I receive frequent complaints about the very poor state of the carriageway surface of the roundabout at Fairlands Way/Verity Way, sometimes on local Facebook sites. Be assured that I have been taking this important problem up with HCC for about 2 years now.

Following on from Councillor Parker’s post a few days ago I wanted to provide a bit more information on the process of applying to have the footpaths within Box Wood recognised as public Rights of Way.

The process of designating these as footpaths is known as a Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO). The application for a DMMO is submitted to Hertfordshire County Council who will then assess the evidence, consult with interested parties (applicants, landowners, parish and district councils) and make a decision.

Local Stevenage Liberal Democrat councillors became aware a few weeks ago of the proposed sale by auction of plots of woodland in parts of Boxwood. Like some others, we have researched the facts from both East Herts District Council (EHDC) and the Forestry Commission.

Liberal Democrats have called on Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland to back calls for a review of the no-deal Brexit impact assessments in light of the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter addressed to the MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson Lisa Nash for the Stevenage Constituency said: "as the Prime Minister continues to refuse to rethink his position on accepting an extension to the transition period, it is time the facts were laid bare about what this will mean for our country."

Stevenage Liberal Democrats described as “very disappointing – but not unexpected” the announcement this week by the Conservative Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, that he would not to ‘call in’ two recent, controversial planning applications for housing developments in Gresley Park and Forster Country.

Liberal Democrats are calling for an independent inquiry into deaths of care home residents from COVID-19 in Hertfordshire. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) say Hertfordshire has one of the highest care homes death tolls from Coronavirus. Hertfordshire Lib Dems have estimated that as many as 500 care home residents may have died from COVID-19 in Hertfordshire.

Although there are 235 deaths listing COVID 19 registered in Hertfordshire between 10th April and 15th May according the Office of National Statistics, Herts Liberal Democrats have calculated that as many as 500 deaths are likely to have occurred according to figures that the County Council has collected from care homes. The Liberal Democrats have also raised concerns that a far higher number of deaths have occurred in care homes in Watford and Hertsmere than in other districts.

The County has to give stronger guidance in helping schools how and when to reopen.

The evidence is clear. Because of the failure to provide adequate testing arrangements, the Government has no scientific basis on which to tell Primary Schools that they should reopen on 1st June. Each and every school has been forced to carry out its own risk assessment in deciding when it will be appropriate to reopen. This must be based on the physical limitations of the school buildings, the number of staff who are able and prepared to come back to their classrooms, and most importantly the number of parents willing to send their children to school. The County Council has to make it clearer to every school that it should feel under no pressure to open unless all these conditions are met.

The Liberal Democrats have written to Stephen McPartland urging him to “end the distractions” and support calls for scandal-hit Dominic Cummings to go, so the country can focus on the coronavirus emergency. 

In the letter Lisa Nash, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Stevenage Constituency, urges him to “put the interests of your constituents first, end the distractions and join the growing number of Conservative MPs who are calling for Dominic Cummings to go.”

The call comes alongside Liberal Democrat demands for an independent inquiry into the Government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis, while several Conservative MPs have also broken cover to call for Dominic Cummings to quit, amid claims he broke coronavirus lockdown rules twice.

[updated 14 August 2020]

The government advises the public to wear a face covering in several circumstances.

Face coverings do not protect you from contracting coronavirus but they do provide some protection to other people you come into contact with. You can read the UK government advice here.