Plastic Bag Use on the Decline
Following the Lib Dem Motion to Council and leaflet campaign, there have been notable changes in recent weeks.
Following the Lib Dem Motion to Council and leaflet campaign, there have been notable changes in recent weeks.
A recent expert report considered by Epsom & Ewell councillors claims that the prospects for successful local businesses in Epsom town centre are being harmed by "street clutter". This includes unnecessary posts, over-large road signs and especially broken and disused lamp posts etc.
Figures quoted at the June meeting of Surrey County Council by the Executive Member for Transport, in reply to a Lib Dem question, show that Epsom & Ewell now has by far the worst pavements in Surrey.
The ruling Residents' Party is determined only to match funds raised by the business community despite RA councillors having agreed in a private meeting early in 2008 that the borough council could spend up to £10,000.
Rosebery Housing Association is to be asked if they can provide space for a recycling station in Teddington Close.
A recent press release from the Borough Council on the subject of air quality, gives little evidence of how they will deal with the long-term problem of increased nitrogen dioxide levels in Ewell High Street.
Legal claims from motorists who allege their vehicles were damaged because of the poor condition of Surrey's roads are likely to double by the end of this year. In 2006 Surrey County Council received 518 public liability claims from drivers relating to the condition of the roads. The number of highways claims made between January and mid October 2007 reached 954, which is almost double the number for the whole of last year. In 2007 up to mid October, 50 claims totalling nearly £33,000 have been paid by the County Council. However further claims are likely to be received and to be paid before the end of the year.
Liberal Democrats are getting increasingly anxious at the growing threat of over development in Surrey. The Inquiry into the new South East Plan has recommended an increase in housing numbers, with Green Belt reviews in parts of the county. In addition the government has just published a housing Green Paper which makes it clear that Gordon Brown's government wants to see an increase in housing even beyond the levels set out by the Inquiry.
Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have called on the Council to respond much more quickly to enquiries and complaints, following a report highlighting failures in responding to residents in a satisfactory time scale.
The financial out-turn for 2006/7 was revealed at the Transport Select Committee recently. All County Councillors know that the poor state of Surrey's roads is the number one bone of contention for local residents. So the members of the committee were stunned to be told that last year was the third year in succession when the budget was under-spent by the Tory executive, this time by £5.2 million!
The Family First service, which helps prevent young people having to go into care, is under threat as Surrey County Council pulls its funding from this project. The service, which is a partnership between the County Council and the children's charity NCH, helps young people who have been excluded from school or who have problems at home.
John Doran, Lib Dem spokesman on Transport, last week proposed a motion calling for more urgency in the development of the Transport Co-ordination Centre (TCC). In October 2004 the Executive of the Council had endorsed the proposal to set up a TCC, which was backed by all parties because it was claimed that there could be a 10% saving on a budget of £45 million.