Green Light for Elections NEWS the Esher News

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COMMUNITY NEWS FROM YOUR LOCAL CONSERVATIVE The Esher News COUNCILLORS AND Also serving residents of Longmore Estate, Hersham www.facebook.com/EsherNews CANDIDATES

Steve says:

DEAR RESIDENT, welcome to Green light for elections NEWS The Esher News. I’m Steve IN BRIEF Bax, and I produce this pub- ESIDENTS of Esher lication on behalf of your local and Hersham Riverside OUR MP Dominic Raab inter- Conservative councillor and Rwill go to the polls on vened to reverse a decision to candidate team (at no cost to Thursday 6 May to elect our increase Elmbridge's annual the taxpayer) to update you on borough and county council- housing target. A government community matters. lors and our Surrey Police and algorithm calculated our need Whilst the lockdown feels ne- Crime Commissioner. at 774 new homes per year. verending, we can see light at These elections include those These numbers would have the end of the tunnel. The fact from last May which were post- harmed our Green Belt and the we are able to deliver this edi- poned due to the pandemic. All character of Esher. We were tion is testament to the stunning necessary steps will be taken to able to reduce this 22%. If a success of the Government’s ensure that polling stations are Conservative Council is elected vaccine programme which is on Covid-secure. You can also in May, we will challenge the track to ensure that every adult apply for a postal or proxy vote. housing target even further. has been offered the jab by July. Steve Bax is your Conservative This is great news, but we are candidate for East Molesey & CHEER, an Elmbridge charity conscious that many in our com- Esher at Surrey County Council which has been concerned with Steve Bax and Jeremy Larsson munity will have lost friends or and hopes to take over from Dr older people’s welfare for 65 loved ones to this horrible virus, Peter Szanto who is retiring. years, is in need of a treasurer. or suffered in other ways. If Steve is already a very active Formal qualifications are not there is anything that we can do and well respected borough necessary, but applicants must be to assist please do reach out. councillor in East Molesey and comfortable with financial Conservatives go into the local has worked very closely with matters and being part of an en- elections in good spirits. Surrey Peter over a range of county is- thusiastic team of trustees. Email [email protected]. County Council is in a strong sues over the past four years. position financially, with more Steve said: "I’ve been a jour- PUPILS across Surrey have money for roads and services. nalist for 25 years, much of it as benefitted from 6,124 laptops At Elmbridge, with your sup- a community reporter, so you and tablets to date, as the gov- port, we’re poised to win back can depend on me to take up the ernment rolls-out devices to control of the Council. We’ll put community’s causes and keep help support online education in place a ‘Local Plan’ that pre- you well informed. for children and young people. serves our green belt and pro- "The new leadership at Surrey John O’Reilly Lisa Townsend tects the character of County Council is really going SILVERMERE gymnastics club our urban areas, and places. Substantial investments financial competence to the ad- John said: “I want to make Her- is hoping to relocate to a unit on we’ll restore the are planned and it is essential ministration and deliver im- sham even better and support our the industrial estate in Lower Council’s finances that Esher has an influential, proved and more efficient fantastic local schools and busi- Green. It teaches more than 650 which are in a dreadful proactive Conservative council- services." nesses. My watchword is, ‘stand amateur gymnasts aged 18 state. I hope you lor to secure our fair share. If John O'Reilly is re-standing and fight for Hersham’ and mak- months to 16 years. Owner Katie enjoy the edition. elected, that’s what I’ll deliver.” for the County Council in Her- ing this a reality by getting de la Rosa, from Esher, is fund- Stay safe. - Steve Jeremy Larsson is our candi- sham. He has been a councillor things done in partnership with raising £150,000 for renovations date for Esher at Elmbridge Bor- for 30 years including six as residents, community groups and and equipment and recently met ough Council (the ward includes leader of Elmbridge Borough fellow councillors.” our candidates Steve Bax and Je- New Elmbridge bins remy Larsson to discuss grants. the Longmore estate). He is a Council where he froze council Lisa Townsend is our candi- ELMBRIDGE Council is governor at Esher CofE School tax for four years, protected ser- date for Surrey Police & Crime ELMBRIDGE Council invited switching its entire stock of dog and is a former managing direc- vices and increased grants to the Commissioner. Lisa is a former food sellers to bid for eight new waste and litter bins to new tor of one of UK’s leading finan- voluntary sector. Cobham resident and will hold catering pitches around the higher capacity alternatives. cial tech companies, now Since 2017, he has been Her- the Chief Constable account for borough. Winterdown Coffee The new stock will be rolled out advising small businesses. sham’s Surrey County Council- delivering on Surrey residents’ was selected for West End Rec- in April. Many of our bins are dil- Jeremy nearly died of Covid lor and in the last four years no policing priorities if elected. reation ground and will sell apidated and have been over- last year. He fought his way back fewer than 15 Hersham roads Lisa is campaigning for more drinks and snacks. Sellers will whelmed during the pandemic, and this has renewed his respect have been fully resurfaced/ex- visible policing, protection from be expected to tackle litter. which has seen an explosion of for our NHS. Jeremy is deter- tensively patched with more crime for residents and busi- park usage and litter. mined to make the most of the planned (including pavements). nesses, and a tougher stance on PA HOUSING is seeking per- The new bins will be dual use for opportunity to serve Esher on the He worked with fellow council- traveller incursions and cracking mission to demolish 16 garages dog waste and litter. They are fox Council. He said: "I want to be a lors to ensure that the latest po- down on domestic violence. concrete framed garages at 47-49 and bird proof. The Council is strong voice for Esher, working tential threat to Hersham Library She will deliver more police on Douglas Road and replace them also investing in a small number with the Conservative team to was averted and he has helped the beat as part of the Govern- with a pair of semi-detached two- of high capacity solar bins. protect our green spaces, restore fund local community groups. ment’s 20,000 officer uplift. storey houses. The plans are reg- istered as application 2020/2563 and have attracted 20 objections. Roadwork relief Councillors will decide the application at a date to be confirmed. MATT Furniss (pictured below) is the Surrey County Council TETRA Packs can be recycled Cabinet Member for Transport. in Elmbridge again via banks He is introducing a new policy, that are in place at the car from April, of charging utility parks of Walton and Weybridge companies a rental fee when they train stations. dig up busy Surrey roads and carry out works in peak hours. AN EXTENDED right hand tun- The idea is to incentivise road ing lane with a new island and crews to complete works in a road markings will be installed from Home Farm Close to the Cllr Simon Waugh and candidate Jeremy Larsson timely fashion and minimise in- convenience to residents. Com- Milbourne Lane junction. This is Simon leads Sandown fight panies doing poor quality, rushed the first phase of the recommen- repairs will be required to come dations of the Esher traffic study FOLLOWING Elmbridge Council’s refusal of The back at their own expense! aimed at reducing local conges- Jockey Clubs proposals to develop five separate We hope this will end instances tion. Work was due to take place sites at Sandown Park within the green belt, their from 15 - 26 March. of busy roads or lanes being appeal was heard remotely by a planning inspector closed without work being done. over a two week inquiry in November. SURREY County Council has Your Conservative councillor Simon Waugh led the created a £100M fund for capi- Curchods were crowned winners of arguments for refusal at the initial planning meeting re- tal projects that improve local Best Estate Agency Marketing in the whole of the UK communities. Organisations at the International Property Awards 2020/21. sulting in a unanimous decision to reject the application. Simon attended the inquiry where he reconfirmed will be able to bid for a share of his views that the appeal should not be allowed. Your Fund Surrey funding. The We understand that a final decision will be made by first step is to demonstrate that the Secretary of State by 8 May and hope that the ap- their proposals have the sup- peal will be dismissed. port of the local community. EN March 2021_Layout 1 15/03/2021 08:15 Page 2

Your Esher Conservative team are here to help you with any Elmbridge or Surrey matters. For Hersham, email John O’Reilly at [email protected]

Cllr Steve Bax Jeremy Larsson Cllr Simon Waugh Cllr David Archer Cty Cllr Peter Szanto Surrey County Council candi- Elmbridge Borough Council Elmbridge Borough Elmbridge Borough Surrey County Councillor for date for East Molesey & Esher candidate for Esher Councillor for Esher Councillor for Esher East Molesey and Esher Tel: 0797 7171138 Tel: 0797 7171138 Tel: 07818 012425 Tel: 07850 400595 Tel: 07712 012425 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Surrey: a council transformed URREY County Council under the leadership of Tim Oliver, pictured with MP Dominic Raab before the pandemic SConservative Tim Oliver is a Council transformed. Tim, who lives in Esher and is a former local councillor, took up the reins in 2019 following a successful period in charge of Elmbridge Bor- Crossing support ough Council, where he ruled out building on the Green Belt and se- ESHER'S Surrey County cured a High Court injunction Council candidate Steve Bax Pedestrian islands against Traveller incursions. (pictured) is supporting a peti- At Surrey he led reforms to almost tion from local residents for a are now in place every area of Council business, Pegasus crossing at the A244 Copsem Lane from Arbrook to ALL THREE pedestrian cross- making £250M of savings while improving services for residents - a Esher Common. ings have been installed on the He said: "These open spaces are Esher Road and the remaining stunning achievement. Tim said: “Thanks to our reforms, well-used by walkers, cyclists works (including extending the and horse riders, now more than two-lane approach to the Bar- we have been able to provide financial security and certainty in guid- ever. The A244 is a busy high ley Mow roundabout from speed road in both directions - Esher) were completed by ing Surrey through the Covid Every day Surrey County Council future, planting 1.2M trees, invest- you really do take your life in March 6. pandemic.” spends more than £1M on Adult ing in ultra-low emission buses; your hands trying to cross. I am Traffic is now overwhelmingly Over the past year, Surrey has Social Care and £500,000 on and 4) Making it easier for resi- fully supportive of a crossing and adhering to the 40 mph limit so funded PPE for the frontlines, and Children’s Services. These are stag- dents to participate in shaping deci- will do everything I can if elected pedestrians can cross this busy given financial support to the care gering sums, but it is Surrey’s duty sions outside elections. to make it happen." road much more safely than pre- and voluntary sectors and looked to look after our most vulnerable. A Tim said: “We must continually A Pegasus crossing is like a peli- viously. after the welfare of vulnerable resi- Conservative Council will continue demonstrate to residents that we are can crossing with two control pa- More good news is that the en- dents. In the next five years it will to do that, while pressing Govern- spending their council tax wisely nels, one at the normal height for tire length of the Esher-Hersham invest almost £2BN on improving ment for more sustainable funding and delivering the best value. pedestrians and one two metres section including the roundabout infrastructure, tackling the climate to deliver that care. “So we will continue to drive above the ground for the use of will be fully resurfaced later this emergency, growing Surrey’s econ- Tim has four key priorities if his greater efficiencies wherever we mounted riders. year, probably over the summer. omy, providing jobs, reducing in- Administration continues in control can and look to pass on that benefit Steve spoke in favour of the pro- The scheme is still a trial and equality, and improving the lives of after the May elections. These are: to residents. I know that we have a posal at the Elmbridge Local will only become permanent fol- all residents. 1) Growing a sustainable economy brighter future ahead of us. Committee in March. lowing public consultation. This The Council has boosted fire pre- as we recover from Covid; 2) Tack- “We will overcome Covid and If councillors agree in April to will only happen once traffic vention work resulting in 7.7% ling health inequality and acceler- continue to make Surrey the best prioritise the project, a crossing flows have returned to something fewer incidents attended in 2020, ating health and social care place to live, work and to grow a could be in place by late 2022 or like normal. and is funding seven new fire en- gines. integration; 3) Enabling a greener business.” early 2023. Surrey switching to energy efficient bulbs Elmbridge needs SURREY County Council has year. The new lights will last 20 begun the huge task of convert- years – six times longer than better leadership ing 89,000 streetlights into traditional bulbs. ELMBRIDGE Borough Coun- energy-efficient LEDs. Surrey cabinet member, Matt cil’s finances are in a dreadful The council spends £3.8M Furniss, said: “This demon- state after years of mismanage- every year on energy for street- strates our commitment to re- ment by the eight party Resi- lights. By converting to LED, duce energy consumption as dents Association and Liberal they will use around 65% less well as the Council being net Democrat coalition running the energy, saving taxpayers £2M a carbon zero by 2030.” council. They claim it’s all due to Covid, but they were using reserves to balance the books the year before the pandemic. Yet again, Conser- vatives will have to restore the Borough’s finances after the elec- tion in May. History repeats itself. Unlike Conservative-led Surrey County Council which has trans- David stepping down after 21 years formed its services, balanced its WITH his trademark loud shirts had solid credentials, having been books and was better prepared to and larger than life personality, Chairman of the Esher Place resi- weather the pandemic, the Bor- the unforgettable David Archer dents for 18 years. ough had a funding gap of around is one of Esher's big characters. David has enjoyed many suc- £5M even before the crisis. Affectionately dubbed 'Mr Esher' cesses over the years, including Cllr Ruth Mitchell (pictured), David has been a voice for our moving the Esher war memorial deputy leader of the Conservative community at Elmbridge Borough and getting the junction at Esher group, said: “We must deliver ser- Council for an incredible 21 years, Green made safer and a crossing vices to our residents more effi- being elected and re-elected six put in. His highlight is laying a ciently and at times over the years. wreath on behalf of Esher people lower cost. A David will stepping down at the each Remembrance Sunday. root and elections in May and passing the He added: "Esher residents are branch re- baton to Jeremy Larsson, who very nice people and I've always view of op- aims to succeed him. had lots of support." erations and He said: "I've enjoyed every min- Latterly, David has been living at spending is ute and have no regrets. For sure, Queens Close where he is a direc- required.” At there will be a huge gap in my life tor of the residents’ association. February’s Full and that's why it was touch and go He was instrumental in residents Council, the whether I would stand again or re- buying the freehold, and is in- RA/LibDem administration tire. I won't be leaving Esher, I'll volved with the restoration (fol- (which includes the Esher Resi- still be around and involved in the lowing last year's fire). The flats dents Association and Hersham community like I always have. will be ready by early 2022. Village Society) voted down a You get out of life what you put in, Cllr Simon Waugh said: "It's a Conservative motion which asked I always say that." pleasure working with David. the Council to note the warnings David was persuaded to stand for We'll all miss him on the Council." of its chief financial officer and the Council in 2000 by Tim David, who is rumoured to be the implement her recommendations. Oliver, then a Borough Councillor inspiration for Only Fools and They just can’t be trusted with for Esher, and his neighbour, the Horses’ Boycie, will continue with taxpayers’ money. former Mayor Iris Simmons. He his business and charity work.

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