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Stephen Robinson and team win in north Chelmsford |
Mike Mackrory working for Springfield |
Jude Deakin campaigning for west Chelmsford |
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Lib Dems for a fairer society and a stronger economy, enabling everyone to get on in life. |
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North Chelmsford campaigner Tom Smith-Hughes
Tom Smith-Hughes addressing the group campaigning to reopen Broomfield Parade Post Office in 2005
Tom was Essex County Councillor for Chelmsford North, for 27 years and a Chelmsford Councillor for Patching Hall for 13 years until his death on 18th April 2012. Living locally in the area, he campaigned on many local issues, including Post Office closures, saving bus services and for CCTV at shopping parades and was a governor at local schools.
On the County Council, he was Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group for seven years and Chairman of the General Scrutiny Committee. There the Lib Dems hold the Conservative Group to account for their mismanagement of issues, such as potholes, Council Tax rises, traffic congestion, school meals and school transport.
A key local issue is fighting the threat from the Conservatives of massive housing development in North Chelmsford. See the planning page.
Recent news items from Tom Smith-Hughes
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Article: Apr 25, 2012A Memorial Service for Cllr. Tom Smith-Hughes will take place at Chelmsford Cathedral on Tuesday 8 May at 2.45 pm. (Map and directions.) Refreshments afterwards.
This service will follow a private family funeral. Instead of flowers, and for those wishing to make a donation in Tom's memory, there are now dedicated webpages. The family has suggested one of the following:- -
Article: Apr 5, 2012A multi-sport hard court will be provided for local people in Andrews Park, north Chelmsford as part of a lasting Olympic legacy. Chelmsford Council made a successful funding bid to Sport England for the provision of two "Adizones".
The Adizone is part of a wider program of works to improve the existing tennis courts, access, car parking and landscape improvements such as additional tree planting. The completion of the scheme is scheduled for mid June 2012 to optimise the Olympic legacy context, with construction starting during mid April.
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Article: Jan 24, 2012The future of post offices across the country has been secured by Government action, funding and a new agreement between Royal Mail and the Post Office. Chelmsford Lib Dem Stephen Robinson, who campaigned alongside Cllr. Tom Smith-Hughes and others to save local Post Offices welcomed the news. He said, "This demonstrates the Lib Dem commitment to ensure a sustainable future for Royal Mail and Post Offices.
"Post Offices are a vital part of our communities and are visited by over 20 million people every week. Under past Conservative and Labour governments the service suffered, with thousands closing. Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have stopped closures and put Royal Mail and the Post Office on a secure footing." -
Article: Oct 12, 2011Conservatives at Essex County Council have rejected a proposal by the Liberal Democrats to open up the Council, let the public speak directly to Councillors at Council meetings, and to ask questions about the work of the Council. This decision was made at a debate on public participation at a meeting of the Full Council Tuesday 11 October 2011.
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Article: Oct 8, 2011Chelmsford Council is processing two major planning applications, and expects another, in the North West Chelmsford area. These include an application for 135 houses east of Patching Hall Lane/north of Essex Avenue and 223 houses south of School Lane, Broomfield. Another is expected soon for over 200 homes north of Copperfield Road. These applications were anticipated in principle following the approval by the Council of the North Chelmsford Area Action Plan in July.
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Article: Dec 17, 2010
At the full county council meeting on Tuesday, Lib Dem Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, Leader of the Opposition at County Hall, called for all salaries above £80,000 to be reviewed. Councillors agreed a watered-down proposal, which agreed to review senior managers' pay, but mentioned no specific cut-off figure. Full story in Chelmsford Weekly News.
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Article: Dec 6, 2010
Essex County Council has announced plans to sell off its residential children's care homes to private companies or voluntary groups. Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes told the BBC, "The county council, legally and morally, has responsibility for these children. There are issues that need to be addressed but it must be done on the basis of what is in the best interests of the children." Full story on BBC website.
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Article: Feb 25, 2010
Council tax payers in Chelmsford town centre face a much higher council tax rise than in the areas with parish councils. The average increase in Chelmsford Borough's Council Tax is 2.9% but the unparished (town) area - some 40% of the Borough residents - will be hit by a massive 5.9% increase when most people have seen no increase in their incomes.
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Article: Feb 9, 2010Less money for the County Council's corporate image, publicity and spin; more on addressing the serious failings in basic services, such as safeguarding vulnerable children. That was the Liberal Democrat message at the Budget Meeting of Essex County Council today [9 February].
Speaking about the Conservative Administration's Budget, Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes (Chelmsford North, Liberal Democrat Group Leader) said:
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Article: Dec 17, 2009
Essex County Council has been rated by OFSTED as 'poorly performing' in children's services, particularly as regards safeguarding, for the second year running. At this week's meeting of the whole Council there was unanimous support for a Liberal Democrat motion requesting that all county councillors should make the safeguarding of vulnerable children the highest priority.