++++++ Community news from your Local Conservative team - Spring 2018 ++++++ EsherTHE & Hersham News Local issues, local action, local Conservatives | Visit our website: www.esherwalton.com Your views matter to us! ELLO and welcome and the state of our roads (not Esher Borough Councillor. to The Esher & surprisingly). Comments on this Crime was highlighted as a major HHersham News - a came up in well over half of the concern and, as you will see from community newsletter written responses. the photo, I recently took the and distributed by your Local I work closely on highways opportunity to discuss this issue Conservative team. matters with Conservative County with Home Secretary, Amber Rudd I am Simon Waugh, your Councillor for Esher, Peter Szanto, when she visited Esher. I also Conservative candidate for the who you’ll hear from elsewhere raised it with our MP Dominic enlarged Esher ward at upcoming in this newsletter. We are working Raab and our Police and Crime Elmbridge Borough Council together to address the poor state Commissioner. elections on 3 May. To help me of our roads and to make the case I previously served on the better understand your views I for increased funding. Planning Committee and as recently launched a survey which In addition, planning and Chairman of Audit and Standards we have delivered to nearly 4,000 sensitive development featured during my last spell as your homes in Esher and Hersham. highly in the survey as being of councillor. If elected this May, I I really appreciate residents concern, closely followed by will seek to ensure the planning taking the time to complete the minimizing Council Tax and is fair and that our precious green survey. Responses have been supporting our local shops and spaces are robustly protected. coming back and already the businesses. The majority of I will work with colleagues feedback has been invaluable. residents said that “Ensuring the to improve our high street and Far and away topping the Council spends my taxes wisely” address congestion in Esher. I hope list were concerns on potholes is the most important role of your you enjoy this edition.

‘£164 a day to spend a penny’ Funds needed to fix our roads Esher’s County Councillor We are developing a project to PETER SZANTO brings readers optimise the synchronisation of an update on local highways and traffic signals to improve flow and safety matters and the latest on to investigate options to enhance the financial challenges Surrey is pedestrian crossings. grappling with. n My fellow Conservative Sur- rey County Councillors and I have OCAL residents are un- rejected an independent panel’s derstandably angry at the recommendation that cabinet al- Lstate of our roads and I lowances should increase by 8%. ELMBRIDGE’S RA/Liberal share their indignation. This, coupled with the removal Democrat administration Surrey is in financial straits, of future Councillor pensions and continues to demonstrate its despite large efficiency savings, payments to committee vice chairs, financial recklessness, this largely through no fault of its own results in savings of £225,000. time over public toilets. but because of massive reductions I’m delighted I have been able to At February’s Full Council, in government funding and in- deliver on this manifesto commit- Coalition councillors approved creases in demand for adult social ment. In these challenging times the purchase of five ‘Tetragonal care and children’s services. every penny counts. If only we’d Classic’ toilets from Swedish The Council still must act to had a Conservative administration supplier DANFO for £350,000 improve our roads. It’s a service at Elmbridge Borough Council, and will spend an additional that is critical to our residents and where Lib Dem and Residents As- businesses. With neighbouring £164 a day on a contractor (still delivery includes monitoring and raised road tables. sociation politicians awarded them- Local Conservative colleagues, we to be appointed) to maintain the review following completion of Our County and Borough Con- selves a staggering 12.4% increase are applying maximum pressure to n new conveniences. each stage. The first two steps will servative team are fully engaged in in their councillor allowances. increase spending on our roads. Esher’s Tim Oliver, who leads be a review of existing signage the Esher traffic Study. The major We need to regain control of I can report some progress. Next the Conservative Opposition to ensure that clear and concise finding of last year’s Esher traffic Elmbridge borough Council and year’s budget for local highways Group, urged the Administration information is provided, followed survey was that on any given term electing our Esher Conservative will be doubled and we may have to carry out a proper study into by placing the existing controlled time weekday approximately 84% candidate Simon Waugh on 3 May around £200,000 in total for work where the toilets might needed, pedestrian crossings in both Lam- of vehicles in Esher Town Centre will go a long way to achieve this. in Elmbridge. This will certainly be if at all. He warned: “There mas Lane and Church Street on are “through” traffic. doesn’t seem to be any science a help but much more needs to be in the way in which this has done, I will keep on fighting! been approached. We’re coming n Following yet another two out of a ridiculously expensive accidents at Esher Green, Surrey’s Getting there Lidl by Lidl contract and are now being most dangerous junction, residents WORK has started asked to commit to £350k. are rightly asking what can be at last on the new “Before we go ahead we done. Hersham Lidl. should identify where these Your local Conservative team of Builders Crest toilets are needed and we have a County and Borough Councillors Nicholson will take proper capital budget to review.” have been working hard. There are forward development But the RA/Lib Dem majority now firm plans to relocate the war of the food store and voted down the Conservatives’ memorial later this year with Cllr 38 apartments. The motion. They gave the go ahead David Archer confirming that the groundworks, founda- for new toilets at Brooklands move is expected to start in April. tions, sub structure and boundary treatments are un- and RA dominated wards of We also conducted a comprehen- derway, and should be completed by end February. Thames Ditton, Hersham (at the sive study into a collision reduc- Crest confirm that the build is expected to take 20 splash park) and Molesey. tion scheme of the junction. Nine months with completion in Summer 2019. Esher will not get a new improvements were considered in Last November saw some teething problems on the automated toilet. Instead the detail. The recommended phased Mole Road side, in particular the unplanned installa- town centre will be served with tion of an entrance gate contrary to the agreed access a community toilet scheme USEFUL NUMBERS: from Molesey Road. in which local businesses - Elmbridge Council’s out of Residents were understandably concerned by the Everyman cinema, Esquires hours emergency number proximity of large site offices and Local Conserva- Coffee Shop, Giro Cycles and is 01372 466114. Surrey tives raised the matter with Elmbridge’s planning The Bear Hotel - have agreed County Council Social Care team. These are being monitored by Elmbridge with the council to open their out of hours emergency Borough Council. facilities to the public. number is 01483 517898. Community News in brief ‘Burglary gangs targeting Elmbridge’ OLLOWING concerns urge residents to report anything WE ARE informed that the raised by residents about suspicious by dialling 101 or, for extension of Waitrose in Esher Fa recent increase in genuine emergencies call 999. high street is on hold but under burglaries, Esher Conservatives “The police will never criticise ‘regular review’. Waitrose have met with Greg Turner, someone for calling the wrong tells us it is committed to Elmbridge’s Police Inspector. number in good faith. We all remaining in Esher and to He gave us a comprehensive need to consider whether our own delivering a new store possibly perspective of activities the home security arrangements are in 2019. Meanwhile Lavanter police have underway to address effective and appropriate. In many Properties is bringing forward the spike in burglaries and the cases, big houses with expensive the re-development of Esher progress they are making. contents have inadequate security, Police Station next door, to After a long term reducing trend, which increases the risk of provide six apartments and a recorded burglary in Surrey and becoming a victim.” new 3,000sq ft retail unit. nationally has started to rise this Residents should consider year and gangs from outside the such issues as: window and door LOWER Green Community area targeting Elmbridge. locks; remote monitored burglar Centre is expected to reopen The crimes are typically alarms; security cameras, security in May, a year after it was opportunistic, non-violent, ‘quick doorbells; access, particularly temporarily closed by the in and out’ seeking items such from the rear of properties where council over concerns about its as cash, watches and jewellery. ladders, garden furniture and governance. Crimes are typically carried out Additionally, Surrey Police is Esher Conservative candidate single-story extensions have all Elmbridge’s Cabinet agreed in between 4pm and 10pm. offering the services of specialist Simon Waugh said: “It is not only been used to gain entry. November to spend £200,000 Surrey Police has launched ‘Designing Out Crime Officers’ the Police who prevent crime. To request a visit from ‘Design to improve safeguarding for Operation Spearhead which to liaise with victims and the There is nothing better than a Out Crime Officer’ Mike Bessent, users and ensure the building includes the deployment of extra community to improve security, community that is engaged, who can provide free bespoke met statutory compliance and a overt and covert resources to beat and it has also increased its use of vigilant residents who look out home security advice go to: https:// further £65,000 on a community the burglars. A number of arrests social media and “In the Know” for each other and report things www.surrey.police.uk/elmbridge/ development worker for one have been made so far this year. emails to raise awareness. that look out of place. I would esher-claygate year to recruit new trustees and provide support to the community. A professional Council tax to rise company is being sought Where will all the new homes go? to manage the catering and HUNDREDS of new homes are to COUNCIL tax is to rise by temporarily run the building. be built in Elmbridge every year 5.4% from April - adding To apply to be a trustee, please to help young families and key £95.74 to the average bill. email [email protected] workers to get on to the property Overall, a Band D household ladder - but the Council has will pay £1,862.86, which is split CONSERVATIVE councillors still to publish a plan setting out 76% to Surrey County Council have encouraged Hersham golf where they will go. (SCC), 13% to Surrey Police club to apply for Community The Conservative government is and 11% to Elmbridge Borough Infrastructure Levy (CIL) determined to tackle the chronic Council (EBC). monies to improve and shortage of housing nationally EBC has set a budget of upgrade the footpath adjoining which has pushed up the average £38.4million this year, topping the Club. We are hopeful the cost of a home in Elmbridge to up reserves in case the govern- application will be approved around £600,000 – beyond the ment imposes ‘negative Revenue and the works carried out. reach of most first time buyers and Support Grant’ on the borough average earners. next year (requiring us to con- TALENTED local artists will unimaginative - They proposed If a Conservative Administration Elmbridge, like other Surrey tribute to a central pot). be displaying their work at building more than 5,000 homes on is elected in May, we will take boroughs has been asked to plan Council Leader Stuart Selleck an exhibition in the borough. three large tracts of the greenbelt at a more responsible approach to for around 600 new housing units and Conservative group leader Original work including Long Ditton, Cobham and Oxshott. meeting our housing challenge. a year for the next decade. It is Cllr Tim Oliver agreed this must paintings (framed and “There was a predictable outcry We will give careful thought to a tall order and one that requires be resisted and lobbied against. unframed) including botanical from residents and the Coalition releasing public land, building imagination and creativity – not Tim added: “It is never good to art, landscapes, portraits, still was forced into a retreat. We have on brownfield sites and to greater at all what we’ve seen so far from increase in council tax but it is life and more will be available seen no alternative plan since and intensity in built-up areas, such as the Residents Association political important that this council man- view or buy. St Alban’s Primary this leaves us vulnerable to having three-storey terraces. parties and Liberal Democrats ages its finances in a way that it School, in Beauchamp Road, one imposed centrally.” Developers will be told to currently running our council. can deliver sustainable services.” East Molesey is hosting the He added: “Just imagine what prioritise starter homes and Cllr James Browne, Housing He defended SCC from criti- event from 3-8 April. Opening would be in their literature now if affordable homes since these are spokesman for the Elmbridge cism pointing out that it has a times are 11-5pm, or 2-6pm the Conservatives had proposed what our community needs. Conservatives explains: “The statutory obligation to provide Tuesday and Thursday. See building thousands of homes on the The failure of the RA/Lib Dem Administration’s response to adult social care and for children www.moleseyartsociety.co.uk greenbelt!” administration to push back this challenge was so crude and with special education needs, but against the government targets has “absolutely no control” over THREE Rivers Academy or to approve an updated Local these rising costs. students moved into their Heathrow Airport seeking residents’ views Plan, setting the guidelines for new building in Hersham on HEATHROW is running a third runway and this first phase new development in the borough, 26 February. Demolition of consultation until 28 March to of consultation is on general creates a potential free for all for the old school (Rydens) will seek residents’ views on how principals. developers and stacks the deck commence in mid-March airspace should be modernised. You can contribute at www. in their favour if they take the and take about 18 weeks. Aircraft are switching over to heathrowconsultation.com or Borough to an appeal. Redevelopment of the old system of precision navigation by email to airspace.feedback@ Cllr Browne said: “The lesson is school site as affordable and decisions must be made on heathrowconsulation.com clear – if you want to safeguard our housing is expected to take whether to concentrate or spread A third runway consultation is greenbelt and want a competent 18–24 months. out the routes. Changes to airspace being held in parallel. and fair approach to tackling the will happen irrespective of the Borough’s housing needs then you need to vote Conservative in May.”

Can we help? Your local Conservative team will be pleased to assist you with any local matters relating to Elmbridge or Surrey County Councils. Cllr Tim Oliver Cllr David Archer Dr. Peter Szanto Simon Waugh Elmbridge Borough Elmbridge Borough Surrey County Councillor Conservative candidate for Esher Can you help? Councillor for Esher Councillor for Esher for East Molesey & Esher Chairman of Esher Conservatives We need deliverers to help us Little Oak, 25 Meadway, Esher 19 Queens Close, Lammas Lane, 21 Sandown Road, Esher Clare House, Copsem Lane, Esher distribute the Esher News and Tel: 01372 466069 Esher. Tel: 07850 400595 Tel: 07712 587831 Tel: 07818 012425 leaflets. Could you spare some [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] time to deliver your road or facebook.com/peteszanto more? If so, please email us. Elmbridge Conservatives Leader East Area Planning Sub-Committee Chairman, Overview & Scrutiny Planning Committee Audit & Governance Committee Surrey Cabinet member for Esher & Hersham Spending Board Children and Education Committee Business and Property Vice Chair, Local Committee

Promoted by John Caton on behalf of Esher & Walton Conservatives, both of 3 Bridle Close, Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 2JW, and printed by Solopress, of 9 Stock Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 5QF.