Crofton Park Ward Focus, December 2009

Meet Michele By Rob Blackie, Focus reporter Local businesswoman Michele McClarren tells us her life story, and why she’s running for election as a Liberal Democrat Growing up in Lewisham Michele’s lived and worked locally for virtually her whole life: “I was brought up by my mum just off Stanstead Road in the early 1980s so I’ve seen how much the area’s changed. My family and friends live locally – my best friends all live around Brockley and Crofton Park.”

jobs Michele became an expert in getting single parents into work. Getting 5,600 single parents into work Michele says that her proudest achievement is getting 5,600 single parents back into work in Southwark over four years. “I help people get the skills, confidence

“I went to Sydenham School, where I passed my exams early – and used to hang out at the Ackroyd Road Youth Centre.”

“I was hugged by a woman in Asda the other day who told me that not only was she still in her job, but that she is now going to university!” Now Michele is Managing Director of Double Jab – a boxing club in Forest Hill which helps divert young people from trouble. She’s also standing as a candidate in next year’s local elections for the Lib Dems. “Labour have let Lewisham down, and I’m hoping to be part of a fresh start under the Lib Dems,” Michele says. Relaxing

Things got more difficult for Michele, though “I left school at 15 because I had got pregnant, and ended up homeless on the streets.” Working Michele was back on her feet quickly though “I ended up being fostered – and was elected as a representative of other kids leaving care.” “I’ve always worked,” Michele says, and after a wide range of

Michele talking to Sam at the Star Cafe on Brockley Road about the impact of parking charges on local businesses

and practical help that they need to get a job. For some people it might be advice on how to dress properly for a job interview, for others on how to keep their job once they get it.

In the rare moments when Michele isn’t campaigning in Crofton Park, doing her degree, or running a business, she likes to relax at home with her five children, two rabbits and cat.

•Michele McClarren is a Lib Dem council candidate for Crofton Park Ward

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Christmas 2009

Lib Dems call for 10,000 more police across the country has risen 25% across the borough. Tam says, “There are huge differences between the type of crime people

Save Our Bees Tam Langley has revealed how Lewisham can help save honey bees while also saving council taxpayers’ money.

Tam, who has campaigned to save honey bees with Britain’s top experts at the University of Sussex, says that Lewisham wastes public money on short-lived plants in parks which do not provide food for honey bees.

Tam enjoying Brockley honey with local beekeeper Camilla

Tam says “I’m on a mission to help save honey bees. They’re a critical pollinator of thousands of trees and plants, so without them our environment would be much plainer ... not

to mention no more yummy honey!” • Join our campaign to help Lewisham’s honey bees. Email: tam@lewishamlibdems. org.uk

Number of councillors by party on Lewisham Council

Labour Lib Dems 26

We Can Cut Crime

Lib Dem prospective MP, Tam Langley, is calling for a huge boost to police numbers, to tackle the rise in crime in Lewisham. In the past year knife crime

It’s between Lib Dems and Labour here!

experience depending on where they live. In Crofton Park and Brockley people have told me about the problem of burglaries and card-cloning. Also, that far too many teenagers are victims of muggings or assaults. As a parent myself I sympathise with parents I’ve met who worry about their kids going to and from school.” Tam, who has worked on cutting crime with some of Britain’s top experts, commented, “While it’s important that we don’t give in to the fear of crime, there is a real problem here. That’s why the Lib Dems are calling for 10,000 more police across the country, paid for with the money saved by scrapping Labour’s ID card scheme,” says Tam. “Labour have passed thousands of new laws instead of addressing the root causes of crime. Better youth services and more police are the answer to cutting crime, not more paperwork or plastic cards.” Tam added.

Green 6

Tory 3

Socialist 2

Contact your Crofton Park Focus Team:

Michele McClarren Barrie Hall Crofton Park ward council candidates

Tam Langley Prospective MP for Lewisham, Deptford 07759 767238

Cllr Chris Maines Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate 07973 149846

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Maines4Mayor

Floella Benjamin fights the ‘Caribbean tax’

by Lib Dem candidate for Mayor of Lewisham, Chris Maines

Floella backs the Lib Dems campaign against unfair tax

Former President Bill Clinton was in London recently talking about the need to tackle climate change. He praised Southwark Council’s redevelopment of Elephant and Castle as a global example for sustainable growth. Liberal Democrat-run Southwark is revamping “The Elephant” into a retail and residential development that will release less carbon dioxide than it uses. Compare that with the visionless redevelopment of Lewisham Town Centre. Lewisham’s Labour council have pushed through a soul-less high rise over-development that local residents are unhappy with, and does little to address climate change. If Liberal Democrat Southwark Council can create a carbon positive development, why can’t Labour in Lewisham? Action to deal with the environment is a key issue for many Lewisham residents. Across London, Liberal Democrat councils manage to achieve recycling rates in excess of 30% – in Labour-run Lewisham the rate has plummeted to only 16.6%. People who care about the environment realise we need a change in Lewisham. As the largest opposition party in Lewisham, only the Lib Dems are strong enough to provide that change. We need local action to address the global problems of climate change; we need Liberal Democrats running Lewisham Council.

Floella Benjamin has joined the Lib Dem campaign against the government’s plan for a ‘Caribbean tax.’ Labour propose higher tax on visits to the Caribbean than to the western United States, despite the Caribbean being closer to the UK. Floella Benjamin says: “The proposed Air Passenger Duty discriminates against every single member of the Caribbean community in Britain. It will hit families very hard indeed, to say nothing of its impact on the already hardhit Caribbean tourism

minister. Labour’s plans don’t protect the environment, they’re just unfair”. You can sign up to the Lib Dem campaign here: http:// campaigns.libdems. org.uk/Caribbeantax

economy – a key source of revenue for most of the region.” Tam Langley says

“Flight taxes should be based on distance and carbon dioxide emissions, not

Labour in ‘apartheid’ row David Michael, the high-profile Chair of Lewisham Local Police Consultative Group, told Operation Black Vote that Labour operated an “apartheid system”

on arbitrary and unfair boundaries drawn up by a government

Crime is one of the top concerns for people locally. To help the Lib Dems, local groups and the Police work together to effectively fight crime the Lib Dems have launched a crime survey covering Brockley, Crofton Park, Honor Oak and Blythe Hill. Every household will receive the survey – or you can fill it in online at listentolewisham.org

Crofton Park trains hope There is new hope that the Victoria— Bellingham train service will be reinstated, after more than 350 local residents signed the Lib Dem petition. Tam Langley presented the petition to Transport for London(TfL) at a meeting on 24th November, where the service made it to a shortlist of five being considered.

Mr Michael has resigned as a Labour candidate in Lewisham at next May’s local elections. A former senior Police Officer, he has been adviser to Lewisham’s Labour Mayor Sir Steve Bullock on policing and community issues. He has also been Chair of Catford South Labour Party.

Lib Dems Sarah Teather MP and Floella Benjamin fighting the Caribbean tax with the Caribbean Tourist Council

Floella Benjamin has urged voters to support the Lib Dems saying “at the next election voters have the chance to alter the balance of power by giving their vote to a party I believe will govern with integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, common sense and morality.”

Crime survey launched

Cllr Duwayne Brooks: “these are serious accusations”

Liberal Democrat crime spokesman Councillor Duwayne Brooks said, “David Michael deserves better than to be treated so shabbily by Labour. As a Liberal Democrat, I was proud to be selected by local members in Downham earlier this year in what was an open, transparent and democratic process. David’s accusations of ‘apartheid’ within Lewisham Labour Party should be treated very seriously indeed.”

Barrie Hall says “I’m delighted at this news – which will be welcomed by hundreds of local residents who would use the service. I urge local residents who haven’t yet signed the petition to do so.” The shortlist will be investigated by TfL with a final decision made in the New Year. Transport chiefs have agreed to receive further comments on the service submitted by local residents through the Lib Dem petition. To sign the petition vist: bit.ly/cptrains

Barrie, Chris, Michele and Tam are fighting for improvements to Crofton Park’s train service