Local Liberal Democrat Borough Councillors and Appleton Parish Council have worked tirelessly with residents' groups in Appleton Thorn to ensure that their concerns about the Inland Border Facility were addressed as part of the package designed to alleviate the impact on the local area.

The mitigations negotiated with HMRC, Warrington Borough Council and residents include signage locally and on the motorway network, ANPR cameras, increased police presence, air quality monitoring and litter picking on local roads. There will be a community litter pick and tree planting by WBC and local schools in Appleton Thorn. A further sum has been allocated to a local residents' group for two community projects.

In a show of unity, Warrington's Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors have joined forces to put forward a motion calling for action to tackle harassment and violence against women in the town.

At a meeting of the full council on Monday evening, councillors overwhelmingly backed the motion tabled by Labour's Councillor Sarah Hall and Liberal Democrat Councillor Sharon Harris and seconded by Councillors Rebecca Knowles and Judith Wheeler.

The Labour Council has turned down a proposal by the Liberal Democrats to improve the transparency of the planning process and help restore public trust. The proposal was put forward in a motion to Monday's full Council.

Cllr Ian Marks said: It is the democratic right of a councillor to ask for a planning application to be brought before the planning committee for consideration providing there are good reasons. Usually planning decisions can be made by officers under delegated powers because they are not controversial. If there are neighbour objections or an upset householder, then it should go to Committee so that the case, for or against, can be put to elected councillors.

The Lymm Shopper bus service will be under new management after Easter. Previous operator JJ Travel gave up the franchise due to retirement and a new operator, Direct Taxis, has taken over. The person who has been driving the bus in recent weeks will continue and work for the new company.

This is excellent news. I know many residents were anxious because they feared the service might stop altogether. The service provides a vital function for older people all over the village. It enables people living in Broomedge, Booths Hill, Statham and Heatley and places in between to get around the village and gain access to shops, medical centres and friends. As well as being a great benefit for local residents, the bus provides a boost for local businesses in the village.

Councillors and residents have been campaigning for a pedestrian crossing on Rushgreen Road by Sainsbury's in Lymm. Officers now say an assessment of the need will not take place until traffic conditions return to a more 'normal' state.

Rushgreen Road is narrow in places and traffic is too fast. HGVs sometimes use it illegally. This has been a problem for years but recently the situation has worsened with the Sainsbury's store and a new housing estate being completed nearby.

The Council should be installing more air monitors around the town to measure particulates in the atmosphere, says Councillor Peter Walker in the Liberal Democrat response to Warrington Borough Council's Air Quality Action Plan consultation.

The Council now measures only nitrogen dioxide comprehensively throughout the town. Pollution from nitrogen dioxide is reducing because of improved vehicle engine design and the increase in the number of electric vehicles. It is the effect of particulates in the air we breathe that may now be the greater health concern. The problem is tiny particles known as pm 2.5s which measure 2.5 micrometres or less.