The Liberal Democrats won eleven seats – gaining nine from the Conservatives – and took control of Mole Valley District Council on 2 May. We now hold 22 of the 41 seats on the District Council.

Our District Councillors have already set to work laying out the changes we would like to make.

At the top of the list of our priorities is a review of the draft Local Plan – to ensure that our Green Belt is protected whilst new homes can be built on non Green Belt sites.

We will be making the necessary changes to the draft Local Plan to achieve this before it is published for consultation and to enable us to do this we have postponed the public consultation until October / November.

We will be seeking to provide more electric car charging points in the area and to introduce drinking water dispensing points in a bid to reduce single use plastics.

We will also be reviewing car parking charges with a view to encouraging more people to come into our towns.

Our agenda seeks to fix the problems caused by the complacency that has overshadowed the running of the District Council in recent years. We intend to run a council that is active, that seeks positive solutions to problems, that is in touch with local residents, and which supports both our market towns and rural areas.