COVENTRY’S Liberal Democrats are aiming to disrupt the council’s ‘super-majority’ as they focus on a better plan for housing and a push to avoid Brexit in its manifesto.
The party seeks to end the Labour and Conservative ‘monopoly’ on the council and has submitted bold plans to improve the city’s transport system.
The Liberals set out their vision for the city ahead of polling day on Thursday, May 2, hoping to get their first councillor since the party was decimated in 2012.
The local branch is also echoing the views of party leadership in lobbying to prevent Britain leaving the European Union (EU).
Like the Tories, the Liberals have also committed to opening new train stations in the city – as well as new cycle lanes and green energy sources for homes.
Party leadership said: “Our first job in the council is to provide diversity of opinion.
“It isn’t just about tearing each other apart but working together to build a better city.
“Rather than simply slapping down all of the new homes Coventry needs to build on the greenbelt (25,000 in the next ten years) Coventry Liberal Democrats will recognise that these homes are needed but we have a better plan for building them.
“We plan to build as many homes as possible to within the existing city limits.
“We’ll achieve that by redirecting existing transport plans, such as the Coventry shuttle (a modern tram service), the metro mayor’s plans for Sprint buses and the Transport for West Midlands’ plans for a Coventry South station.
“This includes making better use of the existing north-south railway, as well as making a new Coventry East station in Binley.
“For homes that still need to be built on the green belt we will make use of the extra space we’ve created to add a treeline between new homes and the old so as to minimise the impact on existing residents as well as insisting on village green style parks in the new developments, cycleways and green energy sources and storage for the new homes.
“We will suggest tapping into the national funding pot for replanting Britain’s forests to facilitate some of the green space.
“These plans do not rip up existing proposals and start from scratch but instead incorporate resident’s concerns, defending our green spaces and fight against climate change.”
