Small businesses across Chelmsford are once again being offered free 12-month FSB membership. Lib Dem-led Chelmsford City Council has partnered with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to support local businesses in this way.
Federation members can access a wide range of benefits, including:
a funding platform
medical care helpline
employment advice and protection
debt recovery
an award-winning legal hub for advice
virtual support events and networking opportunities.
Chelmsford City Council is drafting plans to upgrade Dovedale Sports Centre in the Old Moulsham area of the city. The Lib Dem-led council is keen to hear local views about this and has just launched a consultation (running until Sunday 13 February) to help shape any future improvements.
The site, which the council shares with Chelmsford College, was opened in 1974 and has had minimal investment over the last few decades. It is used by the college during the day and managed by Chelmsford City Council for public use after 5pm on weekdays, with full access at weekends and college holidays.
Chelmsford City Council has announced its latest round of grants for the hospitality and leisure industry, and the Lib Dem-led Council has announced a further round of special grants to provide FREE membership of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
Said Council Leader Stephen Robinson, "We know that many local businesses have been really struggling over the last two years and the City Council is doing what it can to help. The Council is also developing a partnership with the five other District Councils in north Essex to pool resources to help more businesses."
The Government is being urgedto back a National Landlord Register as part of the Renters' Reform Bill. Chelmsford Council's Leader, Lib Dem Stephen Robinson, has written to Secretary of State for Housing, Michael Gove.
Cllr. Robinson said, "You don't need reminding that we are in the middle of a housing crisis, with supply not meeting anything like the demand. In the private rented sector, sadly, this often means poor quality housing at sky-high prices and exploitation of tenants. Please help local Councils to do more to address this problem."
The next local elections take place on Thursday 5 May 2022.
In Epping Forest the following council seats will be up for election. If you are interested in standing for the Liberal Democrats please contact info@eflibdems.org.uk.
You can find more about what being a councillor involves on the Be A Councillor website.
Brentwood is set to be hit hard by the expected rise in energy bills in April, new figures have revealed.
Analysis by the Liberal Democrats shows that the average yearly bill for homeowners in Brentwood is set to sky rocket by £649 the equivalent of £54 a month once the new energy price cap comes into effect.
By Peter Wexham, Lib Dem Councillor for Leigh in Leigh Times
At last the quayside scheme, including dredging the creek for Leigh Old Town, is getting underway.
The plans are being drawn up and the details put together to get all the regulatory permissions that are needed. Natural England, the MMO (Marine Management Organisation) and the PLA all have to be consulted and agree, and the creek changes have to be modelled and tested, so that the work does not interfere with the eel grass beds that grow by the north eastern end of Two Tree Island.
Safer, greener roads are set to be trialled in two areas across the Borough as the council looks to keep residents safe, tackle speeding and reduce vehicle emissions.
Reducing speed limits to 20mph in residential streets has a number of positive impacts, including increased safety for local residents, and can reduce vehicle emissions.
The proposals for 20mph pilot areas follow detailed discussions with local ward Councillors and vehicle speed surveys carried out in the Thorpe, Leigh and West Leigh wards which identified a high percentage of vehicles speeding in these areas.
Roads included in the proposals are:
Thorpe ward:
Area bounded by Thorpe Hall Avenue, Thorpe Bay Gardens, Maplin Way and Station Road
Shaftesbury Avenue, Kensington Avenue and Northumberland Crescent
Burges Road, Colbert Avenue and Wyatts Drive
As there is underlying historical issue of speeding on these roads, it is felt that only physical measures will have an impact on reducing speeding, so a range of measures will be introduced including raised tables, speed humps, speed cushions and kerb line build-outs.
Leigh/West Leigh wards:
Salisbury Road
Southsea Avenue (north and south of Glendale Gardens)
Lymington Avenue (north and south of Glendale Gardens)
Leighville Grove
Grange Road
The following roads already have 20mph limits and signage in place, with extra features proposed:
Percy Road
Westcliff Drive
Westleigh Avenue
Marine Avenue
Fairleigh Drive
Ronald Hill Grove
The proposals across these areas include a variety of measures, including 20mph speed limit signs, '20 is plenty' road markings and banners, raised speed tables at some road entry points and junctions.
In addition, healthier, greener travel is on the cards, with vast improvements to the Borough's cycling network and initiatives to encourage walking and cycling for residents and visitors to be discussed by cabinet.
Four schemes are proposed and would be funded through the £741,600 Department for Transport tranche 2 'Active Travel Fund', building on the impressive work carried out with the tranche 1 funding that saw a number of School Streets created.
Under the plans, Prittlebrook Greenway would see new, energy-efficient LED lights installed along the entire length of the well-used route, providing increased safety and visibility, increasing the hours that the route can be safely used and reduce the likelihood of anti-social behaviour in the area.
It is also proposed that the Borough's cycle network is reviewed, pinpointing any barriers to 'active travel' and with the aim of increasing healthier travel with residents. This will include a comprehensive review of how best to utilise the A13 (London Road) for walking and cycling, given the fact it is a main route through the Borough. This review would identify any missing links in the cycle network and lead to an investment and action plan being drawn up to deal with these.
There are also plans to install electric bike charging stations at key sites, additional secure bike storage units and repair stations across the Borough, with 'green' roofs to help boost air quality and increase naturalisation in the Borough.
The popular School Streets campaign would also be extended to a further six schools. Four schools formed part of the first phase of the project, and following the positive feedback from schools, pupils, staff, parents and local residents, the council will be seeking to create new School Streets at six more schools to improve road safety in and around schools, and also improve air quality.
Cllr Stephen Robinson (council leader) and Cllr Rose Moore (cabinet member for greener & safer Chelmsford) have released a message in which they talk about booster vaccines, masks, and the exhaustion everyone is feeling at this stage of the pandemic. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLbCD4GnUxg
At last the quayside scheme, including dredging the creek for Leigh Old Town, is getting underway.
Safer, greener roads are set to be trialled in two areas across the Borough as the council looks to keep residents safe, tackle speeding and reduce vehicle emissions.
In addition, healthier, greener travel is on the cards, with vast improvements to the Borough's cycling network and initiatives to encourage walking and cycling for residents and visitors to be discussed by cabinet.