As a Whitchurch Councillor Sophie is known as someone who gets things done, and if elected on May 3rd to represent Cardiff North Sophie will bring this hard work to all areas of the community.
Some of Sophie's successes include:
- Improving the lanes next to Bethel Baptist Church
- An environmental improvement scheme around Park Road
- Improvement of local community facilities by working with local Church groups to secure grants
- Secure grants for flower planters in the village by working with local traders
- Secured funding for the improvement of local youth facilities
- Successfully campaigned with local residents to secure conservation status for Church Road.
Sophie campaigns hard on a number of issues important to local people
Sophie has been one of the Local Councillors in Whitchurch and Tongwynlais since 1999 and through hard work and dedication has become the Deputy Leader of the Labour Group in the Council. As a local Councillor she has been able to expose and campaign against a lot of the Lib Dem, Tory supported, Cardiff Council.
Lib Dem Failure: Service Cuts
The South Wales Echo, 24th November ran the story (pictured) over the £3m planned cuts over to services for vulnerable adults, which only passed because the Tories supported the Lib Dems on this issue. Labour Councillors voted against this proposed cuts because they believed that this 21% cut in funds would impact on the quality of services that could be provided. On top of this the Lib Dem Council has tried to blame the Labour Assembly Government for the Lib Dems failure to manage their budgets.
Sophie success: The Friary stays open
The Labour Team also opposed the Lib Dems attempt to close down The Friary. At a public meeting held by Julie Morgan MP, Sue Essex AM and Sophie Howe local students and parents gathered together to show their support for The Friary and this City wide pressure caused the Lib Dems to back down from their plans. Sophie said: "There is no sense, either financial or educational, in closing this centre of excellence. I am pleased that the Lib Dems have bowed to pressure from Labour politicians and concerned students and parents to ditch these ridiculous proposals."
Lib Dem Failure: Road Safety
Sophie has recently exposed the failure of the Lib Dem Council to implement over 100 Road Safety schemes across Cardiff. To find out all the details and which schemes the Lib Dems haven't delivered in Cardiff North go here. Do you think you have a road safety issue in your road? Sophie has pledged to make roads safer for everyone in the community and if you think she can help you, get in touch.
However thanks to the Labour Assembly Government, £431,000 has been given to Whitchurch High School to help improve safer routes to school. This scheme is a part of the Labour Government's Safe Routes to School scheme and you can find out more about how this money is to be used here.
Sophie success: Keep Streets Clean
Sophie has recently led the Labour Team on a litter pick across areas of Cardiff North. To find out more about the Labour's Cardiff North Clean Up go here.
Lib Dem Failure: Play Ground Removal
Sophie campaigned hard against the Lib Dem Council when they started to take away the equipment from children's play areas without plans to replace the equipment. As part of her campaign Sophie put a motion to the Council to secure replacement equipment by July 2007, you can read about it here.
Sophie success: Parents have a say in school meals
Labour Councillors, led by Sophie Howe, forced the Lib Dem Council to give parents a greater say in what their children eat in school. You can find out about Sophie's successful campaign here.
Lib Dem Failure: Caerphilly Road Traffic Chaos
Sophie was contacted by a number of residents who had concerns over the problems with Caerphilly Road whilst building works were taking place. You can find out more about this issue here.
Sophie success: Tesco Store for Birchgrove Road stopped
When Tesco wanted to build a new store on Birchgrove Road local residents and traders formed a group to oppose the plans and they enlisted the help of Sophie and the Labour Team. The close relationship between the resident/trader group and Sophie paid off as the proposals were refused because Tesco listened to local people's concerns and accepted that putting a store in this location was not a good idea. Sophie was also invited onto the TV programme Dispatches to discuss this issue.
During the campaign Sophie was asked by the residents/traders group to hand in the petition gathered to the Council to reinforce their opposition to the plans (pictured). Speaking after Tesco's announcement, Sophie said: "This is actually good news for Tesco as they have generated goodwill locally having taken account of residents concerns. This campaign is a clear example of what can be achieved locally when individuals and groups come together to support their community."
IF ELECTED ON MAY 3rd TO REPRESENT CARDIFF NORTH SOPHIE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS, TRADERS AND GROUPS TO HELP THEM BUILD THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES THEY WANT.
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