This Thursday, 4th May 2023, the Parish Council Elections will take place for Limpsfield Parish Council (and many other Parish Councils in Tandridge). Limpsfield South residents will vote at St Andrews Village Hall; Limpsfield North residents at St Peter’s Church Hall. 7am to 10pm. PLEASE REMEMBER YOU NEED PHOTO ID TO VOTE.

There are 9 seats on the Parish Council and 10 nominees. Here’s a rundown for you.

The 10 nominees consist of 9 “Independent Limpsfield Residents” and one Labour Party Candidate.

Seven (7) of the Independent Limpsfield Residents are current Parish Councillors seeking re-election. Two (2) are new candidates (although Tony Taylor is a co-optee of the Planning Committee). Mark Christopher Dean is a Labour Party Candidate.

THE Candidates

Tom Briggs, Independent Limpsfield Resident (current Parish Councillor)

Tom, his wife Anna, and two children have lived in the Limpsfield area since 1999. Tom is an attorney licensed in New York State and worked in the energy industry for 30 years before retiring from BP in 2016.  Tom has held senior executive roles atBP, focusing on energy policy, legislation and regulation impacting BP’s global operations. He is a resident of Ballards Lane and joined the Parish Council in May 2019. He is on the Finance Committee, of which he was Chair from 2019 to 2022. 

His is particularly interested in local air quality and energy policy.

Mark Christopher Dean, Labour Party

Mark grew up in Tandridge before moving away for university and work. He moved back to the area in 2013 and has lived in Limpsfield ever since with his wife, Elisabeth. He currently sits on the board of a stonework and restoration firm that carries out conservation on the built heritage of London and the South East: including recent repairs to the render on St Mary’s church in Oxted. HE also sits on the Surrey region committee for the charity Wooden Spoon, which funds local projects that improve the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children and undertakes a variety of challenges for charity in the local area.

He works with the invitational rugby club, Samurai RFC, which provides a pathway for young male and female players to play elite and International level rugby sevens. His political career focuses on equality of opportunity and using his privileged position for the benefit of others.

Bob Harvey, Independent Limpsfield Resident (current Councillor)

Bob has lived in Limpsfield since 1983 and joined the parish council in January 2012. Originally living in Wolf’s Row and then in Old Court House, he spend a number of years on Limpsfield Chart, but is now back in Limpsfield Village with his wife Julia. They have two grown-up children.  He runs a timber agency business.  Bob was Chairman of the Council from May 2014 until May 2016, and is currently responsible for Highways, Parish Property and the Chart Playground. 

Bernie de Haldevang, Independent Limpsfield Resident (current Parish Councillor)

Bernie is currently full time employed as Global Head of Specialty at Canopius, the international re/insurance group, also at Lloyds of London. He has four decades of experience in the insurance industry, with a career including board and executive committee positions, both in the UK and oversees. 

Bernie has lived in Limpsfield for many years and has been on the Parish Council since 2013 having served as Vice Chairman and as part of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. He is on the Finance Committee.

Bernie is interested sovereign rights of humanity, in particular political freedom and bodily autonomy as a birthright, grounded in non-negotiable democracy, and freedom of thought, speech, expression and choice.

Sophie Kemp, Independent Limpsfield Resident

Sophie lives on a smallholding near Staffhurst Wood in rural South Limpsfield with her young family and animals. She is passionate about the history and conservation of Limpsfield – particularly its rural areas and wildlife. If elected Sophie plans to promote projects to improve biodiversity and Limpsfield’s river eco-systems, as well as enhancing popular leisure routes in the South of the Parish, widening access for all. 

She is a partner and Head of Public Law at a leading law firm, where she specialises in public inquiries, investigations and human rights and judicial review litigation. She has helped a number of charities take action in relation to the effects of pollution caused by extractive companies.

Ann Osborn, Independent Limpsfield Resident (current Parish Councillor)

Ann lives in Detillens Lane and has been a resident of Limpsfield since 1986.  She trained at the Royal College of Music and sang professionally in the BBC Singers and other choral groups.  After pursuing a musical career, she joined Surrey County Council becoming Head of Policy Development and then the County Council’s Local Director for Tandridge.  Ann has always played an active role in the local community. She was Chair of Governors at Limpsfield C of E School for six years, and has an active musical role in St Peter’s church. Ann is joint leader of Limpsfield in Bloom and is keen to improve biodiversity in the parish.

Ann joined the Parish Council in May 2019 and is currently Chair of the Neighbourhood Plan Committee and led on the creation of the Limpsfield Way and Cycle route. Ann is currently the footpath lead for the Parish Council.

Tony Taylor, Independent Limpsfield Resident (currently a co-optee of Limpsfield Parish Council)

Tony and his wife, Julie, have lived in Oxted and Limpsfield for over 30 years. Their three children all went to Oxted School where Tony served as a Governor for a number of years and was Chairman of the Finance Committee. Previously, he was also Chairman of Tandridge canoe polo club.

Recently retired, Tony spent most of his career working in the City of London and New York for a number of international banks managing relationships with corporate clients.

For the past year, Tony has been co-opted on to the Parish Council’s Planning Committee and he also now serves as a volunteer at the Limpsfield’s Memorial Stores’ sub post office.  

John Thompson Independent Limpsfield Resident (current Parish Councillor)

John joined the Parish Council in May 2015 and is currently Chairman. 

He has lived in Park Road with his wife Eileen since 1987. They have two grown up children who also live locally. After taking degrees in Psychology and Manpower Studies at Durham and London, John was an Associate with Booz Allen & Hamilton Inc and held directorships with several corporates. He served on the Board of the Development Commission with a responsibility for small businesses in rural areas. Latterly he founded and was Managing Partner of a global human resources consultancy. 

He was a  Trustee/Board member of Tandridge Voluntary Action until 2021. As well as being Chairman, John is also on the Finance, Planning and Neighbourhood Plan Committees.

Jenny Williams, Independent Limpsfield Resident (current Parish Councillor)

Jenny Williams was co-opted as a Councillor in December 2021 and has been a resident of Limpsfield since 1971.  She has a BSc in Psychology and a background in finance, having worked in the banking industry for many years. She also had a property company and still consults part time for an Oxted-based Estate Agent, both of which have given her a very good understanding of housing needs and planning. With her love of heritage and an interest in how progress can exist alongside conservation, she will be a valuable addition to the Planning Committee.  Jenny has been a TV (telephone volunteer) for LINK and drove the LINK bus.

Jenny is a founding committee member and current volunteer of Limpsfield Memorial Stores – a community shop run by the community. She is currently Chair of the Planning Committee.  She is particularly interested in Planning, the environment, conservation, diversity and inclusivity.

Mark Wilson, Independent Limpsfield Resident (current Parish Councillor)

Mark has lived in Limpsfield since 1989, first in Padbrook and now in Hookwood Park with his wife Jaquie and their daughter. Mark received a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics, before joining the London offices of an American bank, where during his 33 years of employment he held a number of senior management positions. Mark now runs his own management consultancy business. He joined the Parish Council in May 2011 and served as Chairman from 2016-2019.   He is currently Chair of the Finance Committee and also on the Planning and Neighbourhood Plan Committees. 

A spokesperson for the Independent Limpsfield Residents said:

“During their last four years, the incumbent councillors have implemented many of the policies and objectives contained in the Limpsfield Neighbourhood Plan, adopted in 2019. This has included the creation of the Limpsfield Way, extensive maintenance and repair to the public footpaths in Limpsfield, to encourage their greater usage and the completion of the Limpsfield Village Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (CAAMP).  

The CAAMP will preserve the historic heart of Limpsfield Village. Limpsfield is one of a very small number of parish councils in England to undertake a CAAMP project, which are usually undertaken by much larger District Councils or Unitary Authorities.

Using the policies contained in the Neighbourhood Plan, the Parish Council has also worked to avoid any inappropriate development and to ensure that any development that does take place in the Parish is in keeping with the character of the area. The Neighbourhood Plan defined the different  character area in Limpsfield, using this analysis the Parish Council submitted a submission to the Surrey Hills AONB boundary review process. This review process is likely to result in a significant expansion in the AONB in Limpsfield.

All of this has been achieved without increases to the parish council precept.  Good management of the finances means that Limpsfield has the second lowest parish council precept among the 22 parish councils in Tandridge.

If elected, the Independent Limpsfield Resident councillors will continue to implement the Neighbourhood Plan and CAAMP policies, which will include plans for the repair and restoration of the historic ironstone pavements in Limpsfield Village and a greater focus on promoting biodiversity throughout the parish.”

As far as the Labour Party Candidate, Mark Dean is concerned, The Labour Party in East Surrey is focused on three key issues: Cost of Living Crisis, Our Green Future and Housing.

Never has [the cost of living] been more important. We should be offering help to those in need whether it is advice on benefit claims (many do not claim what they are entitled to), avoidance of court actions with consequent additional costs, access to foodbanks or coordination of support services. Labour aim to help those in most need.

For “Our Green Future” Labour is looking at the promotion of a groundbreaking programme for the 51% of homes in the district that are at the lowest levels of energy efficiency, as well as the Save Our Waterways programme that aims to hold the water and sewage companies to account to stop the pollution of our rivers and streams.

And in terms of housing, the need to use planning policies to ensure affordable houses are rebuilt to buy or rent, rather than consigning local families to small flats without gardens.

Below is Mark Dean’s flyer.

Information and Photos from Limpsfield Parish Council, individual candidates and East Surrey Labour Party Facebook page.