As Woking took tentative steps out of lockdown, news broke of a massive power grab by Conservatives at Surrey County Council. In July this year Surrey County leader Tim Oliver announced his ambition to centre democratic control for all of Surrey at County Hall.

Surrey County Council commissioned consultants PWC to produce a report showing abolishing Woking and other local councils in Surrey would save money. The Conservative run authority wrote to the government about their plans which tie in with government proposals for reorganisation of local government.

Woking currently has a borough council with 30 councillors representing our local communities and our priorities across our town. Our local government is dedicated to Woking itself, whilst Surrey County Council governs wider areas, such as roads and some schools. There are plans to absorb our Woking Borough Council (WBC) into a Surrey 'Unitary Authority'.

Woking Lib Dems have today welcomed the election of Ed Davey as the Leader of the Lib Dems and backed his plans for a National Listening Project.

In his acceptance speech Ed Davey announced his plans to "get beyond Westminster" and speak to people across the country so they can tell us "what matters most to them."

The Lib Dems are urging the Government to continue to furlough support until it is safe and extend support to those who have so far been excluded by the Government.

Acting leader of the Lib Dems Ed Davey MP, who is asking the public to join the Party's campaign to protect workers, warned that the Government must not "undo the work and threaten mass unemployment."

The Lib Dems and I are calling for the annual increase in rail fares to be cancelled, a move which would save commuters in Woking around £55 next year and stop the cost of a Woking to Waterloo season ticket reaching almost £3,500.

The call follows the announcement of July's Retail Price Index - the figure normally used to calculate the increase in fares at the end of the year - showing inflation at 1.6%.

It's official. The UK is in the worst recession for decades. The words "2020 is a write-off for us" are echoed by many local businesses up and down the country.

This week we talk to the President of Woking Chamber of Commerce and owner of Field's Car Centre in Horsell, Richard Field. He tells us how his team transformed the services they offered to ensure customers remain safe and on the road, expresses his thoughts on the future of business in Woking and where to get commercial advice and support.

It's not just the nation's physical health that is being ruined by Covid-19. In our latest podcast Chief Executive of Woking Mind, Tony Bennett, reveals the impacts that the past few months have had, and will continue to have, on our mental health.

In this podcast Tony also highlights how to recognise when you or those around you may need support and how to access local services. Remember - we're all in this together, in the same storm albeit in different boats.

Councillor Will Forster, the Lib Dem Spokesperson for Woking, has called on the local Conservative MP Jonathan Lord to "pledge to defend the rule of law against any attempts by Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings to undermine it."

It follows the Tory Government's announcement of a so-called Independent Review of Administrative Law, with the aim of restricting the ability of individuals to seek judicial review of government actions.

CEO of the York Road Project, Cath Stamper joins us to discuss homelessness in Woking, including the sudden change in the homeless demographic, establishing direct links with other groups to expand the support available and her positivity for the future with the country's first purpose-built homeless accommodation. You can find out more about the project and support it using the link below:

In part one we find out how some local parents summoned their inner teacher after the country's schools were locked down. Our guests share their stories of veering off-syllabus with DIY science experiments and conference-call mishaps, to the vast differences in support provided by different schools. A huge thanks to Karen, Heidi, Jacqui, Amanda and Claire for sharing their home-schooling wins, a newfound appreciation for teachers and concerns for the future.