Dear friends, welcome to our latest Update covering material since our last one on 6 March. I am sure you are all relieved that NASA has said the planet will not get hit by an asteroid in the next 100 years, so we can get back to focusing on more immediate issues such as:

Local COVID updates:

• Monday sees some changes in what we can and can't do.
• As usual our links at the bottom of this Update provide links to where you can get the full information from the authorities.
• The free NHS asymptomatic testing service is moving from Bourne Hall to Ewell Court House, while the vaccination centre is moving from the racecourse to Sandown Park from 17 May.

Following pressure from Lib Dem Councillors, Surrey County Council and Surrey Police will now review having street lights turned off across the county.

In an attempt to save £210,000 a year, the County Council adopted a 'Part Night Lighting Policy' for street lights in 2016, which involved switching off the majority of lights between midnight and 5 am. This decision was always controversial, but has come under added scrutiny following the tragic death of Sarah Everard and increased focus on women's safety.

Paul Kennedy, Liberal Democrat candidate for Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, has secured a commitment at today's Police and Crime Panel meeting from the current PCC David Munro to raise the issue of 20 mph areas with Surrey County Council and Surrey Police.

The Lib Dems and many local people across Surrey want to see more 20 mph areas outside schools and in residential areas to improve road safety and encourage sustainable travel like walking and cycling. However, both Surrey County Council and Surrey Police have often opposed such initiatives despite 20 mph schemes being successful and popular elsewhere in the country.

The Lib Dems called on Surrey County Council to support EU citizens living locally and lobby the Government to grant EU citizens the automatic right to stay in the UK.

During this week's Full Council meeting, Councillor Chris Botten and the Lib Dems tabled a motion after new Home Office figures reveal that 4800 people in Surrey are still waiting for a decision on their 'Settled Status' application.

Surrey County Council unanimously agreed a motion from the Lib Dems today which would see the Council look at holding meetings remotely after lockdown has finished.

The County Council hopes virtual meetings will save taxpayers money and reduce its environmental impact, as well as encourage more working age people and those with caring responsibilities to become Councillors.

You can still object to the planned extension of activity at the Chalk Pit on College Road - the increased noise and dust is already causing distress and environmental damage. See here (for the County application, deadline for comments 15 March) and here (for Borough application).

There is also a petition here: Petition · Surrey County Council: Stop the Epsom Mineral Waste Recycling Plant · Change.org

Article on Munira website

Cllr Paul Kennedy, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, is calling on Priti Patel not to impose centralised crime targets on local police forces, warning it "would be a grave mistake" that "risks seriously undermining" police officers.

In a letter to the Home Secretary, Paul Kennedy, alongside the party's Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael and 26 other candidates for Mayor or Police and Crime Commissioner, writes that "the police need to be responsive and accountable to their local communities, not micromanaged by Ministers in Whitehall."