Local Lib Dems at regional conference

11.52.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 17th Oct 2007

Chelmsford Lib Dems listen attentively at regional conference

10 Liberal Democrats from Chelmsford were among around 200 representatives at the party's regional conference on Saturday. The conference debated a range of issues including the effect of climate change on the region; the need for political power to come down from central government and the need for a rail link east-west across the region.

Chelmsford Parliamentary Candidate Stephen Robinson spoke out for the need to hold the Government Office for the region to account but also made a plea for power to be devolved lower than the East of England regional level. Mr Robinson expressed the view that the counties could have more of a role.