So here we are, Europe's largest construction project, a true engineering marvel that has a major interface landing here at Shenfield. As a visitor would you know? Of course, you wouldn't. Shenfield Station remains unchanged. Given the wear and tear of major construction happening, if anything the station and its surrounds are looking worse then it has over any point of the last 19 years that I have been using the station.
Brentwood Liberal Democrats join with their colleagues across the world in condemning the actions of the President of the United States in encouraging his supporters to commit insurrection and attack the Capitol Hill Building that has resulted in the death of at least five people and injuries to many more. We take this as a total dereliction of his Oath of Office and condemn him for it.
By Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Kingston & Surbiton
I would like to send my warmest wishes to Tamils around the world celebrating Thai Pongal, the four day harvest festival.
It's been a huge privilege to come to know many Tamil people in my constituency and across the UK since being elected to Parliament back in 1997, and I can therefore say with total certainty, that the contribution of British Tamils to our country and society has been exemplary, with the hard work, intelligence and dedication of so many amazing British Tamils.
Celebrations like this are an opportunity to remember the exceptional contributions we witness everyday from entrepreneurs, public servants and of course our frontline workers. Thank you for all you do.
Current lockdown measures mean this year's Pongal celebrations will feel distinctly different as so many of us remain separated from friends and loved ones. Despite these challenges, let us look to the future with hope and let us strengthen our collective efforts to beat this virus.
To everyone celebrating, I wish you overflowing happiness and good health for the year ahead. Iniya Thai Pongal Nalvazhthukkal!
A new, fast-testing centre has opened in Chelmsford for those who DO NOT have symptoms of Covid-19. The centre is at Central Baptist Church, Victoria Road South, Chelmsford, CM1 1LN - but you can only attend if you book.
Details on how to access the site and nearby parking is available on booking. This is the seventh such centre in Essex and offer the new and fast Lateral Flow Tests to the wider population. The tests are ONLY for people for who DO NOT have symptoms and give results in around 30 minutes.
Councillor Carole Mulroney, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, said: "This is an exciting action plan which provides extensive details on previous, ongoing and future work carried out by the council to help us reach our aim of becoming a Green City...CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Last month I wrote about the case of Ella Kissi-Debrah and the fact that a South London coroner's court was holding an inquest into the death of the nine-year-old. As a reminder this was a potential landmark legal case, a coroner was being asked to rule that air pollution caused the death from an acute asthma attack. This finding would make legal history. It has never been identified as a cause of death before in the UK and this is thought to be the first case of its kind in the world. Lewisham Council, the mayor of London and government gave evidence about their knowledge of the levels of toxic air around where Ella lived, the health impacts and what was being done to reduce the pollution. Prior to the inquest It had been decided that article 2 - the right to life - of the Human Rights Act, which scrutinises the role of public bodies in a person's death, apply to the hearing.
Lib Dem councillors David Kendall (Brentwood South County Divison) and Karen Chilvers (Brentwood West ward) have acted on information and appeals from Brentwood residents to try to improve the dog waste issues in our country parks and in the town centre.
Principle issues raised were:
People failing to pick up after their dogs in our country parks
People leaving bags of dog waste hanging in the park like tree decorations
Siting of and quantity of bins in country parks and town centres
Dog waste on popular walks through town and near schools
Tracing systems led by our local councils have proved to be a huge success. 86 per cent of cases are closed and 93 per cent of contacts traced. This contrasts with the Government-run, centralised tracing system with a contact trace rate of nearer 60 per cent.
Essex County Council launched a Covid-19 contact tracing service in June and works closely with partners in Chelmsford City and other borough / district councils in Essex.
