This open letter to Sir Paul Beresford, MP for Mole Valley, was written by Bob Vance, Chair Mole Valley Liberal Democrats, and printed in the current version of the Dorking Advertiser:
There is still time to change course - here's what's at stake.
At the December meeting of Mole Valley District Council, a Liberal Democrat motion supporting more help for Care Leavers was supported overwhelmingly. As a result the Council has agreed to adopt a Children's Society recommendation and to exempt Care Leavers under the age of 25 from Council Tax from April 2019 and to look at other ways to support them to fulfil their potential.
At the December meeting of Mole Valley District Council, a Liberal Democrat motion opposing Surrey's plan to close the Dorking Recycling Centre was passed unanimously. As a result the Council has committed to take various steps to oppose the closure, including replying in the strongest terms to the consultation, and working with the County Council to discuss positive options to keep the Dorking tip open.
At the December meeting of Mole Valley District Council, a Liberal Democrat motion opposing Surrey's plan to close the Leatherhead Children's Centre and reduce the funding for the Dorking Centre was passed unanimously. As a result the Council has committed to take various steps to oppose the plans, including replying in the strongest terms to the consultation, and working with the County Council to consider options to reverse their proposals.
Mole Valley Liberal Democrats have launched a petition to keep Dorking's Community Recycling Centre ("Tip") at Ranmore Road open.
Local residents have reacted with dismay and outrage to the devastating news that Leatherhead's vital Children's Centre is set to close, as part of Conservative proposals to close 31 Children's Centres across Surrey. The move would leave families in Leatherhead, Ashtead, Fetcham and Bookham dependent on services provided by Mole Valley's only other Children's Centre in South Dorking.
On Saturday several groups from Mole Valley travelled up to London to take part in the People's Vote March, demanding a Final Say on the terms of any Brexit deal and including the option to Remain. Groups were organised by local Liberal Democrats and by the Mole Valley branch of the European Movement; other independent marchers also joined the train at Dorking, Leatherhead, Ashtead and Epsom. It is generally accepted that about 670,000 people were on the march, representing over 1% of the entire UK population. Demonstrators came from all backgrounds, age groups and parts of the UK and large numbers had not taken part in a public demonstration before.
Mole Valley Liberal Democrats have reacted with dismay to reports Gatwick Airport might convert their emergency runway into a second runway, bypassing controls on airport expansion when a restriction runs out next year. Parliamentary Spokesperson Paul Kennedy has called on Secretary of State Chris Grayling MP to intervene to ensure the change is not slipped in by the back door.
At the October meeting of Mole Valley District Council, Tory councillors and their "Independent" allies combined to defeat a Liberal Democrat motion for the Council to support a "People's Vote" which would allow the public to have the final say on the terms of any Brexit deal. Mole Valley was one of the areas where the majority of voters supported Remain in the 2016 referendum and this year many local residents have expressed their support for a further vote on the terms of the deal.
At the Council meeting on 9th October, Mole Valley District Councillors passed a motion by Lib Dem Councillor Margaret Cooksey proposing two initiatives relating to the site at Headley Court, where the Ministry of Defence is rapidly winding down the operation of the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre.
