Leaders from across the South East have launched an ambitious new partnership to transform the transport network for the travelling public and businesses and to ensure the area remains a driver of the UK economy. Transport for the South East (TfSE) will speak with a single voice on the area’s transport priorities. It will devise … Continue reading
Surrey leader David Hodge used a meeting of Cabinet today to stress the need for the county council to save more than £100 million this financial year alone to balance the budget while also highlighting planned new contracts for carers that will see support provided to an extra 300 young people at no extra cost … Continue reading
Plans have been unveiled by Surrey County Council to award contracts covering Abellio bus routes in a move that will improve services in some areas and save £700,000 annually. A report being considered by Cabinet on Tuesday reveals that nine bus companies are set to cover 22 services Abellio currently run or previously operated in … Continue reading
Surrey County Council Leader David Hodge today unveiled his new Cabinet team. John Furey is the new Deputy Leader with Colin Kemp taking over responsibility for highways. Newly elected county councillor Tim Oliver will cover property and business services and Denise Turner-Stewart will oversee the communities portfolio. Below is a list of the new Cabinet … Continue reading
With this month marking five years since work started to lay the foundations for the new Walton Bridge, it has been revealed that thousands more vehicles are using the structure than the crossing it replaced. Around 30,000 vehicles are using the £32 million bridge between Walton-on-Thames and Shepperton every weekday, which is 4,000 more than … Continue reading
Surrey County Council leader David Hodge is calling on Chancellor Philip Hammond to signal a “firm commitment” to Crossrail 2 in next Wednesday’s Budget. Last March the National Infrastructure Committee – the independent body advising the government on Britain’s long-term projects – urged ministers to prioritise developing the cross-London train line, which is set to … Continue reading
With parts of Surrey seeing snow, a fleet of gritters has been out spreading salt on the county’s roads. Any residents affected can find information and advice on the council’s website. They can also get traffic updates on the BBC’s website while the county council is running a twitter feed to provide information on gritting … Continue reading
Fully electrifying the North Downs Line will boost the government’s coffers by nearly £190 million. Upgrading the train line, which runs between Reading and Gatwick through Surrey, will generate an additional £89m a year in corporation tax and an extra £97m annually in income tax. News of the potentially massive financial boost for the government … Continue reading
With temperatures due to plummet, the county council’s fleet of gritting lorries are set to head out on Surrey’s roads tonight for the first time since last winter. They will be heading out from 7pm after filling up from the council’s 16,000-tonne stockpile of salt. Ahead of winter, the authority filled more than 1,700 grit bins … Continue reading
David Hodge marked the fifth anniversary of his first statement as Surrey County Council’s leader by emphasising how local influence can make a big difference.
Following the news that Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has unveiled a £20 million fund to improve Southern Rail’s services, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning Mike Goodman (pictured) said: “This is great news and recognises the frustration felt by Surrey’s commuters about the delays, cancellations and disruption. “Not only will the Transport … Continue reading
Following today’s news that rail fares have increased at twice the rate of wages in the past six years and passengers face a 1.9% hike in prices from January, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning Mike Goodman (pictured right) said: “I’m sure this will leave many commuters – particularly passengers on Southern trains – feeling they’re … Continue reading
Surrey County Council’s Leader has slammed proposals by the RMT union to strike for a full week in August. David Hodge, said: “It is completely unacceptable for the RMT to cause so much disruption to the people of Surrey with a week-long strike. “As a Southern passenger myself, I share the anger of Surrey’s passengers … Continue reading
Surrey County Council’s leader has made a plea for the disruption on Southern’s network to be tackled urgently. David Hodge (pictured below right), who is a regular passenger on Southern trains, has called for all those involved to work together to find a swift solution. He said: “As a Southern passenger myself, I fully understand … Continue reading
Surrey County Council has joined forces with Great Western Railway to press for investment in fully electrifying the North Downs Line. The county council and rail franchise operator have agreed to use their collective clout to drive forward the case for upgrading the final 29 miles of track between Reading and Gatwick. It comes after … Continue reading