olympics.

A recorded vote on the decision was requested by Cllr Jones and Cllr Cunningham.

Those for: Cllrs Stephen Brister, Alan Dean, Chrissie Hitchcock, Rachel Reid & Marc Woodall.

Those against: Cllrs Howard Jones, David Cunningham, Priyen Patel & Frank Thompson.

Do we really want to go back there?'

Labour’s chief Transport spokesperson has let the cat out of the bag on Ken Livingstone’s election promise to cut fares.

She has confirmed what everybody else knows: there is no money for fare cuts without cutting £1bn worth of investment in services.

In a candid interview with the Guardian today, Maria Eagle said: “Reducing the deficit requires us to support cuts in spending that we might not have in the past. Some of this is painful.”

This follows independent assessments of Ken Livingstone’s election promise that confirm he could not cut fares without cutting investment.

The Channel Four Fact Check blog recently concluded that; ‘If he cuts fares, TfL would expect to lose £1.12bn in income from fares – and that’s a hole he wouldn’t be able to plug without hitting the day-to-day funding for London’s transport or taking money from investment projects.’

It is becoming clearer by the day that either Ken Livingstone has no intention of ever cutting fares, or he is working on a behind the scenes plan to cut £1bn of investment. 

This would mean axing local bus routes in the suburbs, cutting bus police, stopping tube station refurbishments and delaying programmes to make the tube more frequent and less overcrowded. 

He must come clean with Londoners now. Which is it to be?

Surbiton Filter Beds
The planned development of a marina, restaurant, 64 ‘floating’ homes and riverside walkway, etc. at the Surbiton Filter Beds site was discussed at the Surbiton Planning Sub-Committee on 11th January.  Many objections were aired at that meeting, but also some views strongly in favour.

We have been told by RBK that this major application will not be ready for a decision at the Development Control Committee’s February meeting, and will
possibly not make the next meeting on 22 March either.  Therefore, there is still time to let the Council know what you think about this proposal.
There is no definite final deadline, but they recommend you send in your views during February (and at least by one week prior to the 22 March).

Details with maps and plans can be viewed at:
http://www.kingston.gov.uk/browse/environment/planning/major_planning_applications/surbiton_filterbeds.htm
Or at the Guildhall (and probably at libraries – but sorry, I can’t confirm that).

According to RBK’s website, “If you would like to discuss the application with a planning officer, please telephone the lead officer David Horkan on
020 8547 4707 or the case officer Karen Coles on 020 8547 5362….  You can comment:

• directly on this website
• or you can e-mail (please include your name and address): development.management@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
• or you can write to: Development Management, Guildhall, High Street, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 1EU.

Any comments that you make will be placed on the planning application file which is available for public inspection and copying.”

Now more than ever, the responsibility of any Mayor is to treat every penny of Londoners’ money with care. Because it’s not my money. It’s yours.

And it will only ever be used on the things that take London forward. To invest in transport infrastructure, put more police on the streets, make the Olympics a success and build more affordable housing.

Anything spare should always be passed back to Londoners.

When I was elected in 2008, Londoners were tired of 8 years of successive council tax hikes.

I promised to end the culture of waste created by Ken Livingstone and keep taxes low.

I kept this promise. We’ve frozen our share of council tax every year. And we’ve done this by ruthlessly ferreting out waste.

• We no longer spend £10,000 on a subscription to the Morning Star.
• We no longer spend £3m a year on a personal propaganda sheet for the Mayor.
• And we haven’t spent £20,000 on a lunch for Hugo Chavez. Or £30,000 on a trip to Cuba.

By working over the last three years to turn around London’s finances, I am able – for the first time in the history of the mayoralty – to cut my share of council tax.

The choice at this election could not be clearer. My record shows that, whenever possible, we keep taxes and charges low.

• We scrapped Ken Livingstone’s plans for a £25 tax on family vehicles.
• We scrapped the Western Extension of the Congestion Charge, providing relief to small businesses.
• We extended the Freedom Pass to 24 hour operation. And we put Oyster on national rail, leading to cheaper fares for many.
• And we’ve done this in the teeth of a recession, whilst increasing police numbers and protecting the investment that will help our city grow once more – providing jobs and prosperity.

Ken Livingstone’s record shows he puts up taxes and charges at every opportunity. We couldn’t afford it during the good times, and we certainly can’t afford it now.

His Labour allies on the London Assembly have already voted against a budget that freezes council tax. Next week, they will be asked to vote to cut council tax. I will urge them to do this, and I urge you to join me in sending them a message to vote the right way.

Please visit: www.borisbudget.com

Best wishes,

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

A council tax freeze benefits every London household during these tough times.

But Ken Livingstone’s hand picked Deputy Mayoral running mate in the Assembly is leading the Labour charge against the freeze, instead promoting an increase in council tax.

It confirms that Ken Livingstone would take us back to the days when council tax went up every single year.

During these tough times, Londoners cannot afford a council tax increase on top of their household bills. It is a tax that everyone pays, so every household will suffer if Labour go back to council tax rises year after year.

That is why the Mayor needs your help to keep council tax frozen. Please visit www.borisbudget.com  now to urge your local Assembly member t o support the budget and help save Londoners money.

This election is a choice between Boris Johnson, who will keep council tax low and Ken Livingstone who will put taxes up.

This could mean that work will soon start on the site which will now be developed by Star and Garter Homes rather than Sunrise Senior Living.

Let us hope that the development will be completed with as little disruption to the area as possible. We shall watch what happens with keen interest.

The Olympic Games will be held in London between 27 July (opening ceremony) and 12 August 2012.

The Paralympic Games taking place between 29 August (opening ceremony) and 9 September 2012.

But you don’t have to wait until then to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Olympics – the Cultural Programme provides you with a unique opportunity to be involved with special events taking place in Kingston and across the Capital in the build up to the Games.

The Cultural Programme is designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012 and inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially among young people.

The culmination of the Cultural Programme will be the London 2012 Festival, bringing leading artists from all over the world together from 21 June 2012 in the UK’s biggest ever festival planned to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  All London boroughs are committed to participating in the Cultural Olympiad.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Kingston to engage in an historic event of global significance and to use the interest and excitement it generates to attract visitors and investment into the borough.

Use the navigation bar on the left hand side of this page to find out more about the borough’s involvement in the Cultural Programme and how you can get involved.

Key Dates for Kingston

Date	Event
02 – 05 June	Queens’ Diamond Jubilee Kingston Aviation Festival Launch of Kingston’s Cultural Olympiad Programme
29 June to 22 July	International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF)
7-8 July	River Kingston Regatta and River Festival
15 July	Dragon Boat Challenge
24 July	Torch Relay (Day 67) – start at Hook Centre through Kingston to Richmond Borough
27 July	Torch Relay (Day 70)  start Hampton Court up River Thames to Olympic Stadium Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
28 July	Men’sCycle Road Race
29 July	Women’s Cycle Road Race
31 July	Familiarisation for Cycle Time Trials
01 Aug	Cycle Time Trial
05 Aug	Sports Events
12 Aug	Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
29 Aug	Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony
02 Sept	Kingston Carnival
09 Sept	Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony