Lib Dem Andrew Stunnell MP, Shadow Communities Secretary, visits West Wiltshire

4.48.00pm GMT Fri 12th Jan 2007

Liberal Democrat councillors in West Wiltshire hosted a tour today for the Lib Dem Shadow Communities Secretary, Andrew Stunnell MP.

Local councillors discuss ways of securing new affordable housing with Andrew Stunnell MP

The visit proved an excellent opportunity to raise the local experience of wider national issues with a lead spokesman in Parliament.

Local Lib Dems ask Andrew Stunnell MP to rally Lib Dem MPs to put pressure on First Great Western to improve services.

In Bradford on Avon, local councillors and Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for the new Chippenham constituency, Duncan Hames, first explained how important it is that there should be affordable housing as well as employment opportunity in the re-development of the Kingston Mills site. They then met with district councillor Janet Repton at Bradford on Avon railway station where the visiting MP was told of the chaotic way First Great Western were failing to get to grip with their new rail franchise since taking over from Wessex Trains.

"The local stationmaster is ever so helpful" says Cllr Repton. "But when there simply aren't enough train carriages to take all the passengers, First Great Western make it impossible to provide a decent service."