Many of us have been out putting up posters around North Somerset for the General Election Campaign. If you have a favorite one that you think should be on my blog, please send it to me at my e-mail address brian@brianmathew.org.uk

To start the ball rolling here is one from John Leband's brigantine in Portishead Marina!

Well done John, Now we just need some more bunting to spell out 'England Expects!'

Yesterday afternoon I had a delightful tea with Dean Thurgood, Tom Kane, Ben Gradwell and Anneke Evans, at the supported living service house for young adults with learning difficulties in Portishead. The points that were raised by group are very relevant to many people living in the Town and perhaps by putting them down here we may be able to get something done quickly.

The biggest issue was crossing the road at Cab Stand in Portishead. Why on earth has it taken the Council six months so far to do nothing about making the crossing safe for pedestrians? The so called shared space is fine for people in cars, but for pedestrians it can be a nightmare, especially if they are old, or young, or disabled or with small children. What is North Somerset Council playing at? It would have taken maybe a couple of hours at most to paint a zebra crossing over each of the junctions, but nothing has been done. So come on North Somerset Council, you said you would do this, pull your finger out and get on with it before someone gets seriously hurt or worse!

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Left to Right, Tom Kane, Dean Thurgood, Ben Gradwell, Brian Mathew and Anneke Evans

Ben Gradwell said, and all agreed, that the Portishead railway was long overdue, and that it would make a great day out for people from Bristol and further afield visiting Portishead, as well as for commuters making their way to work. Tom Kane made the suggestion that the bus timetables are made easier to read, so 1^st Bus please take note.

Lastly some members of the group are performing in a ‘Night of Song and Dance’ at the Scotch Horn Leisure Centre in Nailsea on the 13^th and 14^th of May. The event is being organized by the Brandon Trust and starts at 7pm. The entry ticket costs £10 and includes a ploughman’s supper and tickets are available from the Scotch Horn. All proceeds are going to support the drama group, so if you would like to have a lively night out and support a very worthy local cause, come along and enjoy!

With a week and a half to go till the big day on Thursday May 6th I thought I would share some photographs from the campaign so far:

Teams of Lib Dem canvassers have been out on the streets in all the towns and many of the villages of North Somerset, delivering window posters and leaflets about our policies.

Sue Mason, Cllr Andy Cole, Brian Mathew, Daisy Bickley, Colin Howells and John S Clark canvassing Portishead.

Brian going through our policies with three North Somerset residents

Getting the poster boards ready for the campaign in Nailsea (from right Town Cllr Robin Bell, Charley and Darren Wilkinson, Cllr Andy Cole, and Town Cllr James Tonkin)

Its a case of vote red or don't vote and you'll get the blues, so come on, lets beat the blues and Go for GOLD!

 

(below) The adoption meeting with Brian Mathew giving his speech (photo by Floss)

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidates and MPs from across Somerset, including North Somerset, were gathered together to join the press conference called by Paddy Ashdown our election supremo for the South West, to launch the Lib Dem Election Campaign here.

From left to right: Paddy Ashdown, Brian Mathew (North Somerset), Theo Butt-Philip (Bridgewater), David Laws (Yeovil), Tessa Munt (Wells), David Heath (Frome) & Jeremy Brown (Taunton)

Below photos of Brian meeting with Paddy before and after the conference