It is a great privilege to be elected to Surrey County Council to represent the communities of Lyne, Longcross, Ottershaw, Thorpe and Virginia Water.
I pledge to be a proactive, energetic and effective County Councillor. I am also determined to represent all residents, regardless of party affiliation and across the wider Division, during the next 4 years at County Hall.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the effort and contribution of my election opponents, particularly Malcolm Cressey and Don Whyte. It was a hard fought election campaign but fought in the right spirit throughout.
Malcolm, Don and I are also Runnymede Borough Council colleagues. I know, like and respect both of them and look forward to working with them in the time ahead, tackling together the many tasks and challenges ahead.
I am genuine in my intention to reach across the aisle in order to get things done behalf of the residents of Lyne, Longcross, Thorpe and Virginia Water.
Talking of challenges, I am conscious of the need to hit the ground running. I want to get to grips with the detail, phases and next steps in respect of the A320 road infrastructure project. On this critical issue, I intend holding a public meeting in Ottershaw as soon as possible so that we can consider together how best to impact what comes next.
Other challenges in my in-tray include working with Borough Councillors, Resident Associations and individual residents to hold Crest Nicholson’s feet to the fire on its current and future community infrastructure commitments at the Longcross Garden Village, including providing better facilities for residents at Longcross station.
I am delighted that Lisa Townsend has been elected as Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner. Time and again during the election campaign, residents complained on the doorstep about reckless driving and speeding on our roads.
I intend to work with Lisa, the Chief Constable of Surrey and residents to identify the many roads in the Division where speeding is a problem and then
work to introduce Average Speed Cameras on these roads. In my view, we must do more to hit dangerous drivers where it hurts most – with points and fines!
I am also conscious of the challenge of tackling flying tipping, protecting and enhancing our Green Open Spaces, and also the many controversial planning applications which Surrey County Council, as an interested party, can positively impact upon.
Again, I pledge to work with Borough Councillors, Residents Associations and local residents to tackle these issues and to back the community at all times.
It is also my intention to be visible and accountable in my new role and to that end I will be initiating regular public surgery events across the wider Division, starting in June 2021. I am determined to assist with any issue, big or small and will provide further detail soon.
The hard work starts now.
Best wishes
County Councillor Jonathan Hulley