Since my last update, we have launched two campaigns to protect vital community assets from closure by Lib Dem-run Elmbridge Borough Council.
The Lib Dems and Residents' Association have drawn up plans to build 116 homes on Molesey Hurst Recreation Ground, depriving local families of this cherished play park.
Elsewhere, the Lib Dem-led council has put Thames Ditton Community Centre at risk of closure - and refuse to meet local residents to discuss alternatives. I visited both sites below.
We have also made progress on the installation of a new footbridge with lifts at Walton station, following our successful campaign to secure funding for this project. More on this, and my ongoing work to end illegal moorings in our area, below.
In Westminster, I have spoken in the Commons on the conflict in Israel, and raised the failure of the Lib Dem-led council to get a Local Plan in place for our area.
If you are a constituent in need of my assistance, please get in touch using the contact details at the end of this email.
Yours sincerely,
Dominic
In this week's newsletter:
Help us to protect Molesey Hurst Rec.
Save our Thames Ditton Centre for the Community.
New footbridge installed at Walton Station.
Tackling illegal moorings with the Environment Agency, Elmbridge Borough Council & river users' groups.
Westminster Watch - A roundup of my recent contributions in the House of Commons.
State of the Nation - An overview of the national policy picture and recent government announcements.
Help us to protect Molesey Hurst Rec
Elmbridge Borough Council, run by the Lib Dems and Residents’ Associations, have drawn up plans to build up to 116 properties on Hurst Rec. They are attempting to sneak the sale of the Rec to developers, claiming it is the only way to end the neglect of Hurst Pool. We know this is simply not true.
Many of us use the Rec frequently and take our children there. We want to see it protected so that future generations can continue to use it.
Please help us send EBC a clear message and rule out their plans to build on Hurst Rec by completing the survey below.
Meeting some of the brilliant community groups that rely on Thames Ditton Community Centre.
I enjoyed stopping by Thames Ditton Centre for the Community to meet with the Boomerang Bags sewing bees and Men in Sheds, who support the local community by providing reusable bags for the high street and fixing old furniture.
User groups are concerned about the future of their local community centre, so have tried to engage with Elmbridge Borough Council by requesting a public meeting – this has been denied.
See what local community groups are saying below:
“Residents and user groups of the Thames Ditton Centre for the Community have been calling for a public meeting to discuss its future since April 2023 and so far this has been denied."
- Thames Ditton Boomerang Bags
“It would be a tragedy if all our hard work was put under threat by Elmbridge Borough Council’s determination give up the running and management of the Thames Ditton Centre."
- Thames Ditton Men in Sheds
I have written to the Leader of Elmbridge Borough Council asking for a public meeting to take place. This will enable residents to finally express their concerns regarding Elmbridge Borough Council’s plans for the future of Thames Ditton Centre for the Community.
If you would like to share your views about the future of the Centre with me, please complete my survey below:
Many of you will have seen the new footbridge has been installed at Walton Station. It is great news that this milestone has been reached, and we are now entering the next stage of the project – manufacture and installation of the lifts.
Manufacture of the lifts by Stannah is currently underway. Following this, Network Rail will be undertaking the assembling of the actual lift components and machinery, including electrical and telecom installation in the lift shaft and motor rooms.
It is currently estimated that the new footbridge will be open for public use by April 2024, to help those in a wheelchair, pushing a pram, or with heavy luggage use the station.
Tackling illegal moorings in Elmbridge
Thank you to Peter Aron, Jill Sanders and Steve Collins from local river users groups for joining me at a meeting with the Environment Agency (EA) and Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) to discuss enforcement action on illegal moorings in Elmbridge.
We requested the urgent removal of the two boats illegally moored at Hurst Park, RoR and Hui, and asked the EA to report back to us on the possibility of towing the two boats away following penalty notices.
Following the meeting, I have written to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Thérèse Coffey to ask for her support in seeing the permanent removal of the two boats at Hurst Park, and to ensure the EA’s enforcement powers over illegal moorings will not be diminished.
Westminster Watch
Responsibility for the appalling civilian loss of life in Gaza lies with Hamas for their egregious and illegal use of civilians as human shields.
18 October: I condemned Hamas's use of innocent civilians as human shields during Urgent Questions to the Foreign Secretary. On 09 October, I wrote a column in The Telegraph on the impact of Hamas’s attacks on Israel for regional security.
17 October: In a debate on the landmark Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, I outlined how Lib Dem-led Elmbridge Borough Council has been asleep at the wheel, failing to get a Local Plan in place to protect our borough from overdevelopment.
State of the Nation
6,900 households in Esher and Walton constituency will receive £300 in November to help with the cost of living. This is the second of three payments totalling up to £900 for those eligible and on means-tested benefits, and will be sent out automatically and directly to eligible households, so there is no need to apply or take any action to receive it.
The UK economy grew 0.2% in the month of August - and is now performing better than France and Germany. Elsewhere, wages grew faster than inflation, helping to ease the cost of living.
In response to the appalling terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, the UK government has committed a further £10 million in humanitarian aid for civilians in Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Foreign Office is working to evacuate British nationals and, at home, the government has provided £3 million in funding to the Community Security Trust (CST) - a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism.
