Seven Promises from your FOCUS Team

• Consult on Council Tax - keeping increases at or below inflation

• Continue our cross-party campaign to keep Epsom Hospital

• Become the best at recycling in Surrey

• Make parking problems one of our top priorities

• Improve the local environment

• Invest in young people

• Run a modern council which puts local residents first

Council Tax

• Ask every household about how council tax should be spent - in our first year running the council we will keep any increase at or below inflation.

• Enhance, protect or reduce services in line with YOUR views.

• Invest in those parts of our borough that need it most.

• We will not elect a Mayor who wants to ride in a money-wasting Rolls Royce (which last year alone cost you nearly £18,000).

• We will abolish the practice that councillors, partners and all the Mayors in Surrey are treated to free dinners.

So why do we want to ask you about how the council spends council tax?

It's your money and you should have a say in how it is spent. Some services have become uneconomic, others need improving or modernising. Your response to our Money Matters survey last year told us you wanted to be asked and that ceremonial and mayoral expenses was the area in which you most wanted spending cuts made.

Epsom Hospital

• We will fight to save Epsom Hospital.

• We want to retain A & E and Maternity services and more.

• We will continue our cross-party campaign.

• We will continue to demand an open and transparent process.

So how are we involved in the campaign to save Epsom Hospital?

We have supported and will continue to support local people through protests. We are campaigning for an open and transparent process because we don't think residents are being fully informed. We believe residents should be consulted at all stages. All the political parties need to work together.

Recycling

• We aim to become the best recycling borough in Surrey and not one of the worst.

• We will introduce doorstep collection of plastics and cardboard.

• Introduce more "bring" sites and incentives to encourage recycling.

• We want our "tip" to STOP taking in waste from other boroughs and re-route waste transfer lorries away from Epsom town.

So why do we want Epsom & Ewell to be the best?

Our survey of 10, 000 homes found recycling came top of the services which people wanted improved. Whilst the Residents' Party in control barely meets Government targets, the Lib Dems started Local Agenda 21 in Epsom and actively support waste reduction locally and nationally. Neighbouring Sutton Council (Lib Dem run) has one of the best records in the country. Lib Dem councillors are already campaigning to get waste transfer lorries out of Epsom and they won't give up.

Parking and Congestion

• We will substantially increase the number of traffic wardens who make our roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

• We will introduce "residents only" parking for the roads that want it.

• More short-term parking is needed near shops and cheap long-term parking is needed to deter commuters from parking on our streets.

So why is parking such a thorny subject?

Our borough council has refused to tackle parking issues and blames the county council for the problems. Residents are fed up with their roads being clogged with commuter parking all day. Our shopping parades will not survive without short-term parking nearby. There are accidents involving children who need safe routes to school and cycleways with segregated lanes.

Parking and enforcement issues are one of our top priorities.

Our Environment

• The Green Belt is sacrosanct and must be protected from Labour policies.

• We will continue our campaign to have back gardens designated "greenfield" sites (and not "brownfield" sites - a policy created by the Conservatives).

• We will maintain a policy of providing affordable housing for key workers.

• We will invest in new equipment to clean streets and pavements and improve the timescale for removing graffiti.

• We will improve the council's energy efficiency performance.

• We will make Epsom and Ewell festive at Christmastime.

So how will this improve the environment in Epsom and Ewell?

Developers target our borough and its back gardens and these need robust protection. Lib Dem councillors receive hundreds of complaints every year about street cleaning, litter and graffiti. We will invest in small machines operated by workers on foot which more effectively clean pavements and streets. We want to feel proud of Epsom and Ewell at Christmastime.

Investing in our Young People

• Our 11-19 year olds need more things to do and more places to hang out in safety.

• By linking with neighbouring Boroughs we can provide a night bus for Epsom.

• Lib Dems will provide teenager activities in parks.

• We will encourage Surrey Police to give Epsom higher priority so that our streets are safe for both young and old alike.

So why do the Lib Dems want to do this?

A recent survey by our council showed that the 11-19 age group is the worst catered for. The Conservative county council has a history of cutting facilities for teenagers. This age group needs physical and mental stimulation as well as sports pitches. We will work with local agencies to develop a comprehensive approach toward facilities for young people.

A Modern Council to put Local Residents First

• We will publish a clear vision for the future of Epsom and Ewell based on your views.

• We'll continue our policy of holding public meetings on all major developments.

• Residents will be able to ask questions at all council meetings.

• A Liberal Democrat council will not wear robes at business meetings.

So why do we need to modernise?

Councillors from the Residents' Party have been in control for 70 years. Too long. They have a history of backtracking on important decisions, e.g. Cherry Orchard, the Southern Link Road, Ewell Court House, Upper High Street. They don't listen, are out of touch and don't put residents first.

A Liberal Democrat council will keep Epsom as a small scale, high quality, market town.