East Riding Liberal Action

​The government has launched a national consultation on new measures to combat fly-tipping, including "clean-up squads," conditional cautions requiring unpaid work, and a maximum on-the-spot fine increase to £5,000. ​While the East Riding Liberal Democrats welcome tougher penalties, local representatives and national spokespeople argue that more must be done to protect communities from organised waste criminals. ​ Local and National Perspectives ​Councillor Phil Redshaw, East Riding Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson, emphasised the need for comprehensive local enforcement: ​ "Fly-tipping is a blight on our communities and countryside, and local people are right to say enough is enough. I’ve been campaigning for stronger action against fly-tipping in East Yorkshire for some years, so I welcome this new focus. Increased fines are very welcome and should act as a real deterrent, making people think twice before dumping waste illegally. But we mus...

It is becoming increasingly difficult to understand what the Government actually means when it talks about devolution. ​On one hand, Westminster speaks fluently about taking power away from Whitehall and handing it to the regions. Yet, when it comes to planning in the East Riding, we are witnessing the exact opposite. Local powers are being steadily stripped from democratically elected councillors and concentrated upward into the hands of regional mayors and unelected officers. ​For residents across towns from Bridlington to Beverley, this marks a worrying democratic retreat. ​ The Squeeze on Local Democracy ​The contradictions are piling up fast. At the local level, changes to planning schemes of delegation have meant that routine, smaller planning applications are increasingly determined by council officers rather than the people you vote for. ​Now, the government has pushed ahead with plans giving regional mayors new powers to "call in" major planning applicati...

​An ongoing disparity in concessionary travel has sparked fresh criticism, with the East Riding Liberal Democrats condemning the continuation of peak-time travel restrictions for older residents as an unfair "postcode lottery." ​While the central government recently announced plans to universally scrap the 9:30 am travel restriction for disabled pass holders across England, this exemption does not automatically extend to the older person's bus pass. Instead, older pass holders remain bound by local council discretion, creating a fractured system across neighboring regions., ​While national funding subsidises off-peak bus travel, permitting free travel from 9:30 am to 11:00 pm on weekdays, and all day on weekends and bank holidays, a growing number of local authorities have chosen to go further. Authorities such as Hull City Council and North Lincolnshire have removed weekday start-time restrictions entirely, allowing older residents to catch buses earlier. ​Ho...

​The York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has formally confirmed the permanent closure of the Bridlington Care Unit (BCU). Originally established in 2021 as a temporary step-down facility during the COVID-19 pandemic to manage patient discharge pressures from Scarborough Hospital, the 28-bed ward has been slated for closure as funding transitions toward a community-based model of care. ​Trust executives and health chiefs, including Chief Operating Officer Claire Hanson and Care Group Director Dr Ed Smith, have defended the transition. They argue that shifting care directly back into the community helps prevent the physical deconditioning often associated with prolonged stays in traditional hospital settings. While health leaders emphasise that Bridlington Hospital remains a valued asset, pointing to recent expansions in planned surgery and outpatient services, the decision has ignited widespread pushback from local residents, healthcare staff, and electe...

​Disabled people in East Riding and across England will soon be able to travel by bus for free at any time of the day, following a major announcement from the government.   Tom Gordon MP (Lib Dem) and Jackie Snape, Chief Executive of Disability Action Yorkshire. ​The decision marks a massive victory for campaigners, concluding a nearly two-year parliamentary battle led by Yorkshire Liberal Democrat MP, Tom Gordon. Previously, disabled bus pass holders faced strict weekday limitations, being unable to use their passes freely during peak morning hours, which created heavy barriers for those trying to commute to work, education, or early appointments.   ​Reflecting on the milestone, Tom Gordon MP shared his excitement: ​ "After nearly two years campaigning on this in Parliament - handing in a petition, grilling ministers at the despatch box, speaking in debates, tabling my amendment to the Bus Bill and forcing it to a vote, meeting with the Bus Minister - we...

​Local councillors in the East Riding are actively encouraging resident involvement as the East Riding of Yorkshire Council invites people to share their views on cycling and walking improvements through a new regional survey. ​The local authority is calling for community participation to help determine what facilities are necessary across the area to support cyclists and pedestrians. The initiative aims to encourage more people to take up active travel for regular journeys to work, school, and local services. ​Residents are being asked to identify new routes or paths for walking, wheeling, or cycling, highlight areas requiring upgrades, or propose solutions for existing transport issues. ​Suggestions may include: -​A new footway or cycleway -​New road crossings for pedestrians and cyclists -​New cycle parking -​Changes or improvements to an existing facility -​Dropped kerbs and tactile paving ​-Better street lighting ​The survey platform features an interactive map allowin...