http://cmld.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Chelmsford Liberal Democrats en-GB Chelmsford Liberal Democrats http://cmld.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 Chelmsford Liberal Democrats 2008-08-20T04:20+01:00 United Kingdom http://cmld.org.uk/news/000253/urgent_action_needed_to_protect_most_vulnerable_from_utility_bill_rises.html With energy companies recently announcing price rises of up to 35%, Stephen Robinson, Parliamentary Candidate for Chelmsford, has said that energy companies should be compelled to use the money from a £9 billion European windfall to help protect some of the most vulnerable people from the effects of fuel poverty. 2008-08-17T10:47+01:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000252/real_action_to_tackle_youth_crime_not_just_soundbites.html Liberal Democrats in Chelmsford are calling for effective action to tackle youth crime rather than what they call "sound-tough soundbites that don't actually cut crime". The local Lib Dems are backing a package of new measures to tackle youth crime. 2008-08-14T13:46+01:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000251/public_back_campaign_to_save_post_office_card_account.html Chelmsford residents have been contacting local Liberal Democrats to register their concerns over the future of the Post Office Card Account (POCA). The current contract runs out in 2010 and the Government will soon choose a successor, prompting fears that the Post Office will not be awarded the new contract. 2008-08-14T13:37+01:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000250/calls_to_introduce_999_texting_service.html Chelmsford Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Campaigner Stephen Robinson is backing MP Adrian Sanders' Parliamentary campaign to introduce a 999 text service. 2008-08-14T13:24+01:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000249/liberal_democrats_set_out_vision_for_britain.html Lib Dem Party Leader Nick Clegg has set out his party's vision for Britain in a new document called 'Make It Happen'. Chelmsford Lib Dem Stephen Robinson commented, "The document discusses income tax cuts across the board; real action to cut crime and improve health & education; and reforming the political process to give everyone a voice." 2008-08-06T18:31+01:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000248/lib_dem_campaigners_secure_commitment_to_review_parking_charges_at_broomfield_hospital.html Local Liberal Democrat campaigners have secured a commitment that the unfair parking charges at Broomfield hospital will be reviewed after Mid Essex Hospital Trust has paid off its outstanding debts in April 2009. This was one of the complaints raised most frequently by the 1,400 respondents to Stephen Robinson's recent inquiry into the state of the NHS in Chelmsford. 2008-08-04T15:07+01:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000247/exposed_deep_flaws_in_tories_costcutting_potholes_policy.html It has been confirmed that Conservative-run Essex County Council's new policy for fixing potholes is leaving dangerous holes unrepaired in Chelmsford's roads. The new policy stipulates that potholes must be over 50mm deep before they are repaired. This means that, for example, the two in Wood Street (pictured) and already six months old, will not be repaired under the new guidelines despite the hazard they are causing to road users. 2008-07-28T10:54+01:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000246/chelmsford_residents_hit_hard_by_rising_prices__stephen_robinson.html Local residents in Chelmsford are being hit hard by rocketing costs and the Lib Dems are running a "Fair Deal for Britain" campaign in response. Said the Lib Dems Westminster candidate Stephen Robinson: "It doesn't matter how much you earn, all of us are paying more when we buy basic groceries, pay the gas bill or fill up the car. 2008-07-25T22:05+01:00 http://cmld.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://cmld.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://cmld.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://cmld.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://cmld.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://cmld.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://cmld.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