The Liberal Democrats have made an £11 billion funding commitment to transform mental health services. David Kendall, parliamentary candidate for Brentwood ad Ongar said:

"This will make a major impact in our area.

"Free prescriptions on the NHS for people with chronic mental health conditions will make a real difference to their lives by saving them money and giving them one thing less to worry about. I also welcome the training of all teaching staff to identify mental health issues as it will help to ensure that issues are identified much earlier and and pupils given the support they need".

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Update from Cllr Andy Fryd

PARKING

Since my election in May I have received many requests from residents to try to do something about the dangerous car parking situation from the traffic lights down towards the Rose, both sides of the road. As I drive around Shenfield I constantly see accidents waiting to happen with irresponsible and dangerous parking by, I can only assume, commuters who have found a space not enforced to leave their vehicles all day.

Former Brentwood West councillor and past Mayor Shirley Howe passed away in the summer after a long and fulfilling life.

Former ward colleague Cllr David Kendall attended her funeral along with the current Mayor, councillors past and present, dignitaries and her family & friends.

David said:

"I served alongside Shirley as a ward colleague during her time as a Brentwood West councillor (1996-2004) and it was a pleasure to do so. She was a lovely lady who gave a lot of time and energy to making sure her residents' views were always properly represented. She was a very fair minded and tolerant person who really cared about the local community and did an excellent job as Mayor. I know that many residents will remember her fondly and that she will be missed".

If you knew Shirley and would like to donate to her chosen charities in her memory (Wallace Kennels and The British Heart Foundation), you can do so here, on Bennett's website.

Cllr Karen Chilvers is in 'lively' dialogue with Essex Council over these signs in Weald Road that cause friction and could cause a head on collision.

Less 10 metres apart, they directly conflict with each other over priority on the single lane at Weald House, endangering drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and those in the homes in close proximity.

A dispute between residents and Brentwood Council that has been going on for over six years will now be decided by a legal counsel, thanks to ward councillor Mark Haigh who has been working with residents on this since he was elected in May 2018.

Residents of the Brackenwood estate say that the council are responsible for maintaining the greenswards and have a letter from 2005 stating exactly that but, in 2013, the council stopped doing so saying it was nothing to do with them. It is quite standard practice for a developer to give a sum to the council for maintenance and residents believe this is what happened when the estate was completed 30 years ago.

A planning application in Fairfield Road, Brentwood West, will go ahead despite a local councillor asking for the matter to be heard at by the Planning Committee - a request denied by the ruling Conservatives.

The application for an extra floor on the building to house four flats was recommended to be approved by officers but, not for the first time, the oppotunity for residents to speak on the mattter was ruled out. Every week, councillors are given a list of recommendations and have the option to ask for further debate but it is rare these days that this is agreed to. It's not always about overturning the decision, sometimes it is to attach conditions so as not to impinge on neighbours.

Parliamentary Candidate David Kendall said: "I've joined hundreds of employers, councillors and politicians in signing the #WheresYourHeadAt Workplace Manifesto - a vision for a mentally healthier working world wheresyourheadat.org/manifesto #GeneralElection2019

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate David Kendall said: "I am pleased to support Marie Curie at this election and have signed the pledge". @mariecurieuk

At this election Marie Curie is asking all candidates and all political parties to pledge to:

• Scrap the six-month rule that obstructs terminally ill people from gaining access to benefits unless they can prove they only have six months left to live.
• Offer free personal care to everyone with a terminal illness, regardless of their age or finances.

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate David Kendall supports social enterprise.

Profitable, innovative + dedicated to taking on the biggest issues we face. Hats off to all the social enterprises in brentwood and Ongarand across the UK this #SocialEnterpriseDay. Thank you for all you do!

If we're to deal with the triple threat of the #ClimateEmergency, social division + economic stagnation we have to change how we do business. Social enterprises are showing us what the future of business can look like.