Rural Speed Limits

Promoted the introduction of appropriate rural speed limits in place of the default 60mph national speed limit on our rural lanes.

Sought to End Anti-Social Use of our Byways

Promoted the restoration of the surface of our Byways, measures to ensure that they can be used safely by pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists, and measures to prevent anti-social use of the byways by off-road vehicles.

Mineral Extraction and Oil Drilling

Opposed mineral extraction and oil drilling in areas of outstanding natural beauty where irreparable damage will done to our beautiful countryside, speaking out against oil drilling at Coldharbour at both Public Inquiries and at the County Council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee.

Community Recycling Centres

Opposed the reduction in opening hours and the introduction of charges at the Community Recycling Centres (Tips) – actions which will simply lead to increased fly-tipping in our area and sought to reinstate the opening hours and the types of rubbish that can be deposited at the Tip when these were reduced.

Superfast Broadband

Campaigned to ensure that superfast broadband was made available to all residential homes in Surrey – as promised, but not delivered by the County Council.

Condition of the Highways / Pavements

Campaigned for an improvement to the condition of Surrey’s roads and pavements: ensured that the Dorking Hills obtained at least its fair share of funding under the Project Horizon and other highways resurfacing schemes which has enabled a very significant number of the residential roads in our area to receive a new surface dressing and promoted the extension of the road resurfacing programme to cover pavements.

On-Street Parking

Led the campaign for the introduction of a number of small Residents Parking Schemes across Dorking.

Successfully campaigned to stop the introduction of on-street parking charges in Surrey’s market towns.

Highways Contract

Exposed the inappropriate highways contract (now terminated) that subcontracted both highways repair work and the certification that the work had been completed to an appropriate standard to the same company.

Noisy Road Surfaces

Campaigned against the use of road surfaces close to residential homes that generate significant noise when vehicles travel at speed.

Gatwick and Heathrow

Opposed new runways at both Gatwick and Heathrow, instead promoting both HS2 and Crossrail and new runways in the Midlands and the North as part of the Midlands Engine and Northern Powerhouse projects.

Performing Arts Library

Led the campaign to save the Performing Arts Library when it was moved from its premises in West Street, Dorking …. new premises were provided at Denbies by Adrian White.

Libraries

Successfully opposed the “community libraries” proposals that aimed to have libraries staffed by community volunteers as opposed to qualified librarians.

Key Worker Housing

Promoted the provision of key-worker housing in the county.

Social Services

Held the County Council’s administration to account for the failing Adult and Children Social Services and promoted policies to increase the recruitment and retention of social workers. Opposed the increases in care charges and the withdrawal of grants from voluntary organisations which support residents in need of care.

Schools

Promoted small local schools and sought to protect the small local infant schools across the Dorking Hills alongside the expansion of Westcott from an infant school to a primary school.

Special Needs Education

Promoted special needs education, ensuring that more of the provision of special needs education was brought into the county.

Jobs for the Boys

Highlighted the waste of public money on the large increases in senior councillor allowances, on unnecessary allowances for the newly created associate cabinet member posts, and the holding of overnight away-days in expensive hotels such as Farnham Castle.

Cycling

Exposed the secret deal between the Leader of the Council and the Mayor of London that has resulted in the annual Prudential RideLondon Race – introduced without consultation with Surrey residents or those affected by the race route.

Successfully introduced the policy of only one “closed road” cycle event in each community each year. Worked with the organisers of the RideLondon to open the roads to pedestrians during the RideLondon mass participation event (ie excluding during the professional race between the front and back police escorts) and publicised the “open road” policy in the community and event participants.