With less than two weeks to go before council elections in Epsom and Ewell reporter Charlie Mole has been meeting the parties to hear why they think they deserve your vote...

This week he talks to the Residents Association...

Epsom and Ewell is the only council in the UK to be led by a Residents Association who have consistently dominated the Town Hall since the borough was founded in 1937.

Chairman Councillor Clive Woodbridge who took over from Robert Leach last month says the RA are committed to no cuts in services and no rises in council tax this year.

Coun Woodbridge said: “Very few councils nationally have delivered what we are setting out to do.

“We stand above party politics and will continue to base our policies on the needs and aspirations of our residents and not on party politics.

“For the future our key priorities will remain the low council tax and keeping the borough council debt free, whilst at same time maintaining our core commitments to the elderly, the vulnerable and young people.

“After the election we will again consult our residents on their priorities but we already know that they want us protect those services currently under threat from the Conservatives at Surrey County Council such as our libraries and the fire service.

“In addition we will continue to campaign against pay and display being imposed on our local shopping parades and also to secure the future of the A&E, paediatric and maternity services at Epsom General Hospital.”

New Auriol Ward candidate, local businessman John Beckett, decided to stand partly because of his concerns over Surrey County Council’s ruling Conservative party’s plans to introduce pay and display in local shopping parades.

He said: “A local council should be supporting local business not making like difficult for them.

“In contrast to the Conservatives, the Residents’ Association councillors at the borough council have already put a freeze on their car park charges, and if elected I will work hard to ensure we look after the local economy”.

Five key RA pledges:
* Maintain low council tax while keeping the council debt free
* Work with the community to protect valued services such as libraries that are now under threat
* Keep our core commitments to the elderly and vulnerable as well as young people
* Campaign with local businesses against Conservative plans for Pay and Display
* Deliver further improvements in recycling rates and lower energy consumption