A wide range of community improvements costing £10.2 million can now go ahead, following a vote of the Lib Dem led Chelmsford City Council's Cabinet on 8 September 2020.

The following projects will benefit from the funding:

• Affordable housing initiatives, including the infrastructure at Chelmer Waterside to maximise housing delivery
• 28 projects for improvements and investments across the city's parks, green spaces and strategic sports facilities
• Tindal Square pedestrianisation
• Beaulieu Secondary School
• A range of GP surgery improvements

Boats could get access to the centre of Chelmsford for the first time in many decades, following a decision of the Lib Dem led Chelmsford City Council's Cabinet on Tuesday 8 September. Councillors agreed to commission a detailed feasibility study into replacing flood gates to the east of the city centre and adding lock-gates. This would allow boats to pass further west, up the rivers Chelmer and Can.

If found to be feasible, replacing the automatic flood defence gates and adding a lock should allow the whole stretch of the River Chelmer from the Heybridge Basin through Chelmsford to be navigated. Currently boats cannot navigate any further than the weir gates, situated near the Essex Record Office.

The automatic gates were built during the 1960s and are mainly used to retain water in the river by the city centre. Without them, water levels would be very low and even non-existent in some parts each Summer. They are currently operated by the Environment Agency (EA) however, the EA has indicated that it can no longer justify the continued maintenance of the gates.

Cabinet Member for Greener and Safer Chelmsford, Councillor Rose Moore, said, "Improving our waterways is a key objective in the Council's new 'Our Chelmsford, Our Plan' and I am delighted that we are delivering on that objective. The City Council's Waterways Working Group is promoting this plan as one way to improve and encourage the varied use of the city's waterways and adjacent paths and open spaces, and we want to engage the wider waterway user community.

"One of the key aims of the Working Group has been finding ways to enable navigation to the upper Chelmer. I am pleased that Cabinet has now agreed to develop these studies further."

Lib Dem Leader of Chelmsford City Council, Cllr Stephen Robinson, said, "Enabling boats to access central Chelmsford's waterways has long been an aspiration for many of us. There are still a number of further steps to take before this becomes reality. However, this full feasibility survey will enable the Council to assess the viability, design solution and full costs, before deciding whether the scheme should be taken forward. This is a positive step forward and we look forward to seeing the detailed feasibility study

New Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey has set out his plans for a greener, fairer and more caring country. Upon his election he said, "I stand for social justice, equality and protecting our environment.

I stand for fairness, political reform and for fighting to protect the rights of ordinary people.

I'm determined that our Party backs a Britain that works with other countries across the world for peace and prosperity.

Due to the coronavirus crisis, young people have not only had to adapt to a new system of at-home learning, but many have also missed out on sitting crucial exams that would decide their university fate.

Now, many of these students across England have been left rightly worried about their futures over the government's decision to use a botched grading system in their A-level results.

The whole Chelmsford community is being encouraged to come together to help combat climate change. Chelmsford City Council has created a new role of Climate Ambassador and appointed Councillor Tom Willis to the position.

Councillor Willis will work closely with Councillor Rose Moore, the Cabinet Member for Greener and Safer Chelmsford, and the Love Your Chelmsford team, to engage with the wider community about the climate emergency and the role we must all play.

More Chelmsford businesses that are suffering a significant fall in income due to coronavirus, can now apply for a grant. Chelmsford City Council has launched a third and final round of Discretionary Business Support Grants.

The policy has been revised to bring additional businesses into scope and will increase the funding grants, on top of the £31 million that has already been paid out. Previous applicants do not need to apply again, as the Council will look at all applications to see if businesses qualify under the new terms of the scheme.

A new bridge and access road is being proposed for Chelmsford's waterside area, where the Rivers Chelmer and Can meet near Wharf Road. The public now have a first chance to comment on the proposals.

Interested parties are invited to give their feedback on these infrastructure proposals in an online consultation that will run until midday Monday 24 August 2020. Visit Chelmsford Waterside to see a video of the proposals, read the documents, make comments and register to be notified when the planning application for this scheme is submitted.

The area, near the Essex Record Office, was identified in the Chelmsford Local Plan (which was adopted in May 2020) as a key location for housing development in the city centre. It is made up of various parcels of land, including the former gas works site. There is the potential to deliver up to 970 new homes over the next ten years.

The proposed new access road and bridge are required to provide local access to the new neighbourhood. Later this year, a planning application will be submitted. Before the application is submitted, the City Council is engaging with residents, businesses and stakeholders to set out the key issues that will be considered as part of the planning application for the road and bridge project.

Councillor Chris Davidson, Cabinet Member for a Fairer Chelmsford, said, "There is an opportunity to turn a former industrial site into a great new quarter with homes, businesses and public areas on the waterfront. We are determined to ensure that we put in attractive infrastructure first, so this is a real improvement to the centre of our city."

Chelmsford Council's 3foot People Festival has teamed up with Love Your Chelmsford and put together a 3foot Recycling Activity Pack.

Designed for pre-school aged children, the pack aims to teach our younger generations about the importance of recycling and encourages them to try out some activities at home to help reduce and reuse their family's waste.