West Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats - Working for Hertfordshire, for Britain and for You!

The UK must do better in separating paper grades and types of plastic. For many years now the Chinese government has been increasing quality standards for the recyclates it imports from the UK.

Starting with their national quality campaign Green Fence, aimed at raising the quality of imported recyclates the Chinese government has now moved on to a tough industrial inpection regime called National Sword. Any paper mill or plastics recycler found with sub-standard recyclate on the premises is simply shut down - on the spot.

Sally Symington, Chair of West Herts Liberal Democrats, has well and truly shaken up Conservative complacency in Berkhamsted where she nearly took a Dacorum Borough Council seat in the recent by-election.

In her first serious foray into borough politics Sally swooped down from Potten End to come within 47 votes of winning the vacant seat in the DBC Ward of Berkhamsted West.

Thursday evening saw a landslide win in the Chorleywood South & Maple Cross Ward of Three Three Rivers Council, ensuring that the council remains in Liberal Democrat control

In a hard fought campaign Phil Williams stormed to victory with a 64% share of the vote. The turnout was 38%. This is rather high for a council by-election and reflects both the interest of the electors and the quality of the Liberal Democrat campaign.

O n Wednesday night Berkhamsted Liberal Democrats were celebrating a remarkable near miss in the recent County Council elections.

The campaign had been fought by the Liberal Democrats on two main issues.

The first was that the political representation was completely out of balance with opinion in the town.

Liberal Democrat Herts County Councillor Mark Watkin, Opposition Spokesperson for Children's Services, has tabled the following motion about the proposed closure of Nascot Lawn Childrens Respite and Care Centre.

It will be debated at the next meeting of the County Council in support of a petition which will be presented by parents and families. The high quality respite services provided by Nascot Lawn are a lifeline for those who are caring at home for a child or sibling with complex needs who are dependant on the services.

In the General Election on June 8th, in which the Liberal Democrats saw their parliamentary representation go up from 8 seats to 12 - a 50% increase - Sally Symington and the Hemel Hempstead Lib Dem team achieved a respectable result.

The vote share increased by 1.3% as, against expectations, the Liberal Democrats saved their deposit and gained ground across the constituency.

Figures released at the end of June showed that household borrowing continues to grow as hard pressed families try to maintain their spending. Unsecured consumer credit increased by £1.7 billion during the month of May 2017.

The rough total of UK personal debt is now £1.6 trillion - a staggering £57,000 per household.

Crossrail, which will run from Reading in the west and across London to Shenfield in the east - with a branch to Abbey Wood in North Kent - is to be officially named the Elizabeth Line.

The first trains were introduced into service last month on the line between Liverpool Street and Shenfield and are first instalment of the 66-strong fleet of Class 345s to operate in the capital.

By autumn 2017, 11 trains will be running on the route.