Liberal Democrat district councillor Mandy McNeil has been shortlisted for a prestigious civic award for her work supporting businesses and the community in St Albans.

Mandy was nominated for the annual Cllr Awards run by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) in the Finance and Economic Development category.

Daisy Cooper MP has welcomed a grassroots campaign by Build Back Better St Albans calling for a green coronavirus recovery plan for the economy that also tackles social inequality.

Campaigners presented Daisy with a letter signed by more than 20 local groups asking her to write to the chancellor and prime minister urging them to plan for a fair and sustainable recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

It’s highly likely that St Albans City and District Council will need to prepare a new Local Plan after interventions by planning inspectors pointed out deep flaws in the version submitted by the Conservatives in the dying days of their administration.

Liberal Democrats see this as an opportunity to put combatting the climate emergency at the heart of a new Local Plan, in contrast to the Tories’ flawed plan which was sadly lacking in environmental initiatives.

St Albans Liberal Democrats are supporting a county-wide campaign – called 20’s Plenty – to reduce vehicle speeds in residential areas, villages and town centres.

The 20’s Plenty for Hertfordshire campaign has brought together community groups from across the county to call for 20mph to become the normal speed limit where people live, work, shop, learn and play.

There are ‘new and compelling reasons’ why the Government should scrap plans for a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) on the site of the former Radlett Aerodrome, Daisy Cooper has told the House of Commons.

She was speaking in a debate (1 September) on the proposed Park Street rail freight terminal, instigated by Daisy after St Albans District Council was “held hostage” and forced to abandon its own plans to build housing on the site.

Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat MP for St Albans, has moved swiftly to secure a debate in the House of Commons on the planned Park Street rail freight terminal on the first day parliament resumes after the summer recess. 

She will use the debate to warn the Government and fellow MPs of the huge damage the proposal for the 3.5 million square-metre strategic rail freight interchange (SRFI) will have on the community of Park Street, on the green belt, and on the surrounding roads and commuter rail links.

A petition calling for an independent inquiry into why Hertfordshire care homes suffered one of the highest death tolls from Covid-19 in the country is being mounted by Herts Lib Dems.

Concerned members of the public are being urged to sign the petition that calls on Hertfordshire County Council to conduct a comprehensive review and potentially save lives going forward.

A series of ‘wilding’ trials are under way to transform parks and public green spaces across the district. The aim – to rescue and restore our priceless natural heritage damaged by decades of intensive management.

And the message to St Albans residents is – if you want to help fight climate change and boost biodiversity – get involved! Share with us your ideas and suggestions to spread wilding to more places across the district.

Continental-style mini-markets, retailers able to trade outside their shop front and streets lined with open-air cafes and restaurants are envisaged under a scheme to help lift St Albans out of lockdown.

“The aim is to help support businesses forced to close under lockdown by working with them to develop social distancing measures and a strategy for reopening that makes visitors feel safe and confident to shop around town and in our other vibrant high streets, including Hatfield Road,” says Mandy McNeil, portfolio holder for business, tourism and culture on St Albans District Council (SADC).

Liberal Democrats in London Colney have called for the Caledon Estate to withdraw the application for a development of up to 30 dwellings on land alongside the village’s Morris Way playing field.

The call follows the finding that in 1992 the landowner made a formal, written commitment to the district and county councils to maintain the land for recreational purposes.