Britain must lead the way by acting now to protect our natural environment, clean up our air and cut our carbon emissions.

We really can't wait for the Govt to get their act together. We need a national climate action plan NOW - to complement the work we are already doing in places like Chelmsford. (See the Chelmsford City Council Climate Action Plan.)

Chelmsford City Council has planted 30,000 trees across the district over the last two years, as part of the Lib Dem pledge to deliver a greener Chelmsford.

The Council is also investing in its parks and green spaces

Memorial garden for Hanbury family re-opens in Chelmsford's Hylands Park.

A memorial garden has been restored in Chelmsford's Hylands Park giving residents of all ages a place for quiet reflection. The reinstated garden was originally created by the Hanbury family, the last private owners of the estate. The City Council worked with the Friends of Hylands House to restore the Hanbury Memorial Garden, and also refurbished the One World Garden in Hylands Park.

A plan has been announced that will deliver additional units of genuinely-affordable homes in Chelmsford, by the Lib Dem-led City Council. A draft Housing Strategy is now out for consultation, as part of the Liberal Democrat ambition to deliver a fairer Chelmsford.

The draft Housing Strategy 2021-2026 seeks to address the gaps, where the "Chelmsford Local Plan 2020-2036" will not deliver enough, genuinely-affordable homes, to address the housing crisis in Chelmsford. This Housing Strategy is about what the City Council will deliver working with partners. In particular,

"The tragic loss of 72 lives in the Grenfell fire was a dark moment for our country and the cladding scandal that emerged emboldened me to stand up for the rights of all those living in unsafe buildings," writes Lib Dem Peer Kath Pinnock.

That event also was a lightning rod for the wider public and put a sharp focus on the quality of housing that many people live in - particularly in more densely populated urban areas.

A call for real action in Essex (especially in schools) to combat violence against women and girls has been rejected. Essex Lib Dems tabled a motion at the County Council meeting on 13 July. The Conservatives pushed through an amendment that patted themselves on the back for (limited) actions to date, added vague generalities and removed all the action points that would affect education.

Conservative MPs - including Children's Minister and Chelmsford MP Vicky Ford - have broken their 2019 manifesto pledge by voting to cut overseas aid from 0.7% to 0.5% of national income. Former Conservative Prime Minister John Major criticised the decision, saying, "The Government has blatantly broken its word, and should be ashamed of its decision."

On Thursday 17 June the Liberal Democrats gained a 25% swing in Chesham and Amersham to elect Sarah Green as MP. On that swing, the Lib Dems would easily win in Chelmsford.

The Lib Dems struck at the heart of the Conservatives' blue wall and took one of their safest seats. Liberal Democrats showed that they are a force to be reckoned with and a serious and credible opposition to this Conservative Government.