I have lived in Great Bookham for 35 years, am an investigative journalist and previously worked as a senior manager for a local charity. I am best known for writing about Ruth Ellis the last woman hanged in the UK.

Emerging from the pandemic, now in a cost-of-living crisis, to me being a MVDC councillor is about making difficult decisions and working with compassion for a fair deal for our community.

This is how I have worked for residents in my first year:

• Have become known for my passion for promoting the benefits of Shopping Locally, helping the village economy survive.
• Campaigned against Bookham's ill-maintained roads and pavements, reporting them to SCC Highways, and representing residents with mobility issues who find access to the village challenging.
• I am a member of the Development Management committee which considers planning applications across Mole Valley. I am also a member of Plastic-free Bookham which aims to reduce single-use plastic in our community and gain the Plastics Free Communities accreditationawarded by Surfers Against Sewage
• Talked to residents about speeding traffic, the move towards 20 mph in certain roads in Bookham and am campaigning for traffic calming in Church Road and Little Bookham Street. I represented residents at the Examination of the Mole Valley Local Plan opposed to inappropriate Green Belt development at Preston Farm.
• Negotiated in social housing disputes about problems such as leaking roofs and black mould.
• Kept residents informed with my articles on facebook.com/MonicaWellerLibDem from Voter ID and bank closures to the dumping of raw sewage in the River Mole.
• Organised the repair of equipment in Edenside children's playground.
• Advised community organisations about funding for new projects.