Brentwood Conservatives released their manifesto yesterday. A manifesto setting out the actions they will take if elected. I thought it was worth a read and recording some thoughts that I have.

My review the document can be broadly split into five headings.

1 - Deafening silence on certain matters

Nothing on bin collections. The golden rule of local politics, if your manifesto is not explicitly clear that you will maintain weekly black bin collections then you are planning to cut weekly bin collections. The conservatives are savvy political operators and know this. The only logical explanation for silence on this matter is that there are unpopular savings plans being hatched. If a Conservative candidate or campaigner knocks on your door perhaps question them on this matter.

A resident in Brentwood South, living near Running Waters, contacted Liberal Democrats candidate Brenner Munden to report broken paving slabs on the Running Waters footpath.

Brenner went down to the footpath straight away and what he found were broken and/or raised slabs. It became clear that this was incredibly dangerous as it would be easy for anyone to trip up the raised slabs or step and fall on a cracked and moving piece of concrete. Many elderly residents that use this footpath were unnecessarily taking a risk by walking down the path and potentially falling and hurting themselves because of the path defects. But it soon became clear how impossible it would be pushing a pram or using a wheelchair down the path without get stuck or causing damage.

Liberal Democrats in Epping Forest have announced their candidates for the local elections in May, and they need your help to get elected.

In the elections to Essex County Council, the candidates are:

Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Essex residents' waste is being buried in landfill after the the collapse of Conservative-run Essex County Council's agreement with its waste contractor.

The Conservatives' pet scheme saw millions of pounds spent on a waste processing plant in Basildon designed to recycle black bin waste into fuel, but it never worked.

Previously when asked why I vote, my response has always been along the lines of 'well if you don't vote you don't have a right to complain when things go wrong.' This strikes me now as a very negative way of looking at voting. My revised answer is that by voting in the election you can support a candidate who will represent your views and can influence the policy issues you care about. An election is also your chance to speak out if you have a complaint about the way the Parish/Borough/District/Country is being run. Voting is not the only way to participate but it's the quickest and easiest way. If you don't vote, you'll have had no say over who will be making decisions on the issues important to you.

Residents reacted with surprise and anger when - shortly before Christmas - a single Conservative councillor approved plans which could lead to residents being charged to drive through Epping Forest.

The interim air pollution strategy includes a "Clean Air Zone" or CAZ covering forest roads from 2025. This enables the council to levy a charge on categories of vehicles driving through the forest, like the congestion charge in London.

Park & Ride (P&R) will recommence services soon: (a) from Monday 12 April 2021 from the east Chelmsford (Sandon) site and Colchester, and (b) from Monday 17 May 2021 from Chelmer Valley. Initially a reduced timetable will be in place.

The sites will provide services between 7am-7pm Monday to Saturday but passengers are advised to check the website or social media before travelling for any updates or changes which could occur due to essential operation reasons.

Essex Liberal Democrats are backing community policing, services that prevent crime (including youth services) and support for police officers and firefighters at the heart of their campaign. This is led by Jon Whitehouse, the Essex Lib Dem candidate for Essex Police Fire and Crime Commissioner. The election takes place on 6 May 2021.

Chelmsford City Council has had to pick up vastly more litter than normal over the last year. Councillors have urged residents to please look after our City and put it in the bins - on the streets or at home.

All bins in Chelmsford's key park locations are emptied daily, including over the Easter bank holiday period.