The Lib Dems and I have exposed an almost £50 million loss of value in just two commercial properties owned by Surrey County Council. In 2017, Surrey County Council’s property company Halsey Garton, purchased Malvern Retail Park for £75 million and the Debenhams store in Winchester for £15.8 million. However, in response to a question […]

Woking is set to be hit hard by the expected rise in energy bills in April, new figures have revealed. Analysis by the Lib Dems shows that the average yearly bill for homeowners in Woking is set to skyrocket by £557 – the equivalent of £46 a month – once the new energy price cap […]

The Lib Dems and I have written to the Energy Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, demanding that he backs the party’s call for a ‘Robin Hood’ tax on the super-profits of oil and gas firms, to raise money to support local families facing soaring energy costs. The proposed one-off levy could raise over £5 billion to help […]

Earlier this month, Woking Borough Council agreed to cut grants to community and voluntary groups by 19%. Last year, the Council granted £922,000 to support local community and voluntary groups, but the most recent Executive meeting decided to give £272,000 less funding for the forthcoming year, a 19% cut in support. 47 groups sought funding […]

Yesterday, the Secretary of State and Planning Inspector announced that they had rejected Goldev’s appeal against Woking Borough Council’s decision not to allow planning permission to redevelop Woking Football Club. Back in 2020, the Council’s Planning Committee rejected plans to build a 10,000 seater stadium and over 1,000 flats around Woking’s football ground, as well […]

Against a backdrop of Surrey’s increasing coronavirus infections and the spread of the Omicron variant, Surrey County Council has been pressured into postponing tomorrow’s pre-Christmas Full Council meeting until the New Year. In person meetings are currently the only option for local authorities making formal decisions. The Government has so far resisted calls from all […]

Last week, the Conservatives running Woking Borough Council voted to increase the cost of delivering community meals to elderly, vulnerable and disabled residents by 10%. The Conservative Executive previously agreed to a 15% rise for community meals, but they forced to reduce the increase to 10% following concerns from Lib Dem Councillors.  The charges for […]

My Lib Dem colleagues and I have criticised Woking Borough Council’s decision to increase the cost of parking in Woking town centre after the delays and problems with the Victoria Square development. The Council’s Victoria Square development was originally meant to open in Autumn 2020, but its opening has been delayed twice. Firstly, to Spring […]

On Small Business Saturday, the Lib Dems and I have called for taxes to be slashed on small businesses and backed the proposals which would benefit 1,900 small businesses and entrepreneurs in Woking, from cafes and restaurants to high street shops. The proposed tax cut would save small businesses an average of £5,000 a year by […]

81,853 low income households in Surrey, and 8,376 in Woking, are paying too much for their broadband because the Government has not forced providers to offer cheaper tariffs, an analysis by the Lib Dems has found. So-called ‘social tariffs’, which typically offer broadband access between £10 and £20 a month, are only currently offered by […]