SURREY residents will go to the polls on Thursday, May 4 to elect their county council representatives for the next four years.

Here we include personal statements by the three candidates vying for election in Godalming South, Milford and Witley:

*PAUL FOLLOWS - LIB DEMS

Education, health and social care are my core priorities. To cut education funding in the ways that have been suggested is nothing short of scandalous. For health and social services, it is largely the same pattern – chronic underfunding followed by austerity cuts and closures.

Ending this cycle should be a priority for any local government.

What we need in Surrey is change. Government, at all levels, is one of those things that has great impact on people - for good and bad. I want to be a positive force in Godalming, Milford and Witley and to genuinely make a difference in peoples lives.

*PETER MARTIN - CONSERVATIVES

Peter Martin has represented Godalming South, Milford and Witley for the last 12 years.  He has greatly enjoyed representing the residents of his Division and brings experience, judgement and tenacity to the challenges that we face.  He has served for 6 years as Deputy Leader of the County. He has the business and economy portfolio and has seen the Surrey economy grow by more than 20% in four years.  More locally he has built a good working relationship with Borough, Town and Parish Councillors and always seeks to work as one team for the benefit of all.

*KATE TOWNSEND - LABOUR

Lives in Godalming and works for an animal welfare charity.

I believe that everyone, including the elderly, disabled, poor, and vulnerable, deserves to be treated with dignity and protected from senseless and cruel austerity policies.

I will demand better provision for adult social care, better maintenance of our roads, and better protection of our beautiful Surrey countryside.

Our services are being cut, and the Conservative Council were going to ask us to pay 15 per cent more. Surrey Deserves Better.