South West Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats

Writing in the Bedford Bulletin, Liberal Democrat Mayor Dave Hodgson has highlighted some of the economic and social benefts of the now-completed Bedford Western Bypass, following its opening last month. He also looks back briefly at the successful effort to get the final section built and bring to an end over half a century of waiting for a full western bypass for Bedford.

Hertfordshire County Council Meeting 22nd March 2016

Question from Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst

"How many Failiure to Deliver Events have there been in the period of Ringway's contract and what is the total amount of the financial penalties imposed as a result from December 2014 to date?"

Answer from Cllr Terry Douris, Executive Member for Highways

Tring Local History Museum in the Market Place off Brook Street is always worth a visit, of course!

However to mark Her Majesty's 90th Birthday the museum is mounting a special display of memorabilia relating to the monarch's reign.

This will include mugs marking specific events, medallions produced in Tring and special coins struck for certain occasions.

Somewhat belated congratulations to local resident and Liberal Democrat, Sharon Bowles, who was proposed as a member of the House of Lords in the Dissolution Honours List last year.

Sharon, who lives in Bourne End in Hertfordshire, near Berkhamsted has been Liberal Democrat campaigner and parliamentary candidate in neighbouring Aylesbury since the 1980s. She has also been an activist and campaigner in Eastleigh and became an MEP for the South East in 2005 where she served with Catherine Bearder MEP.

Despite the unseasonable cold and wind and rain earlier this Spring, the Wigginton Gardeners Association managed to put on an excellent Spring Show last month.

It has to be admitted that the tulips were too late this year to be shown in any numbers, but the daffodils certainly seemed to thrive.

Perhaps we should not be too surprised at this, since daffodils are a flower normally associated with Wales and the upland North West - so they must have some in-bred resistance to more boisterous weather.

Getting exercise and keeping fit is an excellent way to maintain good health - and the photographs show a group of local residents doing just that.

They were taking part in a walk organised by the Tring & District Local History and Museum Society last month to celebrate the opening two new footpaths designated as Tring Town Footpaths 87 and 88.

Are you a business owner in Hertfordshire? This week is National Business Continuity Week 16-20 May

Herts County Council is encouraging all Herts businesses to get a plan to help protect your business!

What is business continuity? Business continuity planning ensures that your business can survive and recover from an incident, as well as keeping your reputation intact.

Cambridge North station is one of the infrastructure projects initiated by the Coalition Government to stimulate the economy. It is to be constructed at the Chesterton sidings on the Fen Line from Cambridge to Kings Lynn near the Cambridge Science Park, but the project has been subjected to several delays. Early warnings appeared in April 2010 when Conservative election literature meekly remarked that the station would never be built. This negative political stance might explain the subsequent handling of planning by the Conservative controlled Cambridge County Council (CCC).

Village life has always been valued for its closeness and sense of community and villagers come together in a variety of ways in different clubs, groups and associations. Principal among these are of course the Parish Church and the Village School.

But there are many smaller and less formal groups based on common interests or activities. They cut across differences in social circumstance and background and play an important part in strengthening the sense of identity, friendship and mutual support that makes villages such good places to be part of.