Celebrating and strengthening our communities and protecting our Green Belt

Across Runnymede and Weybridge we have great, vibrant communities with their own unique character and history and there is always something to experience and enjoy. From our museums and monuments, to our amazing green spaces and visitor atttractions, Runnymede and Weybridge truly is an amazing place to live and work. Which is why it is so important to protect and celebrate our communities and heritage.

Celebrating our communities

From supporting the Crouch Oak for English Tree of the Year (I still can't believe it didn't win!) to celebrating Magna Carta Day, I am keen to join and encourage residents in celebrating our communities. And while we could already see the community spirit through the markets, fairs and community events held throughout the year, the pandemic showed us even more clearly what community means, with hundreds of volunteers registering to help the NHS, Police and neighbourhood support groups, established to provide help to those shielding. And even more making the effort to help friends and neighbours or supporting the many fantastic local charities and religious groups all helping those in need. 

You really were inspirational, which is why I want to ensure we celebrate our volunteers and all of our residents who make Runnymede and Weybridge such a fantastic place to live. Through supporting nominations for awards for those who went the extra mile (in some cases literally), I hope one key legacy of this difficult time can be a celebration of how residents came together in difficult times to support each other, and that we can learn from and build on that so we can continue to celebrate and support community services across our towns and villages. 

Protecting our communities

It is also essential that we protect our communities, history, heritage and natural environment. To acheive this I will:

  • continue to represent residents ion issues of national planning policy, calling for the protection of our Green Belt, and flood plain in national planning policy, and highlighting the importance of local input into planning issues.
  • work to tackle local air and noise pollution, and support efforts to address issues of littering across Runnymede and Weybridge
  • meet regularly with Runnymede and Elmbridge Borough Commanders, and Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, to discuss local crime and policing matters, and support their efforts to tackle crime and disorder.
  • support the delivery of local services within our communities

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