Quick Stop in Birdcage Walk is the second Harlow shop to lose its alcohol sales licence in as many weeks, reports Cllr Ian Jackson, who chaired the Harlow Council Licensing panel which made the decision. The shop was regularly selling alcohol to underage drinkers, so much so that young people were coming in from outside the area to buy. The case was brought by Trading Standards and Essex Police, after continual flouting of the law.

A continuing partnership with Jiangsu Province in China, proposed by the ruling Conservatives at Essex County Council, must be accompanied by a robust expectation of improved human rights for the Chinese people living in the province, maintains the County Council's Liberal Democrats group. Cllr Mike Mackrory, Liberal Democrats deputy group leader said:

"We accept that as China is the world's largest growing economy, it is in the financial interests of Essex to continue a business and education link with China. However, we have deep concerns about doing business with a nation that has such a poor history of human rights abuses against its own citizens.

We are troubled about the lack of law reform and the number of executions that are still taking place in China. We also have concerns about China's censorship of the media and the internet and its treatment of domestic journalists; there is currently a man serving a 12 year prison sentence in Jiangsu Province, in connection with his internet writings.

I have asked the leader of the council to use his influence to highlight these issues to our partners in Jiangsu Province. The Conservatives are promoting an improved quality of life for the people of Essex from this partnership, but they must prove that this is not done at the expense of a reduction in the quality of life for the citizens of Jiangsu."

Harlow Council has revoked the licence for the One Stop Shop in the Stow to sell alcohol, reports Cllr Linda Pailing. The shop has been caught several times by Trading Standards selling drink to underage children and has had penalty fines imposed and received lots of warning visits.

The police also made representations about the number of thefts of alcohol from the premises and the number of complaints of anti-social behaviour.

The store has 21 days to appeal.

On the closing day for the receipt of bids for EU funding for improved rail links in the region, Liberal Democrat Euro MP Andrew Duff has criticised the British government for failing to act. Mr Duff said:

"20 July is the closing date for the European Commission to receive bids for the funding of improved transport links. The A14 and the Felixstowe-Nuneaton railway are officially designated as an important part of the EU's Trans-European Networks. As such, they are eligible to receive substantial subsidy from the EU budget.

Our region could be getting at least half of the money needed to upgrade the rail link to Felixstowe docks and to improve the notorious A14 trunk road.

But nothing has happened. The Department of Transport both in Whitehall and at Go East seems stuck in hopeless inertia. Despite pressure from MEPs, the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA), port owners, the transport industry, safety campaigners and environmental NGOs, the government has simply sat on its hands.

Tomorrow in Brussels the European Commission will sift through funding applications for exciting transport infrastructure projects from all over Europe - with the exception of the United Kingdom.

Few can understand why the British are such laggard Europeans, nor why the British public is condemned to put up with an out-of-date, third class road and rail system."

Local Liberal Democrat leader Chris Millington has welcomed plans unveiled today to reduce the basic rate of income tax to 16p, and scrap the council tax, benefiting millions of people on low and middle incomes. The proposals will be debated and voted on at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton in September. Cllr Millington said:

"These proposals would mean lower tax bills for most households in Harlow, as well as tackling inequality and environmental damage."

Proposals in the Liberal Democrat tax policy paper, Reducing the burden: Policies for tax reform, would

• Save a typical pensioner couple nearly £1,600 a year through proposals including scrapping council tax


• Save a typical double-earning couple around £1,000 a year through measures including a 4p cut in the basic rate of income tax


• Remove tax loop-holes exploited by the super-rich


• Reform stamp duty to reduce the amount of tax paid on properties worth less than £500,000


• Reform Inheritance Tax, with the aim of raising the starting threshold to £500,000

Cllr Millington said:

"The current system of taxation is not fair. The unacceptable reality is that in Britain today the poorest pay a higher proportion of their income in tax than the super-rich. Wealth inequality has actually risen since Labour came to power.

Our new proposals will put fairness at the heart of the tax system. Low and middle income earners in this country shoulder too heavy a tax burden.

These tax cuts for the majority will be paid for by the wealthy and those with environmentally damaging lifestyles."

Councillors Lorna Spenceley and Linda Pailing were among those who voted overwhelmingly at a meeting of Harlow Council's planning committee to give permission for the new Youth Cafe in the town centre.

The cafe is a project initiated and developed by Harlow Youth Council. It is intended for 11 to 17 year olds, and will be at 21 Westgate, where the betting shop used to be. It is currently being fitted out and will be opening shortly.