I’ve just come back from a really enjoyable picnic on the Homesteads estate and thanks and appreciation must go to John Davies and everyone who had a part in organising such a brilliant afternoon.  I hope it becomes an annual event!

It’s great to see a community come together and enjoy themselves.  The theme for the event was “getting to know you” and it was fantastic for me to meet so many residents in an informal way…rather than knocking on your door and interrupting your dinner!

For those who met me for the first time today , I hope you will feel comfortable contacting me about issues in your area. I also hope you enjoyed my home baking!

The council’s consultation document for a new way of running your council has been released.  You can read more about it here:

http://www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk/news/000071/have_your_say_on_how_your_council_operates.html

My Lib Dem colleagues and I support option 3, maintaining the current system of committees.  This is because we were elected to speak up for you and put your views across, not put all decisions in the hands of a few portfolio-holding councillors who you may not have elected.

One of the arguments the Conservatives have put up for the cabinet system is that decisions will happen faster.  Well, not necessarily as many decisions go through after a statutory consultation process and, in all honesty, can you say that if you’ve made a quick decision yourelf in the past that it has always been the right one?

Call me, or Cllr David Kendall on 07768 667 824, with your views.

I don’t know about you, but I have serious Olympics withdrawal symptoms this morning, but at least it is comforting to know that Team GB excelled themselves and are coming home today with an incredible 19 gold medals!

Perhaps the most exciting ones for me were the Becky Adlington golds as they were unexpected.  I even set the alarm for 3am to watch her second gold!  I also enjoyed the modern pentathlon where we got a brilliant silver.  And handsome Ben Ainslie has always been great to watch - a third gold for him too!

Young Tom Daley is also a fantastic role model in my eyes.   At just 14, he finished a very respectable 7th in the 10m diving and got some excellent scores.  I’ve said before that there are plenty of things for young people to do if they are minded to do so and not just in the high profile sports, with martial arts and biking events included in the games there are many options for sporting success, without having to spend a fortune on equipment.

So now the world looks to London in 2012 and I wonder what sort of games it will be.  I certainly hope it fulfills the original vision of an inclusive and vibrant games and let’s hope for that third place in the medal table and 20+ golds!

If you want to take a detailed look at the plans for William Hunter Way, including a photo gallery and a Q&A, just follow this link: http://www.williamhunterway.co.uk/

Please tell me your thoughts on the proposal.

I’ve just been to look at the virtually completed works at the play area and, I must say, I think it looks extremely good and will certainly be hard to climb into!  Hopefully, this will put an end to the anti-social behaviour neighbours have been encountering and the area can be used by the little ones for fun, just as it should be!

More trees and shrubs will be planted when appropriate to finally complete this worthwhile project.

Last night, I was a guest on Mike Le Surf and Julie Morrissey’s Phoenix FM show “Centre Ground” (or “Middle Earth” as Julie would have it).  I had my “work hat” on (promoting Consumer Direct) rather than my “councillor hat” and I was telling anyone who would listen about Consumer Direct, the government service which gives clear, practical and impartial consumer advice.

I was pleased to be able to offer some consumer advice to fellow guest, Louise, on a number of items.  The advice (from one of the highly trained Consumer Direct advisors) seems to be helping her get a fair result on a number of consumer issues that she was experiencing.

I’ve noticed in the news that there are problems with some local residents who have booked tickets on-line for the V Festival, only to find that they haven’t materialised.  If this affects you, or you have any other consumer issue from a problem with a builder to a pair of shoes that fell apart after one wear, then do call on 08454 04 05 06 or visit the website, www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.

Thanks again to Mike and Julie for inviting me on again!  Don’t forget, you can listen to Phoenix FM at www.phoenixfm.com.

This evening I was pleased to have the opportunity to tour the new hospital in Crescent Drive, Lib Dem Deputy Leader Cllr Barry Aspinell also joined in the tour.

It is an extremely impressive health facility with everything looking clean, modern and bright.  It’s clear that the team have worked very hard to make the hospital work and key areas I was impressed with include:

• Patient rooms, which have a maximum of four beds and are single-sex wards, with wonderful views
• A comprehensive physiotherapy department with state-of-the-art equipment.
• A roomy audiology facility
• A good number of waiting areas, moving patients through the hospital process
• A meeting room facility for local healthcare groups and charities.

It’s a place where you wouldn’t mind being looked after and I hope that it lives up to all our expectations!

The staff certainly seem enthusiastic on getting going!

Well done to all involved.

Last December, Lib Dem leader Cllr David Kendall put forward a motion to undertake a full public consultation in Vision when the final plans for William Hunter were received.   

Predictably, the conservative majority, including Cllr Russell Quirk, voted against this proposal and, therefore, only residents living near the proposed site will be formally consulted. 

So, you can imagine how astonished we were to see him go to the press asking residents to fully engage in the consultation and to email him with their views!  

If he had voted for our motion, then a formal consultation would shortly be underway!

As my colleague, Cllr Ross Carter, Brentwood North, said, the proposed development will impact on a much wider audience than those in the immediate vicinity and is about the future of Brentwood.

I’ll keep you updated on the progress of the plans, which are still with officers for determination at the moment.  Please do get involved in the consultation and do tell me your views.

For the full story, see:

http://www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk/news/000068/tories_town_centre_consultation_irony.html 

I’d like to congratulate the pupils at Holly Trees Primary School for their very well deserved success in Brentwood in Bloom.  They were judged as joint winners of the Best Environment Project category.

I was once a judge for this competition and I know how stringently marked it is, especially in the educational category! 

So, well done on all your hard work and long may you reign!!!

Recently, it was reported that thieves had been making off with road signs, supposedly to sell them for their scrap metal value.

Most of the signs were stolen from the Doddinghurst Road area, but it seems they have been at work in Brentwood West too!

Thank you to Sharon, the resident who asked where the Westwood Avenue sign had gone!  I’ve asked for a new one to be ordered and it should be in place by the end of August.