Trudy Dean sets out some of the challenges which Kent County Council needs to address to help all children and young persons get the best start in life.
The Liberal Democrats believe that the financing of Education in the UK is too heavily skewed toward Secondary Education at the expense of the all-important formative Early Years and argue for greater funding of Early Years settings. There is a particular need for greater focus on speech development and creative play for children from poorer backgrounds to try to ensure that their life chances are not limited from the start.
Liberal Democrat County Council Candidate for Deal and Walmer, Penelope James, backs the six priorities of Kent Liberal Democrats.
"Caring for our community, our environment and our residents are key priorities for Kent Liberal Democrats. They have never been more important than now as we emerge from the pandemic.
Bus Passes are no longer valid before 9:30am despite commitments made 18 months ago.
Travelling by bus is a lifeline for many people with disabilities. The Disabled Persons Bus Pass and, where needed, the Companion Pass provide invaluable free bus travel for disabled people needing to get to the shops, to the doctors or to work. Earlier this month, Kent County Council stopped disabled persons from using their passes before 9:30am.
"First promised in 2019, since then the crisis in our bus services has worsened, because for the last year the Government has actively discouraged bus travel, seen as unsafe in the pandemic. This came on top of decades of decline, when there has been no strategy for bus services, left to the power of the market.
Ida Linfield, Liberal Democrat candidate for Canterbury City South, is pressing for better support and respite breaks for Kent's carers.
The pressures of lockdown last year have been immense for all of us but especially for the carers in our community, many of whom are wives, husbands and school-aged children. Many of whom are not in the best state of health themselves.
The Liberal Democrat County Council candidate for Maidstone South, Brian Clark, backs the six key priorities of Kent Liberal Democrats.
"Our priorities highlight urgent areas of focus which will help residents recover from this devastating pandemic. Our natural environment, so beneficial for wellbeing, needs to be central in our thinking.
Liberal Democrat candidate for Maidstone Central, Chris Passmore, extols the Medway River Path's contribution to good mental health.
The Covid pandemic and its social and economic impacts will negatively impact on many of our lives, being unable to manage the additional day to day pressures caused by changing relationships and employment. This can impact on our mental health and can lead to depression, substance abuse, family breakdown and even as a last resort suicide.
