Bromsgrove's Lib Dem councillors are asking the District Council to implement measures to support local retailers and keep shoppers safe on the high street during the Covid-19 pandemic, following the announcement from the Prime Minster that shops could reopen from 1 June.

The group are urging the Council to act swiftly in assessing what additional safety measures may be required in the town centre if the Government allows non-essential retail to reopen from 1 June.

Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid has been asked by the Lib Dems to join calls for an inquiry into the Government's handling of the Coronavirus pandemic when the lockdown ends.

Writing to Mr Javid this week, the Bromsgrove Lib Dem group asked the MP to back calls for "an independent judge-led public inquiry" which have been led by Sir Ed Davey. The letter's author, Sam Evans, outlined that there is a case for the local MP to back a review into the Government's handling of Covid-19 irrespective of whether people support or oppose the Government's response.

Following announcement from the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on Saturday (9^th May) that a £2billion package has been launched to boost cycling and pedestrian capacity, the Lib Dems are calling for a fair share of the funds for Bromsgrove.

The group welcomed the announcement, after local Chairperson Joshua Robinson had previously written to Worcestershire County Council on Friday (8^th May) to investigate widening of certain footpaths to help maintain social distancing as the lockdown begins to ease.

Bromsgrove's Lib Dem group are calling for clarity on when recycling centres are due to reopen after Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet Member for the Environment stated last week (1^st May) they remained closed in line with Government advice.

The Lib Dems are demanding that they reopen with safe social distancing in place given that Communities Secretary Robert Jenerick's stated the Government "are asking councils to reopen sites as a priority" last week (28^th April).

Bromsgrove Lib Dems have welcomed the decision to reopen cemeteries after the Government's advice changed over the weekend (18 April). Cemeteries had been closed across the district but are now open again to pedestrians in line with official guidance.

Cllr Rob Hunter who called for the change said: "I'd like to thank council officers for swiftly updating our local policy in line with Government advice. It was causing some residents a lot of distress when they were prevented from visiting the graves of loved ones. As long as people adhere to safe distancing rules they should be able to visit family graves, even in these unprecedented times.'