Mole Valley Liberal Democrats

In the elections on May 3rd, residents voted to strengthen the Liberal Democrats as the largest party on Mole Valley District Council. The results leave the Liberal Democrats with 19 Councillors, the Conservatives down to 16 and 6 Ashtead Independents.

Full results can be found here.

The Liberal Democrats gained one seat in Leatherhead North where Philippa Shimmin joined Bridget Lewis-Carr and Dave Howarth as Lib Dem Councillors.

On Monday, the Planning Inspectorate ruled in favour of the application to build houses on Westcott Meadow. Based on this decision it now looks inevitable that 14 houses will be built on this site, despite the opposition of local residents in the Westcott Meadow Action Group. This is a direct result of the decision in October 2009 by the Conservatives running Mole Valley to release the land for potential development - a decision opposed consistently by Liberal Democrat councillors.

Councillor Stella Brooks is campaigning for action to combat speeding in Bookham - particularly in East Street. Local residents have expressed serious concerns about safety with some cars apparently driving as fast as 50 mph down this narrow road.

A study covering traffic issues in both High Street and East Street was approved recently by the Mole

Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have called on the Conservative-run administration to abandon it's ill-conceived and unpopular plans for 10 of the County's libraries to be run by "volunteers" instead of professional librarians.

In a response to a written question to the Conservative-run Cabinet from Cllr Hazel Watson, the Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition, the administration stated that it will "take the decision again" at the 19 June Cabinet meeting.

Local election campaign launched

Mole Valley Liberal Democrats will be contesting 11 seats in the local elections on May 3rd. For further information please follow these links:

List of candidates

Summary of policy priorities

Sorting out the Council's finances

Full election manifesto

Launching the campaign, Liberal Democrat Group Leader Margaret Cooksey said: "In recent years, Mole Valley residents have shown increasing support for our programme for a Greener, Fairer, More Effective Mole Valley. This year's elections provide a real opportunity to vote for a change in how our area is run by electing more Liberal Democrat candidates to join our strong team of Councillors."

Lib Dems welcome High Court libraries judgment, and call on Conservative-run County Council to put the plans back on the bookshelf

Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have welcomed the judgment by Mr Justice Wilkie in the High court today.

Commenting on the judgment, Liberal Democrat Communities Spokesperson John Orrick said: "Liberal Democrats have repeatedly raised our concerns regarding the equalities impact of the County Council's library plans.

Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:

• The biggest ever single uplift in the tax threshold
• A personal allowance of £9,205 in April 2013
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550
• Brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have condemned the County's Conservative administration for refusing to accept that a safety net of adult care homes for Surrey's most vulnerable should continue to be run by the County Council.

In the debate today in full council on a motion proposed by Liberal Democrat County Councillors John Orrick and Hazel Watson, the Conservatives pushed through an amendment that laid the County Council open to putting all of its adult care homes out to be privately run.

Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council are calling for the County's elderly with the highest or most complex needs to be cared for in residential homes run by the County Council as well as private sector care and home care for people with lower needs.

In a motion to the meeting of the full County Council today the Lib Dems will call for an open public debate about provision of care homes, following recent discussions behind closed doors at County Hall.