Following the closure of public toilets by the Residents Association run borough council, they are back on the agenda thanks to a Motion from the Liberal Democrats. Debate could take place on 17th July but is more likely to be deferred in order to prepare a report with more details about the proposals
With local Conservatives urging residents to block the consultation on the future of Upper High Street, local Liberal Democrats are now fighting for the consultation to stay alive. Plans for Upper High Street, Depot Road and Church Street are in the second stage of consultation which ends on 13th July.
To celebrate the Recreation Ground becoming a Queen Elizabeth II Field in Trust, a sports day is being held at Alexandra Rec on 15th July.
Our photo gallery of the parade in Epsom on 23rd June to celebrate 75 years of the borough of Epsom & Ewell.
A meeting of the borough council's Environment Committee on 20th June agreed to a "broad brush" survey of part of the Longmead housing estate, where there are acute parking problems.
Liberal Democrat county councillors have welcomed the decision by the Conservative Cabinet in Surrey to drop its plans to close four Community Recycling Centres after an outcry from thousands of Surrey residents. However, the County Council confirmed that it will proceed with its plans to reduce the opening hours of all the Centres across the county as well as dropping the daily free waste allowance which residents currently enjoy. The proposals are scheduled to be confirmed at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 26th September. Cllr Stephen Cooksey, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson, said today:
Liberal Democrat county councillors have today welcomed the announcement that the County Council has extended the public consultation on the future of the Surrey Performing Arts Library to four weeks up to 1st October 2017. The Conservative-administration had previously only offered two weeks for library users to respond to the County Council's plans, which include closing the library in order to make savings of £180,000. Cllr Hazel Watson, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, said today:
Thousands of Surrey residents have responded to the County Council's consultation on whether to close four Community Recycling Centres, as well as slashing opening hours and increasing charges at those Centres which remain. The consultation generated 13,637 responses, one of the biggest ever, and now proceeds to the Conservative Cabinet who will make a decision at a meeting on 26th September. The consultation revealed huge support for the retention of the four threatened recycling centres in Dorking, Bagshot, Cranleigh and Warlingham with over 90% of the users of those sites wishing to retain them. Over 75% of those who responded also wished to retain the daily free waste allowance currently permitted by the county council.
The Liberal Democrats have launched a petition to save the Surrey Performing Arts Library which is under threat of closure by Surrey County Council. Surrey residents have reacted with dismay on hearing of the threatened closure and that the County Council's consultation exercise will give residents just two weeks to respond. The Library, which is currently based near Dorking at Denbies Wine Estate, houses a truly unique collection of music, theatre, orchestral and dance materials available for public loan. It also holds a specialist Vaughan Williams collection and permanent display covering the life and works of Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), commemorating his strong links with the area where he lived and where he composed some of his most important pieces.
Liberal Democrat county councillors have expressed their concern after an independent body, Healthwatch Surrey, criticised the county council for a lack of engagement and consultation after changes to the provision of sexual health services. Healthwatch Surrey has written to the county council outlining their criticisms in relation to HIV services. The letter states that:
Ofsted has today published a letter summarising the findings of the recent monitoring visit to Surrey Children's services. This is the 8th monitoring visit since the County Council was inspected in 2014 and found to be inadequate in the Ofsted report published in 2015. In the latest monitoring visit, Ofsted inspectors noted recent improvements. However some changes have taken too long to achieve and children continue to receive an inconsistent response to their needs and for some, potential risks are not explored quickly enough. Cllr Chris Botten, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Children & Schools, said:
