Tag Archives: Haslemere Vision

Councillor Update for Haslemere, June 2019

2nd June 2019 – shared update about HillFest, an amazing event organised by Friends of Woolmer Hill.

3rd June 2019 – attended meeting of Haslemere Town Council’s Haslemere Vision steering group with Melanie Odell (Chair of the steering group), Stewart Brown (Chair, Haslemere Vision), Kirsten Ellis (Independent Councillor) at Haslemere town hall.

4th June 2019 – shared further update online about Thames Water works in Tennyson’s Lane. More here. (This work has now been completed and the road is open.)

5th June 2019 – Surrey County Council meetings in Kingston including first meeting of Climate Change Task Group chaired by Cllr Goodman, Cabinet member for Environment and Waste. Also, met with passenger transport team to discuss rail partnership initiative.

5th June 2019 – shared notification of pavement reconstruction in Beech Road from 17th June for approximately 5 weeks. More here.

6th June 2019 – attended #DDay75 anniversary memorial in Haslemere.

With Tom, British Legion standard bearer

6th June 2019 – shared online the South Downs Rambler Rail Bus link this Summer between Winchester and Petersfield rail stations, from Hampshire Community Rail Partnership colleagues. More here.

9th June 2019 – notified postponement of Beech Road pavement repair. More here.

10th June 2019 – Rethinking Transport – Member Drop-In Session at County Hall, Kingston. The Rethinking Transport project is fundamentally reimagining transport in Surrey: developing new, sustainable transport options where journeys are wanted or needed, while also rethinking how residents access communities, employment, health and social care, education and other key services to avoid unnecessary travel. More here.

12th June 2019 – attended LoveHaslemereHastWaste event at Haslemere Museum. Follow on Facebook here. You may also wish to read the article about the event in The Haslemere Herald, here: Keen Support for War on Waste.

13th June 2019 – chaired inaugural Steering Group meeting of the Surrey Hills to South Downs Community Rail Partnership – Haslemere, Milford and Witley stations with Godalming and Farncombe planning to join us. More here. Read The Haslemere Herald article here: On track to deliver passenger satisfaction. South Western Railway’s latest stakeholder newsletter is here:

13th June 2019 – shared online update re. signage for College Hill footpath. More here.

14th June 2019 – interviewed by BBC Surrey to talk about The Community Rail Partnership. Transcription here.

14 June 2019 – Merrow SCC highways depot – met with Cllr Matt Furniss, SCC Highways portfolio holder and Richard Bolton, SCC Local Highway services group manager to discuss SCC highways issues and forward strategy. Change in Kier provider, Flowline (the subcontractor providing Surrey’s gulley cleansing and drainage maintenance services) will be replaced by a new provider, Drainline.
Tour of highways laboratory, where a team of experts analyses road surfaces taken from cores, identifies why road failures occur, tests new materials and carries out work for many other counties.


16th June 2019 – shared guest blog post by David Goddin: Why I’m Supporting the Community Rail Movement

17th June 2019 – shared online update about pavement repair works in Beech Road. More here.

17th June 2019 – shared update re Surrey County Council’s preparation for a new Surrey Waste Local Plan. More here.

19th June 2019 – met with Mark Youngman SWR at The Station House to discuss the Surrey Hills to South Downs rail partnership potential bids to SWR’s Customer and Communities Improvement fund. The rail partnership has a range of project ideas generated at the launch.

20th June 2019 – shared agenda for Waverley Local Committee meeting (28th June). More here.

20th June 2019 – shared Councillor update from Tim Oliver, Surrey County Council Leader on Surrey County Council’s Transformation Project Overview. More here.

20th June 2019 – attended Surrey Climate Commission launch at the World Wildlife Fund eco-centre in Woking. Read more about its aims here. Was very positive that SCC Cllr Mike Goodman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste gave Surrey CC backing for the commission.

24th June 2019 – received draft minutes of Haslemere Town Council Amenities June 2019 committee. Read here.

25th June 2019 – shared update re next Teen Parenting course arranged by Tennyson’s Sure Start Centre. More here.

25th June 2019 – County Hall, Kingston, meeting with Mary Lewis, Cabinet Member for Children, Dave Hill Exec Director Children, Families and Learning and Simon White, Executive Director Adult Social Care and Ruth Hutchinson, Deputy Director Public Health. All provided helpful overview of services and challenges facing the County.  Particular focus on transformation of children’s services given long term failures as identified in Ofsted reports. Austerity cuts mean Surrey receives some of the lowest funding for these vital services – which present a real challenge. Many social issues remain hidden in Surrey. 

25th June 2019 – received South Western Railway’s latest stakeholder newsletter, The South Western Report, which can be downloaded here.

26th June 2109 – County Hall, Kingston, meetings with SCC Transportation Planning Development officer and Passenger Transport team manager to discuss SWR Customer and Communities Innovation Fund bid.

27 June 2019 – met with Head, Shottermill Infant School, Haslemere, parked my bike in the scooter hub, very impressed with the school’s work to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals.

28th June 2019 – attended June 2019 Waverley Local Committee. Read papers here including item re petition for Critchmere Hill and Woolmer Hill here. At the meeting, I agreed I will be arranging a site visit meeting with the petitioner and SCC Highways officers. Also, at this meeting, there was mention of Waverley’s s106 database (which includes Surrey CC covenants as well as Waverley’s). Here is the link, for interest: http://pfm.exacom.co.uk/waverley/index.php

GENERAL NEWS

I am pleased to advise that SCC’s drainage maintenance subcontractor, Drainline, took over provision of this service from Flowline as of Monday morning. All but one of the operatives has transferred across, and Drainline have provided a number of brand new machines, which will improve productivity and reduce the number of breakdowns. This will be at no additional cost to the County Council. There remains a limited backlog of work which was not completed by Flowline, but, Drainline are expected to complete this work by the end of this month.

You may be interested to read Surrey County Council’s Customer Service Snapshot May 2019 which I received this month. Link here.

Here is Transition Haslemere’s July 2019 newsletter.

My next county councillor update will be in September.

Haslemere Vision’s Housing Consultation is Under Way. Please Take part.

An update from Stewart Brown, Chairman, Haslemere Vision about the Housing Consultation which is still under way. This is an important opportunity for the community and everyone is urged to get involved in guiding the town’s housing future.

Vision LogoThe Housing Consultation has been running for 4 weeks and we have had just over 325 responses so far.

We need your help to keep them coming!!

  1. If you have not already done so, please complete the survey as soon as possible** – If you have already responded – Thank You!!
  1. Please urge family, friends and neighbours to respond too** 
  1. If the document has not been delivered to your home or you know of others who have not received theirs please let us know urgently!

**Either: complete on-line (we recommend that you have the paper copy beside you)

  Or: complete the paper copy and return to one of the drop-off points at:

    The Town Hall, Haslemere Hall, The Museum, Marley Flowers, The Library,  Haslewey, Tesco, Your Local Convenience (Parsons Green), Grayswood Cars, The Coffee Lounge and the Hub in Beacon Hill or the Cookie Bar in Hindhead

Extra copies can be collected at the drop-off points 

The Consultation runs till October 31st

Please help to spread the word!

THANK YOU

Stewart Brown

CHAIRMAN

Have Your Say on The Future of Housing in Haslemere

HAVE YOUR SAY ON

THE FUTURE OF HOUSING IN HASLEMERE

Haslemere Vision’s Housing Consultation Started on September 7th. Here is a message from The Chairman, Stewart Brown

Now Haslemere Vision needs your help!!

A copy of the consultation will be delivered with your mail this week.

Please be sure to:

  • complete and return your copy as soon as possible**
  • urge other members of your family and friends to do so too**

**Either: complete on-line (we recommend that you have the paper copy beside you)

Or: complete the paper copy and return to one of the drop-off points at:

The Town Hall, Haslemere Hall, The Museum, Marley Flowers, The Library,  Haslewey, Tesco, Your Local Convenience (Parsons Green), Grayswood Cars, The Coffee Lounge and the Hub in Beacon Hill or the Cookie Bar in Hindhead.

Extra copies can be collected at the drop-off points.

If your copy has not been delivered by Saturday 13th Sept please let Haslemere Vision know. 

The Consultation runs till October 31st

Please help to spread the word!

 

THANK YOU

Stewart Brown

CHAIRMAN

County Council Update from Nikki Barton for Haslemere

Please see my latest update of activities in the community since the New Year.

LOCAL MEETINGS

Haslemere Youth Campus

Attended Haslemere Town Council (HTC) meeting (15th January) where a large number of representatives from user groups of the Youth Campus in Wey Hill, including many brownies and scouts, staged a demonstration asking for HTC’s support to remain at the site and to be given a long lease so that they can invest in improvements. Local scout leader Paul Buckler then gave a short presentation outlining their plans. This is the open letter and annexe that were sent to Waverley Borough Councillors by the youth campus stakeholders.

Haslemere Train Station

Very positive meeting with SWT and SCC passenger transport (19th January) the long-term outcome of which will hopefully work towards a more integrated transport strategy.

Issues discussed included SWT/SCC plans for Haslemere train station forecourt reconfiguration to prioritise buses, pedestrian and cycle access- I raised my concerns that the planned changes must be integrated with associated highways improvements on Lower Street, that adequate public information must be given before the works are carried out as they will impact on the current parking in the station forecourt and that although a positive step to promote buses, the current SCC passenger transport review may in fact modify local bus services.

It was agreed that a station travel plan is needed in order to develop a more holistic transport strategy going forward. SCC is currently working in partnership with SWT to draw up a package of travel plans for a number of Surrey train stations – I have requested that Haslemere is prioritised.

The request that Haslemere Visitor Information Centre should have a greater presence at the station was positively received by SWT – I am currently following up on this. The general need for improved signage at the station, including real time bus information, was discussed and should be introduced as part of the forecourt reconfiguration.  A bid has been made for funding for a ‘Cycle hub’ for 100 bikes at the station – news on this later in March.

SWT: an additional 18 cycle parking spaces at the station are currently being installed.

Cycle improvements - Haslemere Station

Haslemere Conservation Area

Attended Haslemere Conservation Area Review meeting (on 29th January) at Haslemere Town Council. See here for more information about Haslemere’s town centre conservation area.

Haslemere Vision

Attended Haslemere Vision housing workshop (31st January). Once written up, the minutes will be here.

Undershaw/Stepping Stones School

Attended Undershaw planning meeting (4th February) and gave strong support for the planning application on education grounds (my letter to The Herald is here). Very pleased it was approved by Waverley Southern Planning Committee, the final decision is currently with the Secretary of State.

Local Highways Issues

Road safety continues to be an issue in several areas, meetings with residents and SCC highways:

  • Three Gates Lane/Church Road/A286 junction to discuss potential safety measures on A286 approach to Haslemere, including providing a permanent electricity supply to the VAS (currently solar powered), adding a small VAS speed sign opposite the Museum and moving the 30 limit signage
  • Grayswood to discuss improving safety for pupils in response to school expansion. Agreed to fund dropped kerb outside the school and gateway signage into village.  Local residents, the school, and the Village Traffic Liaison Group requested an extension of double solid centre white lines further north on the A286 to improve pedestrian safety. I supported this request, and asked SCC highways and the police to consider this.  The request has been rejected on technical grounds.
  • Critchmere Lane/Liphook Road junction to discuss pedestrian safety issues, unfortunately the lack of road width backed by the high railway bank precludes adding a pavement, SCC highways agreed to look at additional road markings
  • Woolmer Hill School to discuss pupil road safety with SCC schools road safety officer, agreed that best option is manned crossing patrol.
  • Shottermill Infant School to discuss pupil safety.
  • I have also requested that SCC highways respond to residents’ pedestrian safety concerns at the Sturt Road- Sun Brow/Kings Road junctions and along Scotland Lane.

Parking issues:

  • Lining outside St Bartholomew’s School have been reinstated following resurfacing. Other lining agreements from the Parking Review 2014 will be carried out soon. The lining team is running behind because of the volume of lining in Farnham. Have requested Haslemere is first on the list in the next parking review.
  • Lloyds Bank car park – access to the car park has been blocked causing knock-on effects to parking up College Hill and in Hill Road.  The landowner has now installed a railing, blocking pedestrian access down the side of the car park into the High Street. I have been in touch with the Surrey Legal Team regarding the possibility of formally designating this a right of way based on history of use. Have also arranged to meet Waverley’s Fire Safety Officer to assess access.

Other local works:

  • Met Vicarage Lane residents about potholes. The road has been included in Project Horizon (Surrey-wide highways improvement program) and is due for repair soon.
  • Lion Green footpath confirmed for repair
  • Vegetation work at Trout Road roundabout
  • Review of other locations raised by WBC and HTC at Manor Close, Oak Tree Lane/Sunvale
  • Residents of Sunbrow/Sickle Road continue to face highways issues linked to the the narrow width of the highway and the erosion of the bank below the WBC recreation area.
  • Installation of width restriction sign on Woolmer Hill.
  • Maintenance of street lights on Town Hall
  • Trying to help address issues of overflowing safety at Nutcombe Lane, Meadway

Waverley Local Area Committee funded Highways Improvement Schemes

  • Railings outside Clayton jewellery shop: a replacement model agreed with WBC conservation officer and HTC, date for installation tbc
  • Gateway/junction safety improvements at Courts Hill Road/Hill Road: design complete, installation date tbc
  • Pedestrian crossing safety improvements Shepherds Hill/Lower Street junction: design complete, installation date tbc
  • Gateway/traffic calming A287 and hopefully A286 approaches to Haslemere: in design stage

Other local matters

Attended a meeting with Haslemere Town Council and Surrey Waste Management to discuss the planned removal of the Saturday waste removal service. (Haslemere Dustcart Briefing Note)

Continuing to attend social service/education review meetings for a family with adopted children who are not currently getting the help they need.

To continue to put Haslemere First, always looking to improve the way local councillors work together. Made request to Haslemere Town Council suggesting ways of working more cooperatively and collaboratively by increasing councillor use of social media, joint councillor surgeries and posting recordings of meetings.

Community Pride Fund 2014-15

I have used these funds to provide a new grit bin for Scotlands Close, bike racks at Haslewey and to fund a week of a SCC vegetation gang.

Haslewey Bike Rack OpeningNew bike racks at Haslewey

County Councillor Members’ Allocation 2014-2015

Here is a summary of my members’ allocation awards: Logs4Labour

Logs for Labour scheme

  • Logs4Labour, £300
  • Haslemere Library, Children’s Arts & Craft Fund, £150
  • Woolmer Hill School, Orchestra Day & Young Musician Of The Year, £600
  • 1st Haslemere Scout Group, Camping & Outdoor Event Equipment, £1081
  • Haslemere Citizen’s Advive Bureau, New Boiler, £1,836
  • Crossways Counselling, Training for Counsellors, £1,800
  • Haslemere Vision, £3,000
  • St Johns Ambulance, First Aid Equipment, £962
  • Haslewey, Brighter Futures Project, £3,000

Haslewey Brighter FuturesSurrey Meetings

Environment and Transport Select Committee

Attended E & T Select Committee meeting (agenda here) (on 22nd January). Raised a question concerning the large number of highways projects where matched funding is required, concerned that this will negatively impact on Local Area Committee funding; however, Cabinet Member John Furey assured me it would not.

Met Cabinet Member for Transport and Surrey Communications Strategy team (22nd January) to discuss what lessons could be learned from the recent A286 example of poor communication.  Very useful, resulted in the planned development of a county wide protocol including the use of social media, local radio and the Member for Transport. Used social media (Facebook and Twitter) to share daily updates for the A286 roadworks and thanks to everyone who shared the information.

SCC Highways

Organised a meeting (26th January) with Living Streets, representatives from Haslemere Vision and SCC Highways Sustainability team. We discussed the options for a street audit to help create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets in the town.  I’ll write a separate update about this in the coming weeks.

Residents Association/Independent Group

Attended Independent Group meeting (3rd February) to discuss the council’s budget, which due to a further reduction in central Govt grant will result in cuts to local services. Despite this, SCC cabinet members have recently been awarded significant pay increases.  One of the Independents told the BBC here:

Councillor Eber Kington, from the Residents’ Association, said: “This council will not look at ways of saving money on the cost of running itself.”

Meetings of Waverley Youth Task Group (9th & 11th February) awarding contracts for Youth  Local Prevention Framework (1 to 1, and community outreach contracts). The priority of the framework is to build the resilience of young people and to remove identified barriers to their future employability as part of Surrey’s early help arrangements. For more information on youth services on offer in Waverley: www.new.surreycc.gov.uk- search: “young surrey”.

Waverley Local Area Committee

Last Minutes from LAC meeting here. Next meeting will be on 20th March in Haslemere Hall and you can view the agenda here once it is ready. Please note the Waverley Local Area Committee is on Twitter, @WaverleyLC.

OTHER UPDATES

Surrey PCC Kevin Hurley commissioned YouGov plc to carry out independent research of Surrey people over a series of months to understand public sentiment towards the referendum. The questions asked and the corresponding results are here.

Notice of Surrey Community Action Funders’ Fair on 17th March – Funding Fair Invitation

“Are you looking after someone but juggling too much? The council is launching a fortnight long campaign, on Monday 2nd March to signpost people whose lives are squeezed by caring duties to information and support. It will also encourage them to talk to their GP about their caring role. Across Surrey there are people who spend much of their time juggling a career and running their home, while carrying out caring duties. Often referred to as “sandwich carers”, they will be providing unpaid care, mainly for an older or frail parent or relative, while also helping care for other family members, such as grandchildren. Such a caring commitment can put people under considerable stress, affecting their health and wellbeing.” Also see Hidden Carers here.

The Care Act is the biggest change to English adult social care law in over 60 years. Surrey County Council has a page here intended to help you understand the Act and how the council is responding in Surrey. 

YHA Hindhead ceases to be a youth hostel on 31st March this year as the lease has expired and it is going back to the National Trust. YHA Tanners Hatch is also available for Exclusive Hire, group bookings and individual/family bookings. The Youth Hostel is in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to Dorking. For further details please see  http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/tanners-hatch and http://exclusive-hire.yha.org.uk/properties/england/yha-tanners-hatch

Announcement from Haslemere Vision

Haslemere Vision press release, 10th September 2014, from Stewart Brown, Chair of Haslemere Vision.

Dear Volunteers,

As you know we closed our Stage 1 Consultation on August 31st and I am pleased to report that we have received some 690 responses which, given the length and complexity of the document,  is a very respectable result. A huge thank you to all who helped to encourage this response by handing out leaflets and lobbying friends and contacts!

The analysis of responses is now under way and, when it is complete, the results will guide the drafting of policies  for inclusion in the Neighbourhood Plan relating to the stage 1 topics including traffic, transport, parking, business and  the local economy  and the exercise of community rights. We are planning to present and discuss the preliminary analysis at the Georgian House Hotel on the evening of Tuesday September 23rd. This should be a very interesting session and you are cordially invited. We hope that as many of you as possible will be able to join us.

The presentation will commence at 8:15  pm at the Georgian House Hotel on Tuesday September 23rd and will be preceded by the first AGM of Haslemere Vision Ltd which you are all welcome to attend.

Please put the date in your diary and join us. If you plan attend would you please let me know by Friday September 19th, if possible, so that we have an idea of numbers.

With very best wishes

 

Stewart Brown

Councillor Update

Here is an update of some of my county councillor work for Haslemere over the past weeks.

Serpent Trail Re-Launch

I am Surrey County Council’s representative for the Two Parks Project (South Downs and New Forest). The Serpent Trail re-launch and event was a success due to a very positive partnership between Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex County Councils, the South Downs National Parks, Haslemere Visitor Information Bureau. The National Trust very kindly hosted the launch event, and Waitrose provided invaluable refreshments.

Serpent Trail 2

Haslemere is Surrey’s perfect gateway to the South Downs and benefits from frequent and fast train links. The joy of the Serpent Trail is that it is a circular route by getting the Number 70 bus (running on Sundays through the Summer between Haslemere station to Midhurst) or the train from various points on the route back to Haslemere.

Serpent Trail

Bus Shelter in Border Road, Shottermill

There is now a new bus shelter at the Border Road bus stop in Shottermill.  The majority of funding for this was through utilising some of my member’s allocation, plus a contribution from Haslemere Town Council with a “top up” from some local PIC (Planning Infrastructure Contribution) monies. The bus shelter blends in very well with the environment and has been installed to a high standard.

Bus Shelter in Border Road, Shottermill

Citizen’s Advice Bureau

Met with volunteers from the Haslemere Citizens’ Advice Bureau. Delighted to fund laptop and microwave for the CAB office from some of my member’s allocation.  Attended staff meeting, learnt that recent benefit changes are having a significant negative impact on residents.

CAB laptop

Kenya Visit

Delighted to meet Jeremiah and Sarah Kibobe who run Magnet High School and Orphanage in the outskirts of Nairobi. They visited local schools in Haslemere recently. The Bartons will be running as a family in the Safaricom half marathon in the Lewa Conservancy to raise money for the TUSK Conservation Trust and Magnet High School and Orphanage.

Kenya Visit

Scouts’ funding

Met the 1st Haslemere Scouts group. With funds from my member’s allowance, they purchased a parol tent, hike tents, an event shelter and a gazebo.  The equipment will be used during the summer at a number of events including the Surrey Scout’s Scoutabout, the Haslemere District Scout’s Muir Challenge, their summer camp in the New Forest, Cub’s Senior Sixers Camp and on a number of hikes; the equipment will benefit about 80 children.

At the moment the scouts wish to attract new adult helpers. 1st Haslemere Scouts are looking for adult volunteers to join the team organising and running the different scouting sections.

There are a number of different roles available including Scout, Cub and Beaver Leaders working with children between the ages of 6 and 14. Each role is different and offers everything from outdoor adventure, sports, developing new skills and arts and crafts to using organisational and management skills, communicating across the scouting movement and working with a variety of people. All roles include lots of fun, are very rewarding and can offer flexibility supported by full training.

If you can help or know someone who could and would like more information about the roles or the scouting movement in the UK, please contact them; info@haslemerescouts.com

http://www.haslemerescouts.org.uk/leaders-volunteering/

Interim repairs for College Hill

Intervened to arrange next day interim repairs for dangerous potholes on College Hill.

College Hill repair

Haslemere Vision

Dropped into the community planning workshop to consider future uses of the Wey Hill Fairground.

Attendees were asked what ideas they have for this site. We were informed of the legal status of the land. It is common land and whatever Waverley Borough Council decides to do must be for the benefit of the neighbourhood.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT re Haslemere Vision. Hard copies of the final consultation are being distributed to over 8,000 households in Haslemere and the villages. Feedback during this consultation is vital if the final Neighbourhood Plan policies are to be a true reflection of the community’s wishes.  Now is the time for input on some of the key issues and options facing the area we live in.  Please read the booklet (which will be delivered to every household) and fill in the questionnaire, ideally on-line. Go to:  http://haslemerevision.org.uk/surveys/consultation-survey/

Suderburg – German youth football exchange with Haslemere Town FC U11s

Met Haslemere Town Football Club for their U11s two ‘Friendship Trophy’ games with the visitors from Suderburg, with Cllr Libby Piper (then town Mayor). Provided funding for the team to support the exchange visit.

Teams Football Exchange

Football Exchange

Wey Hill in Bloom Volunteers

Met up with the Wey Hill in Bloom volunteers earlier this month where they were re-planting beds and flower boxes.

Wey Hill In Bloom 1 Wey Hill Bloom 2

Haslemere Town Council: Amenities Committee

Attended this meeting on June 12, 2014. Discussed the possibilities for the green space at the junction of Lower Street and Shepherds Hill. I am very keen that it should become an attractive pocket park, as a valuable green refuge at the intersection of 2 busy roads with a bus stop.  I have agreed £200 of member allocation towards a new tree, and will negotiate with SCC Highways to see how the lower railings on Shepherds Hill could be altered to integrate the 2 spaces. Discussion included planting, a bench, a sculpture or piece of art possibly to mark WW1.

Sickle Mill Estate

Met with residents to discuss the failing bank below the recreation area and the impact on the road surface and drainage. Follow up research confirms that the bank is the responsibility of Waverley Borough Council.  Also raised the very poor state of Sunbrow Road link with Sturt Farm with Highways. Continuing to follow this up.

Polecat Valley

Met with residents concerned about trees overhanging the highway, and drainage issues.

Parking enforcement in Haslemere

Met with Kevin McKee who heads up the Guildford Borough Council parking enforcement team to discuss  the issues raised by residents and businesses of parking enforcement on bank holidays.  GBC have a contract from SCC to carry out the on-street parking enforcement, while Waverley Borough Council are responsible for enforcement in their own car parks. We agreed that Kevin would meet with businesses to discuss concerns in early September. Businesses do have the right to load. Any businesses that experience problems with the parking wardens should get in touch with Kevin immediately. His email: KevinMcKee@guildford.gov.uk.

SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL HIGHWAYS UPDATE

1. “20 is Plenty” petition presented to the LAC in March, 2014 calling for reduced speed limits in the High Street, Lower Street and roads where requested by residents. I expressed my support for the principle of reducing traffic speeds through Haslemere. Currently many of our streets do not feel safe to walk and cycle, and crossing roads for the elderly and young can be challenging.  There is a record of accidents on Lower Street near the station. The 2005 Haslemere Health Check identified a reduction in traffic speeds as a community priority.

Haslemere Town Council held a meeting of the Planning and Highways Committee on 29 May 2014. The committee voted to submit an official objection to the petition (see link).  Given that the objection was based on out of date and factually incorrect information I requested that the objection letter be withdrawn. I understand this has been done.  The issue of 20mph speed limits will be discussed at the next Haslemere and Western Villages task force. SCC Highways have adopted a new revised policy on 20mph limits.  Existing traffic speeds are required to be 24 mph or less before a 20mph limit can be considered, without additional highway traffic calming infrastructure.

Traffic speed reduction can be achieved by altering the streetscape to alter how drivers perceive the road environment.  I have secured £25,000 of Local Area Committee funding for “gateways” on the entries into Haslemere, with the aim of clearly stating that drivers are entering a built up area and should reduce their speeds.

2. Fosters Bridge flooding issues: the LAC funded report providing a full assessment of the catchment area and the drainage issues is nearly complete. Other reports are also being finalised, Combers’ Triangle and Critchmere Hill.

3. Jetters: There are 165,000 gullies across the county, a fleet of jetting machines clean each gully once a year, with a regular cleaning audit to assess the silt levels in the gullies.  Recent severe storm events have caused gullies to overflow as the drainage system has been overwhelmed. The Lion Lane catchment, surrounded by a steep silty catchment, has experienced flooding issues. An extra £50,000 has been made available for additional jesters, Lion Lane gullies should be jetted during July.

One issue of concern is the lack of coordination between the Waverley Borough Council road sweeping schedule and the SCC Highways jetting schedule.

A 24 hour emergency flooding response team is available where properties or homes are at risk of flooding- See here: http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/people-and-community/emergency-planning-and-community-safety/flooding-advice/reporting-flooding,-trees-and-power-cuts

4. Tour of Britain Cycle Race: Stage 7, passing through Haslemere 13 September, 2014. I have discussed my concerns with SCC Highways about the condition of the road surface on the Sturt Road section of the route.

5: Haslemere Vision: I have had input as a member of the policy writing group focusing on transport issues.

6: Haslemere Road Re-Surfacing:

Delighted that SCC Highways has agreed to carry out extensive road resurfacing of A286 and A287 under the flood recovery program.

A286: Haslemere Road, 7.8 km will be resurfaced between Gasden Lane and Highercombe Lane, June-Oct 2014.

A287: Hindhead Road, 2.46 km will be resurfaced between Polecat Lane and Lion Lane, June-Oct 2014.

In addition major maintenance work will be carried out at the currently failing Deepdene Embankment, works planned for Oct-Dec 2014.

7: Road Outside St Bartholomew’s School: Also reached agreement with SCC Highways that the hazardous potholes on Derby Road East outside St Bartholomew’s primary school will be repaired during the summer holidays. SCC Highways will not be adopting the road, but have agreed to carry out a repair to resolve the current health and safety issues for the school and SureStart Children’s Centre.

Waverley Local Area Committee

Attended Waverley Local Committee, Friday, 20th June, 1.30pm

All information re LAC meetings can be found here: http://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=195

Environment and Transport Select Committee

Attended Committee meeting on June 12, 2014.

Information re this committee can be found here: http://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=136

Now full member of select committee (vs. previously substitute), raised my concerns that the current SCC sustainable transport activities have a very urban bias – the Local Sustainable Transport Funded Travel SMART programme working in Guildford, Woking, Reigate and Redhill.  Going forward, there is very little, if any emphasis on improving sustainable transport provision in the smaller towns and villages in Waverley.  I suggested a key issue that needed addressing is the lack of connectivity between communities for anyone who does not own a car.  This results in physical, social and economic isolation. SCC Highways acknowledged this shortcoming.

The Waverley Local Transport Plan (shortly to be going out to local consultation) and Local Cycle Plans will be taken through the Local Area Committees going forward.

I also raised the issue of the need for proper integrated transport planning when schools are expanded.

PAY INCREASES FOR SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL

I sent the following statement to the Haslemere Herald.

It is totally unacceptable that the SCC Conservative leadership team have yet again ignored the findings of the independent remuneration panel and awarded themselves massive pay rises, without any proper transparent and open discussion.  I am not surprised the panel has concluded that they have no alternative but to resign.

The Conservative party should reflect on the message this sends to the electorate.  I am particularly disappointed that the SCC leadership has chosen to award themselves an extra £200,000 while cutting the funding for small local community projects across the county by the same amount.

Below is a link to a blog from Conservative Home. Although not linked officially to the party, it is run by Paul Goodman, former Conservative MP for Wycombe (01-10) and during that time he was shadow minister for local government.

http://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2014/05/conservatives-should-champion-lower-councillor-allowances.html

There is a petition online: http://petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/moneygrab/

Surrey County Council Community Improvement Fund

Here is the briefing information on the County Council’s Community Improvements Fund 14/15, which sets out minor changes to the fund this year, along with the criteria and guidance, and application form.  When talking to potential applicants, please could you use the new forms attached in place of any forms from previous rounds as these have been updated.  These changes include the following:

  • a reduction to the upper limit of applications to £30,000
  • applications requesting 100% of funding are unlikely to be supported
  • the requirement to demonstrate the wider community benefit of the project
  • the recommendation that all relevant permissions should be in place at point of application (there is a requirement that they will all be in place 12 months from date of decision)
  • the requirement that there is a minimum term of at least 5 years left on a lease (from date of decision), if the application relates to a project that is on leasehold property/land;
  • being able to demonstrate that the project is scalable, in case all of the funding requested is not available;
  • a word limit on sections of the application form to help ensure concise answers.

This fund has been set up to support local community based initiatives which make a real difference to people’s lives.  Bids to the fund can be submitted for requests between £10,000 and £30,000 from 6 May until 25 July 2014. The funding is intended primarily to cover capital costs linked to community infrastructure projects.

Please see below a link to the County Council website for further information. Your local Community Partnership and Committee Officer (CPCO) will be happy to provide advice to applicants: http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/people-and-community/voluntary-community-and-faith-sector-vcfs/community-improvements-fund-leaders-initiative

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Food Bank AGM

The Haslemere and District Food Bank will be holding an Annual Meeting at the Methodist Church on Lion Green at 7.30pm on Wednesday 25 June both to celebrate its first anniversary and to account to the many stakeholders who have helped to make the Food Bank a very effective agent for good in our area.

They do not expect the meeting to last more than one hour; they will cover the progress they have made with collection and referral agencies, Food Bank logistics, customer demand and outreach generally. They do hope you can find the time to come along as the Food Bank has touched so many people in many ways. Do please invite anyone else you think may be interested – there is no charge – and contact Chris Gibson on 01428 661462 if you need any further information.

Local Policing Board Session

There will be a Local Policing Board session held on 3rd Sept 2014 between 5pm and 7pm. The venue is to be confirmed. These county sessions have been instigated by the Police and Crime Commissioner and take the form of a stall staffed by local Surrey Police officers and representatives of the Safer Waverley Partnership to give residents an opportunity to discuss policing priorities and local concerns relating to community safety.