Epsom and Ewell Liberal Democrats

Website of the Lib Dem FOCUS teams

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Margaret Derrett

Margaret Derrett

Welcome to our website. We hope you find it interesting. Amongst other things, you can:

Margaret Derrett

Chairman, Epsom & Ewell Lib Dems

Election Results

Lib Dem Campaigns

Local News


Lib Dems triumph in Nonsuch by-election New!

Fri 3rd Jul 2009

Sutton's Liberal Democrats were celebrating last night as they saw their candidate, Gerry Jerome, romp home to a decisive victory in the Nonsuch ward by-election with over 50% of the votes in a high turnout contest. The Conservatives lost the seat to the Liberal Democrats with their vote falling by 7%.

Cllr Gerry Jerome

A Glimmer of Hope for Residents' Parking Problems?

Fri 26th Jun 2009

When planning permission was given for a student accommodation block in the centre of Epsom, some of the "developer contribution" to the council has been earmarked to help the parking problems of residents living nearby.

The Lib Dem FOCUS Team keeping up the pressure on Residents' Parking reform (photography: UPDW)

Epsom & Ewell has become Surrey's Rubbish Dump

Sat 13th Jun 2009

Epsom and Ewell's "tip" in Blenheim Road is still being used to process far more waste from other boroughs than from within Epsom and Ewell, over two years after complaints were made to both Surrey County Council (the waste disposal authority) and SITA which manages the waste disposal contract.

Bulldozer in rubbish landfill site. (photography: Courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory at the United States of America's Department of Energy)

Join The Big Lunch - 19th July - Alexandra Recreation Ground!

Sat 13th Jun 2009

A Big Lunch is planned for Alexandra Rec to support the national campaign, more details of which can be found on www.thebiglunch.com.

bring a picnic to the park

Surrey Police Authority to challenge government cap in court

Sun 7th Jun 2009

Surrey Police Authority (SPA) Chairman Peter Williams confirmed last week that they will seek permission for a Judicial Review of the Government's decision to cap the SPA's budget this year. However political parties were asked not to comment on this during the county council election campaign, in view of the importance of the Police being, and being seen to be, totally impartial.

SPA Chairman Peter Williams

No change in Epsom & Ewell

Sun 7th Jun 2009

Throughout Epsom & Ewell people have resisted the siren call "It's time for change - vote Conservative" and wisely continued, as they have ever since 1997, to opt for parties opposed to the Tories running one-star Surrey.

Six to Fix

Lib Dem gains across Surrey - Labour and the Tories lose seats

Sat 6th Jun 2009

The Liberal Democrats have gained seats in Reigate, Spelthorne, Tandridge and Woking, despite losses in Godalming and Guildford. The new Lib Dem group will number 13 and the Lib Dems will remain the main opposition party on Surrey County Council.

I'm voting Lib Dem on 4th June

Liberal Democrats call for road repair to be inspected

Sat 6th Jun 2009

A deep hole in Downs Hill Road has been repaired, but local activist, Diana Coman, questions the quality of the work done. Reported by Diana and logged on her internet site, see Related Link below, this hole was very deep and a hazard to cyclists and motorists.

Downs Hill Road pothole before repair

'Vote Lib Dem' says The Observer

Sun 31st May 2009

"Support the Lib Dems next Thursday", says The Observer. As well as its Editorial, an article by Andrew Rawnsley praises Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats in the run-up to the elections for the European Parliament and the County Council as the one party that has consistently advocated Constitutional Reform and the one that has come out of the expenses scandal much less sleazed than either Labour or the Tories.

I'm voting Lib Dem on 4th June

Nick Clegg sets out 100 day plan to fix Britain's broken politics

Sat 30th May 2009

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today set out a plan to restore trust in the political process by putting power back in to the hands of the people. The plan sets out radical reforms which can be achieved within 100 days including the ability for constituents to sack their MPs, overhauling MPs' expenses, abolishing the House of Lords and electoral reform.

Take Back Power logo

Identity Cards - RA Party sits on the fence

Tue 26th May 2009

A proposal clarifying that Epsom & Ewell Borough Council will not voluntarily ask residents to show ID Cards or add residents' details to the National Database was defeated recently by RA Party councillors. Instead they agreed not to decide their policy until after the government announces whether they will force councils to insist on seeing ID cards and hand over residents' data.

no2id logo - the anti-identity card (id card) and national identity database campaign

It's time to Fix the Finances

Mon 25th May 2009

Over the last four years, the Tories running Surrey County Council have provided poor services for residents, wasted millions of pounds of Council Taxpayers money and produced continual spin claiming that the council is "outstanding" when plainly it is not. The outcome of this sorry state of affairs is the demotion of the Council by the Audit Commission from a 4 Star council in 2005 to a 1 Star council in 2008.

County Cllr Hazel Watson outside County Hall

What has Europe ever done for us?

Fri 22nd May 2009

Intriguing information about Europe - and what it does for us.

What has Europe done for us?

At last - justice for Gurkhas

Fri 22nd May 2009

Reacting to the Government's announcement that all Gurkha veterans with four years' service would be allowed to move to the UK, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said he was "absolutely thrilled". The announcement follows a key House of Commons vote led by the Liberal Democrats that the Government lost. It outlined rules that will allow Gurkhas who retired before 1997 with four years service to settle here with their immediate families.

Justice at last

Government confirms capping of Surrey Police

Tue 19th May 2009

It has been announced that, subject to the approval of parliament, the Surrey Police Authority (SPA) will be capped. They will have to refund £1.6 million (about £3 on average per council tax payer) at a cost of a further £1.2 million for re-billing. The news broke just hours after the SPA had met in public last Tuesday, when the chairman Mr Peter Williams had said they were still awaiting the government's decision following representations made to ministers by the SPA.

Surrey Police Authority Crest

School Traffic safety worries - Lib Dems take the initiative

Mon 18th May 2009

With local schools being expanded this year, and others expected in the next few years, Cllrs Anna Jones and Colin Taylor, together with county council candidate Diana Coman, are leading the way in a dialogue with local residents over concerns about traffic and safety.

Classroom with School Children (photography: Liberal Democrats)

Tory "Spin" alive and well in Ashtead

Sun 17th May 2009

It seems that gross misrepresentation of the facts is party policy for the Conservatives all over Surrey, since the same strategy is being adopted in their Ashtead newsletters.

Tory part flame symbol as a scary face

Pension Costs Increase as Deficit Deepens

Sun 17th May 2009

The cost of the county council's pension fund to Surrey residents looks set to rise steeply. Last year it represented almost 5% of our council tax payments, but due to the fund's worsened deficit (almost 50%) this is likely to rise to over 8% by next year, according to figures obtained recently by Cllr Colin Taylor.

Cllr Colin taylor (photography: Colin Taylor)

County Hall Face-lift cost over £3 million

Sat 16th May 2009

Figures obtained recently by Cllr David Goodwin show that the recent refurbishment of County Hall in Kingston, which also involved the costs of moving staff from one office to another, will total £3.123 million spread over 3 years.

County Hall, Kingston

Children's Services - 'Not out of the woods yet'

Thu 14th May 2009

Last year, Conservative dreams of seeing Surrey declared an 'excellent' County Council were shattered by Ofsted's shocking findings in the Joint Area Review. Vulnerable children were not safe in Surrey. By the Autumn the Secretary of State had given Surrey notice that it must carry out a demanding two-year improvement programme, meeting a rigorous series of targets, or risk having its services taken over.

Sad Girl (photography: Colin Taylor)

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Liberal Democrat TV
Quotes of the Week

"On issue after issue, the Liberal Democrats have led the fight for real change while the Conservatives lagged behind. On the economy, on the environment and now on the real reform of politics, it is the Lib Dems that are offering something different."

April Pond, Liberal Democrat candidate for the Norwich North by-election

www.norwichlibdems.org.uk - 21 June

"I believe that my position as an MP between now and the next election is untenable."

Labour MP Ian Gibson

Resigning as MP for Norwich North - 6 June. See www.norwichlibdems.org.uk for Norwich North by-election news.

Surrey County Council Liberal Democrats News Stories

Surrey Police Authority to challenge government cap in court
Sun 7th Jun 2009

Lib Dem gains across Surrey - Labour and the Tories lose seats
Sat 6th Jun 2009

'Vote Lib Dem' says The Observer
Sun 31st May 2009

It's time to Fix the Finances
Sat 23rd May 2009

What has Europe ever done for us?
Fri 22nd May 2009

More Surrey County Council Liberal Democrats News Stories...

(c) 2009 Surrey County Council Liberal Democrats
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