I know most of the national media is now taken up with the impending Brexit General Election on June 8; but here in Hertfordshire we have a just as important local election on May 4.

This election will determine the direction of the county for the next four years. On May 4, 78 County Councillors will be elected to run Hertfordshire until 2021.

The Liberal Democrats believe the current Conservative run-council has let residents down.

The Conservatives claim they listen to residents’ views but time after time they ignore their own consultations and your petitions. From cutting funding for Home-Start, to reducing our bus services, to slashing the household waste site opening hours – they have failed to represent you.

Liberal Democrats are the official opposition, with more councillors than Labour. We have battled every month for the past four years to hold the Conservatives to account for their failures but we are voted down – often with Corbyn’s Labour sitting on their hands - rather like their weak opposition at Westminster.

We want to fix the broken services at our county council and have a fresh new look for Hertfordshire for this century!

Independent surveys show satisfaction with how the Conservative council runs things is dropping. It’s no wonder when the Conservatives say everything is fine with our roads, refuse to back extra investment we propose or a total review of how our contractors fix faults - or rather do not!

And of course, on top of that, year-after year they have cut the money for buses, grants to voluntary groups and seem content to let central government cut funding for most schools.

After almost 20 years of Conservative rule it’s time for a fresh start for Hertfordshire and a party that will be standing up for everyone in the county.

Our experienced team are ready to take on that challenge and move Hertfordshire forward. Please back us on May 4.

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Hertfordshire County Council