Opportunity Dorking regeneration initiative

At the recent Mole Valley Scrutiny Committee, Liberal Democrat councillors defeated an attempt by the Conservatives to delay the implementation of the much-needed Opportunity Dorking regeneration initiative to promote the culture and economy of Dorking. The proposal had already been considered by Scrutiny Committee in October, but none of the Conservative councillors (apart from the Chairman of Scrutiny to give his formal report) had attended or asked any questions at the subsequent Cabinet meeting which approved it.

Paul Kennedy said: "I don't know what exactly the Conservatives have got against Dorking. Government policies such as discriminatory high business rates, local government cuts and of course Brexit are killing our high streets. So it is vital that we use our earmarked regeneration funding to support all of Mole Valley's High Streets - in Dorking, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Bookham and Ashtead as well as our rural villages. Most important of all we need to get rid of Boris Johnson's anti-business Conservative Government."