Epsom & Ewell Liberal Democrats

Speaking at a Surrey-wide Conference on the threat to Green Belt organised by the Surrey Branch of the Council to Protect Rural England in Dorking on Saturday, Liberal Democrat County Councillor Ian Beardsmore said the County has been suffering from a decade of pressure under successive governments.

Arrangements are being made to bring the new Residents Parking Permit areas into operation with effect from Saturday 1 June.The aim of the scheme is to discourage commuter parking in those areas.

Nine residents parking zones have been approved by Surrey County Council's Local Committee for Epsom & Ewell, following consultation with residents within the zones affected. Eight of the zones are in Epsom town centre and there is one zone in Ewell.

A Government pledge to strengthen EU ties will highlight the benefits of the UK's place in the European Union.

Details were outlined in today's Queen's Speech to relaunch an EU for Citizens programme, which could include fresh town twinning and war memorial schemes.

Catherine Bearder, an MEP for the South East, believes the bill could help improve connections between the UK and Europe.

It's time to put UKIP on the spot, Catherine Bearder MEP has said.

The party picked up a number of county council seats at last week's election and Catherine said it was time to turn the spotlight on its policies.

She said: "UKIP better get its thinking cap on because it's got some questions to answer. We are hearing about the party's broader appeal and it has become a home for the disillusioned, angry and concerned.

A government Inspector has rejected the appeal by Rosebery School against the borough council's refusal of changes to the conditions of the planning permission for its sports hall and all weather sports pitch. The school wanted to allow public use out of school hours, including flood lighting of the outdoor sports pitch.

A special meeting of the Local Committee was convened last week to avoid further delay to the work of marking out the road outside Epsom Station.

As an alternative to earlier plans that involved completely removing the raised pedestrian crossing directly opposite the station entrance, members agreed a fresh option that will retain a crossing at this point, in addition to the one at the road junction.

Epsom & Ewell Liberal Democrats wish to thank all those who turned out to vote for our candidates on Thursday.

Our special thanks go to the voters of Epsom West who have elected Stella Lallement as their county councillor for the next 4 years.

Stella takes over from Colin Taylor who has stood down after 12 years in the role. As he followed on from the 8 years served by Mary Dapre, the Lib Dems have had the privilege of representing the West side of Epsom for 20 years, which voters have now been kind enough to extend further.

At last Tuesday's otherwise uneventful meeting of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, the ruling group of RA councillors voted through an increase in their own allowances.

This was opposed by all Lib Dem and other opposition councillors present. However, despite a significant number of RA councillors signifying their disagreement by abstaining, the built-in RA majority ensured that it was approved.

There have been reports from local residents of dogs not being kept under proper control on Epsom Common.

See, for example, this current report in the Epsom Guardian: http://tinyurl.com/bm3ze74

If you have experienced or seen such events, please contact Surrey Police on their non-emergency number 101.

The Coalition Government has announced a £2.7 million boost for school sports in Surrey from September. Every state primary school in Surrey will receive funding for sports in 2013/14 and 2014/15.

The funding is the equivalent of around two days a week of a primary teacher's time to provide more sport for their pupils. A typical primary school with 250 pupils would receive £9,250 per year.