SIMON HUGHES LAUNCHES LIB DEM LOCAL CAMPAIGN

4.08.50pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 11th Apr 2006

Lorley Burt MP and Simon Hughes MP outside Fleming Hotel

Liberal Democrat Party President, Simon Hughes MP launched the Solihull Lib Dems local elections campaign with a pledge to work to restore full funding to the Solihull Music Service.

The Liberal Democrats are the official opposition to the Conservatives on Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. A swing of just two seats to the Liberal Democrats will mean the Conservatives losing overall control of the council.

The Liberal Democrats have published a manifesto outlining their vision for Solihull that is being delivered to homes across Solihull. Simon Hughes launched the campaign calling for cuts to funding for the Solihull Music Service to be rescinded.

He also visited The Fleming Hotel to see first hand the effects of central government intervention in local planning matters. The hotel has been derelict since being gutted by a fire and is now at the centre of a planning dispute between the Council and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Liberal Democrat Councillors have opposed the inappropriate plans and the site is now at the centre of a legal dispute over its development.

Commenting on Solihull Liberal Democrats' campaign, Mr Hughes, said,

"It's clear that the Liberal Democrats in Solihull are in a strong position to deny the Conservatives overall control of the Council after these elections.

"One of the strengths of the Liberal Democrats is that we actually listen to what local people have to say. You can see this in the support my colleagues in Solihull have offered to the Music Service, in the fight to keep planning decisions under local control, and their opposition to the plans for the Shirley High Street."