Government Intends to Break the Law (again)
There aren't many occasions when we agree with our local Conservative MP, but this is one - we applaud the decision of Sir Bob Neill MP for Bromley & Chislehurst, to speak out against the Government's willingness to break international law and override part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
"There is never a time to play fast and loose with our international obligations, nor the rules-based order which underpins them, but to do so now would be an act of immeasurable self harm"
Well said, Bob!
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Petition for Safe Crossing for Eden Park High School
We joined the campaign for a safe crossing for Eden Park High School in November 2018, promoting the petition organised by a local resident and signed by hundreds. The council took no action and sadly yesterday (1 September) a child was involved in a road traffic accident on the first day of term. Our campaign in 2018 was for a safe crossing near the junction of Upper Elmers End Road and Balmoral Road - yesterday's accident was at nearby Elmers End Green but it highlights the importance of providing safe routes to school as children return after the long lockdown. You can sign the petition here to show your support..
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Shop Local
Bromley Liberal Democrats are calling on local residents to help local businesses bounce back after lockdown.
We have launched a shop local campaign encouraging people to protect businesses and save local jobs by buying from local shops and suppliers wherever possible.
Standing in Beckenham High Street, Chloe-Jane Ross recalled how much she relied on local shops who stayed open during lockdown despite the risks to themselves and their staff, and the many who started home delivery services especially for customers who couldn't leave their homes.
Orpington Lib Dem campaigner Rick Das told us how important Anbu's Newsagents became during lockdown. "To me, Anbu's Newsagent is one of Orpington's local heroes. Situated near the junction of Orpington's Station Road and Station Approach, and opposite The Maxwell pub, Anbu's was prompt to implement social distancing arrangements as soon as the Covid-19 lockdown and remained open for local residents and users of the nearby rail-bus interchange. Be it to grab a pint of milk or play the national lottery or to treat onself to an ice-cream, Anbu's remained a source of strength and support to the local community through the trying Covid-19 times."
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Worrying air quality recorded as Bromley’s only live air monitor stops working
Air quality throughout the UK has deteriorated during the heatwave, but just as monitors in neighbouring Lewisham and Croydon recorded levels of particulate matter pollution that are much higher than WHO guidelines, Bromley Council’s only live monitor stopped working. However Bromley Liberal Democrats’ air quality monitoring network continued to work and recorded peak 24-hour average values of 28 μg/m3 for PM2.5.
Strong sunlight, higher temperatures and low winds cause elevated ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM) concentrations. High levels of PM cause particular difficulties for people with circulatory and respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Bromley Council has only one live monitor (located in central Bromley). During the peak of pollution levels, the monitor stopped working. Bromley Liberal Democrats’ air quality monitor network showed particulate matter pollution peaked on the mornings of 11th,12th and 13th of August and levels exceeded the World Health Organisation 24-hour average guideline of 25 μg/m3 for PM2.5. Similar readings are seen from official monitors in neighbouring Croydon and Lewisham which were in excess of 34 μg/m3.
PM2.5 measurements μg/m3
Red: Bromley's Harwood Road monitoring station with data missing for most of August
Blue: Croydon's Norbury Park monitoring station data
Pink: Lewisham's Honor Oak Park monitoring station data
Source: London Air
WHO guideline level is 25
This is not the first time Bromley Council’s monitor has stopped working - the Council only made live data available from April 2020 and there have been several periods since then when the monitor has been offline. Bromley Council are currently consulting on an Air Quality Action Plan for Bromley and the Lib Dems have asked that monitoring stations with live data should be established in all our main population centres as well as areas with known air quality issues.
Bromley Liberal Democrats have a petition calling on Bromley Council to set up a network of official air monitors across the Borough - if you would like to sign the petition click here.
The Metropolitan Police MUST Represent their Community
Data has revealed the Metropolitan Police are woefully short of representing the Black communities they serve: Bromley Lib Dems are calling for action to increase diversity.
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