VOTERS will be given the chance to choose who they want to represent them on Surrey County Council on Thursday (May 2).
Every seat on the authority – which is responsible for areas including schools, roads and social care – is up for election on May 2.
In Mole Valley, the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, as well as the UK Independence Party (UKIP), are fielding candidates in all of the six seats up for grabs in Mole Valley.
The Green Party has one candidate vying for Dorking Hills and Mole Valley District Council leader Chris Townsend is bidding to hold on to his seat for the Ashtead Independents.
Ashtead
Tim Ashton – Conservative
Tim is fighting the Independent candidate as leader of Mole Valley District Council over his decision to commission a leading commercial property firm to invite offers from developers to build and develop 31.96 acres of green belt land in Barnett Wood Lane. This will have major implications on traffic, schooling and doctors surgeries in Ashtead.
Penelope Becker – Liberal Democrat
Penelope is keen to preserve character housing and to protect what remains of the green belt. She recognises the need for housing for single people and for couples, but abhors the trend for gated developments and for over-large new builds. She feels she can make a worthy contribution to the Ashtead division of SCC.
Adrian Daniels – UKIP
I am a former oil company executive and have lived locally since 2002. Other parties claim that the EU is irrelevant in local government – however, in reality it has a huge impact on issues such as local bus routes, sub-post office closures, lorry weights and causes costly bureaucratic procurement processes.
Susan Gilchrist – Labour
Having lived in Ashtead for 56 years I probably know Ashtead better than any other candidate. If elected I shall work to ensure that Ashtead children can go to their schools of choice, that Ashtead roads and footpaths are well maintained, and to protect the NHS and community services.
Christopher Townsend – Ashtead Independent
Currently your SCC councillor, I will continue to improve roads/pavements; take action to improve parking congestion; work for Epsom Hospital's future; improve youth facilities and pre-school provision for Ashtead's young people. The Coalition is pursuing green belt development. I voted in favour of SCC resolution to support the green belt.
Bookham and Fetcham WestClare Curran – Conservative
Community is the most important thing to Clare, she believes strongly in the ability of local groups and volunteers to enrich the lives of residents in many different ways. She is determined to continue championing such groups, as well as ensuring high levels of service in education, [and] transport.
Keith Davis – Labour
Having worked in Mole Valley over many years, I would press for the following, if elected: Properly managed road and footpath maintenance, with a pothole hotline; Local bus services and a Bookham train service for the needs of local people; Protecting the local countryside in Fetcham and Bookham.
Andrew Richard Freeman – Liberal Democrat
Andrew is a former Mole Valley councillor and is currently secretary to the Bookhams' Residents Association. Andrew is married and works for the NHS. If elected he aims to protect our environment; improve our roads and explore opportunities to harmonise county services with other organisations to maximise efficiencies
Mike Heelas – UKIP
A retired analyst for a pharmaceutical company, I also ran my own business for a number of years. I have lived in Fetcham since moving from Dorking in 2008. I have a particular interest in the very poor condition of local roads and the failure of even basic maintenance.
Dorking Hills
Apolinario Afonso – UKIP
Having owned a small farm in Westcott for nearly 40 years, I know of the problems that small businesses experience nowadays from every-increasing bureaucracy, originating from both Brussels and Westminster. I appreciate the value of our countryside and will resist government pressure to redesignate green belt land for development.
Jacquetta Jane Fewster – Green
Jacquetta Fewster was born in Surrey and moved in Dorking in 2000. She has worked as an environmental campaigner for 20 years and leads the energy group for Transition Dorking. We all want to live in a safe, attractive environment and the council should be working harder to achieve that.
Lynne Hack – Conservative
As a county councillor with eight years of experience and a distinguished medical career, Lynne has been a strong voice in the fight to save Epsom Hospital and will continue to campaign hard on the issue. Other priorities are keeping council tax as low as possible and protecting the local countryside.
Jonathan Orde – Labour
If elected, I would push for greater local health care services, especially at Dorking Hospital. I would work to ensure our schools offer a broader variety of extra-curricular activities and sports. I would also like to see reduced car parking charges to support local high street shops.
Hazel Watson – Liberal Democrat
Hazel is an active campaigner in our local community, has worked with many residents groups over the last 20 years, and has been the county councillor for Dorking Hills since 1993. She has the local knowledge to protect our beautiful area and to improve services that are delivered to residents.
Dorking Rural
Helyn Clack – Conservative
The agenda for Helyn's time as a councillor could be summed up in one word – protection. She has worked diligently to protect the villages inside her division from reckless speeding, unsustainable development and from excessive noise pollution. If re-elected she plans to focus on supporting local shops, [and] promoting 'micro libraries'.
Leigh Jones – UKIP
I am concerned about council spending. Recently-introduced procurement rules require public bodies – such as Surrey County Council – that tender for services and supplies now have to publish those tenders Europewide, not just in the UK. Your council tax should be used to support our economy.
Malcolm Victor Ward – Labour
I will work to secure more visible policing on the streets to keep our communities safe; ensure there is a wide and accessible selection of local health services to all sections of society; and work to make sure our schools have the best possible resources to educate our children.
Michael Burdett Ward – Liberal Democrat
I am campaigning to reduce speeding through better enforcement and lower limits, where appropriate. I also to want to see more of the cash the council has hoarded in the bank spent on proper road improvements so that less money is wasted on pothole repairs that don't last.
Dorking South and the Holmwoods
Stephen Cooksey
I would continue to keep in close touch with our communities; work to enhance Dorking town centre and encourage business opportunities; to improve roads, pavements and facilities for the young and the elderly; support local voluntary organisations; and oppose inappropriate green belt development and Council complacency, disinterest, extravagance and waste.
Michael Foulston – UKIP
Having lived in Dorking for many years, I am well aware of local issues. I want to protect the green belt and will press for increased police patrols. I will seek to have binding referenda on local issues introduced – it is time to give a voice back to the people.
James Morton – Conservative
For too long you have had the same faces attached to the same policies. James brings a fresh new voice on issues such as the green belt, planning, improved parking, safer roads, and visible police. A vote for James Morton is a vote for focussed energy, greater passion and local engagement.
Frank Pemberton – Labour
In harsh time we need to cut the thousands of pounds wasted at County Hall e.g. consultants, unacceptable councillor allowances etc. If elected I would push for: Protecting our heath care services from the NHS cuts; No closures of libraries and Effective road and pavement repairs.
Leatherhead and Fetcham East
Roger Bird – UKIP
I am a director of an education business, chartered accountant and a former economics lecturer. I served as a councillor on Wandsworth Council for eight years, representing the ward previously held by Sir Paul Beresford, and chaired the council committee which set the lowest council tax in the country.
Tim Hall – Conservative
Tim is a strong campaigner on youth and school issues and is proud that a number of his local schools have seen advances in their Ofsted ratings. Tim's priorities for the future are continuing to drive up educational standards, opposing overdevelopment on the green belt and improving roads around Leatherhead and Fetcham.
Bridget Lewis-Carr – Liberal Democrat
Bridget has lived in Leatherhead for over 35 years. She has been district councillor for Leatherhead North, for the last 19 years. She has twice served as chairman of MVDC. With a strong record of past achievements , Bridget will work for the people of her division.
Robert Mallon – Labour
I came to Mole Valley 30 years ago for the sake of my children and have enjoyed the community ever since. I'm standing for election to represent all the residents of Leatherhead and Fetcham equally and without the intolerance and opportunism which stains the Tory/Lib Dem coalition politics.
Shere
Marilyn Merryweather – Liberal Democrats
Keith Taylor – Conservative
Keith is a strong advocate of creating a more 'joined up' approach to public services and driving up efficiency. He believes in a balanced approach to local roads, doing all he can to improve and maintain them, while at the same time actively encouraging the use of other modes of transport.
Donna Walker – UKIP
Robin Clifford Woof – Labour
Horsleys
Bill Barker – Conservative
Since first being elected in 1997 Bill has made it his sole priority to ensure the interests of his local residents are looked after. If re-elected he will continue to push for excellence in the standard of local schools, care facilities for the elderly and local roads and drainage systems.
Garreth Peter Evans – UKIP
UKIP is determined to get the finances of Surrey back under control. We will cut Councillor allowances, freeze Executive pay and cut non jobs. We will freeze Council taxes and parking charges for at least three years and focus efforts on fixing the appalling state of Surrey's roads.
Carolyn Fiddes – Labour
Arnold George Pindar – Liberal Democrats
For several years he has been chairman of Effingham Parish Council and has been active in the local community ever since arrival in Effingham. An analytical chemist by training, he worked for many years in the Department of Trade and Industry much of the time dealing with consumer protection issues.
