St Albans Liberal Democrats

It looks as though the long wait for the final decision on the proposed lorry terminal in Park Street will soon be over.

The witnesses at the most recent Public Inquiry into Helioslough's proposal and other interested parties have just received a letter from the Department for Communities and Local Government which says:

One of our longest-standing and popular events, the Quiz Supper is back again!

As usual it great fun and a great challenge too with questions from every aspect of life: music, history, geography, TV, film... and even politics!

A fish and chip supper will be served at 'half time' and we will run a licensed bar so you may purchase wine, beer and soft drinks from our own team bar.

Rather than adding clarity to the future for St Albans Judo Club and The Pioneer, last week's meeting of the County's Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the future of the Ariston Site off Harpenden Road has led local Liberal Democrat Counillors to accuse the Conservatives at both the District and County Council of being "too vague" with their promises to support these community groups.

Attempts to prevent 12 staff from being made redundant to save just £41,000 were scuppered this week after the Conservatives voted to get rid of the Schools Library Service.

During the debate on the cabinet decision at a scrutiny meeting on Wednesday 25th January, the Liberal Democrat group highlighted that the closure of the service had been agreed without any reference to the County's own Education and Skills Cabinet Panel, despite the service being used exclusively by Hertfordshire's schools.

With the Olympics just around the corner, the Liberal Democrats are fighting hard to ensure that a number of local sport groups aren't made homeless by a decision made at the County Council to sell off the land which they use: the former Ariston Works Site at Harpenden Road.

On Tuesday, members of Hertfordshire County Council's Overview & Scrutiny Committee visited the site to find out more about the site and the groups that use it. They were told that St Albans Judo Club has produced a number of national medal winners and the Pioneer Skate Park has hosted the Girl Skate Jam UK. Some of the councillors seemed visibly shocked when they heard how many young people used the facilities and the wide range of activities taking place there.

Herts Lib Dems have condemned waste by Conservative-run Herts Highways after a pedestrian crossing count - intended to assess the need for a new crossing that could potentially serve three Watford schools - failed to spot any schoolchildren using the road.

The traffic count took place in Woodside Road, Leavesden at the request of Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst. The date was set by Herts Highways.

Emergency radio broadcasts could be jeopardised by BBC plans to turn off medium wave radio transmitters and lay off local reporters, council leaders warned today.

In times of crisis such as flooding, severe weather or other major emergencies, town halls and their partner police and fire authorities often rely on local radio to keep residents informed and issue safety advice.

In a first for the County Council, St Albans North Lib Dem Councillor Allan Witherick has secured a review of the decision by the Conservative Executive at County Hall to sell off a significant plot of land in St Albans, the Ariston Site on Harpenden Road, by the County Council's Overview & Scrutiny Committee, through the "Councillor Call for Action" procedure.

Plans for the relocation of the New Barnfield Performing Arts library have been pushed through by Herts County Council, despite the head of Hertfordshire Libraries recently admitting to local Lib Dem councillor Malcolm Cowan that only one third of the collection will remain on display when the new arrangements come into effect.