Tring Liberal Democrats enjoyed a lively pre-Christmas Social Evening in Wigginton last Saturday, 8th December. As the Party prepares for a resumption of political campaigning in the Spring a series of planning and social events have been arranged between January and Easter. Last Saturday's event was a successful trial run with good conversation, fine wines and some interesting cheeses.
Abellio train operator Greater Anglia today, Monday, 10th December 2012, introduced a new hourly service between Ipswich and Lowestoft after work to install a passing loop was completed at Beccles. The £4m scheme, jointly funded by Network Rail and Suffolk County Council, has brought a previously disused platform at Beccles station back into use.
"European Union leaders are struggling to find a way out of their immediate difficulties without committing themselves to electorally unpopular long-term strategies. Years of panicky crisis management have taken their toll. Nobody at the top table has the nerve to deal seriously with blueprints, from whichever source, or roadmaps, to whichever destination. The current endeavour, indeed, is a scramble for the lowest common denominator of ambition and commitment.
Get In the Swing - the regular Tea Dances are celebrating in style, holding a themed 1920′s Tea Dance as part of the 90th Anniversary celebration for Chorleywood Memorial Hall. 1.30 - 4.00pm, on 5th January. £3 for dancers, £1.50 for non dancers, and carers are free. Refreshments will be available. There is a free first come, first served bus service from Croxley Green Community Car Park at 12.45pm and from Watersmeet at 1.00pm. For further information - ring Three Rivers District Council 776611, or www.threerivers.gov.uk. There will be more dances are on 12th February and 12th March, 2013
Get In the Swing - the regular Tea Dances are celebrating in style, holding a themed 1920′s Tea Dance as part of the 90th Anniversary celebration for Chorleywood Memorial Hall. 1.30 - 4.00pm, on 11th December. £3 for dancers, £1.50 for non dancers, and carers are free. Refreshments will be available. There is a free first come, first served bus service from Croxley Green Community Car Park at 12.45pm and from Watersmeet at 1.00pm. For further information - ring Three Rivers District Council 776611, or www.threerivers.gov.uk. Future dances are on 5th January, 12th February, 12th March
SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Greener transport, more reliable passenger trains, fewer lorries on the A14 and increased rail capacity are promised for the East of England by significant railfreight improvements at Nuneaton. The 16th November saw the completion of an important £30 million rail scheme contructed by engineering companies Atkins and Balfour Beatty. The 1 mile of track, bridges and a junction were jointly funded by the Coalition Government, Network Rail and the European Community's TEN-T programme. This short new freight line and flyover has been officially opened and now links the cross-regional Nuneaton - Felixstowe route to the West Coast Main Line.
Help where it's needed to encourage new jobs
South West Hertfordshire resident, Liberal Democrat Sharon Bowles MEP is already well known both as the powerful chair of Europe's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee. Now, after being chosen as MEP of the Year last month and then named by a Financial News publication as one of the '30 most Inspirational Women in the City of London' , she has been named by a poll across Europe's senior politicians and civil servants as "the most influencial Briton on and in European policy making".
Against expectation, the Conservative favourite for Hertfordshire in the ill-considered Police & Crime Commissioner elections failed to win 50% of the first preference votes. However, since the elections were held under a form of Proportional Representation (PR), second preference votes enabled David Lloyd for the Conservatives to achieve a majority of support in this poorly supported election.
The Watford Central Ward By-Electionwas caused by the standing down of one of the sitting Lib Dem councillors having obtained a job in the Midlands - meaning he had to resign his seat and move home. The resulting by-election campaign was remarkable for the barrage of Labour personal attacks against the Lib Dem candidate, deliberate misrepresentation and a curious attempt to use spurious legal measures to block Lib Dem participation in the election at all.
Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has announced radical reforms to parental leave, allowing both parents to share up to a year's leave to look after their new-born children.
