Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats Call for Closer Links Between Young People and Local County Councillors

Liberal Democrats have raised the problem of the lack of contact between young people and their own local county councillors. While there are formalised contacts at county level, and some good work done with district councillors, there is real issue about the lack of dialogue with the county councillors themselves - and who are actually best placed to respond to their concerns.

Liberal Democrat County Councillor Chris White (St Albans Central) said: 'It is vital that young people have direct access to county councillors who collectively are responsible for so many of the services that matter to them, from transport to mental health.

Currently the county council almost goes out of its way to make sure that county councillors do not meet members of youth councils. We need to get away from the current thinking under which young people's views are filtered through council officials.'

Nick Hollinghurst, County Councillor for Tring and the Villages added, "It is essential to make politics and civil involvement relevant to young people. Five years ago in Tring, I was part of a cross-party group of councillors, with myself handling negotiations with Herts County Council, put together a successful bid to refurbish some redundant HCC property. Now the town has a thriving youth centre.

Tring has also had a successful Youth Council for over 20 years - again set up with cross-party support. The picture shows me with some of our Youth Council members in Tring's Town Council Chamber."