South West Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats have called on the UK government to introduce a new Act to tackle poor air quality and ensure vital pollution limits are not watered down post-Brexit.

Liberal Democrats have expressed concern about the County Council's plans to cut day services for some groups in the county, on which it has begun consulting.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Adult Care Services County Councillor Ron Tindall comments:

'I urge all users and carers to respond to this consultation and demonstrate the overwhelming need for day services to improve, not be cut. We know that Government cuts have forced the County Council to look at where to spend their diminishing resources, but we call upon the Council to fund day care services fully from the millions they are tucking away for a rainy day: Conservative councillors need to wake up - it is already raining.

Southern Rail have axed all services on the Milton Keynes to Clapham Junction route, which serves Berkhamsted, Tring, Hemel Hempsted and Watford Junction. It is time for the Department of Transport to take responsibility for the ongoing fiasco that is the current Southern Rail service.

Thousands of rail users have been affected by this appalling operator. The reduced timetable and cuts are not a long-term solution. Commuters are taking hours to travel a short distance and businesses in our area are suffering as staff are unable to guarantee a timely arrival.

Pulling out of Hemp Lane, Wigginton onto A4251 (London Road) has been a growing problem for some time. Traffic comes fast up the main road from Cow Roast and a good view is essential for safety. However, visibility is limited by a length of iron railings along the side of the water pumping station grounds.

Housing and Planning Act

This is expected that to result in 200,000 new discounted starter homes.

The description of the houses that local councils are obliged to sell off in order to fund an extension of Right to Buy to housing association tenants was changed from "high value" to "higher value" houses. The Local Government Association (LGA) expects this will in practice mean more larger properties will be sold off. One concession made (in response to the National Housing Federation) was to allow it to be voluntary on housing associations whether or not they took up Right to Buy

The cost of removing rotting teeth in children and teenagers has risen by two thirds in just 5 years. Multiple tooth extraction in under-18s accounted for 41,000 procedures in 2014/15 and now cost the NHS £35 million a year.

There are well-documented links between sugar consumption and childhood obesity and between sugary drinks and childhood tooth decay. Young people in the UK consume more sugary soft drinks than anywhere else in Europe. Under-10s get a fifth of their sugar intake from soft drinks and 11- to 18-year olds get nearly a third.

By a margin of just 3.8% the majority view in the Referendum was that we should "leave the European Union". I cannot, and you would not expect me to, conceal my bitter disappointment at this decision.

Whilst I respect that a small majority voted to Leave, whilst I accept that the result cannot be ignored and whilst I realise that a new Conservative government will probably implement this decision, I have the right to continue to maintain - along with 48.1% of the voters - that this decision was profoundly mistaken. It was contrary to the national interest of the United Kingdom and it is likely to be deeply damaging to our economy, culture and society.