Bookham East & Eastwick Park Elizabeth Daly

Straight-talking Elizabeth Daly moved here in 2014, and in 2018 she was the first Liberal Democrat councillor elected in Bookham since 2012.

Elizabeth is passionate about children. She previously worked at a children's centre in Guildford, and is well-known to many having worked as a qualified nursery nurse at a local playschool here in Bookham.

During the pandemic, Elizabeth was in charge of Mole Valley's crucial wellbeing portfolio, securing help for local businesses and responsible for the Council's busy housing and environmental health teams, and introduced new affordable housing and homelessness strategies.

As chairman of the Council's licensing committee, she introduced a new licensing policy which includes new measures for safeguarding young people and to tackle spiking and needle attacks. Her local achievements include extending air quality monitoring to Bookham, a safer road crossing across the A246, and a 20mph limit in East Street.

Elizabeth regularly represents Mole Valley at cross-borough Health Liaison Panel meetings in Epsom, as well as on Surrey County Council's children's services liaison group.

elizabeth.daly@molevalleylibdems.co.uk
07951 581205

Bookham East & Eastwick Park  Andrew Matthews

I have lived in the Bookham and Fetcham area for over 35 years, and live in Bookham with my wife and family.

I work as a Railway Signalling Engineer, and I am regularly part of a team upgrading the railway infrastructure, I am currently involved with projects at Victoria and at Feltham.

I enjoy spending some of my spare time volunteering in the community.

I volunteer at South Bookham SPACE where I am a trustee and the facilities officer, I also work with the residents association on projects to improve our villages.

I enjoy taking part in the monthly litter picks.

I have been running a campaign for better accessibility at Bookham Station, and have won the support of Surrey County Council for an accessible bridge with lifts, I have secured funding for the refurbishment of the Station toilets with the provision of an accessible cubicle, and also for new display screens on the platforms. I look forward to seeing more of the improvements later this year.

As a Councillor, I would represent the community, and stand up for families caring for relatives. I would challenge the council to improve facilities and services, and have a strong interest in ensuring that Bookham and the beautiful countryside is protected from over development.

I care about our village High Street, and want to provide solutions that will keep the shops open. I would also like to explore ways to increase the kerbside recycling of more plastics and Tetra Pak Cartons.

Bookham East & Eastwick Park Paul Kennedy

Paul Kennedy lives in Bookham and is a former barrister, accountant and actuary, with over 30 years' professional leadership experience in both private and public sectors. In his spare time, Paul enjoys singing, playing tennis and badminton, and is a Vice-President of Leatherhead Football Club.

Paul has served as a Fetcham councillor since 2016, so is well-placed to represent the new hybrid ward of Bookham East and Eastwick Park, which includes parts of Bookham and Fetcham. In Fetcham, he led the Lib Dem campaign to save the Molebridge GP surgery from closure in 2019, successfully got Hawks Hill repaired, and has secured changes to Mole Valley's Local Plan to protect our Green Belt. In Bookham, he has worked closely with colleagues to secure better services for Clarion tenants, safer crossings, a 20mph speed limit in East Street, and a better service at Bookham station.

Paul was our parliamentary candidate for Mole Valley constituency in the last general election, increasing the Lib Dem vote from 14% in 2015 to 34% (nearly 20,000 votes) in 2019. Paul is Mole Valley's representative on the Surrey Police and Crime Panel, where he presses for more community policing and better value for money for council taxpayers.

Bookham West Roger Adams

Roger has lived in Bookham for the past 23 years and has been a Bookham councillor for the last four. When his children were young, he was on the Howard of Effingham PTA and the Bookham and Effingham Guides Committee. Consequently, he knows full well the issues facing residents. As a councillor, Roger has fulfilled the following roles:

• Chairman of the Thomas Flack Committee, responsible for assessing applications for charitable donations and making recommendations to Cabinet.
• Member of the Development Management Committee responsible for assessing planning applications
• Member of the Scrutiny Committee responsible for ensuring that all proposals to be considered by the Cabinet are fit for purpose
• Member of the Audit Committee responsible for ensuring the financial viability of the Council
• Member of the Council Member and Staff Consultative Forum
• Norbury Park Liaison Group Council representative
• Lower Mole Partnership Liaison Group Council representative
• Surrey Countryside Partnership Board substitute
• Surrey Hills AONB Board substitute
• Bookham Residents Association director

Roger is passionate in improving the environment and well-being for his constituents in Bookham. Whilst acknowledging the considerable need for truly affordable housing in the District, he has fought long and hard to remove the Tory inspired Preston Cross and Hunters Moon developments from the proposed Local Plan, developments that will overwhelm current facilities and infrastructure.

Despite his heavy workload on Council committees, helping constituents with a myriad of issues and contending with Covid-19, he has visited many of his constituents although not as many as he would have liked.

Bookham West Chris Miller

I have lived in Fetcham for nearly 30 years and feel very lucky to have spent those years in such a friendly and inclusive community.I graduated from Exeter university, my early career was with BP and subsequently in a software development company which my partner and I started based in Leatherhead.

The many years I spent working in HR have given me the interest and desire to listen to peoples concerns and ideas and to make sure that these are heard and actioned.
If I am fortunate enough to become a Councillor the following are some of the issues I would work hard on to address:

As the war in Ukraine rages on we must continue to support those poor people forced to leave their homes and country.

Here, at home, the huge rise in the cost of living is already causing hardship for many, forcing them often to have to choose between food or heating; and this is only likely to become worse. We must find ways to ensure nobody has to make these choices.

The need for us all to make changes to cut carbon emissions continues to be an essential priority. Our national government must lead this but locally we can be the voice that is listened to so change happens. We do this for our children and grandchildren who have inherited a world we, at best, unknowingly, have put at risk.

Everyone should have access to free health care and our wonderful NHS have shown us what an amazing job they do, particularly in the face of the phenomenal challenge in fighting the COVID virus. We now must fight to protect and maintain this jewel, both in our local community and nationwide.
The housing shortage is another massive issue that needs careful balancing to try to ensure that affordable housing can be delivered without damaging the countryside we enjoy.

Bookham West Monica Weller

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 Licensing Committee, and Development Management committee which considers planning applications across Mole Valley.

*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.

Brockham, Betchworth, Buckland, Box Hill & Headley Paul Potter

I have been a Liberal Democrat Councillor at Mole Valley District Council for twelve of the past thirteen years and have had the privilege of being Chairman of the Council this year.

The ward I currently represent is Brockham, Betchworth and Buckland where I was born, grew up and happily still reside. My daughters still live locally and I have a large family.

Since becoming a Councillor, I have worked tirelessly for affordable local housing including Poland Meadow in Brockham. This is a special rural exception site specifically for local people. In my role I frequently support many older and vulnerable residents who have difficulty accessing services. This was particularly vital during the recent pandemic.

Due to the boundary change, this ward will expand to also include the neighbouring villages of Boxhill and Headley. I am looking forward to working with Boxhill and Headley communities and continuing to highlight the concerns of all residents.

In addition, I would like to make welfare services such as banking, doctors surgeries and citizens advice more accessible for everyone, especially the elderly, vulnerable and anyone without the latest IT device.

As a District Councillor I believe there should be less waste, more recycling and a greater focus on green issues. The future we make is for all our children.

paul.potter@molevalleylibdems.co.uk
01737 842 779

Brockham, Betchworth, Buckland, Box Hill & Headley Paula Keay

Originally from London, Paula moved to Surrey 20 years ago, initially living in Reigate and now in Betchworth with her family, with her children attending local schools. After university she worked in IT for a local company, before deciding to retrain as a nurse. She has now worked as an NHS nurse for over 15 years and is currently working part time as a specialist nurse practitioner at a GP in Redhill. After volunteering for The Children's Trust charity, she then took the opportunity to become a manager at their Dorking shop.

Paula wants to protect our Green Belt, improve local public transport, fight for local health and education services, and address the climate crisis emergency. She appreciates the particular local challenges we are facing regarding affordable and available local housing, the difficulties arising from the cost-of-living crisis impacting on local families and individuals, and the terrible situation with sewage in the River Mole.

Paula enjoys regular walks in our local beautiful countryside, is a keen vegetarian cook and trains at a local kickboxing club.

Capel, Leigh, Newdigate & Hookwood Johanna Farrar-Astrop

I began my working life in the advertising sector. After several years I moved into television, then formed my own company specialising in international advertising sales and event organisation. During my career I've worked with many interesting people and organisations from all over the world, including international charities, authors such as Roald Dahl and HM King Charles III - a wonderful opportunity I feel very privileged to have experienced.

I have lived in the Mole Valley area for 28 years (8 in Brockham and 20 in Newdigate). I love living here, and feel that our beautiful countryside and the diversity of wildlife that flourishes here are such assets to our communities.

When I moved to Newdigate, the friendliness and warmth of the welcome I received really blew me away. I became a member of the village church, joined several local groups and started my own recreational singing group. I can't claim to be a good singer but it was always a lot of fun!

My daughter attended Newdigate's superb village infant school and was blissfully happy there. I became a school governor for 8 years - an incredibly rewarding time. I was also on the pre school committee during my daughter's time there - and have since worked on the committees of several other village organisations.

I love this area and I'm delighted to serve as a Liberal Democrat councillor. I want to protect and promote the smooth running of our area and will work hard to ensure it continues to be a great place to live for everyone.

Capel, Leigh, Newdigate & Charlwood - Kirstie Havard

I moved to Newdigate from London in August 2003 and my first daughter was born in November that year.

I became involved in the village playground raising money to re-fill and repair the bark pit that was the surface at the time and updated and refurbished some of the playground equipment. Subsequently, a fabulous job has been done by some other village members completely resurfacing the playground and making some great modern changes. I joined the Newdigate Community Centre Village Hall Committee.

In 2008 I organised a ‘Picnic on the Brocus’ with live bands and stalls selling food and other things. This was a memorable day as the weather was so utterly awful! After this I was a member of the organising committee of Village Day until 2013 and I was on the Newdigate Community Centre (Village Hall) committee.

I was a Governor at the Weald School, Beare Green from 20011-2013

In 2020/21 I worked with a sustainability officer from Mole Valley co-ordinating clearing litter mainly in the Henfold Lane area between Newdigate and South Holmwood; contractors were organised to clear rubbish from inaccessible sites along the road and signage was installed on Henfold Lane stating ‘No Litter’.

I have been a ‘Friend’ on my daughters' school committees for the past 10 years and in December 2023 organised the first ever Ashcombe School Christmas Fair which was a great success and vital in securing an event at the school to raise much needed funds.

I am very interested in pursuing the idea of providing housing with modular designs and static mobile homes for an immediate relief to the many people being made homeless, on suitable sites where services can be run in and homes created.After the 2nd world war immediate housing was needed for all the people bombed out during the war. Sites were identified where temporary housing was erected and communities were created. There are around the country today still examples of these sites in existence today.

In my village I have volunteered as a driver for those attending the ‘Live alone Lunch’ in the village hall. I also produce the village rota for village volunteers who take the weekly donations, collected through the church, for the Dorking food bank.

Every small thing I have done in the local community has been important to me, I have always worked full time and brought up my 2 daughters to understand the importance of ‘giving back’ to your community at any opportunity.

Capel, Leigh, Newdigate & Charlwood Dineke van den Bogerd

Dineke has been living in the UK for 30 years and since 2002 in Mole Valley. She came from the Netherlands on a 3-year secondment as IT project manager and never left! As self-employed baker she had dealings with MVDC on matters of food hygiene and trading standards. Her involvement in the organisation of the Capel show has brought her experience with the council on waste disposal issues. 

Her track record of involvement in public life, as current Capel show committee member and former Churchwarden, gives a good idea of how she likes to serve her local community. She is still involved in church life as environmental advisor to the local church council, which under her guidance recently adopted a Zero Net Carbon pledge for 2030. 

She managed the installation of a ground source heat pump for the 1859 end of terrace she part-owns. Solar panels are on order and should be installed before the summer. Insulation of the Victorian cottage is an ongoing project. It will therefore come as no surprise that environmental issues will be high on her agenda in all future endeavours. 

Also on her priority list are improvements to public transport, well thought out bicycle infrastructure and dedicated well-maintained pavements. Like many she uses the public highway in various ways. Walking, cycling, driving the car and horse riding (the motorbike was sold 15 years ago) are all in the mix. She is therefore aware of the different challenges for various road users. 

Dorking North David Draper

Although banking and politics may not always be a good mix, I began my career with HSBC. After five years I decided that teaching was to be my future direction and spent over 25 years in Surrey, seventeen as a headteacher. During 1990 to 1998 I was a Councillor in Mole Valley for the Liberal Democrats, representing Dorking South. It took four attempts, one of which I lost by only one vote! One of the highlights of those years was to chair the group overseeing the refurbishment of Dorking Halls. In 1998 I travelled to Turkey, where I spent nine years as the head of the British Embassy School. An invitation then came to open the first British School in Azerbaijan, and I worked on this project for six years. Returning to the UK I was recycled and re-elected back onto Mole Valley Council in 2014, and have been a Councillor for Dorking North Ward since then. When the Liberal Democrats won control of the Council, I was appointed the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, with responsibility for things as varied as our Leisure Centres and allotments. It has been a great pleasure to support the redevelopment of many children's playgrounds as well as the varied voluntary activities, such as Walks for Health, which are supported by the Council. But my main task is working for my residents, attempting to solve their issues both big and small.

Dorking North Elsie Rosam

I am the Councillor of Mickleham, Westhumble and Pixham and I've lived here for 30 years. I was a psychodynamic counsellor with a client base in Croydon. I Dorking I have volunteered with MyTime for your Carers, Dorking Minds and organised two concerts for The Brigitte Trust (£10,000 donation).

Last year I was proud to become champion for the Disabled. This gave me the freedom to visit local charities around Mole Valley like The Grange, Sight for Surrey, Fairfield Centre and many more. There is so much kindness around the district hiding behind closed doors.

The River Mole runs through my Wards. Recent high temperatures plus more heavy rainfall has meant that a high proportion of sewage has been flowing into our river. With local persistence and frequent meetings with Thames Water, Pixham has contributed to the announcement that they will be spending millions to expand the capacity on the treatment sites at both Pixham and Holmwood.

As a member of the Mole Valley Access Group I have gained experience and insight into what is important to our constituents. We discuss local issues as a group, in friendly but serious atmosphere. This also happens at the Leatherhead Hub monthly with other Councillors.

Dorking North Cllr Hazel Watson

Hazel Watson has been an active campaigner across the Dorking Hills for over thirty years. She has represented the Dorking Hills on the County Council and served as a governor of The Ashcombe School since 1993, and is currently the District Council Cabinet Member for Community, Vice Chair of the Police & Crime Panel, a Board Member of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and a Member of the East Surrey YMCA Children and Youth Services Advisory Group.

She was, until they were abolished, a non-executive director of the Mole Valley Housing Association and a member of the Surrey Police Authority, and has served on the Board of Age Concern Surrey and as a Governor of Surrey Hills School.

Hazel is married to Michael and has two grown-up children. She initially worked for the Confederation of British Industry where she developed Education and Training Policy and then qualified as a solicitor specialising in intellectual property litigation. She has also served on the Quaker Council for Social Responsibility & Education.

Hazel Watson has the local knowledge that is needed to represent the Dorking Hills. Her approach is summarised as follows: We live in a beautiful area and we must ensure that it remains so. We must also provide the services that residents need, in the way they need them, cost effectively, to ensure that all residents can enjoy living in our beautiful area and have a decent standard of living. She always listens to residents views and makes sure that they are heard before decisions are made.

Dorking South Cllr Margaret Cooksey

Margaret Cooksey has served for 27 years as a member of the Council and is well known as an active, energetic and highly effective representative of the Dorking community.

Since 2019 she has been Cabinet member with responsibility for Planning, steering the new Local Plan through all of its stages, culminating in a proposal to remove all green-belt sites from the Plan.

Professionally she worked as a Senior University Lecturer in Nursing, before retiring in 2014 and has since been a full-time Mole Valley Councillor.

She works with a wide range of local residents and organisations to protect and enhance our community and has an impressive record of achievements for the town through hard and sustained work for local people.

Margaret's community involvement includes chairing both the Dorking Forum and Dorking Town-Twinning Committee, being a committee member of the Friends of Dorking Hospital and a Council trustee of Dorking Charities.

Dorking South Cllr Stephen Cooksey

Stephen Cooksey has served as a Councillor for more than 50 years on five different Local Authorities. He has represented Dorking South on Mole Valley Council since 1992 and is the longest serving member of the Council. He has been a member of Surrey County Council since 2005 representing Dorking South and the Holmwoods.

Stephen has been Leader of Mole Valley District Council since 2019 and has worked with the Liberal Democrat Group to transform the Council into a fairer, greener and more caring organisation.

Professionally he worked as a senior administrator at a number of Universities, spending his last 10 years before retirement as Deputy Director with the Open University. He retired in 2013 to become a full-time Councillor.

He is one of the most experienced Councillors in the country and has worked tirelessly with the Dorking community and residents to improve and enhance the town and its environment.

Dorking South Cllr Nick Wright

Nick has lived in Dorking for over 25 years, having moved here following many years living overseas, mainly in Canada and Norway. Nick and his wife Stephanie, a local artist and potter, raised three children in the town, attending local schools. He is now retired from a career as a professional geologist in the energy industry. He is a strong believer in the power of local and community networks to build organisations that can improve our town, having been involved in the Transition Town Movement, leading the establishment and running of the Dorking Community Orchard, and taking on the role of the Chair of the local-food project "Food Float" following the death of his wife (one of the founders).

Nick is a long-term Liberal Democrat supporter and volunteer, and became a Councillor in the delayed elections of May 2021, representing Dorking South. Apart from representing the concerns and issues of local residents, Nick is involved in the wider promotion and development of the Dorking town centre, through the Business Improvement District (BID) and Town Forum, and is a member of the Development Management Committee. He has also been involved on behalf of the Council, in the management of the Almshouses on Cotmandene, and of the Nower House Care Home.

Fetcham Cllr Raj Haque

Raj Haque is a well-known face in Bookham and Fetcham, having lived here for over 40 years and as owner of the popular Fetcham Tandoori restaurant. Since his election to Mole Valley District Council in 2010, Raj has worked hard for residents, both in his own ward of Fetcham West and across Mole Valley as Chairman of the Council in 2018-19. Raj believes in working with other councillors and residents to get things done, and is always willing to help those in need, whether during the floods of 2013/14, supporting key workers during the pandemic, or through charity work. His proudest achievements include getting Cock Lane repaired, a 20mph zone for Fetcham's schools, and saving Fetcham's Molebridge surgery from closure.

Most of the complaints Raj has to deal with relate to the failings of Surrey County Council. Raj shares residents' frustration at the wasted costs and lack of investment in Surrey's crumbling roads and infrastructure, the slow progress in replacing Bookham Youth Centre which was closed by Surrey County Council in 2019, and the lack of support for local schools including SEND provision. Raj believes we all deserve and can do better.

Raj is committed to tackling climate change and protecting our environment. On Mole Valley's Development Management Committee, Raj has helped protect our Green Belt from inappropriate development. He now wants to extend this work to Surrey-wide issues such as promoting more active travel, addressing the lack of public transport and improving the energy-efficiency of Surrey services and buildings.

Fetcham Cllr Caroline Joseph

Caroline has lived in Fetcham for 10 years, is a small business owner, and mother of two children in the local village schools. She has experience working in local government services as she was Senior Business Support in Surrey County Council's Early Years and Childcare service for nearly 10 years.

As a mother of children who have ADHD, Caroline understands the importance of inclusive policies and services. She has seen firsthand the challenges faced by families who have children with SEN, and believes that we need to do more to support them. She is looking forward to working with local organisations and charities, to improve access to resources and services for families who need them.

As a small business owner, Caroline knows how hard it is to start and grow a business. She believes that we need to do more to support local entrepreneurs and small businesses. It's vital to keep the businesses at the heart of Fetcham, thriving.

Caroline is passionate about making Fetcham, and Surrey in general, a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Caroline believes that her experience, skills, and values make her the ideal candidate to represent the Liberal Democrats in this election. She looks forward to meeting with you all in the coming weeks and discussing the issues that matter to you.

Fetcham Cllr Philip Hammond

Philip shares concerns about river pollution and climate change, and lists these personal goals:

• Enhancing access to job skills learning for young people and people returning to work. Mole Valley lacks colleges and transport options. Radical improvements are required to provide technical training and work skills for people enabling them to gain better jobs, stay in our communities and improve the economy.

• Prioritising community built affordable homes. Over 80% of new homes in this country are built by PLC builders. Neither developers nor Governments deliver local needs. Mole Valley has virtually no truly affordable new homes. We need a radical long-term plan to exploit existing Government legislation.

• Accelerating the energy performance improvements of existing homes. Existing homes produce 14% of UK emissions (Climate Change Committee). Improvements are complex and expensive. Homeowners need signposting to a supervised local network of trusted specialist installers.

• Arguing for cycling safety. Surrey County Council must expand safer cycling routes. Fetcham has only a few yards (0.2 km SCC cycle facilities map) of roadside cycle route. There is no worthwhile protection for school children and commuters. People must feel safe before they'll cycle more. Designated routes must connect our stations and schools.

• Supporting community well-being through integration. Medical services through GPs aren't the whole answer for dementia, mental health, addiction, disabilities, long-term illness, elderly care, and children with special needs. Even more can be gained by linking GPs, other public care providers, carers, churches, voluntary and hobby groups and target grant funding.

Holmwoods & Beare Green Rosemary Hobbs

Rosemary has lived in North Holmwood for over thirty years; her children were educated locally and she served two terms as a Governor at St John's School. Professionally, Rosemary worked extensively in Secondary Mathematics Education. She is a strong believer in the importance of high quality Early Years provision to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children and in widening access to play and sports facilities for young people.

Rosemary was elected to represent Holmwoods Ward in 2021. She is keen to maintain local services and to support voluntary groups, especially those working with the young, the vulnerable and the elderly. As a Ward Councillor, she has done her best to support residents and follow up on their concerns. Last year she was elected as Vice Chair of the Development Management Committee at MVDC. She is committed to protecting our beautiful environment and promoting the benefits of being outdoors for physical and mental health. She is currently Treasurer of the Friends of Holmwood Common, organises a regular monthly Community Litter Pick and leads a Wellbeing Walk.

On housing, Rosemary is keen to see the requirements for developers to deliver significantly more affordable housing, greater energy efficiency and improved biodiversity if the Draft Local Plan is approved. With colleagues, she has campaigned for improvements to road safety, public transport and infrastructure for cycling and walking.

Holmwoods & Beare Green Cllr Claire Malcomson

Claire Malcomson Cabinet Member for Climate Change, has lived in Surrey for many years and been a councillor for the Holmwoods for eight years. Since the Liberal Democrats took over the Administration (2019) she has held a Cabinet post. Claire strives to make all residents feel listened to and works hard to mitigate climate change.

Claire led the Council to declare both a Climate and Ecology Emergency, making sure the council reaches its target to become carbon neutral by 2030. Her ground-breaking Climate Strategy has resulted in the council winning 500K to install air sources heat pumps and LEDs lights on council properties; expanding solar generation, and creating a new procurement plan, making sure the corporations we use have the same ethos. She hopes to introduce solar car canopies in our council car parks and has helped set up ninety EV charging points, being installed this spring. Claire introduced The Community Lottery, which is providing funds to local charities and groups. Its Environment Fund pays planting for well-established saplings across Mole Valley. She's made sure MVDC and Surrey CC mowing regimes have been altered to allow wildflowers and pollinators to thrive.

During the pandemic Claire initiated a Community Garden to help residents' well-being.

She is an enthusiastic member of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Board and Mental Health Board for Surrey and its Borders Partnership. She stands up against sewage in The Mole and extraction of fossil fuels, actively making sure ambitious biodiversity and emissions targets feature on our upcoming Local Plan.

Holmwoods & Beare Green Cllr Clayton Wellman

Cllr Clayton Wellman is well known as a champion of the Holmwoods. He has achieved large scale housing improvements for Housing Association tenants, supported local residents by setting up an employment & skills support service in the ward, and made sure local businesses get the funding & advice services they need.

During his time as a Cabinet Member, Clayton has improved access to training, support and networking events; introduced new online and offline business services; served on the board of the Dorking Business Improvement District (BID); instigated the Opportunity Dorking initiative and its regeneration projects; led the council's car park renewal and EV charge point installation programme; helped with applications for pandemic-related support grants; and worked to promote rural and visitor economies.

Over the past two years, Clayton has launched initiatives such as the Mole Valley Employment & Skills Hub (a free service helping local businesses and residents with skills, training and recruitment); Cost of Living support, English teaching for refugees, and Warm Spaces at the Hub and its outreach centres; Pop Up Leatherhead (supporting start-up businesses with experience of high street retail); and he continues to take a keen interest in promoting and putting on special events and local markets.

Clayton also works for a charity foundation - helping young people from difficult backgrounds and guiding them towards workplace opportunities.

Leatherhead North Keira Vyvyan-Robinson

Keira has been one of the North Leatherhead Councillors since 2019, serving as the Cabinet Member for Projects (including responsibility for Transform Leatherhead), and sitting on Development Management Committee, the Planning Policy Working Group and Mole Valley Access Group, as well as being the Armed Forces Champion, a Trustee with Leatherhead United Charities and the Member representative in meetings with Citizens' Advice.

In that time, among other things she has supported the creation of the Leatherhead Community Hub, organised the renovation of The Bridge basketball court, worked with local residents to install a sculpture on the B&Q roundabout, moved forwards with Transform Leatherhead (including obtaining full planning consent for Claire and James House, identifying the partner to develop Bull Hill and the Swan Centre and starting the design process for the Riverside Park), revamped the CIL process and has campaigned to introduce a Banking Hub in Leatherhead.

Keira believes strongly that providing the resources that communities and individuals need, and addressing problems before they become entrenched, is key to a healthy society. She would hope to continue to work with local community leaders to improve opportunities in North Leatherhead, particularly for the disadvantaged and to continue the exciting work on Transform Leatherhead.
Having grown up in Ewell, Keira joined the Army out of University before becoming a practising barrister. She now works as a lawyer in the Government Legal Department. She is married with 3 teenage children, 2 dogs, 3 cats and 4 chickens.

Leatherhead North Ben Wall

Ben was raised locally, attended the Howard of Effingham School and graduated from the University of Surrey with honours in Law. He currently reads Public Policy at University College London (UCL) writing his dissertation on energy policy, underlining his commitment to green policies.

Ben played club football for Bookham Colts throughout his childhood Whilst at university Ben competed for the university Boat Club in rowing, winning national medals and being awarded a University Crew of the Year award for 2020/21 by British Rowing.

Ben enjoys long-distance running and cycling across the Surrey Hills in his spare time and can be seen most weekends walking his dog along the River Mole in Leatherhead and Norbury Park.

Ben is passionate about maintaining and improving access to and sustainability of Leatherheads green spaces through controlled and considered plans that put the community at the heart of home and infrastructure planning. He is also dedicated to improving social housing and increasing affordable housing in Leatherhead. Ben also advocates for greater access to community banking facilities, seeing Leatherhead's banking decline as highly problematic and in need of urgent rectification.

Leatherhead North Benjamin Wear

Benjamin is a business owner, in the property industry running from his busy office in Surbiton. He previously managed a successful office in Leatherhead and has lived in the town for many years giving him a huge knowledge of the area.

Originally from South Africa he lives with his partner in Leatherhead and enjoys having the beautiful countryside of Mole Valley on his doorstep where he enjoys long walks along the river and into the valley. However, he is deeply concerned about sewage that is released into our local river and is adamant to protect the Green Belt for future generations.

Being in the property world means he has a keen interest in the development of the town centre, and that it provides good quality affordable housing as well as creating a central hub for retail and entrainment to pull interest from the wider area. As a business owner Benjamin believes its critical the redevelopment creates opportunities for small business to thrive and that business community is supported to do so.

He sees it essential that all residents are represented and supported in all decisions made, this includes special education provision, disabled access, and supporting an aging population.

When not working Benjamin loves to learn about other cultures, having travelled to places across Southern Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including Namibia, Japan, and Vietnam.

Leatherhead South Bridget Kendrick

Bridget has been a councillor in North Leatherhead for seven years. She lives in the Town Centre and due to the boundary changes she hopes to continue to represent Leatherhead in the Southern ward. She feels passionately about working to improve facilities for residents and making Leatherhead a more attractive place to live and work.

Bridget works hard for Leatherhead, handling case work, working with Surrey County Council to improve the High Street, supporting local community groups and supporting grant applications and if elected hopes to continue doing so for Leatherhead South.

Bridget has served as Cabinet member for Finance since 2019, ensuring the financial stability of the council during the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis, making savings of over £1.4 million in two years while protecting services for residents.

Bridget is a Chief Marketing Officer in a global data analytics company specialising in supporting the metals and mining sectors become more sustainable. Bridget lives with her husband, son and Dad, like many others, juggling work, family and caring responsibilities. She feels this gives her a good perspective on life to bring to a councillor role.

In her spare time Bridget enjoys reading and watching science-fiction, taking the family dog on walks, cycling in the beautiful Mole Valley and travelling on family holidays to Ireland, Italy and France.

Leatherhead South  Gareth Parsons

Gareth Parsons lives in Leatherhead where he runs his recruitment business. He has volunteered and fund-raised for national homelessness charities and is a Voluntary Charity Board Director at Leatherhead United Charities - organisations much needed during this cost of living and energy crisis.

Mickleham, Westcott & Okewood Chris Budleigh

Chris has lived in Westhumble since 1994 with his wife Jan and two daughters. He studied Industrial Economics at Nottingham University and after graduating, trained as a chartered accountant with Deloittes in London. After qualifying he spent two years in Zambia as a VSO volunteer working with a regional grain-marketing co-operative. There followed several years with large corporates, after which he moved into the technology world and now works with early-stage companies and university spin-outs, bringing their ideas to market. He also has a Masters in Business Administration from the Open University Business School.

Chris has been a member and former secretary of Westhumble Residents association for many years and is also Westhumble 's representative on the Norbury Park Community Forum. He has been a board member of the Churches of Dorking Housing Association, a charity providing accommodation in the town for vulnerable adults. Chris also works as treasurer or honorary auditor for several charities and local organisations. Chris joined the Liberal Democrats in 2016.

Chris is a keen historian with a masters degree in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies from Royal Holloway and is close to completing a PhD in medieval economics at Birkbeck College, University of London. An active walker and cyclist, Chris knows the Mickleham, Westcott and Okewood constituency well.

Mickleham, Westcott & Okewood Abhiram Magesh

Abhi is a 25-year-old Law student and former medical student, who grew up in the Home Counties and lives in Westcott. He is interested in the adversities people experience and the power of the government to correct injustices within people's lives.

While at school, he volunteered at a care home and worked part-time at a pharmacy which gave him insight into social care and mental health services and a perspective on the barriers faced in attaining access to healthcare. His training and rotations in medical school, with GPs and hospitals, he says "have deepened my understanding of our NHS and as a result, I am passionate about guaranteeing first-rate healthcare, free at the point of use".

As a Law student, Abhi has developed a keen insight into the Justice system. He says "I am intrigued that in an often unjust world, we have the ability to impose due process and protect our society from the debilitations of arbitrary decision making through the tools that the Law provides. I am therefore committed to ensuring the rule of Law and equitable justice for all people, as well as the fundamental principle that no-one is above the Law."

As an immigrant, Abhi has experienced diverse cultures which have shaped his values of inclusivity and openness. He says "Being British is integral to my identity and I'm proud of our values of fair play, tolerance and meritocracy which have underpinned the foundations in my life and which enabled my parents to succeed in making their life here".

In his spare time, Abhi works part time in the Watermill, enjoys writing and reading, and plays Badminton.

Mickleham, Westcott & Okewood Leah Mursaleen-Plank

Leah is a neuroscientist who lives in Dorking, grew up in Ashtead and went to school in Leatherhead. Following her father's diagnosis, she devoted her career to Parkinson's research. Since 2014, with the charity Cure Parkinson's, she has worked closely with patients, industry, the NHS, and academia to develop new research focused on slowing, stopping, and reversing Parkinson's, liaising with other funding bodies and regulatory agencies to understand the hurdles of moving research forward. Leah believes that collaboration and inclusivity is key to the successful delivery of projects, whether that be scientific or community projects.

In her academic career, Leah has always represented her peers, on the student's union at college, as student ambassador at university, and as the PhD representative during her doctoral training. She champions equality and diversity in our community as the Mole Valley Liberal Democrats Diversity Officer. She believes that governments should be more representative of society and has helped set up a social group for young people locally to raise questions and advocate for better outreach and information about ways to get involved (no matter the political affiliation).

Leah had her daughter in 2020 and is keen to ensure that children get all the educational and mental health support they need to overcome the challenges resulting from the pandemic. As a working mum she understands the difficulties parents face, particularly with the cost-of-living crisis, and wants to see improved access to information about available support, essential education, healthcare, and public transport services for all residents.