Yesterday, Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey officially launched the Lib Dems Local Elections campaign. Ed, at the Lib Dems digital launch, asked voters to send a message to the Conservatives to do more to support local communities like those in Woking.

Delivering his launch speech he said: "By voting Lib Dem this May you will be telling this Tory Government to cut taxes for small businesses and invest more to create a greener, cleaner neighbourhoods."

Dale Roberts, candidate for St Johns and Woking Southwest calls for local co-working hubs to offer greater flexibility for local and London businesses and choice for commuters.

The subject of commuting has cropped up more than once as we emerge from the third lockdown and it's a subject close to our hearts in Woking. A friend posted, on a professional social media site, that candidates were declining interviews for remote-only jobs. They wanted to be in a busy office. The post attracted a lot of comments advocating both for and against remote working.

The Lib Dems have called for a review into Surrey County Council's failed attempt to build an 'Eco Park' to process much of Surrey's household waste after it was revealed that the Council is in legal proceedings with the builder of the facility.

At the Full Council meeting earlier this month the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change announced that after "exhausting other options available we have now entered legal proceedings with Suez to resolve our issues. We hope to bring this to a swift conclusion to allow us to move forward with the Eco Park and resolve the matter."

Cllr Paul Kennedy, Liberal Democrat PCC for Surrey welcomed the comments in the Guardian of Martin Hewitt, the Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) in recognising that the police's legitimacy is so low in black communities it is damaging the effectiveness of law enforcement.

Paul Kennedy said the start of solving any problem was to recognise what it was:

Last night, Lib Dem campaigner Lance Spencer presented a petition to the Woking Joint Committee calling for action over congestion outside Goldsworth Road's McDonald's Drive-through restaurant.

The petition, signed by 727 people, asked for Surrey County Council to review the traffic arrangements in Goldsworth Road at the junction with Poole Road, to prevent the access to McDonald's causing access problems to homes and businesses, and gridlock to the traffic in that area at busy times.

The local election is fast approaching. Woking residents will go to the polls on May 6th to have their say on who represents their Borough, their County and as their Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). But wait, what does the PCC do? What powers do they have?

In this episode Liberal Democrat Candidate Dale Roberts explores the issues that will help you decide where to place your vote. He is joined by Lib Dem Cllrs Will Forster (Woking Borough Council and Surrey County Council) and Paul Kennedy (Mole Valley and standing for Surrey's PCC).

Following pressure from Councillor Will Forster and the Lib Dems Surrey County Council and Surrey Police will now review having street lights turned off across the county.

In an attempt to save £210,000 a year the County Council adopted a 'Part Night Lighting Policy' for street lights in 2016 which involved switching off the majority of lights between midnight and 5 am. This decision was always controversial, but has come under added scrutiny following the tragic death of Sarah Everard and increased focus on women's safety.

Paul Kennedy, Lib Dem candidate for Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, has secured a commitment at today's Police and Crime Panel meeting from the current PCC David Munro to raise the issue of 20 mph areas with Surrey County Council and Surrey Police.

The Lib Dems and many local people across Surrey want to see more 20 mph areas outside schools and in residential areas to improve road safety and encourage sustainable travel like walking and cycling. However, both Surrey County Council and Surrey Police have often opposed such initiatives despite 20 mph schemes being successful and popular elsewhere in the country.

Dale Roberts, former industry advisor and local Lib Dem candidates calls for creative thinking and the reinvention of local high streets.

Whilst there is still a fair way to go, we are all starting to think about our communities after Covid and there is an understandable nervousness about what it means for local high streets. The high-profile collapse of Debenhams and Arcadia at the end of last year though, is not, as many have already commented, simply as a result of the sudden, rapid increase in online spending. Our needs have changed significantly over the last decade and retailers have not always responded to what it is we really want today.

The Woking Lib Dems have called for the bill which takes away people's freedom to protest to be stopped in its tracks.

In a letter to Jonathan Lord, Will Forster and the Lib Dems urged the MP to 'stop the dangerous and draconian Bill in its tracks'.

The Letter from Lib Dem Councillor Will Forster comes in light of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill being passed on its Second Reading in the House of Commons.