Liberal Democrats will deliver a greener, fairer, more caring Essex County Council
Greener Essex
- Declare a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency at the first meeting of the new Council.
- Implement all the recommendations of the ECC's Climate Change Commission, apply for government grants to retrofit all council-owned buildings to meet carbon-neutral standards, install solar panels on its buildings and reprofile the Highways budget to better fund sustainable travel modes.
- Preserve public green and open spaces.
- Implement ambitious tree planting strategies.
- Reduce the amount of waste going to landfill with incentives to increase recycling rates to 60% and stop further closures of the recycling centres.
- Ambitious schemes for improved cycling and walking in inner urban areas.
- Introduce '20 is plenty' speed limits near schools and in residential areas to help make walking and cycling safer, and improve air quality.
Fairer Essex
- Improving prospects for young people
- Reverse cuts to the Youth Service budget, in particular for outreach workers.
- Identify and support families who need additional support to cut child poverty and hunger.
- Provide free school meals in term-time and holidays.
- More school places to cut down bussing pupils to already overcrowded schools.
- Support to struggling schools.
- Swimming concessions for the under 16's.
- Introduce concessionary transport fares for those on Universal Credit, or equivalents, and undertaking Apprenticeships.
- Freeze car park charges in ECC Country Parks
- Protect libraries: no further closures or cuts to opening hours
More caring Essex
- Better care for the elderly.
- Protect concessionary transport fares for pensioners.
- Support carers, especially children who are caring for parents.
- Address mental health concerns, promoting access to regular exercise, employment opportunities, and days out.
|
|