Hertsmere's Local Elections, May 2021 - The Lib Dem candidates

On May 6th 2021, there are elections across the UK for councils, Mayors, and devolved parliaments. It's the biggest ever single day of polling outside a general election. And here's what's happening in Hertsmere.

• We will be electing councillors to represent the borough's residents on Hertfordshire County Council. For this purpose, the borough is divided into seven local areas, each of which elects one councillor. Hertsmere Lib Dems are aiming to gain seats from the Tories, who currently hold all seven. Across the county as a whole, the Lib Dems - currently the second-largest party and official opposition - are seeking to take control of the council, and make a greener, fairer, better Hertfordshire.
• We will also be electing councillors to represent Bushey North and Borehamwood Kenilworth on Hertsmere Borough Council. These are by-elections to replace two individual councillors. Bushey North is already proudly represented by Lib Dem councillors, but one of the trio, Andrew Melville, is stepping aside as he's moving to Worcestershire to set up home with his partner - hence the by-election. In Borehamwood Kenilworth, the by-election is to replace the Conservative councillor and former Mayor Cynthia Barker, who sadly passed away last year.
• There is also an election for Hertfordshire's police and crime commissioner - in which all Hertsmere's registered voters can cast their ballot.
• And in Radlett and Shenley there are referendums on Neighbourhood Development Plans.

One of the biggest themes of the election campaign has been the protection of greenbelt land from development. In Bushey, Lib Dems have pledged to vote against any Local Plan which includes either a Watford FC stadium on Bushey Hall Golf Course, or the proposed 1,950 pupil school on Bushey Country Club.

Greener, Fairer, Healthier: A Better Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire County Council controls many key public services for Hertsmere residents - including schools, roads and pavements, public transport, social care, libraries, and recycling. Lib Dems say that we could achieve so much more by listening to local residents' concerns and prioritising fairness, better transport, and tackling climate change. The Tories have been in charge of the county for 22 years. They've run out of steam and grown complacent. They have little interest in social justice, fairness, or helping the environment. It's time for a change.

A Lib Dem-run Hertfordshire will:

• Improve bus services, cycle lanes, and pavements.
• Restore the £8 million budget cut for road repairs.
• Expand rooftop solar power.
• Increase help for disadvantaged children - including by expanding free school meals.
• Join up health and social care.

In Hertsmere, few of the current Tory county councillors make an effort to speak to residents about their local cares and concerns. The Lib Dems will take a very different approach. Every Lib Dem county councillor in Hertsmere will hold regular residents' surgeries and create a dedicated hotline for reporting problems.

But there's much more we want to do, besides - and you can read the full Hertfordshire Lib Dem manifesto here

Hertsmere's Lib Dem county candidates

We are standing a candidate in all seven of Hertsmere's county divisions. Click on the links below to find out more about your local candidate.

Borehamwood North - Maxie Allen

Borehamwood South - Clive Parish

Bushey North - Laurence Brass

Bushey South - Paul Richards

Potters Bar East - Jon Brett

Potters Bar West and Shenley - Ron Das Gupta

Watling - Mandy McNeil

Borough by-election candidates

In Bushey North, Alan Matthews is seeking to take over from Andrew Melville as part of the trio of hard-working Lib Dem councillors who have served the ward since May 2019. Alan would join existing councillors Jerry Evans and Paul Richards, and together they make the following pledges.

• To vote against any Local Plan which includes either a Watford FC stadium on Bushey Hall Golf Course, or the proposed 1,950 pupil school on Bushey Country Club.
• To continue to fight for fairer housing. This means ending the scandal of Hertsmere council hoarding £8 million in developers cash instead of investing it in social housing. It means pressing for a proper proportion of social and affordable housing in any new housing development which gets approval. And it means continuing to help individual residents who've been left homeless due to failings by the system.
• To fight for a greener borough. Hertsmere Lib Dems have already helped drive forward new planning rules for greater sustainability and solar panel requirements in new builds. These need to be taken further, alongside an expansion of rooftop solar, and improvements in recycling.
• To continue to help residents with specific local concerns, including problems with parking, potholes, parks, and planning.

In Borehamwood Kenilworth, the Lib Dem candidate is Darren Diamond.

Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner candidate

Sam North is aiming to bring Lib Dem values of fairness, human rights, and local democracy, to the role Hertfordshire police commissioner.