Lib Dem Councillor in #Godalming. Leader of @WaverleyBC & @GodalmingTC. Co-leader of the Opposition at Surrey CC
Godalming, England
Joined March 2009
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Cllr. Paul David Follows 🔶 retweeted
How will local government reorganisation impact the rural economy, and how will rural fit into this new landscape?
We arranged for members to meet the new leadership of the new West Surrey Council, which comes into power in April @CLAtweets #CLA @PaulDFollows #Surrey @LibDems
An unplanned and dangerous crater that will cost millions to fix.
If ever there was a metaphor for Surrey County Council in 2025…
bbc.com/news/articles/c07k77…
SURREY RESIDENTS AMONG MILLIONS DENIED THE CHANCE TO VOTE IN 2025
🔸 Conservative request to CANCEL May local elections granted by government
🔸 Opposed by Lib Dems at every level
🔸 Your elected Lib Dems will work to make sure you are democratically and locally represented
Cllr. Paul David Follows 🔶 retweeted
"That report has cost money to produce because we wanted to get to the bottom of this at both Guildford and Waverley."
In response @PaulDFollows told That's TV the shared senior arrangement has saved Waverley residents £600,000 already
#Waverley #Surrey
Getting ready to go on BBC Radio Surrey @BBCSurrey this morning.
Much needed ☕️
Cllr. Paul David Follows 🔶 retweeted
Nearby local authorities are justifiably worried about the effects #Woking Borough Council's debt might have on them after the local government reorganisation and I'm very grateful to Baroness Grender for raising this issue in the House of Lords last week.
The Independent report commissioned by Waverley BC @WaverleyBC and Guildford BC @GuildfordBC into our collaboration work (so far) has now been published.
Key points in the image below and more detail here: facebook.com/share/p/19omq9V…
Cllr. Paul David Follows 🔶 retweeted
The picture in Surrey for children with SEND is broken - everything I’ve been campaigning on is underscored here in this damning @CommonsPAC report. Surrey is close to the bottom of the table in waiting times for EHCP plans and near the top for cases going to tribunal. We need change locally in Surrey and action from the Government to match the rhetoric to protect our most vulnerable children.
🚨 A lost generation of children with special education needs and disabilities could leave school without having received the help they need.
The Government must take action to improve a system which is failing families.
Read our report below 👇
publications.parliament.uk/p…
ALT Graphic saying: Public Accounts Committee Wait time for EHC plans are a postcode lottery We've published a report
Cllr. Paul David Follows 🔶 retweeted
Alongside the other members of the Surrey Leaders Group, I have written to the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution express our commitment to bring forward proposals for devolution and urge the government to allow May's elections to take place.
#Godalming Town Centre with some snow flurries for once! ❄️
Great to join my fantastic WBC colleague Cllr Dave Busby out delivering in #Chiddingfold on a beautiful afternoon for it.
An absolutely obligatory trip to the Crown afterwards - just a simply stunning pub!
Last year I got all the way to Dec 23rd before I heard it.
This year it gets me really early on a minibus in #Norway 🇳🇴 of all places! #whamageddon2024
Cllr. Paul David Follows 🔶 retweeted
🚦 Waverley planned roadworks
🗓️ Week commencing 9/12/24
#Waverley #Alford #Cranleigh #Farnham #Elstead #Godalming #Ewhurst #Haslemere #Milford #Hindhead #Churt #Tilford #Witley @WaverleyBC
For more see orlo.uk/Exgyp
ALT Please check details of roadworks in your area at https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roadworks-and-maintenance/roadworks/in-your-area
Thank you @ZoeFranklinLD for raising this crucial point. Often boroughs/districts and even Towns/Parishes are in a better position to deliver local transport options than upper tier authorities. This is certainly true in #Surrey.
Yesterday, I spoke in a debate on transport in the House of Commons.
To achieve a greener, fairer, more thriving future, high quality public transport is absolutely essential. I urged the Government to invest in new railway stations and to invest in ensuring stations are step free.
I also asked the government look at empowering borough, district, town and parish councils to be able to run their own localised bus services, not just the county level transport authorities.
buff.ly/4iphEJP
Cllr. Paul David Follows 🔶 retweeted
Free parking after 3pm in Waverley Borough Council car parks starts in #Farnham and #Godalming tomorrow (29 November)! Use this opportunity to #ShopLocal and support small businesses in our borough 🚗 🛍️ 🧑🎄
Find out more 👉 orlo.uk/TizlH
ALT Icon of a 'P' parking symbol and image of a snowy High Street. Text reads: Free parking after 3pm on select dates this Christmas! Waverley Borough Council.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR A FANTASTIC EVENING IN GODALMING! 🎄
On behalf of Godalming Town Council can I say a massive thank you to everyone who came to Godalming this evening for the lights and particularly to those who took part in the parade and who helped organise and manage the event. Especially our amazing Godalming Town Council staff.
I have heard from many residents who enjoyed in and the pubs and restaurants seems to be doing great business this evening (I’m in the Star myself!).
Nearly 600 people in the church and the high street was packed.
Cllr Paul Follows
Leader, Godalming Town Council
REPORTING FALLEN TREES / OTHER ROAD BLOCKAGES 🌬️ 🌳
Good morning everyone. I have had reports of some fallen trees and other minor road blocks as a result of the wind.
You can report these using the link below.
➡️ tellus.surreycc.gov.uk
I will leave this post pinned to the top of my councillor profile page and featured posts as a quick reference (I think it’s fair to say it will be useful to keep to hand in the coming weeks just in case!)
Cllr Paul Follows
SPORT GODALMING AWARDS 2024 🥇
It had been fantastic to attend the Sport Godalming Awards 2024 this evening alongside the Mayors of Godalming and Waverley (both councils support the organisation and I have the honour of being the Waverley rep to the group) - it really is great to see how our local athletes are supported across out community at all levels of sport.
Cllr Paul Follows
Leader, Waverley Borough Council and Godalming Town Council
GODALMING STATION BACK GATE 🚂
Last week, Cllr Victoria Kiehl, Cllr Penny Rivers and I met with representatives of South Western Rail (SWR) for the latest updates on ‘gate-gate’ (sorry I couldn’t resist). Held over from last week as I always refrain from potentially political posting over remembrance weekend.
ℹ️ SWR have no intention of removing this gate or preventing access to the station for passengers BUT will be requiring a physical or digital ticket to be presented to the camera.
ℹ️ They will not be allowing members of the public who are not ticketed passengers through the gate. People will be asked to go around and buy a ticket and will not be allowed to come through without one to do so.
ℹ️ They will not be putting in a ticket gate on that side (seems they are incredibly expensive, the one on the other side apparently costs close to £1m!)
ℹ️ They are doing this partly for revenue protection concerns and partly due to anti-social behaviour against their staff (both of which the group of us actually witnessed on the site that day).
ℹ️ The access across the bridge through the station is not a public right of way (it is private land). They were not consulted by the developers of Ockford Park regarding the access from the back.
ℹ️ SWR will be allowing the Meath access over the bridge with their ID if with their clients.
ℹ️ SWR will be significantly improving the signage to make all of the above clearer, and they are putting in a bid internally within their company to upgrade the camera and communications at the gate.
ℹ️ Noting that the highways access if you go around is poor (the path is so narrow it is practically non-existent) - we have opened discussions with Surrey County Council about the long term plans for that section of road. SWR have offered to support any engagement with National Rail (who own the infrastructure) to support this.
✅ I gather all of the above has also been confirmed to the MP by the SWR CEO too, as a direct result of the meeting had between councillors and staff at the station.
If you have any questions please do let us know!
Cllrs Paul Follows and Victoria Kiehl
Ward Councillors for Godalming Central and Ockford
Cllr Penny Rivers
County Councillor for Godalming North Division
