Mole Valley Liberal Democrats

Dear Sir Paul,

In the 23rd June 2016 referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union, you and I campaigned for Britain to remain a fully autonomous voting member of the European Union with all the influence, economic and cultural benefits, security, environmental safeguards and personal freedoms we now enjoy. The majority of Mole Valley residents agreed with us, voting for Remain by 53% to 47% in Mole Valley District and 56% to 44% in Guildford Borough, to say nothing of the thousands of young people and EU citizens living here who were denied a vote.

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.

This follows the decision by Conservative-run Surrey County Council to consult on three options covering the future of Surrey's Community Recycling Centres - all of which involve closing the Dorking Tip.

Parking charges of £1.30 per hour, with a maximum charge of £5.00 per day, were introduced in the car parks on Surrey County Council's Countryside Estate, including those at Norbury Park, on 6 August 2018 despite significant opposition from local residents. Previously there was no charge.

Liberal Democrat County Councillor Hazel Watson (Dorking Hills) said: "Following the introduction of the parking charges, the car parks, unsurprisingly, have been virtually empty.

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.

We, the undersigned, oppose the proposed closure of the Dorking Community Recycling Centre and request Surrey County Council to retain the facility for at least three days, and preferably seven days, per week

More information

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.