Epsom & Ewell Liberal Democrats

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30 Most Recent News Stories

Plans for Night Working at Epsom Station Deferred New!

Fri 3rd Sep 2010

Amidst much heckling from the public gallery, a planning application to allow night working at Epsom Station has been deferred for decision until October 7th. A meeting of the Planning Committee yesterday, 2nd September, was remarkable for two reasons : firstly the "consultation" period on the proposals had not expired by the time the plans were brought to the Committee for decision and secondly a blow-by-blow commentary of the meeting was transmitted via the internet on Twitter thanks to local Guardian reporter Thais Portilho-Shrimpton.

Town Hall - Epsom (photography: Colin Taylor)

No Hotel for West Park? New!

Tue 31st Aug 2010

The Developers of the West Park former hospital site have announced that, despite extensive marketing, the requirement in the borough council's agreed planning brief to develop the former Administration Building as an hotel and conference centre has failed to attract any interest from potential operators. Instead they propose an additional 87 housing units, bringing the total proposed for West Park to 456 new homes.

West Park

Nonsuch Park Awareness Day 2010

Fri 27th Aug 2010

Following the success of the first Nonsuch Park Awareness Day in 2009, a repeat event will be held on Sunday 12 September 2010 from 11am to 4pm, offering a free, active and educational day out for dog walkers, cyclists, walkers and visitors of all ages and interests in this beautiful parkland, which lies between London Road, Ewell and Ewell Road, Cheam.

Nonsuch Mansion

Disabled Bays Stay Empty

Wed 25th Aug 2010

Lib Dem councillors in Epsom and Ewell are keeping a close eye on empty Disabled Parking bays in the Town Hall car park, since the council increased provision from 9 up to 20 bays, earlier this month.

Empty disabled parking bays in Epsom (photography: Julie Morris)

"Through a glass darkly"

Sat 21st Aug 2010

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.

The three unwise Tories

Tories Whinge at Ashtead Residents about Voting RA

Fri 20th Aug 2010

A Tory newsletter issued across part of the Epsom & Ewell parliamentary constituency has told local residents that it's OK for national Lib Dem or Labour supporters to vote for an Independent in a local election, but not for Conservatives to have this choice! The Tories failed to win any of the three Ashtead wards in the local council elections in May (Independent candidates were victorious) which were held at the same time as the General Election, won by Tory MP Chris Grayling.

PPC Jonathan Lees (photography: Julie Morris)

Epsom County Court Closure

Thu 19th Aug 2010

Epsom and Ewell Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has issued a statement expressing their concern about the impact of the proposed closure of Epsom County Court. The fear is that closure will limit access to justice for residents of Epsom and Ewell. The CAB is also concerned about the adverse effect on the level of homelessness in the borough.

New Epsom Courts

Is Late Night Noise in Epsom Out of Control?

Wed 18th Aug 2010

Tony Axelrod, a resident living in the centre of Epsom, says that late night and early morning noise and disturbance in Epsom town centre is out of control. Though he has been patiently working with the borough council's Environmental Health staff, the Police and looking at the current licensing arrangements, he fears that there are just not sufficient resources put into what has become a real health problem and one which is affecting the quality of life of hundreds of residents.

Epsom Town centre (photography: Julie Morris)

EU proposals to reduce animal testing

Tue 17th Aug 2010

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.

Sharon Bowles MEP

Break in at Horton Water Tower

Mon 16th Aug 2010

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.

Derelict water tower (photography: Julie Morris)

Stones Road disappointment for local pupils

Sat 14th Aug 2010

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.

Stones Road footbridge and subway (photography: Colin Taylor)

Progress report refused

Thu 12th Aug 2010

In July 2009 the County Council's Interim Chief Executive Mr Michael Frater published a highly critical report about the County Council. At that time the Conservative administration said that Mr Frater would be invited to review the Council's progress one year following the publication of his report.

No Hear

Surrey Liberal Democrats Welcome the Pupil Premium

Wed 11th Aug 2010

The Coalition Government has announced a Pupil Premium to target extra money at schools taking disadvantaged pupils. The proposed Pupil Premium would provide additional per pupil funding on top of the existing funding provided to schools. Schools will be free to spend the additional funding as they choose to raise the achievement of disadvantage pupils. This was a key manifesto commitment and one that Nick Clegg made clear was one of his absolute priorities.

County Councillor Diana Smith (Knaphill)

Council Ratifies Climate Change Action Plan

Tue 10th Aug 2010

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.

Dundee LibDems welcome news on climate change

Sharon Bowles MEP slams UKIP and BNP for voting against caps on bankers´ bonuses

Mon 9th Aug 2010

South East Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles has slammed both UKIP and the BNP for voting against the tough new laws to introduce caps on top bankers´ cash bonuses, which was overwhelmingly voted through the European Parliament by 625 in favour to 28 against, with 37 abstentions. In effect, UKIP and BNP MEPs voted against the legislation in order to keep the status quo, which has seen huge bonus packages continue to be handed out despite unprecedented government intervention.

Sharon Bowles MEP

MEPs axe illegal timber trade

Fri 6th Aug 2010

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.

Illegal Timber

Surrey 'World Class'?- Residents still don't think so!

Wed 4th Aug 2010

The Conservative administration at County Hall has stated its ambition for the Council to be World Class but has not provided any definition of this term. However, it is clear that Surrey residents believe that the County Council has room for considerable improvement.

Unhappy face

Appeals Lodged after Planning Permission Refused

Mon 2nd Aug 2010

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.

University students

Council Makes Application to Secretary of State for Allotments

Mon 2nd Aug 2010

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).

Neglected SSSI site (photography: Julie Morris)

Common Agricultural Policy - MEPs back Lib Dem reform plan

Mon 2nd Aug 2010

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.

Liz Lynne MEP helping out at a farm in Shropshire (photography: Press Officer)

Lib Dem MEPs use Lisbon Treaty to safeguard citizens' privacy

Fri 30th Jul 2010

The European Parliament has approved a reworked EU-US agreement on access to European citizens' banking data for the tracking of terrorist finance, after rejecting an interim deal in February on the grounds that it insufficiently safeguarded privacy. Work to improve the data protection safeguards, such as shorter storage times and stronger supervision and redress rights, was led by MEPs from the ALDE (Lib Dem) group.

The European Parliament building in Strasbourg (European Commission Audiovisual Library)

Sharon Bowles MEP hails victory over bankers´ bonuses and casino banking

Wed 28th Jul 2010

South East Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles, who chairs the European Parliament's influential Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, has hailed the new EU law to rein in bankers´ bonuses as a landmark success. The tough new rules voted through the European Parliament will be implemented in time for this year's bonus payout. This will stop bank directors such as Fred Goodwin walking away with excessive bonus style pension pots if their bank fails.

Sharon Bowles MEP (photography: David Goodall)

Tourism SE Offers a Boost to Local Economy

Tue 27th Jul 2010

Increasing tourism in Epsom and Ewell, both of which have considerable history and interest, gives a boost to trade and helps to sustain a thriving economy.

epsom salts

Bank stress tests cannot be a half-way house

Mon 26th Jul 2010

The EU's bank watchdog, the Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS), is to publish the results of its bank stress tests. Stress tests were implemented last year in the US to identify banks that would require additional capital to survive in case the recession got worse.

Sharon Bowles MEP

Another Development Brief for Upper High Street

Sat 24th Jul 2010

A Question to Tuesday 20th July's meeting of the full council produced no firm answers as to when a formal Development Brief for the Upper High Street site will be adopted.

Development site (photography: Julie Morris)

Thousands of new members join Lib Dems

Fri 23rd Jul 2010

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.

Gold Lib Dem Logo

Courts Redevelopment plan not agreed

Thu 22nd Jul 2010

Epsom & Ewell borough council's Planning Committee have voted not to approve a revised scheme to redevelop the former Crown Court and Magistrates Court buildings, because insufficient parking places were proposed in an area with chronic parking problems.

Town Hall (photography: Colin Taylor)

County and National Cuts put paid to Hook Road Arena BMX Track

Wed 21st Jul 2010

The Hook Road Arena (HRA) track for BMX pushbikes, which was to be installed later this year, has no funding. The County Council first decided to withhold 25% of the Playbuilder Grant it had received from Government, then Government cut the Grant entirely.

Cottingham's new BMX track (photography: Alan Williams)

Mayor's Rolls Royce reaches the End of the Road

Wed 21st Jul 2010

Plans to dispose of the Mayoral Rolls Royce were thwarted when its head gasket "malfunctioned" just prior to the sale. Instead of realising £11,000, the vehicle was sold off for £5,000.

Green Rolls

No reprieve for Blue Badge holders

Wed 21st Jul 2010

Turning their usual blind eyes and deaf ears to outraged public opinion, Epsom & Ewell's ruling Residents Party have succeeded in forcing through their divisive policy of charging disabled "Blue Badge" holders in all borough council car parks by just 2 votes.

Blue badge not accepted here

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