Transport
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There are two major transport issues that I know are close to the hearts of residents of Esher and Walton: trains and planes. The proposed expansion of Heathrow with a third runway will have huge impacts on residents’ noise levels and air quality, particularly in Molesey, and is a terrible decision for the environment and climate change. Meanwhile our trains just don’t work, affecting our ability to get to where we need to bel on a daily basis. Here’s where I stand on both.
Southwestern Railway’s service
I’m campaigning with Ed Davey and our other local Liberal Democrat PPCs to stop the planned December rail strikes. Local businesses will be hit by these strikes, with Christmas shoppers being deterred and commuters unable get to work promptly. School children may have their education disrupted if they cannot get to class on time.
We have written to South Western Railway and the RMT Union to demand that they return to the negotiating table, secure a resolution to the ongoing industrial dispute, and call off the strikes immediately. We have also set up a petition so that everyone can support the campaign.
People in Esher and Walton have put up with failing rail services for far too long. It is self-indulgent for South Western Railway and the RMT Union to blame each other and allow the impasse to continue. If they cannot reach agreement now, both sides should commit to resolving their differences through independent mediation and arbitration, not holding local people to ransom.
Stop the December Rail Strikes! Sign our petition
Heathrow airport expansion
Some 250,000 extra planes will use Heathrow annually if a third runway is built. This will lead to significant impacts for the people of Esher and Walton – additional noise, pollution and climate change. Dominic Raab voted for Heathrow expansion and is a member of the government driving it through. I’m listening to the views of residents and campaigning to stop it.
Government promises to limit Heathrow’s noise, pollution and carbon emissions are meaningless. Air pollution near Heathrow is already at illegal levels, before the expansion. If the third runway is built, it won’t be shut down when environmental targets are missed.
The only way to protect the people of Esher and Walton from the noise, pollution and climate effects of the third runway is for the government to pull the plug on it. That’s exactly what a LibDem vote will help to do.
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“If there were a people’s vote on it, South Western Railway wouldn’t survive in this franchise for very long.”
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