Cardiff North Liberal Democrats

Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:

• The biggest ever single uplift in the tax threshold
• A personal allowance of £9,205 in April 2013
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550
• Brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg used his speech to the Party's Spring conference in NewcastleGateshead to call for the forthcoming budget to be a "budget for fairness" and pledged that it would help working familes.

The Deputy Prime Minister pledged that by 2015 Britain would have seen an end to control orders, the first gay marriages and the first elections to the House of Lords.

Fairer taxes, promoting green jobs, protecting your civil liberties - these are just some of the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government.

We're building a freer, greener and more liberal country - and stopping some of the worst excesses of the Conservatives. Find out more in this infographic.

The Gabalfa Focus Team are outraged and disappointed that, despite their warnings, problems have already occurred with deliveries to the new Sainsbury's shop on Whitchurch Road.

Cllr. Ed Bridges said: "The shop is even open yet, but already I have seen lorries double-parking on Whitchurch Road in rush hour, causing tailbacks. Despite us calling on Sainsbury's to limit deliveries to early mornings in order to avoid traffic problems, they are sending enormous lorries into our area at rush hour. I have contacted Sainsbury's, South Wales Police and Cardiff Council to ask for this matter to be looked into. I want to see enforcement action to prevent double-parking, and I want to see Sainsbury's taking a more responsible attitude towards our community."

In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference, Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined his goals for the Government and the country over the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to liberal values on the environment and human rights and his determination to ensure a fair chance for every child, saying "every child can do good things, great things, if only we give them the opportunities they deserve."

A decision has finally been made on the future of the former road safety centre at Briardene on North Road, following a long campaign by local Lib Dems.

An outline planning application has sought permission to build 48 flats on the site. The application was formally considered last week by Cardiff Council's Planning Committee. Cllr. Ed Bridges attended the meeting to ensure that residents' views were put forward.

The Gabalfa Focus Team are still calling for parking improvements around Herbert Street in Maindy.

Local campaigner, Gareth Holden (pictured) said: "We have asked for a meeting with Cardiff Council to talk about how greater protection can be given to local residents against tenants from Talybont parking on the street."

From 12^th September, rubbish collections in Gabalfa ward will change.

Our rubbish will now be collected on Wednesday, with food waste (brown caddies) and dry recycling (green bags) collected every week.

Local campaigner, Gareth Holden, said: "Garden waste, in the green bins and white bags, and black bags and bins, will be collected on alternate weeks. This will help to drive up recycling rates."

The Focus Team have been working hard to address parking problems in the streets around Allensbank House.

Cllr. Ed Bridges met last month with management from Liberty Living (who run the halls) to reiterate the frustration of local residents. Problems are frequently caused by tenants from the halls parking on local streets, in contravention of the planning permission for the site.

The Gabalfa Focus Team has learned of a major planning application in the area.

Cardiff Universityare seeking permission to build a seven-storey block of student halls at Talybont Gate, near to the existing Talybont halls in Gabalfa. The block would accommodate 179 flats; no new parking spaces are proposed as part of the development.