Cllr Robin Hughes

Andover North Division

Welcome to Robin Hughes' Web Site


Enham Alamein 30mph Speed limit in operation on the 29th July 2008.

Sun 27th Jul 2008

Cllr Robin Hughes has received notification that the Enham Alamein 30mph Speed limit will come into operation on the 29th July 2008. THE HAMPSHIRE (A343 AND MACCALLUM, ENHAM ALAMEIN) (30 MILES PER HOUR SPEED LIMIT) ORDER 2008 was made by the County Council on the 14 July 2008. Cllr Hughes said "I have driven though the village today and the new 30mph speed signs have been erected, drivers are already reducing their speed. This is a successful end to a long campaign that I and many other Liberal Democrat Councillors have been involved with. Working with and for the residents of Enham Alamein and latterly the new Enham Alamein Parish Council, we have achieved a very long held local ambition."

Enham 30mph sign (photography: Robin Hughes)

TESCO Megashed - Developers Goodman's clarify 100 Acre Corner Junction Costs

Fri 25th Jul 2008

ANDOVER Airfield developers Goodman clarify the construction costs to improve the 100 Acre Corner junction at the proposed Andover Airfield development. The developer will fully fund the improvements to the 100 Acre Corner junction costing £4.9m plus a sum for maintenance of £1m which will have to paid over to the county council. If this development proceeds and work is started, the developers will have to provide a bank bond which guarantees the completion of the project should Goodmans or the contractor default. The value of this bond is £8.8m which will cover the costs of the county council having to get a new contractor in to complete the work. It also contains a contingency in case the costs increase. The planning application for a warehouse at Andover Airfield will be determined by the Northern Area Planning Committee on 1st September 2008 at the Lights theatre in Andover, starting at 5.30 pm

Hampshire Tories - digging deeper

Fri 11th Jul 2008

In a packed Hampshire County Council meeting councillors were told by the public why their Minerals plan is unsound. The numbers attending filled the public gallery and had to be accommodated on the floor of the chamber. Cllr Hughes said after the meeting, "I applaud all those members of the public who attended this meeting and put forward their concerns. The arguments they made deserved to be listened to but they have been ignored by the Conservatives and Labour councillors, who together forced through the Minerals Plan at much higher levels of mineral extraction than the market currently demands."

Hampshire Library service downgraded

Mon 7th Jul 2008

The Hampshire Library service has lost one of its stars being downgraded from a two-star rating to a one star. The service failed to meet targets for library opening hours, visits per 1000 population, number of computers and new book buying. However those in charge of the county library service chose to dismiss the service standards as out of date and not properly reflecting the performance of modern public library services. Cllr Robin Hughes, County Councillor for Andover North said, "I am not surprised, last year the Tories reduced the professional library staff by a quarter. Invested the least amount in book stocks per head of population of any English county and experienced the largest decline in book lending." "Despite spending a additional £350,000 this year on books they still fell short of the target for new additions this year". "Rather than being dismissive of the Audit commission ratings they should accept that the library service could be better and do something about it".

Library Clipart

"Extraordinary extravagant" Conservative controlled Hampshire County Council

Sun 6th Jul 2008

Revelations in the Daily Mail and Hampshire Chronicle this week highlight the "extraordinary extravagant" Conservative controlled Hampshire County Council. They reveal that of the £40M being spent on refurbishing the county council headquarters in Winchester, £1•25M has been spent on new furniture and fixings. These include directors' chairs with adjustable lumber support, head rest and multi-position tilt. Multicoloured designer sofas and chairs provided for rest areas when staff are not working. The six kitchenettes areas now have the best in designer taps costing £2000 each.

Down the Drain (photography: Robin Hughes)

TESCO Megashed - Highways Measures

Tue 1st Jul 2008

Hampshire County Council has negotiated a package of measures and legally enforceable controls with the developer on this development which removes any objection from the County Council on highway grounds.

Andover Library NOW Open on a SUNDAY

Sun 29th Jun 2008

Cllr Robin Hughes attended the 11:00am ribbon cutting ceremony on June 29 as Andover library opened its doors for the very first time on a Sunday. The library will now be open from 11:00am to 3:00pm on Sundays. Cllr Hughes said, "Sunday opening will give customers, especially for those who work all week the opportunity to use the library at more convenient time. Today has been a tremendous success as I have been told that today, the first Sunday opening, the library is as busy as a normal week day afternoon."

Andover Library Sunday (photography: Robin Hughes)

Railway Station offered as a stop on the Cango C3 service

Sun 15th Jun 2008

Cllr Hughes has given his full support to the Smannell Liberal Democrats Focus Team campaign to provide a greener, safer, reliable bus service to Andover Railway Station from Smannell, Little London and Enham Alamein. From Monday 9 June 2008 the Railway Station will be offered as a stop on the C3 service. The bus cannot travel to both the Railway Station and Tesco so bookings will be taken on a first come, first served basis. Cllr Hughes said, " I am extremely grateful to the Hampshire County Council Community Transport Officers who have looked closely at Cango C3 timetable and stolen a couple of minutes which would allow passengers to be dropped off at the Andover Railway Station but only if no one has booked to go to Tesco." "I have asked that when the CANGO timetables are next being reviewed changes are made to enable both the Railway station and Tesco's being offered on a permanent basis not either / or".

Cango C3 (photography: Robin Hughes)

The Chapel Arts Project - Success!!

Sat 14th Jun 2008

The news that the Test Valley Arts Foundation has secured a £65,000 grant, needed to fund the Chapel Arts (St Mary's Chapel) project - Andover has been welcomed by County Councillor Robin Hughes. "I am delighted with the news that the Arts Council England South East has decided to award £65,000 towards the Chapel Arts project". "The commitment demonstrated by the partnership of the Test Valley Arts Foundation, Test Valley Borough Council and Hampshire County Council will have helped to persuade the Arts Council to fund this project".

Chapel Arts (photography: Robin Hughes)

Hampshire Conservative's Pre-election con-trick- Lib Dem Response

Written by Hampshire Liberal Democrat Group Leader - Cllr Adrian Collett on Thu 12th Jun 2008

Hampshire Conservatives over-charged council tax payers this year so they could bribe the voters with a lower increase next year - County election year. They denied it at the time, but now the truth is out. They have also announced some modest improvements to services to try to distract people from the major service cuts they are making.

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