"SAFER, fairer and greener" will be the watchwords of the Liberal Democrats' local election campaign, as the party revealed this week at the launch of its manifesto.

The party, which has been part of the borough council's joint administration with Labour since 1995, is appealing to voters to return them to power again on May 4 and let them continue to build on the work of the past 11 years.

At the manifesto launch on Monday, April 10, the party pledged to keep council tax increases to the level of inflation, while tackling environmental issues such as recycling and making the borough's streets safer.

They also unveiled plans for a discount card for leisure facility users.

Councillor John Shaw, Liberal Democrat Group leader, said: "We have set out our approach on the issues that matter a great deal to most residents - leisure facilities, especially for teenagers, crime prevention, affordable housing, transport and the environment.

"Overall, it is about quality of life.

"Over the past nine years, we have increased our share of council tax by just £14 for a Band D property. That is the best record of any council in the UK.

"At the same time we have introduced community wardens, improved recycling and opened new facilities."

The Liberal Democrats are promising to continue to expand and improve these policies, and are also looking at new ways of improving the borough's services through a new discount leisure card scheme which they hope to get off the ground.

The scheme is intended to make the borough's services more accessible for people who may not otherwise be able to afford it.

Cllr Shaw said: "Our message to local people is clear. Basingstoke and Deane is one of the best-run councils in the UK, but because we are not resting on our laurels, it is still getting better and better.

"Do not put that at risk by letting the Conservatives back."

First published: Thursday, April 13, 2006