New Lib Dem initiatives in the draft Local Plan
This draft plan, whilst largely inherited from the previous administration, offer opportunities for improvement and innovative policies which have been introduced by the Lib Dems.
16 Feb 2020
Mole Valley Liberal Democrats
News from Mole Valley Lib Dems
Lib Dems will listen to your views
Council needs resident's views on draft Local Plan and inclusion of Green Belt sites to meet Government targets Liberal Democrat controlled Mole Valley Council is consulting residents on a draft Local Plan. The Council needs an approved Local Plan in order to protect our area from undesirable development. To get approval, the plan must meet the Government target for new housing. This is currently set so high that it can only be met by releasing a small amount of Green Belt land. The Council does not believe this is in the best interests of Mole Valley and will continue trying to get this target cut.
16 Feb 2020
Tories and the Independents choose not to challenge Government
Mole Valley District Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Cooksey, invited all Council Members to sign a letter to the Prime Minster, Boris Johnson, in a further attempt to reduce the amount of new housing the government demands to be developed in Mole Valley and that letter will be sent on Wednesday 5th February.
5 Feb 2020
Mole Valley’s Draft Local Plan: Time to have your say
General consensus for Cabinet to ratify Public Consultation
30 Jan 2020
Mole Valley’s Draft Local Plan: Time to have your say
Three years in the making, Mole Valley District Council now has a draft Local Plan ready for consultation. The new Lib Dem administration has had several months to review all the work done to date and has made some substantial improvements. Potentially this plan will be our roadmap and guidance for all building development in our area for the next fifteen years.
8 Jan 2020
1645 businesses in Mole Valley close in past three years in Brexit hit to high street
The Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservatives of failing to protect local small businesses, after figures revealed that 1645 businesses in the area have closed over the last three years. It comes as the Liberal Democrats have unveiled a series of measures to reverse this decline and boost local firms, to mark Small Business Saturday. Recent figures show that 1645 have closed in Mole Valley between 2016 and 2018, a 13.8% increase compared to the previous three years. Across the UK one million businesses have closed their doors between 2016 and 2018, an increase of almost a third compared to 2013- 2015. The Federation of Small Businesses has warned that a no deal Brexit, which Boris Johnson has repeatedly refused to rule out, would mean more damage to firms. Firms are also being held back by the Conservative government's failure to reform business rates, and by new taxes on the self-employed that business groups have described as "disastrous". Liberal Democrats have said that they will Stop Brexit a
9 Dec 2019
News from Chris Coghlan MP
SEND
Chris Coghlan MP calls for the Education Secretary to directly intervene in Surrey County Council
I have written with Lib Dem MPs in Surrey to the Department for Education, stating how we have lost confidence in Surrey County Council and it's ability to deliver SEND services. We request the Secretary of State intervenes immediately.
13 Feb 2025
Working for the community
Chris Coghlan Welcomes halt to Horse Hill Drilling
Chris praises work of local campaigners in holding UKOG to account.
29 Oct 2024
SEND
Chris talks SEND crisis on LBC
Last night Chris was on Ian Dale’s LBC show talking about the national crisis in special needs provision and what a better special needs education system might look like.
9 Oct 2024
Thames Water
Update on the repair works in Dorking's West Street
Chris Coghlan MP for Dorking & Horley interviewed September 20th on BBC Radio Surrey about the ongoing works in Dorking's West Street.
20 Sep 2024
Thames Water
Sinkhole in Dorking's West Street
Chris Coghlan, MP for Dorking & Horley, and Hazel Watson, County Councillor, visited the site of the sinkhole in Dorking’s West Street, and are keeping up the pressure on Thames Water to fix the issue.
5 Sep 2024
National Lib Dem News
Health, Care & the NHS
Never Again: Justice for Contaminated Blood Victims
The contaminated blood scandal is one of the gravest injustices in NHS history. We must honour victims with recognition, dignity, and compensation – and ensure no one ever suffers from such injustice again.
JBF
22 Sep 2025
Home Affairs
Improving Access To Justice
Years of Conservative cuts have hollowed out the legal aid system, leaving millions without access to timely legal advice. Our new policy will legal aid a guaranteed right, ensure no one is left without help.
BM
22 Sep 2025
![New Homes [Image: Tim Prater]](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/a/csm_newhomes_23c101933f.jpg)
Housing
Ending Fleecehold and the Great Property Rip-Off
Millions of people are still trapped in England’s broken leasehold system. Our plan will end the leasehold rip-off, strengthen building safety, and give residents the control, fairness, and dignity they deserve in their own homes.
GA
22 Sep 2025