Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrats' shadow Secretary of State for Transport, spoke at a public meeting in Epsom recently, hosted by local Liberal Democrats, about the need for renewal of our transport networks. Mr Baker told the meeting about the Liberal Democrats' common-sense policies for improved public transport.
Plans for the future of Epsom Hospital were revealed when Samantha Jones, chief executive of the Epsom St Helier hospital trust outlined their proposals at a public meeting at the Town Hall last week. She confirmed that £70 million should be available for redevelopment on the Epsom site, independently of the work agreed at St Helier.
The replacement of the Stones Road footbridge, at one time promised by June 2009, has been held up yet again to avoid disturbing Great Crested Newts from the nearby Stones Road Pond SSSI during their annual hibernation period.
Following a Lib Dem initiative at the October meeting of the Environment Committee, a reduced flat rate Christmas car parking charge of £1 will apply in Council owned car parks in Epsom for two Sundays in the run up to Christmas.
Lib Dem councillors who have been campaigning alongside local residents to get the borough council to act on the future of Horton Chapel have welcomed a decision made at a meeting of the council's Strategy & Resources Committee in November.
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council is advising residents to be on their guard following reports of possible fraudulent activity in the Borough. According to information received by the Council, telephone calls are being made to residents advising them their Council Tax banding has been changed and they are to receive rebates backdated to 1 April 1993.
The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have called for the council to fund the reduced speed limit schemes already approved by the council's local committees.
Lib Dem party membership grew by a remarkable 14% in the first half of this year, according to official figures released by the party in England. Thousands of new members have joined the party since the election and the coalition agreement was reached, with the party also having greater success in retaining current members than in previous years.
MEPs have taken an axe to the illegal logging trade by banning the sale of illegal timber in Europe and setting up strict penalties for those caught doing so. Illegal logging is estimated to represent 20-40% of global industrial wood production, and contributes heavily to carbon emissions and the destruction of biodiversity.
The Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament has approved plans to reduce the number of animals used in scientific experiments. These plans are expected to be endorsed by the European Parliament and the European Council in September.
The European Parliament has overwhelming supported a Lib Dem blueprint for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). George Lyon, Lib Dem MEP for Scotland, has drawn up a report with detailed proposals to make the CAP fairer, greener and more sustainable.
South East Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles has been named the most influential woman in European finance, according to a Top 100 list published in the Financial News.
