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Surrey County Council has no plans to reopen Lakers Youth Centre one year after fire

Council has no plans to reopen Lakers Youth Centre one year after fire The Lib Dems have criticised Surrey County Council for leaving the Lakers Youth Centre closed for a whole year, and still not having any plans to reopen it. In January 2018, Lakers Youth Centre in Goldsworth Park was badly damaged by a fire and has been closed since. During a recent Surrey County Council Cabinet meeting, Lib Dem County Councillor, Will Forster, asked the Council if, or when, it will repair and reopen Lakers. The Council stated that there are no immediate plans to rebuild Lakers Youth Centre and that they are reviewing all youth services. Will Forster said, "Ever since Lakers was damaged and closed by last year's fire, the Lib Dems and I have been campaigning for the County Council to commit to reopening the Youth Centre. However, they have refused time and time again. We are now one year on, and the Council still has no plans to reopen Lakers." "I am appalled that the County Council has left both Lakers unused for over

WFRH
by Will Forster, RH.
4 Feb 2019
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Surrey County Council's £2.5 million for contract staff

Surrey County Council's £2.5 million for contract staff It was recently revealed that the cost of temporary staff at Surrey County Council is £2.5 million. The news comes at a time when the Council are proposing a number of cuts to essential services, affecting bus subsidies, Children's Centres, Community Recycling Centres and libraries. Prior to the appointment of new Chief Executive, Joanna Killian, in March 2018, the County Council had just one contract for an interim member of staff. The contract bill for temporary and interim staff now stands at £2.5 million. Will Forster, Lib Dem County Councillor for Woking South, said, "The Lib Dems and I have two reactions to this very disturbing news - firstly, can the previous officers, cleared out so rapidly, have been so ineffective that emergency recruitment has been necessary? If so, how did that happen?" "Secondly, there has been no democratic accountability in the appointment of these people, who may be wonderful, but their appointments have bypassed the

WFRH
2 Feb 2019
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Lib Dems call for Surrey County Council to protect Europeans from Brexit

Lib Dems call for Surrey County Council to protect Europeans from Brexit Lib Dem County Councillor Will Forster has today called on Surrey County Council to support European Union (EU) nationals living locally from the damaging effects of Brexit. Before Christmas, the Government announced that EU citizens would have to apply and pay for 'settled status' post-Brexit, causing fears that some European workers will leave the UK post Brexit. Surrey County Council, like other local authorities, relies on EU nationals to fill key jobs especially in the social care sector. Therefore, Will Forster and the Lib Dems have called on the County Council to protect EU nationals by paying the settled status fees of all of its EU staff. Lib Dem County Councillor for Woking South, Will Forster, said: "Although Theresa May's Brexit deal was recently rejected in Parliament by a record 230 votes, Brexit is still a huge threat, especially to Surrey County Council's social care system which relies on staff from Europe. Bre

WFRH
2 Feb 2019
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Deborah Hughes headshot

Woking residents deserve better

It may be that the recent 'block' voting by the Tory members in Woking Borough Council is a way in which to keep the length of the Council sessions to a reasonable time? However this means that we have many important decisions being compressed into one meeting, some of them involving millions of pounds of investment, possibly without balanced debate and consideration.

8 Jan 2019
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National Party News

Transgender Awareness Week
LGBT+ Liberal Democrats

Trans Awareness Week

November 13−19 2025 marks Trans Awareness Week. It is a time to listen to and act on the voices of transgender and non-binary people, celebrate their contributions and resilience, and recognise the barriers they continue to face.

13 Nov 2025
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A women in a hijab against a blurred background with the words Islamophobia Awareness Month

Islamophobia Awareness Month

November marks Islamophobia Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the experiences of Muslim communities in the UK and to stand with them against prejudice, discrimination and hatred.

6 Nov 2025
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Four women in Sudan, holding agricultural tools
International Affairs

Defending Women’s Rights Across the Globe

Women’s rights around the world are under attack, with authoritarianism on the rise and deep cuts to UK aid undermining decades of progress. Defending women's rights must be a top priority and the UK must act boldly.

CM
23 Sep 2025
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