We thank and congratulate all the council staff who worked to keep the town functioning in January's exceptional weather.

But were they given the materals they needed for the job?

Difficulties in getting to work were made worse by the complete halt in local bus services. While this was partly caused by buses being stranded on roadsides as the snow swept in, and by deep snow and ice on the long, steep approach to First Bus's Hoeford depot, it was apparent even in the much less severe cold snap in December that bus routes are not being gritted as quickly as in previous years.

Lib Dem councillor Peter Davies monitored service information on First Bus's website, and found that Fareham and Gosport suffered far worse disruption than other areas on the south coast, even those which suffered further falls of snow.

As control over funds for services becomes ever more concentrated in Whitehall, Conservative councils such as Hampshire and Fareham are resorting more and more to cuts in services to keep council tax down.

Yet in Hampshire's case, they seem able to find money to set up a 'Senate' - a non-elected and poorly accountable body 'seeking a voice for Hampshire at regional and national government'. Hampshire's Conservative leadership propose that to make way for this grandiose body, the existing Hampshire an Isle of Wight Local Government Association, which has been working perfecly well for many years, should be wound up.

In troubled times, shouldn't we be concentrating on making the existing structure do a proper job for local people?

Fareham Liberal Democrats have responded to proposed changes to the South East Plan, to defend the interests of our town and its surrounding countryside if the government insists on pushing through the special development area north of Fareham.

It draws on the same principles as the Green Road to Regeneration set out by Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg (see news feed link at right).

The main points put by Fareham planning specialists Councillors Peter Davies and Katrina Trott are:

• A zero-carbon homes policy should be adopted; buildings in the proposed Special Development Area north of Fareham should be of a sustainable design to avoid damage to the environment.
• New schools should be provided within walking distance of homes in the SDA. We oppose the use of Henry Cort School to serve the new homes as this would increase congestion.
• The SDA should be given a rail link, with a station on the site of either the former Funtley or Knowle Hospital halts. We urge commitment to the proposed Bus Rapid Transit link using the line of the former Fareham – Gosport railway. Overall, we would like to see south Hampshire become a model for how people can live in worthwhile communities without over-dependence on private cars.
• Green space provision in the SDA should include provision of wildlife corridors to give animals and birds continued access to the countryside beyond.
• We oppose proposals to do away with a strategic gap policy. In particular, we believe it is vital to retain the Meon Valley gap, with its special landscape character.
• We argue that new housing should be more evenly shared to spread prosperity to poorer areas of the UK, rather than ‘over-heating’ the South-East.
• We are concerned about the figure of 30% warehousing for economic development in the south-east. Unless this is carefully controlled, it could result in substantial loss of land for comparatively little gain in employment opportunities, particularly in skilled work.