Current priorities and concerns

Jolly Boatman/Hampton Court Station

MRA opposed the massive over-development for which the Council has granted planning permission. We want a solution to this neglected site which will benefit local residents and tourists visiting Hampton Court Palace - but not at the cost of unacceptable over-development. In the meantime I am pressing the Council and the site owners to improve the current derelict appearance of the site, especially as it features on the cycling route for the Olympics.

Pavilion Sports Ground

After planning application for a massive housing development was refused the owners appealed, but after a hearing which was addressed by local residents and MRA Councillors the appeal was dismissed. MRA will continue to oppose further attempts to obtain permission for inappropriate housing development on this site.

Molesey Hurst

I was very concerned about the proposals from East Molesey Cricket Club to turn part of Hurst Meadows into a cricket ground. This is an important natural wildlife area which is greatly appreciated by local residents, and the proposal has been rejected following overwhelming opposition. The Molesey Residents Association is supporting efforts by local residents to protect the site by giving it special categorisation and registering it as common land.

Molesey Library

The Molesey Residents Association (MRA) was appalled by Surrey County Council's announcement that it planned to close Molesey Library. After a fantastic response from Molesey residents, with many volunteers offering to help keep the Library open, SCC has reversed its decision, and we hope the threat to the future of our Library has now been removed.

Local Amenities

In addition to the closure of Molesey Police Station and the threat to Molesey Library, the Council is seeking to outsource the facilities currently provided at Mole Hall, Vine Hall and the public toilets in the Walton Road car park. I am fighting to preserve these amenities - they have been which been an important part of the community for many years, and we do not want to lose them.

Local Schools

I have been pressing SCC for some time to address the shortage of places at local schools, which has been an increasing problem for Molesey families , and we have secured some important changes. After agreeing a temporary increase of 30 places at Esher High School in September 2010, SCC agreed to new entry arrangements from 2011, with Molesey forming part of a new catchment area for Esher High.

Phone Masts

We are opposed to the installation of phone masts near to schools and residential areas. There are plenty of open spaces surrounding Molesey, and we believe phone operators should co-operate with each other to identify sites at which they can co-locate their masts away people's houses.

Facilities for young people

I am working with other Councillors to ensure that this is used to improve facilities to try and improve facilities for young people in Molesey. The Council has upgraded a number of outdated children's play areas, and a new facility is being installed at Grovelands, but there is still a need for dedicated activities for older children.

Molesey Heath

We are campaigning for the whole of Molesey Heath (including the former sewage works site) to be classified as Green Belt in order to remove the threat of development here. The area currently forms part of a nature conservation area, and features in the Council's "Healthy Walks" programme.

Bus Services

MRA continues to oppose proposed cuts to public bus services across Surrey, some of which would have significantly reduced services used by Molesey families. I have been liaising with Transport for London about the timetable for the 411 bus, and they have now revised this to allow better coordination between bus services and the arrival and departure times for trains at Hampton Court Station.

Car Parking

I led the successful MRA campaign which resulted in the Council reducing the charge for using the Walton Road car park from 50p to 20p an hour, and to allow free parking on Saturdays. We have also been successful in persuading Surrey County Council to install additional parking bays and remove some yellow lines to allow more on street parking to help our local shops.

Road Surfaces

The condition of the roads in Molesey and elsewhere has deteriorated rapidly in recent years, and we are facing an uphill battle in pressing Surrey County Council to repair potholes and resurface a number of roads. We understand that SCC has at last agreed to some long overdue resurfacing work in parts of Island Farm Road, Molesey Avenue and Molesey Road, and this should take place in 2012/13.