Liberal Democrats in Hemel are tonight celebrating a big gain in votes in Adeyfield West. Their candidate Steve Wilson saw the Lib Dem vote gain on a 10.95% swing from Labour. The result was a disaster for Labour whose vote has traditionally been strong in the area. While the Lib Dems went up 8.1% from 2007, Labour fell by 13.3%, and the Conservatives fell by 8.6%.
On June 4th, in the recent Hertfordshire County Elections, Nick Hollinghurst was re-elected as County Councillor for Tring and the Villages following a well-supported campaign. A dedicated group of activists and councillors co-ordinated and worked with a team of helpers and supporters across the division - at nearly 20 square miles one of the largest in the county.
New People, New Politics!
Commuters returning to Berkhamsted on 30th March were encouraged by the Tring and Berkhamsted Liberal Democrats who staged a protest against poor rail services and the high charges for travel and parking.
Every day hundreds commute by train from Tring and beyond, paying over £4,000 a year for the privilege. But with recent cancellations and poor service it's just not value for money! Recent performance figures have put London Midland right down at the bottom of the UK rail operator league table.
People in outlying areas of the County, such as Tring, Berkhamsted and Bovingdon, fear that the Police Authority's cash problems will mean lower levels of policing. After the recent armed raid on Tesco, Tring is especially worried. As local Liberal Democrat Councillor Denise Rance put it, "There was no police presence in Tring at the time of the Tesco raid and officers had to come in from other areas. This is wrong and I believe we are very vulnerable."
