MEET YOUR MP Local MP Dominic Raab is holding an open meeting at Esher Civic Centre on Thursday April 4th from The Esher News 7.30pm. All are welcome to come along and ask a Community news from your local Conservatives Spring 2013 question on any local or national matter.

Editor: Steve Bax | Email: [email protected] | Web: www.vote4steve.co.uk | Twitter: @MoleseySteve ‘A fresh face fighting for Esher’ ello and welcome to the in- lobbyists or outside forces - my priority Surrey Conservative pledge to spend augural Esher News. This is is and will always be to residents. £27million over the next five years to Ha newsletter from your local My wife and I have two children fix our roads network. Conservatives which aims to keep you under five, so I understand the pressures Just like the national government, informed of local issues and what we facing families today and believe local there are tough financial decisions to are doing at borough and county level government has a duty to help. make here in Surrey. Families are hav- to improve things here in Esher. I want to ensure that every child in ing to watch the pennies and make their I am the editor, Steve Bax, and it is Esher has a local school place, but that money go further, and it should be no also my honour and privilege to have when schools expand the impact on different at County Hall. been selected as your Conservative local residents is understood by official- The Conservative adminstration is candidate at this year’s Surrey County dom and practical solutions are found. bearing down on costs while continuing Council election on May 2nd. And of course schools are only part to drive up standards, but councillors I am all about local issues. I was a of the story; it is vital that our young must be your eyes and ears and insist on local newspaper reporter in Surrey for people have jobs to go to when they value for YOUR money. many years, so I know how councils graduate, and as the county council is I very much look forward to hearing work and I am used to fighting the cor- Surrey’s biggest employer it must play a your views during the April campaign, ner of residents. part in creating local opportunities. whether on the doorstep or by email. I manage websites for national news Surrey residents pay enough tax and If you would like to help canvass, de- company in London and so I know the deserve decent roads. Potholes are a liver leaflets or even to display a poster, importance of good communications. bugbear of mine and I keep on at High- I would love to hear from you. I am also a clean broom with no ties to ways until they are fixed. I welcome the Thank you and enjoy the newsletter.

Crisis looms for Esher hall Traffic chaos at Cranmere? Congestion and safety concerns in Lower Green as Esher school expands URREY County Council is drawing up plans to enlarge SCranmere Primary School in Lower Green to meet a soar- ing demand for school places in Esher and surrounding areas. The school in The Drive can ac- commodate 390 pupils - some 180 of them in temporary buildings - but in future it will have a capacity of 630 plus a 26-space nursery. The county will build a spacious new school on land behind Arran Way, and once pupils move over in 2015, it will bulldoze the existing KING George’s Hall may 1970s school site and restore it to have to move from Esher town Green Belt. centre if its trustees cannot find Concerns £150,000 to repair the roof. Esher Conservatives recognise the Elmbridge Council has quot- urgent need for extra school places ed the six figure sum as part of and welcome the investment in a schedule of dilapidation. Cranmere Primary, but we share the This presents the hall’s trus- concerns of many local residents tees, including Esher’s three who say the streets around the new borough councillors, with a school already struggle with park- difficult set of choices. ing and would be unable to cope Options on the table are to with a daily influx of hundreds of raise the money and invest in school-run vehicles. the building - which some say Local residents and parents have is not economically suitable for formed the Cranmere Community refurbishment; or to demolish Traffic Concern (CCTC) to lobby and rebuild the hall - either at the council and other relevant au- its current site next to the Civic thorities to “see the bigger picture” Centre, or at another suitable and address the congestion and location in Esher, with the sale safety issues which the new school of the land releasing funds for could create. Pictured: HGVs in Farm Road and Douglas Road, plus mud a new hall. Any move would be CCTC is calling for a drop-off from the nearby industrial estate, left by parking on verges. Above: Steve Bax in Arran Way. subject to public consultation. area to be created at the new site as often mounting kerbs and verges. Councillor Simon Waugh well as extra parking spaces for res- Steve Bax, Esher Conservative “But it is vital that Surrey ad- ing with many ongoing mainte- favours keeping King George’s idents in Douglas Road to alleviate candidate at the upcoming Surrey dresses the very real concerns about nance issues, including a poor roof Hall where it is but colleague the congestion. County Council congestion and children’s safety and significant drainage problems. David Archer would like to They think this “It is vital that Surrey elections is taking that will most certainly arise from The building has many short explore options for moving it to moving the school to Arran Way. comings including a lack of small could remove addresses the very a close interest in Lower Green, possibly as part the need for the issue, and has “I am - and will be - pressing for teaching spaces, group rooms and of community hub that could people to park real concerns about had meetings with joined up thinking on this issue.” offices. include a medical centre. on grass, as it is congestion and the head teacher at John Farrer, project manager for “The new school will be a 21st He said: “Relocating to Lower feared this could Cranmere, residents the new Cranmere, confirmed there century facility for teaching. It will Green would be an investment damage under- children’s safety” and the project are no plans to widen Arran Way, include a nursery, dedicated group in the area.” ground water manager for the but said some extra parking will rooms, break-out spaces and the po- What do you think? Should pipes and be costly to repair. school expansion. be created on the railway side of tential for community use spaces.” King George’s Hall move to The group is also concerned about He said: “From what I have seen Douglas Road, as well as a footpath What do you think about the Lower Green or elsewhere? the safety of children crossing of the designs, the new school will entrance re-opened in Blair Avenue. school expansion and congestion? Please email your views to Douglas Road, as this is a route for be a superb modern facility for the Mr Farrer said: “The existing Email Steve Bax at [email protected] heavy goods lorries going to and children and the wider community. Cranmere Primary is a 1970s build- [email protected] Moving the memorial will ensure dignity COMMUNITY sher Conservatives have where it would sit in a more digni- NEWS recruited a decorated local fied setting away from the noise Earmy veteran to help with of the road and the clutter of signs a plan to move the war memorial and lampposts. This would bring it to the centre of Esher Green. to life throughout the year, making Ward councillors hope that by it more of a prominent feature and shifting the monument from its enable us to enjoy a more poignant current spot at the roadside, it will Remembrance Sunday.” improve the ‘safety and dignity’ of He added: “I am driving this remembrance services, as crowds forward on behalf of our commu- would no longer have to stand in nity who I know respect our Armed the road at risk from traffic. Forces and particularly those that John Handford OBE, a retired have fallen over the years.” colonel from The memorial will Esher, is manag- “I am driving this remain in the line of ing the project and forward on behalf of sight from Church hopes to move the Street and will not memorial by 2014, our community who be enhanced or in time for the I know respect our embellished. 100th anniversary Esher councillor ESHER-based Princess Alice of the Great War. Armed Forces.” David Archer has Hospice is gearing up for its Mr Handford is obtained a quote for 21st Towpath Trundle on Sun- formerly of the Parachute Regi- £14,000 for the work and said the day May 19th from 11am. ment and served in Afghanistan and money will come from fundraising It is asking supporters to Northern Ireland. rather than the public purse. follow Alice Bear along the He said: “Having attended re- “The new location will bring more banks of the Thames between membrance services at the memo- dignity to our annual service and Walton Bridge and Sadlers rial it is clear that it is in a cramped make it safer,” he said. Ride, Hurst Park in Molesey and ungainly position. It should be Esher Conservatives will keep you (you can start at either end) moved to the centre of the Green posted of developments. and if you register by May 10 you will receive free entry to the teddy bear’s picnic held afterwards at Sadlers Ride. ‘Give a little to get a lot’ In touch with local views Peppa Pig will be there as ELMBRIDGE Council leader DOMINIC Raab, Conservative well as music, refreshments, John O’Reilly is calling on MP for Esher & Walton, gives an Beat the Goalie and giant residents to ‘give a little to get update on his work locally and at Jenga. Over the decades the a lot’ after announcing that Westminster. sponsored walk has gener- council tax will go up this year “I spend a lot of time speaking to ated more than £200k for the to safeguard frontline services. local firms and staying in touch with hospice. The borough is implementing business groups, such as the Esher a ‘modest increase’ of just under Business Guild. That way, I get can- POLICE have appealed to resi- 2% in its portion of the council did feedback on the pressures facing dents to keep an eye out for lead tax (around 7p a week for an small businesses, which informs my thieves who have been active in average Band D home), after views on policy. Esher lately. concluding that this would be “I have also been meeting with lo- In recent weeks churches, ga- better than cutting services. future and reduce the need for cal charities, including the Princess rages and businesses have been The increase, along with a rise council tax rises. Alice Hospice, and supporting local targeted, and the culprits are pre- in parking charges, will generate Meanwhile Surrey County community initiatives like the Esher pared to climb high, sometimes simply by citing a right to a family an extra £450,000 for the council Council has been explaining Neighbourhood Fund – which I to steal relatively small amounts life. budget, but even then it will still what residents will get in return helped set up to support less well- of lead. However, the damage “Finally, I liaise regularly with our need to save £1.1million over the for a 1.99% rise in the county off areas such as Lower Green. that can be caused internally can local councillors, so I know how next financial year. portion of your council tax. “I regularly visit local schools - be considerable and costly. important the upcoming County- Cllr O’Reilly (pictured) said: Leader David Hodge said for an from Cranmere Primary to Clare- Call Surrey Police on 101 or, Council elections are. “Your Conservative administra- extra 44p a week per household, mont Fan Court School – to hear Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, “In Esher, Steve Bax is stand- tion has frozen the borough part his administration will be able from students and staff. I recently if you have information. ing for the Conservatives. I have of the council tax for five years to invest £10million in raising went out for a morning in an ambu- worked closely with Steve over the in the last six, and at the same school standards; £45million in lance with local paramedics from LOWER Green Commnity As- last few years, and I know he would time we achieved £6million sav- providing 12,000 school places; the Chertsey depot. Again, nothing sociation is running projects to be a dedicated and hard-working lo- ings with no impact on services. £25million to improve roads; beats getting out of the Westminster improve the lives and opportu- cal champion – particularly on key “Every so often a modest rise £11million in adult social care, bubble and hearing directly from nities of local people. issues that matter at county level, is needed to protect the services and £750,000 on apprenticeships. those on the frontline. After the area took part in such as schools policy.” residents value, but rest assured He said: “People consistently “Up in the House of Commons, I a national ‘Neighbourhood Visit www.dominicraab.com to we will continue to bear down on tell us that what matters most have been focusing on the economy. Challenge’ programme last contact Dominic or to sign up for costs as we always have.” to them is roads, school places, The government has taken on board year, many small projects got his popular monthly newsletter. The council is having to cope opportunities for young people to some of my proposals to cut red off the ground, including arts with reduced government fund- get into work and looking after tape to get businesses hiring. and crafts, knit & natter, an ing and a drop in income as its the vulnerable. “We also had a tragic case of a School places success after school club, fitness class- investments in high interest ac- “The easy option would be for waiter from the Sherpa Kitchen in SURREY County Council placed es and support for jobseekers. counts reach maturity. us to park the problem until after Esher who was killed by a gang, but 85% of children in their first pref- LGCA, based at the Com- Esher councillor and cabinet the election but that would be the perpetrator used human rights erence secondary school, accord- munity Centre in Farm Road, member for resources, Tim Ol- irresponsible and saddle Surrey arguments to scupper his deporta- ing to recently released figures. is also hoping to identify local iver, is driving forward a strategy with a financial time bomb that tion order. So, I am leading a cam- This compares to a London-wide skills and connect people with of purchasing property so that it would go off in five years crip- paign to change the law, so foreign average of just 71%, and just 69% similar interests. Email lower- can generate extra income in the pling Surrey’s finances.” criminals cannot escape deportation in Lib Dem-run Kingston. [email protected] to find out more. SCC war on potholes ESHER councillor Simon ALMOST 50 miles of Surrey Waugh and ex-councillor Debi roads will be repaired at no Oliver have raised funds for cost to the taxpayer as part Princess Alice Hospice by dress- of Surrey County Council's ing up as a pantomime horse. commitment to improve They took part in a re-run of roads. last year’s Mayor’s Charity Pan- The Conservative adminstra- tomime Horse Race at Sandown tion at County Hall has secured for transport, said: "Following Park, which was recorded for a a 15% discount on its £100mil- the recent decision on council new Chris O’Dowd comedy. lion five year roads contract tax we now have the money The panto horses even had to with May Gurney. available to take huge strides re-run the race 20 times for the It has decided to plough the in improving our roads. Over cameras! £15million saving straight back the next five years many of the into the highways budget, pay- worst roads in Surrey will be MOLESEY Art Society’s ing for 50 miles of repair - and overhauled in a bid to tackle the annual exhibition is on April will invest another £25million root cause of potholes." 4th-9th at St Alban’s School, over five years to blitz potholes Residents can request a road to Beauchamp Road, East and their root causes. be repaired by emailing Molesey. More details at www. Cllr John Furey, responsible [email protected] moleseyartsociety.co.uk. The Esher News, March 2013, promoted by J.N. Caton on behalf of S. Bax & printed by Esher & Walton Conservative Association, of 3 Bridle Close, Kingston-Upon-Thames, KT1 2JW. Printed at no cost to taxpayer.