By-Election Success
Spectacular swings to the Lib Dems were a feature of both Parliamentary By-Elections this week.
Spectacular swings to the Lib Dems were a feature of both Parliamentary By-Elections this week.
The future of Epsom General Hospital in Dorking Road was due to be decided by NHS chiefs at a critical meeting on 17th June.
For the first time in many years a genuinely local candidate will be standing for the Epsom & Ewell parliamentary constituency at the next General Election. Cllr. Jonathan Lees, a young family man who lives and works in Epsom, has been chosen to be the new Liberal Democrat candidate.
Cllr. Colin Taylor will question RA party leaders at next Tuesday's meeting of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (EEBC), about their plans for enforcement of yellow lines now the police traffic warden has left. Surrey Police handed over responsibility for on-street parking on April 1st.
The Brickfields Lunch Club has been reprieved, thanks to Colin Taylor. The club is run by Rethink, a charity that supports people with mental health problems. To ensure the club can continue into 2005, Colin provided more than £3,000 from his discretionary allocation as a County Councillor.
Government Inspectors vetting Surrey's plans for the 35,400 new homes demanded by John Prescott, have recommended startling changes in a report just revealed to Councillors following their "examination in public" hearings. These include a further 350 additional homes to be built in Epsom & Ewell by 2016.
Despite strong opposition from the Liberal Democrat group, the Conservative majority on Surrey County Council has forced through a sell off of Surrey school support services to warship makers Vosper Thornycroft.
The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have successfully forced the Conservative administration to reconsider their decision to cut bus services from September, even though they refused to debate a Lib Dem motion before the summer holidays.
The Conservative Executive of Surrey County Council have decided to withdraw large numbers of evening and weekend bus services right across Surrey with effect from September 2003. This was agreed at their meeting on the 10th of June.
Surrey County Council has increased its share of council tax for 2003-2004 by 17.9%. Cllr. Janet Maines, Lib Dem group leader said: "This Tory-run County Council has got to move away from crisis management, with its ever spiralling costs, by investing in preventative measures that are good value for money and that better meet the needs of Surrey residents".