Esher and Walton Liberal Democrats

Message from our Councillors in Claygate and Long Ditton

CLAYGATE

COUNCIL TAX 2012 - 13

All residents of Claygate have received a demand for Council Tax for 2012-2013. We are pleased that Elmbridge Borough Council has held its portion of the tax to the same as last year, thanks to a grant from Central Government, equal to 2.5% of last year's tax, offered for that purpose. Regretfully Surrey County Council and Surrey Police, have not accepted that offer but have increased their portion of the tax by 3% and 2.5% respectively.

The explanation offered by Surrey Country Council for not accepting the grant is that it is an offer for one year only and therefore if accepted the tax increase next year would have to be a larger nominal percentage than if the tax rate were increased this year.

In our opinion this is false accounting. The tax paid next year will be the same whether the grant is accepted or not. The payment this year is greater because the grant has not been accepted. The grant money has been lost and residents are making it up. In our opinion this is a "smoke and mirrors" approach to economics, probably related to the County Council elections due next year.

Deletion of "Esher" from Claygate's postal address

"Esher" has been part of the postal address of Claygate for over 60 years, but that has been steadfastly ignored by most of the residents of Claygate. Since the advent of post codes Kingston has also been part of the postal address of Claygate.

We are aware that since his election as an Elmbridge Borough Councillor Geoff Herbert has been organising a petition that "Esher" should be deleted from the postal address of Claygate. We do not object to this intention but feel that there are more important issues for Claygate. We unaware of progress as Councillor Herbert has not taken up our offer to work together for Claygate. We are aware however that Councillor Herbert has not spoken at any Council, Committee or working party meeting to advance the Claygate position. He has always voted with his fellow Conservative Borough Councillors whatever the issue.

Localism - A Survey

The survey of residents to establish relevant local issues on which we reported in Focus Feb 2012, has been continued in other areas of Claygate. There has been a phenomenal response, showing the interest that residents of Claygate take in local issues. The underlying position established in the initial survey results has been continued: Elmbridge Borough Council is doing a reasonably good job but Surrey County Council is failing the residents of Claygate on most of the items for which it is responsible.

Six or so years ago two of the principal problems for Claygate were graffiti and mobs of unruly youths. Working with the Environment Officer at Elmbridge Borough Council and the local Community Police Support Officer these problems have been ameliorated. There are now different Challenges: burglary, antisocial behaviour of car and motor bike drivers, schools and road maintenance, together with local issues in various local areas.

We are going to press Surrey County Council to address these issues, even though we have already raised many of them in the past. We hope to enlist the help of our Conservative County Councillor, Mike Bennison, and our MP, Dominic Raab, in our approach to Surrey.

Village Design Statement

This is an excellent document prepared by volunteers from the Parish Council to explain and help protect the built environment of Claygate.

Noel Issacs, current chair of the Parish Planning Committee and major author of the Statement, and Alex Coomes have recently discussed with Elmbridge Borough Council Planning Department what is required to incorporate it into Statutory Planning Policy. The advice is that under the provisions of the Localism Bill this document could become a Local Plan. If adopted it would give added protection to our Green Belt Land and Environment.

Under the provisions of the Localism Bill the proposed Local Plan must be subject to public consultation and independent scrutiny, which would cost between £20,000 and £30,000. This is a very large sum of money for the Parish Council to find. A lot of effort and work by volunteers, and some money, has been expended on a now uncertain premise. Noel and Alex are however discussing with Elmbridge Borough Council whether there might be some grant money available.

Community Club House

The Community Club house at the Recreation Ground is nearly complete and ready for business. It is a marvellous new asset for use by the community of Claygate. Our thanks go to the many people who contributed to this achievement: the volunteers who worked on it and the many people who made donations for it.

Special thanks are due to Steve Wells who led the project and who laboured hard with Elmbridge Borough Council to overcome obstacles to the leasing of the facility and the release of the money promised by Elmbridge and to Nigel Abbott for

tirelessly raising money. Some of the funds have been raised as loans so there is still opportunity and need for further donations to the cause. The next fund raising events for the Club House are the Children's Circus on June 5^th and the "Gig on the Rec" on July 15^th, which will star a Queen tribute band.

The official opening of the Club House on Friday 25^th May will be undertaken by Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, a special for Claygate in the context of his involvement in the Olympics a little later in the year.

ATM

Barclays Bank has honoured its promise to retain the ATM outside its premises in the Parade after the closure of its branch. Unfortunately there was a delay while the machine was converted to be serviced from distance rather than from the branch. The ATM is so well used that it has often been emptied of money. When we have telephoned Barclays to inform them it was empty they have responded but this is not possible at the weekend. Barclays Bank has assured us that its ATM will remain in use until the end of April, by which time ATMs at the Post Office and at the Co-op should be in operation.

LONG DITTON

Parking restrictions in Ferry Rd, Winters Rd & Southbank

Surrey County Council recently consulted on proposals for parking restrictions on the above roads following requests from local residents. The outcome of the consultation which ended on March 23 will be reported to the Elmbridge Local Committee to decide whether or not to introduce the scheme.

If the feedback shows support for the proposals, it is expected that they would be formally advertised in May/June 2012.

Phone Mast at junction of Ewell Rd and Thorkhill Rd refused Prior Approval

Officers refused approval for the proposed phone mast as it "would appear to be an alien addition that would appear incongruous with the character of the area and the street scene due to its disproportionate height and prominent location." They added that it would be visually intrusive and would impinge on the