The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.

Results of County elections

In the Surrey County Council elections on June 4th, both sitting Lib Dem councillors - Hazel Watson in Dorking Hills & Stephen Cooksey in Dorking & the Holmwoods - retained their seats. Elsewhere in the Mole Valley area, Martin Joseph (Bookham & Fetcham East) and Iain Murdoch (Dorking Rural) both managed to reduce Conservative majorities from about 1000 down to under 300.

In the Ashtead Division, the Ashtead Independents won the seat from the Conservatives.

Full election results.

Surrey County Council Downgraded to One Star

See story on Surrey Lib Dems Web site.

Read about the Audit Commission rating.

Liberal Democrats oppose Tory budget

Changes will cut services and increase charges

On 19th February, Liberal Democrat Councillors on Mole Valley District Council voted against the budget proposed by the Conservative-controlled Council Executive. This vote reflected the widespread public dissatisfaction with a budget which will lead to cuts in many key services and to inflation-busting increases in a wide range of charges.

Martin Joseph & Alice Humphreys in Bookham collecting signatures for the Lib Dem petition to retain the food waste collection service

The major impacts of the budget are as follows:

• Major increases in parking charges;

• Dorking Halls forced to cut up to 50% of its programme;

• Increases of over 20% in charges for services for the young and elderly;

• Abandonment of the food waste collection scheme;

• Community leisure facilities slashed;

• Citizens Advice Bureaux remain under threat next year;

• Care of our parks and open spaces reduced drastically.

Margaret Cooksey, Liberal Democrat leader on the Council, commented: "Year after year the Liberal Democrats have set a priority on improving services and reducing waste. We have regularly suggested how this could be achieved. The Conservatives have consistently rejected all of our proposals. Now they have hit a financial crisis, but their major proposals are further cuts in services and higher charges. On top of this we are asked to approve a major expenditure on external consultants to undertake a Business Process Review - before we have been given details of what this review will entail.

"This budget threatens the social and commercial activities in our major towns; it puts a brake on our efforts to improve recycling; and it imposes extra charges on many people who rely on Council services. We had no option but to oppose it in its entirety."

Citizens Advice Bureaux remain under threat

Alice Humphreys leads the protest meeting in Leatherhead

The Citizens Advice Bureaux (C.A.B.) in Leatherhead and Dorking are funded almost entirely by Mole Valley District Council. They are an invaluable service that provides free legal advice and information to local people.

Following the Liberal Democrat petition and representations by the C.A.B. itself, the Conservative Executive running Mole Valley District Council withdrew its plan cut in budget for the coming year. However the threats to cut next year's budget and to the lease for the Leatherhead remain in place. Liberal Democrats will continue to support the C.A.B. which are needed more than ever in the current financial climate.

We would like to thank all the local residents who signed our petition or attended the protest meetings.

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Epsom Hospital services saved by local campaigns Thu 12th Mar 2009 Local campaigners celebrated success as health chiefs announced that maternity and casualty units will remain at Epsom General Hospital. Moreover the Hospital is to receive a significant investment. Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust will create a 'vision' for the future of the Hospital and consult on it over the next 6 months. It anticipates the investment being between £80 and £100 million.

Tories back down on C.A.B. grant Mon 9th Feb 2009 When the Conservative Executive running Mole Valley District Council threatened a series of cuts in its grant to the C.A.B., Mole Valley Liberal Democrats launched a campaign against the cuts, led by Parliamentary candidate Alice Humphreys. We have now heard that the Council withdrawn some of the cuts it had planned.

High Court decision to block Capel incinerator Wed 4th Feb 2009 Arising from a challenge by Capel Parish Council to the Surrey Waste Plan, a High Court judge has stated that he will quash Surrey County Council's recent planning permission for the Capel Incinerator. Local Liberal Democrats welcomed this decision. Iain Murdoch, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Capel, Leigh and Newdigate, said: "We must await the detailed judgement of Mr Justice Collins in mid February but it is already clear that a major victory has been achieved. I heartily congratulate the Parish Council and also the Capel Action Group and all its supporters. It has been clear to us all along that a mass-burn incinerator at Capel is not the way to solve Surrey's waste disposal problems."

Bookham residents support LibDem petition to keep waste food collection Mon 30th Mar 2009 In their budget for the coming year, Tory-controlled Mole Valley District Council decided to cancel the trial collection service for food waste. This service has been very popular with residents in Bookham and Fetcham. They have been supporting a petition organised by local Liberal Democrats to retain the service. Liberal Democrat campaigner Martin Joseph says: "This service helped our recycling campaign and addressed the problems of smelly bins that some residents had in the Summer. We should be extending the scope of such services, rather than abandoning them."

Proposal to develop a Supermarket at Lower Shott, Bookham Mon 2nd Mar 2009 When the news broke last summer of a proposed supermarket at Lower Shott, Bookham South Councillor Anne Howarth took the initiative of surveying local opinion. Of the 1,920 opinion survey forms which were returned, 98.9% declared against this proposal. Councillor Howarth has now issued an update on the latest position:

Tory Budget Proposals set to further damage Dorking town centre Sun 25th Jan 2009 Liberal Democrat councillor Stephen Cooksey has attacked the proposed budget for Mole Valley District Council on the grounds of the likely damage it will do to trade and local businesses in Dorking. Writing to local newspapers, Stephen criticises the sharply increased parking charges and the abolition of the post of Economic Development Officer precisely at the time when it is most needed.

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