South West Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats

Sammy Barry has been selected to stand for the Liberal Democrats as their candidate for the Hemel Hempstead Division in the Hertfordshire County Council Elections to be held on 4th May, 2017.

Sammy Barry is the President of University of Nottingham Liberal Youth and is a co-founder of University of Nottingham's current Animal Rights and Welfare Society. She is in her final year studying for a degree. When not at University Sammy lives in Hemel Hempsted and has worked for Hertfordshire County Council's Youth Connexions project.

Plans by Conservative controlled Hertfordshire County Council to cut 608 roads, including 57 that served primary or infant schools from its winter gritting routes in event of snow or very cold nights being forecast, have been postponed till next year.

These cuts had been voted through, against Liberal Democrat opposition. Lib Dem Cllr Tim Williams (second from right) delivered a petition from 662 residents signatures against these cuts and forced a new debate on the subject at the County Council's December Highways Panel

If there's one thing that all 77 of Hertfordshire's county councillors all agree on, it's this - that they spend to much time coping with highway problems.

County Councillors have many other responsibilities:- Social Services, Public Health,Childrens Services, Special Educational Needs Support, Adult Care, Waste Disposal, Libraries and the Fire & Rescue Service. They also have a number of specialised planning responsibilities in connections for such things as:- Transport, Flood Management, Environment Issues, Health & Wellbeing and Disaster Recovery.

Hertfordshire Liberal Democrat county councillors have challenged the Conservative administration at County Hall about its repeated failings over highways gulley cleansing.

At the recent County Council meeting, LD County Councillor Chris White (St Albans Central) highlighted the fact that he had already flagged up 20 entirely blocked gulleys in his division and was working on a further ten.

Nick Clegg explores possible approaches that the Government could take towards EU negotiations.

Nick Clegg MP, Lib Dem Spokesman on Brexit A powerful and consistent precedent has been set by successive UK governments whereby they lay out an approach to Parliament in advance of EU treaty negotiations. For an overview of the White Papers and motions published in advance of EU Intergovernmental Conferences (IGCs), which are the forums used to discuss and agree EU treaty changes, please click here www.libdems.org.uk/brexit-challenge-eu-negotiations.

From LibDem Leader, Tim Farron ... This is a Government that is just about managing. The official figures have revealed a £220 billion Brexit black hole- hundreds of billions taken out of our economy when we need it most. Given how bad the outlook is, it's no wonder the Chancellor doesn't want to have to do another Autumn Statement.

European research shows that CO2 emissions from vehicles can de reduced by around five per cent by improved maintenance and design to make the surfaces smoother. The research was carried out by members of FEHRL (Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories).

The findings show that the condition of the road surface directly affects vehicle fuel consumption. If the surface is in poor repair, fuel energy will be wasted. This is because the so-called 'Rolling Losses' are higher. Energy is absorbed by suspensions systems in smoothing out the shocks from uneveness, joints, rutting and potholes. In addition energy is absorbed by the tyres in the increased flexing that will occur at the tyre/road interface.

There were 9 council by elections this week, but only one change - a Conservative gain from Labour in Pendle's Reedley Ward high in the Pennines near Nelson. With Labour and the Conservatives fairly evenly matched it only needed a small swing for the seat to change hands. The election was hard fought with a high turnout and with UKIP failing to stand once again it was not surprising that the Conservatives got the modest boost they needed.