Rickmansworth: This weeks e-news from the local Liberal Democrats

Good News - Liberal Democrat-run Three Rivers is one of the local authorities allocated money from the High Street Innovation Fund. Our share is £100,000. The aim is that local authorities, government, businesses and communities work together to promote new models of prosperous and diverse high streets and confidence in local high streets. Among approaches suggested are business rate discounts for new start-up businesses taking on empty properties and persuading landlords to support new occupiers, filling empty properties and increasing local choice for the local community. If you have any ideas about how this money should be spent to achieve its aims, please let us know. ........................................

Local residents have raised various highways matters with us including the dangers of crossing over Homestead Road for pedestrians, crossing Northway to and from the car park, and the risk presented by cyclists illegally riding through the underpasses. Also, the need to replace the 2 way traffic sign in The Cross service road and make a safer crossing there for pedestrians going to the bus stop has been emphasized.These have all been raised with Herts Highways by us and we will report back on what action is proposed. ............................................................

At the Joint Highways Panel Meeting last night it was confirmed that the Conservative-run County Council plans to go ahead with abolishing the local Highways Panels where members of the public can present petitions and have their say. Instead all decisions will be made in private by county councillors and council officers. We think this is undemocratic and we strongly disagree with the exclusion of the public from the process. We have always found residents very interested in and concerned about local highways issues.