The plan to secure a major community facility for north Chelmsford took a few more steps forwards this last week. Cllrs. Stephen Robinson and Jude Deakin attended a number of meetings and spoke to a number of the key players in order to secure a future for the former St Peter's College, in Fox Crescent.

The working group considering the future of the former St Peter's college met today. Local Lib Dem Councillors Stephen Robinson and Jude Deakin briefed the group on meetings they had attended with council officers in recent weeks.

Representatives of the community groups present drew up a list of facilities that local groups would like to see on the site as part of any future development. Further discussions will be held with Chelmsford Council planning officers in the weeks ahead before the next working group in mid-October.

Lib Dem MP David Laws says the Coalition still has the potential to be one of the great reforming governments of the post war era.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced on Monday that there will be up to £10m additional support for Pupil Premium children who leave primary school without Level 4 literacy - the expected level. Benefiting most, if not all Chelmsford Primary Schools with additional cash resulting in an improved education for pupils in Chelmsford.

In a keynote speech to teachers and school leaders, he said that the Education Endowment Foundation will be awarding the money to pilot projects to help disadvantaged pupils make the transition from primary to secondary school. The money will be targeted at struggling Year 7s from deprived homes.

"How can a child start secondary school unable to read with confidence?" declared Nick. "That is a basic building block of a good education and no child should begin the race so far behind the starting line. We need to do everything we can to help these children through this transition to get them up to speed.
"That is a responsibility the government takes extremely seriously. And I can confirm that the Education Endowment Foundation will shortly be inviting groups of local schools, in the areas that suffer most with this problem, to bid for extra funds for struggling Year 7s from deprived homes to help them get their reading and writing up to scratch. Extra 'catch up cash', if you like.
"We envisage that schools will want to use it for small catch up classes, or one-to-one tuition, or vouchers for literacy tuition that parents can spend. We will run a proper evaluation, sharing what works with all schools not just those areas taking part in these pilots. It's likely this kind of targeted support is the best way to crack this problem - next year we'll know.
"Of course, we hope as few pupils as possible need it, thanks to the Pupil Premium. And I know primary and secondary schools up and down the country are determined to make this work.
"Some are using the money for breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. Some are funding counselling services, so troubled kids are in the right place, emotionally, to learn. Some are using it for educational visits to places like museums: the sort of experiences middle class children take for granted but poorer child might rarely enjoy."

Nick also announced that he wants to "strike a deal between the Coalition government and our schools and teachers. Teachers who help these children unlock the doors that otherwise hold them back ... they are the key to an open and fair society ... the key to the opportunity Britain I am determined we build."

The best teachers will be offered incentives to work in schools that have large numbers of disadvantaged pupils. The government will ask the School Teachers Review Body to look at giving other schools the same flexibility Academies currently have to use pay to hold on to the best teachers.

Also, from next year, there will be Pupil Premium Awards for the 50 schools that do the best to boost the performance of their poorest pupils and narrow the gap - with cash prizes of up to £10,000 for the best of the best.

It was announced this morning that the Queen is to confer City status on Chelmsford to mark Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee. Deputy Prime Minister (& Lib Dem Leader) Nick Clegg made the announcement today, before he took Prime Minister's Questions at noon.

Chelmsford was one of 23 towns in the running for the honour. When the Lib Dems were running Chelmsford Council, a bid was made in 2001 and previous Group Leader, Mike Mackrory, pushed the council to back this current bid.

The junction of Rainsford Road / South Primrose Hill / Mace Walk is highlighted for action by Cllr Jude Deakin.

Jude has repeatedly asked for a safe crossing at this junction. Essex County Council Highways have agreed to investigate and report back to her. Jude said, "Having requested the Council to investigate this for several years, at last it looks as if it will be. What we need now is a firm commitment from Highways to put a safe crossing in place quickly before we have a fatal accident".

Action is being taken to support businesses in Chelmford's West End. The businesses between the station and the County Hotel have been badly affected by the changes in traffic flow through this side of Chelmsford. There is now just one route in and another one out.

County Cllr Jude Deakin met with local business representatives and council officers to ensure the voices of the traders were heard as part of any consultation in the area such as traffic and parking issues. Better signage to direct people to the businesses in the area was agreed and should be appearing very soon.

The Kings Road Action Group (KRAG) had its latest meeting and progress update report this afternoon. The Group was set up to push for improvements to the neighbourhood around Kings Road and North Avenue, Chelmsford.

The meeting heard that the outline plan to improve the Kings Road shopping parade is still being written by the Council. Other items discussed included: possible improvements to grass verges and litter picking; how to keep people informed about the Group, and a possible street party in North Avenue to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June 2012.

Parents at Tanglewood Nursery School, in Melbourne Avenue north Chelmsford, have collected a petition to improve road safety. They are calling for an urgent highways review in the area to provide for a safer crossing, in particular for those approaching from the Anderson Avenue side of Melbourne Avenue, and would like a 20 mph restriction to be imposed.

A turf war between Chelmsford Council and Essex Council is being blamed for slow progress on Residents' Parking schemes. In Townfield Street, Primrose Hill / South Primrose Hill, and Marconi / Bishop Road, there is already agreement about what might help ease the pressures. However the list of "schemes" waiting to be progressed or even considered is now approaching 200! No acceptable timetable is in sight.

Local charity 'Kids Inspire' provides crucial support to many vulnerable children and young people in Chelmsford and has the full backing of your local Liberal Democrats. Recently, Swiss Avenue resident and former Lib Dem Councillor Trevor Nunn completed a sponsored round-Britain sail for them and raised over £1,500.