A break in at derelict Horton Water Tower this weekend has caused considerable distress to residents living on the new Livingstone Park estate nearby, who are desperate for owners London & Quadrant Housing Association to either demolish the building or find an acceptable use for it.
Following delays caused by the owners of the former Lintons Lane school, the closure of the Stones Road footbridge is now planned to go ahead with effect from next Monday 16th August. Unfortunately the replacement crossing though the underpass or "tunnel" will not be available until some time after the start of the new school year. Regrettably this will affect safe routes to school for pupils at both Epsom Primary School and Blenheim High School.
The borough council has issued a press release on its new Climate Change Action Plan and the document can be found on the council's website www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk.
Two appeals against planning refusal relating to town centre properties have been lodged. The first relates to student accommodation in Temple Road, where a 3-storey extension was refused permission by the Planning Committee.
The borough council will make an application to the Secretary of State for permission to restore to use the currently abandoned Stones Road allotments and will work with Lower Mole Countryside Management Project, Natural England, Surrey County Council and others to ensure the future of both the Stones Road allotments and Stones Road Pond which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The Lib Dem group at County Hall has pressed the Conservative administration to be more open and transparent by publishing more information and by making decisions more openly.
Question to 5 February Cabinet Meeting from Hazel Watson (Dorking Hills):
Speaking in response to the widely distributed email from Surrey County Council's Chief Executive to a member of the public over the recent stay by Conservative Cabinet members and senior council officers at Farnham Castle, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition Hazel Watson said:
The Conservatives were pushed into an unprecedented fourth place in the Sunbury Common by-election yesterday, as Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Spoor stormed to victory, gaining more than double the number of votes of his nearest rival.
Surrey County Council's Conservative-run administration have rejected a call by the Liberal Democrats for the County's speed limits policy to be changed to make it easier for 20mph zones to be introduced where evidence says they are required and they are supported by local residents.
Councillor Fiona White (Guildford West), the Deputy Leader of Surrey County Council Liberal Democrats has condemned the Conservative leadership at County Hall for having no ambition to improve arrangements for the protection of children in Surrey.
At tomorrow's meeting of the Full Council of Surrey County Council Liberal Democrats will be calling on the Conservative-run County Council to enable more parents of disabled children to have short breaks to support them in their caring role.
