Just thought I would share this thank you note with you with reference to a much-delayed repair to a council fence:

 ”Dear Karen,….the fence has been fixed and they did a good job.  Thanks for your support, it was very much appreciated.

This is an example of local democracy where a councillor supports the people -well done!”

Of course, I appreciate that I’m here to help my residents with such issues, but it is always nice to feel appreciated!

I’ve been helping with a dog rescue in Junction Road this morning.

On the phone to my mum and suddenly she said “There’s a dog walking down the road on it’s own”. She dashed off to see what was happening, with no phone call after a minute or so I knew there was a problem so I shot over there (with spare lead and collar).

When I got there she had, with neighbours Alan & Judy, managed to catch said mutt and they were all in the garden with him. He was a huge Staffy, but friendly and happy.  He seemed well looked after so I hope he is reunited with his owners.  I will keep you posted.

As I’ve said before, a micro-chip would have enabled the dog warden to ring up the owner straight away.

UPDATE: Doggy reunited with owner and, even better news, when they scanned him again at Wallace Kennels he WAS chipped so the owner was contacted straight away!

I have a letter in the Brentwood Gazette today, here it is:

Dear Editor

Such a very one-sided view of the Conservatives’ refusal of planning permission for a Multi Use Games Area at Sawyers Hall College appeared in the Gazette (5th November) that the balance has to be sensibly redressed.Opposition councillors were particularly surprised to see this rejected as it was fully supported by the Conservative Mayor of

Brentwood, Cllr Dudley Payne, who sent a statement, read out in support of the application.Liberal Democrats have a strong record of standing up for the Green Belt, but a facility which would encourage young people to participate in sport is certainly not harmful to the green belt and, in our view, would be welcomed by the many residents who tell us there is nothing for their children to do. The application complied with all the relevant policies and was, therefore, recommended for approval.

Specifically, it was considered that the proposed development of a sports pitch would not have an unacceptable detrimental impact on enjoyment of the countryside, would not have resulted in the permanent loss of the best or most versatile agricultural land, would not have an unacceptable detrimental impact on a SSSI, a County Wildlife Site or an area of special landscape and would not have required unacceptably prominent ancillary facilities.Yes, it is appreciated that fencing and floodlighting would be required but not to an unacceptable level. The site benefits from existing tree screening and the fence constituted netting, not a palisade fence.

It’s a shame that the Conservatives did not apply the same attitude to the retrospective application for two classrooms on the Green Belt (recommended for refusal and approved by them) when we were considering an application for Woodlands School.

Cllr Karen Chilvers

Liberal Democrat Councillor, Brentwood West

I’m so pleased that this bus stop has finally been moved back to where it should be.  I received the news from a London Road resident who wrote to me to say:

“Dear Cllr Ms Chilvers

I am pleased to say I was able to catch a bus on Friday from the old Kavanaghs Road bus stop - thank you for all your help.

I hope whoever changed the stop is made FULLY aware of all the inconvenience and cost in time & money their “idea” had caused.”

I’ve certainly already made that point and I’m pleased to be able to have played a part in getting this result.

Last year, I spoke to a number of residents in Firsgrove Crescent about the parking situation in their road.  Since the Clements Park area was yellow lined, displaced cars were making parking in that road very difficult.

We all favoured residents parking so we were very surprised when the recommendation came back with a mixture of double yellow lines and residents parking.  In my view, and in the view of a number of objectors, this would compound the problem even further and make parking difficult for Firsgrove residents.

I’m pleased to say that I have, at tonight’s Highways Panel, been able to convince the committee to go back to the drawing board and revise the proposals.  I hope this means we will get the residents/permit parking that we all want.

On Tuesday night, the council granted a drinks licence to the Junction Cafe in Victoria Road.  The new owners had plans for this establishment which included live music and an evening bistro-style offering.

In the end, the live music licence wasn’t granted at this stage but I have high hopes for what they want to do in the evenings.  Not, as some may fear, a rowdy wine bar but the opportunity to sit down and enjoy a meal and a glass of wine.  I hope that this is a positive addition to the area, and I will be keeping a close eye in case it causes any problems, but this could be a benefit to the area.

Another month, another planning committee.  Another shoe-horned development turned down in Ingrave Road and a house extension in Hanging Hill Lane approved.

I am disappointed that the committee were not minded to approve a Multi Use Games Area in Sawyers Hall Lane at the college.  As a ward councillor, I am always being asked why there is not enough for youngsters to do in the evening but the Conservative majority turned down a solution in our town centre.

Although it is on green belt, the planning officers considered this to be an appropriate use of the area, as did I, however, most of the Conservatives didn’t agree.  This was a bit of a surprise, given that the Mayor of Brentwood, Cllr Dudley Payne, wrote a letter of support for the facility, read out at the committee, saying that this should be approved for the good of the community.

Oh well!

Power to the people!

I’m delighted to report that the Conservatives have had to do a fairly big about-turn and give up on their preference to go to a Cabinet System for Brentwood Council.  This would have seen a small clique of councillors making the decisions.

The Lib Dem team may have highlighted the issue: we ran petitions, we spoke about it in the press via press notices and lettrs, we spoke to you on the door and made the case for keeping the status quo on our websites…but it was you, the residents, who sent, in support of our preferred option 3, the following to the council:

• 468 consultation papers by post
• 104 responses on-line via the Council website
• 21 responses on www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk
• 32 responses from a door-to-door petition
• 93 responses from a postal petition

A total of 718 responses in favour of Option 3 with only 281 in favour of the Leader and Cabinet System (Option 1).  In addition, it’s still worth watching the recent Citizens’ Panel where 99% of the attendees wanted Option 3!

Well done to everyone who got involved!  The committee system stays and we can continue to speak up for you and put your points across in the chamber and live on the internet!

My latest offering in the Brentwood Gazette, written after the heated exchange regarding the Country Parks!!!

“Tory was still going on about Go Ape

“WE SHOULD have approved Go Ape in Thorndon Park”, stated Conservative councillor Phil Baker at the policy board on September 24.

This shocking statement demonstrates exactly why I am right to be concerned about the joint committee being formed between Essex County and Brentwood Borough councils to run Brentwood’s county parks and the cabinet system proposal which could lead to someone such as Cllr Baker being able to make such a decision alone.

Fortunately, Go Ape was turned down for a myriad of reasons, including the presence of Great Crested Newts who were breeding in the picnic pond, the dangers of setting a legal precedent if the change of use was approved and, undeniably, the weight of public opinion. To Cllr Baker, hundreds of residents fighting against this application seemed unimportant, as he dismissed them and then ridiculed my role in the campaign. But, the refusal reasons still exist.

However, my real issue of concern is how my idea of having a Friends of Brentwood Country Parks has been the victim of yet another Conservative hijack. Suggested by me as an organisation that would see real park users involved, Cllr Brandon Lewis has filled one third of this committee with councillors: three Tories and two opposition councillors. Residents will be so disappointed, given that most wanted a non-political group.

Cllr Karen Chilvers

Former Lead Campaigner

Save Thorndon Park “

Following on from my “heated discussion” with Cllr Phil Baker last week over his “Bring Back Go Ape”statement, the Gazette have reported almost a full page on the issue.  I do feel the word “squabble” makes light of a very important issue - these parks are supremely important to me and are nothing to do with political point scoring.  I just think that a “Friends of…” anything group should be allowed to proceed without being over-shadowed by Conservative councillors.

Here’s the piece quoted in it’s entirety from this week’s paper:

“Councillors squabble over Brentwood’s parks

POLITICAL squabbling filled the council chamber as town leaders clashed over decisions on the borough’s parks.

Brentwood Tories were accused this week of politically hijacking a parks group supposed to give residents a greater say on what should happen to green spaces.

A partnership of Brentwood Borough and Essex County councils is set to take joint control of open spaces in a bid to hand back more power to the town.

Lib Dem councillor Karen Chilvers suggested at a leisure meeting last week that a “friends of” group be created to join the panel of four councillors.

Although the idea was accepted, council leader Brandon Lewis proposed that the group comprise 10 residents, three Conservative councillors, one Lib Dem and one Labour – a motion passed by the policy board committee.

Cllr Chilvers said at the meeting: “I just think that is too politically loaded.

“A lot of people have contacted me saying they want to be involved, but not in a political group. I am very disappointed.

“It should be one from each political party or not at all.”

The four-member parks panel will have two county councillors and Cllrs Joan Holmes and Michael Golding.

The three Conservative councillors sitting on the friends group will be Cllrs Holmes, Golding and Jean McGinley.

Cllr Lewis said the group set-up would be reviewed at the annual council meeting, but parties also clashed over the decision on who to appoint to the partnership.

Lib Dem leader Cllr David Kendall said Cllr Chilvers would be best placed. “In terms of knowledge, expertise and understanding, there is no other member who has got that,” he said.

Cllr Chilvers was heavily involved in the Save Thorndon Country Park group which campaigned against the Go Ape climbing centre which was later turned down after intense opposition.

But Conservative councillor Phil Baker said: “All of us have an understanding of the park.” He had been approached by many people who said it was a shame Go Ape had not been give the go-ahead.”

I’m so glad that Quincy, Dillon & Daisy (a.k.a. my menagerie!) are all microchipped.  It gives me that peace of mind that if one went missing, the chances of us being quickly re-united are much increased.

I found a lost dog today, wandering along the road, with no name tag and, I found after a visit to the vet’s, no micro-chip.  What a shame, he’s now in kennels for the night and I’m hoping that his family will come and claim him tomorrow.  If he’d have had a chip, I could have taken the little darling straight home!  At least he’ll be safe, warm and fed well at Wallace Kennels, however.

So, please think about having your dog, cat, horse or rabbit chipped - see www.rspca.org.uk or ask your vet for more information (they usually offer it at a good rate!).

Here’s a heart-warming story to convince you that it’s a good idea:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/6943977.stm

Many residents responded to my call for a “Friends of Country Parks” group.  I had suggested that this was a non-political and non-partisan group of park users.

Surprise, surprise.  This will contain three tory councillors, one labour councillor and me.  Ten residents will take the remainder of the 15 places.

Another political highjack.  Sorry.  I tried.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this meeting on Thursday.  Councillors were asked not to attend so that residents could actually have their say without any Tory highjacking!  I was fully in support of this so watched at home.  What an event!

99 per cent of the residents there were totally against the move to go to a cabinet system in Brentwood - a show of hands at the end was 100% against with the one person in favour abstaining from the vote totally!

It’s worth watching: http://www.brentwood.ukcouncil.net/site/

I’m not on this committee, but I do like to attend as I feel the promotion of sport and leisure pursuits is very important.

It was a generally amiable meeting, with a few laughs along the way, and one of the key issues that came up was the consultation that has been going on into King George’s Playing Fields, Hartswood & Little Warley Common.  This consultation ends on 30th September, so make sure you add your voice to the 200+ people who have already responded.  These are your open spaces, so make sure you tell us what you want. There’s a link on the left here.

This also got us onto the subject of the “Friends of…” groups and I was keen to learn that there will be different groups for each different park.  If you are a key user of the country parks, you’ll find a link here too - see left of screen!

I’ve also asked if I can be on the Joint Committtee for Country Parks given my history of protecting them and working with the park users.  I’ll keep you posted!

Both links can be found under “Campaigns” on the left hand side of the screen.

Yesterday, my letter regarding the practical implications of the cabinet system was published in the Brentwood Gazette.  In case you missed it:

Beware snake in the grass with Brentwood council cabinet plan

You should now have received the Conservative proposal to move to a cabinet system with a leader and executive. If you don’t think that a change to the cabinet proposal will affect you, then read on to appreciate what it would mean in everyday terms.

Supposing that someone wants to draw double yellow lines all over your road and you don’t want them, for good solid reasons. Today, you have the opportunity to contact me and I can refer this to committee for debate. I can speak up on your behalf, put your case forward, speak to your neighbours and work with you to find a solution to present at the committee. Hopefully, as ward councillor, other members, from all sides of the political spectrum, will respect the knowledge I have about my ward and I may try to convince them to go with an alternative route. This decision will be made in a public chamber, available to view on the internet.

Under the cabinet system, this won’t happen. The decision will be made by one person, who could reside anywhere in the borough. From my point of view, elected as representative for Brentwood West, how well will they know the people who live there and their everyday issues? Every ward is different, and every ward has its own needs, this is the strength in a committee/panel system …we all get heard.

The Conservative administration will tell you that there will be an opportunity for scrutiny with members able to call items into a scrutiny panel. Well, that’s where we find the ’snake in the grass’… they haven’t put this out for public consultation because they tell us they haven’t decided on it yet. Surely this is a crucial part of the process. So, if you vote for their option one, you haven’t even been told the detail of what you’re voting for.

Remember also, there are only nine opposition members in total. We could have a situation where 10 members have to call an item in to the scrutiny panel – which Tory member would be brave enough to back us up in that situation?

They will also tell you that this will enable “quick” decisions. Can you honestly say that the quickest decisions you make are always the right ones?

If you want to stop this, you must let us know. With 28 Conservatives and nine opposition members the people of Brentwood must rise up and tell us their views! Sign our petition on www.brentwood-ongar libdems.org.uk or fill in the consultation document and choose OPTION THREE to retain the committee and panel structure.

Cllr Karen Chilvers

Lib Dem councillor Brentwood West Ward

You can also vote in our on-line petition:

http://www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk/petitions/6.html

Just a few things to report from the Environmental Panel:

• Recycling facilities in multi-occupancy dwellings: We’re committed to finding a solution to places such as Hadleigh Court and Fairlawns to ensure it is simple to recycle!
• Cleaning in the town centre has been extended at weekends.
• The opportunity for residents to pay towards the cost of cutting back trees etc. has been agreed.  This is a positive step as you’ll certainly be getting some recommended workers.

Some good news from last night’s Highways Panel:

• Crescent Road carriageway will be repaired.  This includes the humps which have become very worn over time.  After discussion, it was decided that these really do need to go back as they do slow down the traffic.  Cllr David Kendall reminded the committee of two deaths in that road some years ago which was the reason they were put in in the first place.
• The Vehicle Activated Signs for London Road and Warley Hill have been ordered.

However, some less good news regarding the Highways Rangers.  Of the 113 requests that I put in for works, only 11 made it on to the list.  Yes, ELEVEN.  All of these 11 were requests to clean or repair road name signs.  All the other requests will go into the general  programme of works. But at least they are on the list after I took the opportunity to drive down every single road in the ward to compile the list.

The Highways Rangers were trumpeted just prior to the elections earlier this year with the promise that they would be flying around town, ward-by-ward, filling in pavement damage, cutting back vegetation, sorting out fly-tipping, cleaning out gulleys, cleaning and re-painting street furniture and cleaning street signs.  Why then, has only the latter gone onto the works list?  Is this just another empty tory election promise?

We’ve set up an on-line discussion forum, on a trial basis, let us know your views on this or any other topic by registering at www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk.

To go to the discussions, click here: http://www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk/externals/PhpBb2/

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!

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.

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!!!

You may have seen in the Brentwood Gazette today that the revised plans for the development in William Hunter Way have been received. 

The plans include:

• A six-screen 31,000sq ft cinema with a capacity of 1,020 seats
• A new high-quality, as yet unnamed 38,000sq ft food store, with total retail space of 90,000sq ft.
• Three additional fashion stores – not yet named
• A four-storey car park clad in a “living wall” for 654 vehicles over 10 levels
• A pedestrian walkway, where High Street shop Krisp now stands, linking William Hunter Way to Brentwood High Street
• A total of 14 one-bedroom flats in a two-storey block planned to act as a buffer zone between existing properties and the new car park.

What do you think?  The plans are scheduled to be discussed and voted on at October’s Ordinary Council meeting so please let me know your views.

For more information, go to http://www.brentwood.gov.uk/index.php?cid=47 and enter reference BRW/729/2008.

Just a reminder that the Highways Surgery for Brentwood West takes place this Tuesday, in the council chamber.

Residents are invited to come along and have their say!

Next year, we’ll be electing four county councillors and, I’m pleased to say, Cllr David Kendall (a familiar face to hundreds of Brentwood West residents, pictured on the far right with Nigel and me) is our county council candidate for the Brentwood South division (includes West, Warley and Brentwood South ward).

David was councillor for Brentwood West from 1991 until 2006 and is now representing Pilgrims Hatch as well as being group leader, having been returned to the council in a by-election in March 2007.  David was re-elected in May this year with a majority of almost 400.

The graph on the right shows that, at the last elections in 2005, David was only 570 votes (8%) behind the Conservative.  With the Conservatives having a stranglehold on every level of local government, isn’t it time to have an alternative voice at county council?  We fight for you at the borough level - we can fight for you at county level!

We can do this with your help! If you would like to help us, follow this link: http://www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk/surveys/5/

Read more about David’s bid and all the county council candidates here: http://www.essex09.mycouncillor.org.uk/

At next year’s county council elections, I will be standing in the Brentwood Rural division but, don’t worry, councillors can serve at county and borough level simultaneously so, if elected, there’s no chance of me leaving Brentwood West!  I don’t intend to leave Brentwood West for a very, very long time!

The rural divison, curiously, includes South Weald, neighbouring ward to West.  In fact, it starts at Spital Lane where one half of the road falls into West and the other half into South Weald!  It also includes Tipps Cross, Brizes & Doddinghurst and Ingatestone, Fryerning and Mountnessing.  As a former resident of Clapgate, Stondon Massey (in Tipps Cross ward) and a fierce protector of Brentwood’s Green Belt it seemed sensible to stand in this division.  I’ve had exposure to rural politics before as my mother, Linda Price, was a Parish Councillor for Stondon Massey (an integral part of getting funding to refurbish the village hall) and our planning representative (you could never believe what some people wanted to build on the green belt!) as was her late partner, Terry Murray.  Terry was a key player in the “Stop the M12″ campaign and extremely well known and highly regarded throughout Brentwood.  I moved there just after he died in 1999 to a house in Clapgate, just off the coincidentally named “Chivers Road” and was a familiar site to many…walking the dogs through the country lanes!

For more details, click here: http://www.essex09.mycouncillor.org.uk/

The other prospective candidates for county council are: Cllr Barry Aspinell (Brentwood North division), Cllr Ross Carter (Brentwood Hutton division) and Cllr David Kendall (Brentwood South division).  Brentwood South is West’s county division - more on this soon!

Last night I attended the Highways Panel.  I’m a member of this one so I get to vote too!

A number of initiatives were discussed and voted upon including:

• provision of a 20mph speed limit in Honeypot Lane
• Improvements to the junction of Weald Road and Lincolns Lane
• Repairs and widening to the A128 and A129
• Repairs to Queen Street, Warley

and I was pleased to support all of these.

There were further discussions about the provision of a VAS sign in Warley Hill.  The proposed site is near Hammonds Lane but I am not convinced this is the right place.  Conversations with residents on the hill show me that, actually, an issue is the acceleration as drivers reach the end of the shops at the top of the hill, with fast speeds as they approach Warley Mount and Junction Road. 

I’ve also asked for repairs to be made to the footpaths in Wharf Road, when (if?) the building works are complete.

I’m sure there are many other issues that residents wish to discuss so, make sure you come along to the Highways Surgery on 22nd July or let me know your concerns.

A consultation has begun about your use of the parks in the Warley area.  If you use any of these parks, please have your say.

King George’s Park consultation: http://citizen.brentwood.gov.uk/teleforms/kinggeorgesconsultation/index.htm

Hartswood and Little Warley Common: http://citizen.brentwood.gov.uk/teleforms/littlewarleyconsultation/index.htm

I was out in Kavanaghs Road today and pleased to see, at last (!) that the lamp post has been replaced.  This was taken down as it was a health and safety risk back in March and, then, somehow, got “over-looked” by Essex County Council.  It was replaced on 1st July, as advised!

The deadline for the consultation on gipsy and traveller sites has been extended to 22nd July after concerns that the documents have not reached all residents.

One of the sites is in Crescent Road.  Have your say here: http://www.brentwood.gov.uk/index.php?cid=1233

I see in the Brentwood Gazette today that the final few residents have moved out of Winifred Dell House in Warley. 

I fought and voted against this re-development because I did not see that there was a care plan in place for the residents.  We have seen conflicting messages from the company running the home and the staff about how the residents were dealt with.  We now know that the residents have been placed as far away as Canvey Island and Cambridge - breaking up the community that was so important to many of the elderly residents, some of whom had dementia.

The need to refurbish this home was in no doubt, but I object to elderly residents being moved around like commodities.

Read more here: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/brentwood/residents-Warley-care-home-shuts-doors/article-201582-detail/article.html

Thanks to the former campaigners who are getting in touch and want to get involved in the country parks again. 

I will, in due course, be passing these names on to the officers.  I’m hoping that, apart from anything else, this will be a non-political !

If you still want to get involved - just let me know!

I’m continuing to fight for our country parks!  I have a letter in the Gazette this week:

Dear Editor

FOLLOWING my call for a Friends of Brentwood Country Parks consultative group to be set up as part of the joint management proposal, I am delighted that the leader of the council has agreed.

Although, I am not celebrating too wildly at the moment, as I am not sure that we agree on the commercialisation aspect.

Of course, to run the parks effectively and in a financially viable way, new ventures may have to be introduced but, there is a wafer thin line between what would be acceptable to the true park users (those who treasure the wildlife oasis that is naturally provided) and what is not.

For example, I’m sure that a nature trail, perhaps with a modest fee, would meet very little objection and we would all benefit from children learning about their environment but, should they see fit to introduce a fast food outlet or close off areas of the parks to dog walkers and runners, then expect to see us go ape once again!

Therefore, let’s ensure true park users are a key part of this group.

I directly appeal to all those who, two and a half years ago, campaigned to Save Thorndon Park or those who wish to safeguard our country parks to get in touch with me or express their interest via our website www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk

Karen Chilvers

Liberal Democrat Councillor

This is why I remain concerned: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/searching/Parks-money-spinners/article-196703-detail/article.html

Did you see the front of the Yellow Advertiser this week?  Cllr David Kendall, Lib Dem group leader, and Brentwood West’s Nigel Clarke are campaigning against the Conservative decision to close the council’s last cricket pitch in the borough!

Under the headline of “That’s just not cricket”, the boys are hoping that potential cricket pitch users will come forward!

Nigel is a cricket coach, spending a lot of time coaching young cricketers in Essex so he knows his onions on this one!

I’ve set up a function on the Brentwood Lib Dem site so, if you are interested in joining this group then I will be able to put your name forward.

We don’t yet know the format of this group, in fact we are being asked for our views.  I’ll be trying to ensure that it is a group of true park users, so let me know if you are interested in becoming part of it:

http://www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk/surveys/4/

Last week, I called for the council to create a “Friends of Country Parks” group to be created.  I am pleased to say that the Leader of the council agreed to my request and this group, a consultative body, will be soon be created.

The reason for my call is that Brentwood’s country parks will come under joint control of Brentwood and Essex councils.  My concern is that there will be a temptation to turn to commercial enterprises to balance the books.  See the full story here:

http://www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk/news/000059/call_for_friends_of_country_parks_group.html