Letter: We Must Not Waste Surrey’s Potential

Published on: 13 Nov, 2026
Updated on: 13 Nov, 2026

From Angela Richardson

former Conservative MP for Guildford

In response to: A Strategic Authority for the Whole County is Being Planned

After big arguments about whether it’s appropriate to have one, two or three unitary authorities in Surrey, we appear to be back to let’s have one.

Surrey is going around in circles rather than straight ahead. We should be ambitious in terms of strategic oversight. Surrey is not Manchester or Birmingham but it’s also not a provincial backwater.

We could easily be left behind, not to the quiet pastoral vision some may have in mind, but to potential decay and destitution. We have to remain attractive and competitive and conserve the beauty of our landscape.

We are net contributors to the exchequer and have massive potential for inward investment in business, science and research and infrastructure. We have desirable tourism destinations well located for Heathrow and Gatwick.

So much potential. Don’t let it go to waste.

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