http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Chelmsford Liberal Democrats en-GB Chelmsford Liberal Democrats http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 Chelmsford Liberal Democrats 2008-07-25T06:47+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000245/chelmsford_continues_to_wait_for_public_consultation_on_the_riverside.html At July's meeting of Chelmsford Borough Council, Lib Dem group leader Mike Mackrory presented Roy Whitehead with a petition containing 1,250 signatures. These included over 20 current and former Olympic, World, European, Commonwealth and British national swimmers, divers, coaches and trainers. In particular, Great Baddow swimmer Rebecca Gallantree who (together with Tom Daley, the European Gold diving medallist and Olympic medal prospect) is representing Great Britain at the Olympic Games in Beijing. 2008-07-23T15:11+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000244/lib_dem_post_office_campaign_ongoing_as_conservatives_try_to_catch_up.html Liberal Democrats continue to campaign to save the Post Office card account, which was put out to tender by the Labour government last year. They feel that to award the contract to another provider would clearly make things worse for Post Office Ltd. Said Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Stephen Robinson: "Post Offices form the heart of many of our communities, and need to be allowed to provide more services to make them sustainable. However, the Labour government seems prepared to sentence them to a slow death from neglect." 2008-07-21T21:05+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000243/conservatives_are_not_the_party_of_democracy_in_essex_say_local_lib_dems.html Claims this week to be 'the party of democracy in Essex' - by the Conservatives - have been proved to be false. On Tuesday, the Conservatives dismissed Liberal Democrat plans to allow the public to ask questions at Essex County Council meetings, and on Wednesday they refused to debate a Lib Dem motion querying why so little debate is allowed at Chelmsford Borough Council! 2008-07-17T18:15+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000242/lib_dems_say_no_to_incineration_and_vote_against_tory_waste_strategy.html Liberal Democrats at Essex County Council have voted against Tory plans to build enormous waste treatment plants in Essex, including one north of Chelmsford at Rivenhall. The vote was taken after a debate on waste at county hall on 15 July. 2008-07-16T23:03+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000241/conservatives_turn_down_lib_dem_call_for_public_rights.html Lord Hanningfield, Conservative leader of Essex County Council has slammed a proposal by the Liberal Democrats to allow the public to speak directly to councillors at council meetings and to ask questions about the work of the council. The Leader made his comments at a debate on public participation at a meeting of the full council on 15 July. 2008-07-16T21:54+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000239/tough_action_on_crime_target_drugs_as_well_as_knives_specialist_rape_squads.html Figures released today show that, in 2006-7, there were four times as many stop and searches by police for drugs as for offensive weapons like knives. Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said: "The police have clearly got their priorities wrong." 2008-07-09T15:51+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000238/keeping_our_allotments_in_use.html The allotments in Avon Road, Chelmsford are now all ready for keen, green-fingered residents or just people who want a bit of space in which to grow flowers or vegetables. This follows lobbying by local councillor, Liberal Democrat Simon Jones, after he was contacted by local residents, frustrated with delays at the borough council in the allocation of sites. 2008-06-30T23:33+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000237/cbc_residents_on_street_parking_permits_increased_by_28.html Chelmsford council have increased the charge for visitor parking tickets in residential zones by 67% from 1 July. The annual residential parking permits rise from £18 to £23, an increase of circa 28%. [Six monthly permits from £12 to £17.] 2008-06-25T00:00+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000236/courtman_house_saved.html Maltese Road residents and the local Lib Dem councillors have reacted with joy at the planning Inspector's decision to save Courtman House from demolition. This follows a long battle involving most residents of the road, writing letters and petitions and attending meetings. 2008-06-23T18:12+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000235/tories_stash_away_your_money_for_preelection_bribe.html Local Conservatives are underspending on council services and storing up millions of pounds in reserve funds, according to their OWN report. The report, on Essex County Council finances for 2007/08, was approved at a meeting of the council's cabinet at county hall. 2008-06-18T16:32+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000234/back_our_post_offices__save_the_card_account.html Chelmsford Liberal Democrats are backing calls to save the Post Office card account, which currently helps keep open local post offices around the country. The Government has added uncertainty to the future of the Post Office network by putting the Post Office Card Account (POCA) out to tender. If another organisation such as PayPoint or an international bank wins the tender, the Post Office Network will lose a vital part of their business, with further closures likely. 2008-06-18T16:07+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000233/tory_leaders_apprentice_pr_stunt_is_an_insult.html The offer of a council job to the runner up of the BBC's 'The Apprentice' has been attacked by the opposition Liberal Democrats as a gimmick and an insult. Tom Smith-Hughes, Leader of the Council's Lib Dem group, said: "This is another sad example of Lord Hanningfield's obsession with headline-grabbing gimmicks. Remember his daft suggestion that a bank holiday should be created around the Oscar win by Essex girl Helen Mirren? 2008-06-10T13:45+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000232/survey_reveals_support_for_lib_dem_health_plans.html In a major survey of our local health services, Chelmsford residents have said they are mostly happy with standards of medical care and NHS staff, but have attacked waste of money, bad management and interference from central Government. The findings come in a survey conducted by the local Liberal Democrats and Parliamentary Candidate Stephen Robinson. 2008-06-09T12:52+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000231/stansted_expansion_plan_attacked.html The Conservatives on the Borough Council's Development Policy Committee on Wednesday 21st May, were forced to abandon the published recommendation after Lib Dem Leader Mike Mackrory led the way in voicing the widespread opposition to plans for a second runway at Stansted. The Committee was being asked to respond to the planning application for a second runway at Stansted now in front of Uttlesford District Council. The original recommendation was to object unless road transport links were improved. 2008-06-09T09:31+01:00 http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000230/lib_dems_dig_in_for_springwatch.html On Saturday, local Liberal Democrats joined a range of BTCV volunteers and residents of the Brownings Avenue / Eastern Crescent area to build garden areas on the field in between. It was all part of the BBC Springwatch project. Local ward councillors Graham Pooley and Jude Deakin, Cllr Alan Arnot (Patching Hall) and Parliamentary Candidate Stephen Robinson took part in the digging and planting process. 2008-06-08T23:58+01:00