Economic recovery plan to help many Fylde residents

7.55.35am GMT Mon 27th Oct 2008

Vince Cable MP and Prof. Bill Winlow 'cutting taxes' together

Professor Bill Winlow, Parliamentary Spokesman for Fylde Liberal Democrats strongly supported a Liberal Democrat economic recovery plan for the North West when speaking at the North West Liberal Democrats regional assembly in Manchester on Saturday 26th October.

Professor Winlow said "I am very worried about many of the small businesses on Fylde at this time of financial uncertainty. The economic downturn puts jobs under pressure and it is important to protect local families, the homes they live in and their savings and pensions".

"We are seeing a rise in home repossession and unemployment, the collapse of the housing market and a threat to the survival of well-run and established regional businesses caused by the credit crunch and the economic slow down coupled to steep rise in the cost of living.

"If larger companies get into financial difficulties, the effects will spiral downwards affecting smaller companies, local shops, and local families here on the Fylde.

Professor Winlow called for immediate action to:

(a) Allow local councils to borrow against their assets to buy up unsold homes and land to replenish the social housing stock

(b) Give families facing repossession the right to sell all or part of their equity, and to rent their home back

(c) Force energy companies operating in the Region to reinvest profits from the Emissions Trading Scheme to cut domestic energy bills, install smart meters, and boost home energy efficiency measures

(d) Allow Councils to apply sanctions to businesses that discriminate against low-income groups in their community for the provision of services by the imposition of surcharges or price differentials based on payment methods.

"This plan needs to be agreed to protect local people and local businesses and it needs to be agreed quickly before the situation gets any worse".