The planning application for a Lidl supermarket in Springfield has been refused, protecting the land from development. The proposal came as a shock to local residents and councillors alike, because the land is designated as Open Space in Chelmsford's recently-adopted Local Plan.

Members of the Planning Committee unanimously accepted all reasons for refusal outlined by officers and noted that development would breach Local and National Planning Policy. They agreed that loss of open space on the scale proposed and the impact of development would be devastating to biodiversity and could not be compensated for elsewhere.

Imagine a train pulls into Chelmsford station one evening. It's late, people are tired after a long day.

A white man leaves the train and starts walking home. He's thinking to himself about what he might have for dinner, listening to some music.

Next to him, a black man walks home. He knows people who've been stopped and searched by the police. Is he going to get to go straight home, or will he get held up, searched and questioned?

Essex Liberal Democrats have been campaigning alongside local residents to support our local community libraries.

After a massive campaign in 2018, Conservative-run Essex County Council put their plans to close a third of Essex libraries on hold. The county council pledged not to close any more libraries for five years.

Roads and pavement repairs need a radical overhaul. Too many people risk injury and discomfort because of the way Conservative-run Essex County Council manages our highways.

Lib Dems have long campaigned for action to repair roads and pavements. They voted to amend the budget to invest more in pavement repairs. However, the Conservatives instead voted to CUT the maintenance budget by £2.5 million for 2021-22.

Lib Dem county councillors have been spending their community grant budgets on projects that benefit their local communities.

Lib Dem County Councillor Jude Deakin nominated North Avenue Youth Club in Chelmsford to receive £1,000. This will cover the set up costs for a defibrillator outside the club. Cllr Deakin also nominated Chelmsford Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society, West Chelmsford Children's Centre and Tennyson Surgery Wellbeing Garden for grants.

Essex was one of the first areas in England to introduce community testing for coronavirus. An effective test, trace and isolate system is essential to slow the spread of coronavirus. Along with a vaccine it is a step towards a more normal life. Lib Dems have called repeatedly for the Government to fix Test and Trace. Yet month after month figures for contact tracing showed the government's system was not working. To be effective tests need to be turned around in 24 hours, and financial support must be given so people can self-isolate when asked to.

At Chelmsford City Council, the Lib Dem leadership have been keen to help local business recover from the pandemic. So they have worked with the "Click It Local" team to create a local alternative to those global shopping websites.

Said Council Leader Stephen Robinson, "Hopefully this can help independent businesses who have not set up their own online selling page; it's one of a number of initiatives from the City Council to help Chelmsford businesses."

Being a carer can be rewarding and full of love.

But it's far from glamorous. It can be relentless and exhausting.

900,000 full-time unpaid carers rely on Carer's Allowance - but at just £67.25 a week, it's not nearly enough. The Government's decision to increase Carer's Allowance by 5p a day is an insult to the millions of people looking after their loved ones.