Barker Bits & Pieces - Horsell news, information and my views on life today ...

Government need to act on cable theft

2011-12-19T16:38:00.000-08:00

Early this evening I happened to watch an item about cable theft on the regional news. I learnt that the Metropolitan Police have set up a task force in an attempt to tackle the problem. I already knew from work with South West Trains, Network Rail and British Transport Police that they are putting extra resource into dealing with this serious crime that led to up to six hour delays for passengers during SWT Jam last June; is costing the country £700 million a year and led to operations being cancelled in Wales last week and roads being plunged into darkness in Yorkshire.

I received a message from a friend a little before 11pm tonight telling me there was a power cut affecting parts of St Johns, Hook Heath and Mount Hermon. The cause - attempted cable theft. Thankfully it appears the power cut out before any cable could be removed and a loud bang sent the thieves running. Power was back on within an hour or so.

As the price of copper has soared on global markets thieves are attempting to steal cables containing copper from signal boxes on the railways, electricity sub-stations and street lighting cable. Copper can then be sold on the black market. Copper is being sold for around $9,000 a tonne so is an attractive commodity.

So much money is being lost, so many are being affected, so much resource is going into dealing with this issue. The government needs to do what many have called for and license scrap dealers. This will close the market for illegally obtained copper and solve much of the problem.

Bedser Bridge Victory for Residents

2011-12-06T15:38:00.000-08:00

I am delighted to announce a victory for residents on the Bedser Bridge. The bridge originally proposed to provide access to the new WWF offices on Brewery Road car park and over the canal for residents and visitors was too high and inaccessible. The bridge was to be 5ft higher than the current bridge and required users to climb many steps or follow a lengthy ramp. The design seemed better suited to a motorway or dual carriageway. Residents felt this design was for the benefit of WWF rather than local residents and visitors to Woking and was not in keeping with its surroundings.

After receiving over 2000 public responses on these concerns the Council has taken note and WWF's architects have re-designed the bridge. The new proposal gives us a bridge 4ft lower than that originally proposed with a much shorter ramp and a separate access arm for the WWF offices. There will be direct access across the canal and the bridge will be built from timber so won't look like something removed from the side of a motorway.

This is a great victory for residents. I am so pleased to have been able to raise this issue back in September and to see it through to a successful conclusion.

The full details of the new plans will soon be on the Woking Council website and you will be able to see the plans at the Lightbox, Council offices and the entrance to Peacocks shopping centre.

Massive response to Bedser Bridge Petition

2011-11-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

There has been a massive response to the petition calling for the lowering of the height of the Bedser Bridge. The petition, set up by local resident Carole Frost, has been signed by 1875 people.

Over 500 people signed the online petition and a further 1300 signatures were collected by volunteers at the bridge and in Horsell over several week. I did several Saturday sessions in the car park and found many residents and vistor alike were concerned with the new access plans.

The petition will now be put to the meeting of Woking Council on Thursday 8 December where it will be open to all councillors to discuss.

Why not tell your local councillor what yout think of the plans for the bridge, designed for the convenience of WWF but at a cost of £750K to Woking Council.

You can also come along to the meeting which starts at 7pm on Thursday 8 December in the council offices.

Woking Library Closure Date Update

2011-10-14T15:37:00.000-07:00

At the last minute Surrey County Council has announced that the closure of Woking Library for work on the building has been delayed. The library was due to close this week but will now stay open until Saturday 29 October. The good news is that the library will now be open over half term week.

After the 29 October it now seems it will take three rather than the previously quoted two weeks to move some library services to a temporary home in Wolsey Place. Limited library services are expected to be available from 12 November. One shop in Wolsey Walk will house some books and another access to IT facilities. For alternative local libraries see my earlier post about Knaphill and Byfleet.

Woking library is expected to re-open, via a new entrance in the side of the building, in Spring next year. The new entrance will be towards the theatre entrance, opposite the entrance to the Council offices. The existing library entrance will house a Cafe Rouge.

Full horror of bridge access emerges ...

2011-10-07T16:51:00.000-07:00

Apart from checking that the consultation on the new canal bridge was on the Woking Council web site I had not looked at the detail. I assumed the pictures and plans would be ones I had seen before. It was only when I walked through the Peacocks tonight on the way to the cinema and saw the display in the entrance foyer that the full horror of accessing the bridge was brought home to me.

Pedestrians wanting to use the bridge to access the town can walk up 24 steps to the bridge or they can go in the lift. To access the long ramp (which appears from the plans to be only for cyclists) pedestrians will need to go on to and along the canal path. This is an unlit path and it makes a very long route

Given the number of pushchairs that go across the current bridge, along with wheelchairs and mobility scooters I can send a great demand on lift capacity - which has not yet been announced

You can view the consultation online on Woking Council web site or on the first floor of the Lighbox until Saturday 8 October, then down on the ground fllor; in the Council offices (hidden behind the reception kiosk) and in the Town Square entrance to the Peacocks.

Responses can be completed on the web form or sent to the email address mailto:bedserbridgeproposal@woking.gov.uk or put on paper forms available at the Lighbox and Council offices.

Woking Library Closure – opportunity to explore?

2011-10-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

Woking Library is closed for two weeks as it moves to a temporary home in Wolsey Place. This period includes half term week.

It strikes me that this could be an opportunity to explore other libraries in Woking Borough. If you have access to a car, can afford the bus fare or fancy a cycle ride why not check out one, or both, of the other borough libraries. Both are under threat of closure unless volunteers come forward to run them. Extra patronage can only help their cause.

Byfleet Library

A recently refurbished library (why spend all that money on it and then threaten to close it!) with a good range of books and DVDs and a lovely children’s section. Byfleet Library also has a whole fascinating room devoted to the history of Byfleet. The Heritage Centre has lots of photographs of Byfleet in years gone by and very readable text on the history of the village. Have a preview of Byfleet’s long history (it pre-dates West Byfleet) here

Located at High Road, Byfleet, KT14 7QN – on the village green, opposite the Plough pub

Free parking behind the library or take 472 bus from Woking

Open 10-6 Tuesday 10-5 Friday and 9.30-4 Saturday

Knaphill Library

A virtually brand new library, fitted out just a few years ago, after the previous library had been closed for several years. Light and airy with children’s and adult books.

Located at 4 Anchor Hill, Knaphill GU21 2PD – behind the Anchor pub

Open 10-6 Tuesday, 2-5 Wednesday, 10-5 Thursday, 10-5 Friday, 9.30-4 Saturday

Free parking behind the Co-op which is a short walk down the road or take 34 bus from Woking.

Before or after the library why not browse the Knaphill shops. The pet shop just across the road from the library is always a favourite with my children. Be warned you may get requests for hamsters, mice, rats, guinea pigs or rabbits after the trip! We always stop to at least look in the window of the cake shop. They always have several amazing cakes on display. Shop here for an incredible range of food colourings and fantastic cake decorations, order a cake to your own design or rent a character cake tin to make your own amazing creation. Stock up on any school uniform requirements at Valentinos and check out their other items of clothing while you are there. If a half term treat is in order why not stop for a break the Valentinos coffee shop before you head for home.

Resident Uproar over proposed new canal bridge

2011-10-04T17:32:00.000-07:00

Gathering public views on proposed new canal bridge

Background to a new bridge

Much of my time in recent weeks has been taken up with the proposed new bridge over the Basingstoke Canal from Brewery Road car park to the town centre. Plans for this bridge first appeared when WWF applied to build new offices on the car park site. The WWF planning application included few details of the bridge but did show a lengthy ramp from the car park to the bridge. The length of the ramp was said to be dictated by requirements of the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act). This Act does require a gentle slope, and it is important the requirement is met, but the main reason for the long ramp is the raised height of the proposed new bridge. The whole reason for this height is to give WWF direct access to their offices which will be on stilts above the car park at a ground floor level..

It seems that the bridge is designed for the convenience of WWF not for local residents and visitors to Woking.

As more plans for the bridge have emerged over recent weeks residents have raised concerns about the height of the bridge and the inconvenient ramp.

Concern has also been expressed at first sight of designs for the bridge. It has been variously described as looking like a motorway bridge and as an insult to the cricketing Bedser twins who it is planned to name it after.

Conservative response to new bridge plans

The Conservatives who run Woking Council have shown a reluctance to engage local residents in plans for the new bridge and have only finally given in to and allowed for a sham consultation after much local pressure.

Conservatives have refused to discuss the height of the bridge and the lengthy ramp saying that the public had chance to have their say at the planning stage.

One Executive member said "We don't want a beautiful bridge" and that eyes won’t be drawn to the bridge but to the statues of the cricketing Bedser twins on either side of the bridge. This councillor lives on the other side of town so he may not see the bridge very often. However those of us who live in Horsell or Goldsworth Park or Knaphill or St Johns; visitors to the Lightbox, theatre and cinema goers may well see the bridge quite regularly.

Timeline

I set out below a timeline of events from when I first saw the full design and plans for the bridge and shared information with local residents.

4 Sept Settled down to read Woking Council Exec papers on my return from holiday. Shocked by the design of bridge that does not fit its surroundings; disappointed to see no change in the height of the bridge and lengthy ramp leading up to the bridge for cyclists and pedestrians with prams, wheelchairs or mobility buggies who prefer not to use the lift.

Post link to council executive papers on Twitter and email link to various interested parties including Horsell Residents Association.

5 Sept Raise my concerns with Shadow Executive colleagues at meeting. Concerns are shared and we discuss how such a mediocre bridge can cost so much.

7 Sept In the face of growing resident concerns send email to Leader of Council asking that item on bridge is deferred to allow for public consultation. No response received.

8 Sept Arrive at Council Executive meeting to find extra paper tabled to justify going ahead with the bridge. This is obviously my response from the Leader, though he has not replied directly to my email. At the beginning of the meeting I am told I cannot speak on design of bridge because that was part of WWF planning application (I live very close to the car park where WWF offices are to be built). As the bridge design, save for the long ramps was not shown in the planning application I find this rather strange.

During the meeting I am told the bridge is all decided, that there was lots of consultation and that all processes have been followed (and boxes ticked no doubt).

The general consensus from the Conservative Executive is that I am being silly to raise this issue because it is all determined and there is nothing more to be said. One councillor says that Woking Cycle Forum did not raise concerns about the ramp to the bridge. I don't think this is correct (and confirm this later - see below).

The Executive appear to be satisfied that Woking's cost contribution to the bridge is capped at 750K. Nothing else seems to matter to them. I am pleased that WWF are at last making a contribution but it is not a substantial part of the total cost.

12/9 Learn that bridge recommendation are not going to Council in October but to a special Council meeting, scheduled only to sign off the accounts, on 22 September.

Discuss next steps with residents.

14/9 Attend Woking Cycle User Forum as WBC representative. Group confirms they raised concerns about the height of the bridge and the length of the ramp. Paul Fishwick, who was programme manager for Cycle Woking confirms he submitted a formal objection to the planning application.

Cyclists are keen to get something done, for those with bikes but also people pushing prams and those in wheelchairs and mobility scooters. A petition is suggested but there won't be time to do this before the Council meeting.

Continue to take on-board resident’s concerns

19/9 Liberal Democrat Group meeting backs me on opposing the new bridge plans

21/9 Attend Horsell Residents Association and hear the concern of this group

22/9 Submit amendment to paper on the proposed new bridge, trying again to get the Conservative run Council to consult residents.

Horsell Residents Association representatives meet WWF and state very strongly their concerns about the bridge proposals.

At Council meeting in the evening my amendment requesting consultation is rejected by the Conservatives. The ruling group come up with a plan for a “sham consultation” and agree to accept “public representations” on plans for the bridge

23/9 Having heard nothing about how public representations are to be collected I raise the matter with the Chief Executive and am told a display and feedback forms are being prepared and should be at several places in the town by the following Thursday

24/9 A concerned residents lets me know she is setting up a petition to Woking Council calling for the bridge to be retained at its current height – sign up here

30/9 Still no sign of anything to collect public representations so I wrote to the Leader of the Council.

1/10 With several concerned residents we set up a table to collect petition signatures and resident feedback plans in Brewery Road car park. There is an amazing response from worried residents and 482 signatures are collected.

Receive a reply from the Leader of the Council telling me all will be in place from Monday. Displays and feedback forms will be set up at the Lightbox, Council offices and Peacocks shopping centre. There will also be collection boxes for completed forms at the Lightbox and council offices. A web page will also be available.

2/10 Receive an update from the Council. Planners feel a further drawing is required from WWF’s architects and this will delay collection of “public representations”, probably until Thursday

3/10 Woking Cycle User Group meet with WWF to raise their concerns. WWF say they were not aware of issues over the ramp. (I raised the issue with them when I first saw the plans!!)

4/10 Residents collect more petition signatures in Brewery Road car park

Next Steps

8/10 Collecting signantures and feedback in Brewery Road car park - come and join us.

~~10/10 Petition closes.~~ !!! UPDATE Petition deadline extended to 21 October !!!

20/10 Next Council meeting.

28/10 Closing date for receipt of "public representations".

More news on Victoria Way Cycle Crossing

2011-09-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

In my capacity as a Woking Council representative on the local Cycle User's Forum I attended a meeting on Wednesday. Rather appropriately I cycled to the meeting at Quadrant Court (Surrey County Council offices) on Guildford Road., having come from a governors meeting at Horsell Village School.

One thing I learned at the meeting is that work will not continue on the new cycle crossing over Victoria Way until the forthcoming Chinese ceramics exhibition at The Lightbox has closed. When I checked the dates for this exhibition I found that it doesn't close until December! If work really is delayed until then I envisage a further delay when roadworks are kept out of the town centre in the busy Christmas shopping periods. So that will be January then before work starts again ...

I first blogged about this crossing on 10 September 2010 when I saw a site notice on the post of the pedestrian crossing. It is over a year ago now since initial work started on the site. As I previously threatened I think it is time to got out there with a cake and wish the works a happy first birthday.

Pedal 4 Charity 2011

2011-09-11T15:49:00.000-07:00

I was delighted to take part in Pedal 4 Charity on Sunday 11 September. The event is a 22 mile cycle ride raising money for Woking and Sam Beare Hospice.

We set off from The Cricketers in Horsell and rode across Horsell Common, through Ottershaw and Lyne to Thorpe. The half way point was the Rose and Crown at Thorpe Green, The first half of the ride involved a few hills and a combination of an and off road and was a pleasant ride. Having set off at 11am we reached the pub by 12pm. Then for the return journey ...

We followed the same route to begin our return but then went through a different area of Lyne and on to Chobham Common. That's when it got tricky. There was a lot of mud. A real quagmire. There were long drags of hills and to add to the challenge some were surfaced with gravel. Hard work. But there were amazing views over Chobham Common,

At one point we followed the crowd down a muddy hill to the left, only to hear the cry "wrong way". We turned about and took the only other available route, but there was still uncertainty. The track ahead was narrow, punctuated by trees and roots and vey muddy. We all paused and waited for a man with a smart phone who seemed to have links to a route map. After a few minutes the decision was made to move forward. A few of us had our doubts about the way but our worries were unfounded, a yellow arrow leading the way soon appeared along the path.

The return route took a lot longer and two and a half hours later we returned to the Cricketers, tired but satisfied.

The ride was really enjoyable but I would have liked to linger longer over some of the views. I am sure we will be back next year.

Congratulations to The Cricketers for organising the event and to all those from the hospice, Horsell Common Preservation Sociey and others who gave their time on the day to make a succcessful event.

If you would like to help in my fundraising for Woking and Sam Beare Hospice you can subscribe on my Just Giving page

How many county council workmen days do you need to cross a road?

2011-09-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

An awful lot apparently. You may have noticed various stages of work next to the crossing of Victoria Way between Brewery Road car park and the Lightbox to the town centre. This is intended to be a cycle crossing.

Work started last year in October, then had to pause during the Christmas period and then was set back by the refusal of the police to agree to change in the level of the road - so that had to come out.

Men in high visibility jackets were spotted examining the site a few weeks ago but I am not aware of any activity since that time. News in August was that work was to start again in September. Its early in the month so you never know ...

If the whole long strung out project makes its first birthday in a few weeks time I plan to head out with a birthday cake to mark the occassion.

Changes on the Buses

2011-08-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

Look out for yet more changes to buses in Horsell from September.

Loss of the 28
Following the latest stage of Surrey's bus review the 28 bus will not run through Horsell from 5 September. There will be another bus service the 48 that will cover some of this bus route and run to Knaphill along Littlewick Road. This will be a weekday only, day time service with 5 buses per day from Horsell to Woking and 4 in the opposite direction.

The withdrawal of the 28 means no service to Goldsworth Park centre or Waitrose, fewer buses and no weekend service. The reason for withdrawal is lack of users but given the number of changes to bus routes and times it is hardly surprising that it has few passengers. Most people just don't know when the bus is running.

Revised service on the 73
At the end of October Countryliner will end their 73 service which runs hourly on Mondays to Saturdays from Chobham to Woking, going through South Road, Meadway Drive, Ormonde Road and then Well Lane in Horsell. This is deemed to be a commercial service (that is Surrey does not subsidise it) and will be put out to tender. Surrey see this as an opportunity to change the route if that is what is wanted locally.

Surrey County Council would like your views on where this bus should run. They have suggested two possible route options plus the opportunity for the bus to run to Morrisons on some journeys. Please take a look at the information below and send your views to Laurie James (

laurie.james@surreycc.gov.uk)

at Surrey (if you could copy me it would be helpful so I know what suggestions are being made).

BUS ROUTE 73 CHOBHAM – HORSELL – WOKING

Option A) Continue with a similar timetable on the same route as now

Option B) Continue to provide an hourly service to/from Chobham but divert certain journeys between Horsell and Woking so that they run from Meadway Drive via Horsell Church and Brewery Road, rather than Ormonde Road and Well Lane.

Reason: From 5 September 2011, bus service 28 will be withdrawn from Horsell as already advertised. This service runs via Horsell Church and Brewery Road and is being replaced by a less-frequent service 48 on Mondays to Fridays only. The 48 will leave Horsell for Woking at 0828, 1017, 1217, 1417 and 1617. It will leave Woking for Horsell at 1030, 1230, 1430 and 1635.

By diverting part of service 73, journeys could run from Horsell to Woking via Brewery Road on Mondays to Saturdays at 1132, 1332 and 1712, returning from Woking at 1100, 1300, 1500 and 1730.

Advantage: Horsell High Street, Church and Brewery Road get more bus choice

Disadvantage: Ormonde Road and Well Lane get fewer buses.

Possible improvements with both options A and B: Extend service 73 during the middle part of the day to/from Morrisons Store in Woking and provide a better choice of buses back to Horsell and Chobham at commuting times from Woking Station at 1640, 1730, 1820 and 1910 (as well as 1935 to Horsell only)

Comments on the above are invited by Monday 19 September by email to laurie.james@surreycc.gov.uk

The ones that didn't make it ...

2011-05-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

It's a few weeks now since the local elections and time to reflect. I blogged previously on the fate of the Lib Dems in those elections and mentioned new councillors who won seats on 5 May. Now seems a good time to look at those who were not successful in their election bid in 2011.

Barnabas Shelbourne was up for election in Byfleet. He was only elected back in 2010 but took his seat in a by-election, where the previous councillor had only one more year left to run. Barnabas is a youth worker and brought his expertise in this area to the Council. He had a fresh and enthusiastic approach and it is sad that he lost the seat. Barnabas was also a great support to the other Lib Dem councillor in Byfleet, Anne Roberts. Anne works tirelessly for her area and is well known there. Having Barnabas to work alongside Anne meant the team could do so much more for Byfleet. Campaigning to save Byfleet Libary was one example of the team in action. Barnabas' contribtion included an excellent letter in the News and Mail in praise of this local facility. As a father with a young son Barnabas also played a key part in raising concerns about the way in which extra spaces were to be provided at the local primary school.

Philip Goldenberg, a past councillor with a long political history, was standing in Goldsworth East. Philip is a formidable political operator and the Conservative party clearly feared his return to the council chamber. A large part of a leaflet was devoted to personal attacks. Against this sort of campaign and a slight upturn in the Labour vote Philip was not elected.

In Knaphill Lisa Harding put up an amazing fight. Despite being a first time candidate Lisa did an incredible job, whether working hard on the ground talking to residents and delivering literature or gaining publicity in both the local papers and the online world. Lisa was a fantastic candidate. Her background, growing up in East London, and her work for a national charity, mean she has both an empathy with people at all levels and a wider social conscience. Lisa fell victim to the double whammy of a surge in the Conservative vote and a well known local councillor. There was no more Lisa and her team could have done. It is a real pity that she is not a part of our council group. We are however using her many skills as secretary to the Lib Dem group. She is already scaring us with a new level of organisation not seen for some time in the group.

The Maybury and Sheerwater seat was a three cornered fight with the Conservatives just ahead of Labour and Lib Dem Ajmal Latif running close behind. Ajmal is a keen and energetic young man who put a lot into his campaign. He is welll known across the area and I hope he will be back to try his hand again in future.

Mark Hanley in Horsell West was late into the fray of candidature but he did all that was asked of him and put up a creditable fight in Horsell. Again the vote was affected by both the wider increase in Conservative vote and a well known councillor.

Over in Horsell East the Sanderson dynasty continued with James Sanderson (son of former Horsell West councillor Richard) taking up the Lib Dem mantle. James has past council experience having held a seat in Tower Hamlets when he lived in London. Horsell East tends to be a seat where the votes could almost be weighed rather than counted for the Tories and this year was no different.

A similar situation exists in West Byfleet where Bill Woolf worked very hard over many months but the Conservative majority inevitablty prevailed and in Pyrford where a veteran candidate Andy Grimshaw flew the Lib Dem flag. Past Lib Dem councillor Diana Landon ran again in St Johns and Hook Heath and made a creditable showing.

Conservative Domination

2011-05-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

I am increasingly of the view that Conservatives would love to have single party rule. They have a huge majority on Surrey County Council and use it to every advantage. The voice of Surrey residents is ignored at every turn.

Three recent events are indicative of a total rejection of public views and use of a majority to ignore others:

- Surrey Conservatives rejected a petition of over 26,000 Surrey residents who objected to being charged to park near local shops. Those at the annual meeting of the county council, where the petition was barely discussed. report that Tory county councillors spent much time in electing themselves to positions and committees and self congratulation but little time on the parking petition.

- Byfleet Library is planned for closure and replacement by a "Big Society" initiative. Byfleet residents have objected and been ignored. They have pointed out that the library was closed during some of the period in which usage was measured. Pleas for a "recount" have been ignored.

- Woking currently has equal numbers of Conservative and Lib Dem county councillors. County councillors for each areas sit on a Local Committee. Despite the current equal share of seats (subject to a by-election) the Tories refused to support Lib Dems for either chair or vice-chair of this committee.

Looking back on local elections

2011-05-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

Local elections are over for another year (although if you live in the St Johns, Brookwood or Hermitage and Knaphill South areas of Woking you have a county by-election on the 19 May).

Results for the Liberal Democrats across the country were not great (understatement alert). Losses to Labour in the North of England had been anticipated. Few people predicted the rise in both Conservative and Labour vote in the South.

So what happened in Woking?

It was a bad night for Labour. Milliband's men had hoped to get at least one seat on Woking Council after several years absence. They failed. In Maybury and Sheerwater they came close. In other seats with a traditional Labour vote they finished in third place, behind both the Lib Dems and the Conservatives.

The Conservatives had a good night. They held all but one of their seats and gained seats from the Lib Dems in Byfleet and Goldsworth Park. Pyrford went back to the Conservatives having been held by an Independent, orginally elected as a Conservative, since 2008. They moved to second place in Old Woking. Woking Council now has a Conservative majority. Conservative Leader Kingsbury said at the count that Woking Conservatives would now be able to do what they wanted to do. No change there then.

UKIP appeared to have high hopes and targetted Old Woking in particular. They made little impact, taking last place in Old Woking. I was surprised to see that Labour got a higher vote share than UKIP all but one of Woking's wards for the first time in several years. In that one ward UKIP and Labour tied for vote share.

And so to the Lib Dems. Well we lost two seats but we gained one seat - Kingfield and Westfield - from the Conservatives. Will Forster gained this seat against campaigns from the Tories, Labour, UKIP and a small independent party. In Old Woking another new councillor Louise Morales held off a three party challenge to hold the seat for the Lib Dems. Over in Goldsworth Park Amanda Coulson was elected in a by-election. We held our own in Maybury and Sheerwater in another three way fight. Overall Woking Lib Dems are down one seat. A performance comparable with councils we run in the South East such as Portsmouth and Bournemouth.

Emerging from the dark - new life for Heather Farm

2011-04-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday evening I visited the site of the old mushroom farm at Heather Farm on the Chobham Road. Horsell Common Preservation Society, owners of the land, have drawn up plans for a wetland area, dog walking and an alternative access to the countryside.

The site has a chequered history. There was a mushroom farm in operation until around 2006 when the main supermarkets moved their business to overseas suppliers. Much debate over the future of the site followed. Woking Council proposed an energy from waste plant for the site. This facility was planned to use pyrolysis and in-vessel composting to give, potentially, a more environmentally friendly way of disposing of non-recyclable waste than traditional incinerators.

The energy plant proposal was not popular with either residents in the immediate vicinity or the wider Woking population. Eventually the plans were dropped. But Woking’s plans led to interest from Surrey County Council who added the site to their Waste Plan. Heather Farm was designated a site for an energy from waste site. In parallel the owners of the land sought to achieve planning permission for light industrial use or storage on the site.

Fast forward to 2009 and McClaren sought further building on their site to house the building of a new road car. HCPS had a covenant over the site. Agreement was reached that Heather Farm be bought by McClaren for HCPS in order that the land be returned to nature. In return McClaren were able to go ahead with their new facility.

I was amazed at the area of the site. Last time I was there, a little after the mushroom farm closed, the site was covered in concrete. There was a concrete surface over much of the site and many concrete buildings. All of this is now cleared, bar the main administration building which will be kept.

HCPS hopes to set up a wetland area, taking advantage of the natural features of the site, a dog walking area and the site will fulfil the role of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), drawing visitors away from sites with protected species to less sensitive locations. The remaining building will be used for wildlife or nature charitable organisations, with some space for HCPS. It is also hoped to create a visitor centre where young people can learn about the natural environment.

HCPS have made much progress in the last year. It is fantastic to see this site slowly returning to nature. A planning application setting out the future of the site is anticipated in the summer.

Need for a new Horsell Scout "hut"

2011-04-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

Today I took Lib Dem Leader on Woking Council Richard Sharp to meet representatives of Horsell Scouts. We met at the scout hut in the village to see just how desperately they are need of a new building.

Richard was particularly impressed at just how much the Scouts and Guides have raised over the years. The current total from fundraising and donations stands at around £100,000. The scouts don’t rest on their laurels. Whilst we were visiting work was in full swing in preparation for the very popular May Fayre held every bank holiday Monday on Wheatsheaf Common.

We toured around both inside and outside of the facility. From the outside you can see what a hotch potch of buildings make up the hut. Part of the building is a former school prefabricated classroom. This came to the scouts some years ago, having already spent a number of years at a school.

Richard was left in no doubt as to how much the scouts need some help from the council to make their new building a reality.

WWF HQ to be built on Brewery Road Car Park

2011-02-09T11:48:00.000-08:00

Woking's planning committee has given permission for WWF to build a new headquarters on Brewery Road car park.

The headquarters will be built on stilts above the car park and will be two storeys high. This will be much the tallest building on the Horsell side of the canal, more than 2 meteres higher than the Kingswood Court flats and 5 metres higher than the neighbouring houses. It will be the first "commercial" development to cross the canal barrier from the town centre.

Car parking will be retained under the building but the number of parking spaces will be reduced to 165, a loss of 42 spaces. The number of disabled spaces available to the public will be reduced by 2 spaces.

As a local councillor who lives in close proximity to the site I am judged to have a "prejudicial interest" and so was not allowed to address, or even attend theplanning meeting. I was permitted to listen to the proceedings in a separate room.

Listening to my fellow councillors I was rather disappointed in the lack of discussion and debate in which the committee engaged. The proposal represented a departure from the Local Plan, raised issues of accessibility across the site and gave nothing back to Horsell or Woking save for the intangible economic benefit and kudos of having an international charity based in the town.

However I was very impressed by my colleague Cllr Lyons, Mount Hermon West councillor, who raised a wide range of issues and asked a number of pertinent questions, several of which I had asked him to raise.

As it became obvious to me that there was little chance of preventing this development on the car park and Woking's Conservative Executive were set on giving the site away I focused on what both Horsell and the rest of Woking might get back from this development.

On reviewing council executive papers from September 2008, when the WWF proposal was first made, and January 2009 when the results of public consultation were reported to the executive I saw how much emphasis had been put on the development bringing improvements to the canal, as required in the Local Plan. This had been totally removed, without mention, by the term the final terms of the deal with WWF came to the executive in November 2010. When I read that WWF would make no contribution to the canal I contacted the planning officer to confirm my understanding. WWF were making no contribution to the canal side. Woking has lost its greatest chance to improve the canal side and integrate the canal and the town centre. This was a requirement of the Local Plan. It has been a requirement on all of the number of applications for the site. Now it had been brushed aside and was not mentioned by the planning committee save for Cllr Lyons valiant efforts.

The canal and the town are so separate. It is a green space so close to the town centre that so much could be made of to make it a more pleasant environment for all. Canal users would love to bring their boats into the town. If there were facilities visiting boats would come to the town, creating some life and energy on the canal.

As I have reported before Woking Council is giving this site to WWF, charging no rent for 20 years and then a peppercorn rent of just £1,000 per year. Meanwhile Woking Council will pay for a replacement bridge across the canal to connect WWF to the town centre. The Council has already been allowed to spend up to £25,000 to enable WWF to move to the site.

Horsell Under Attack & It's Costing Us Money

2011-01-11T16:31:00.000-08:00

It has happened before and it is happening again. Horsell is under attack and it seems that local residents are paying for it.

The true cost of WWF on Brewery Road Car Park
We have known for several months that Conservative run Woking Council wanted to go ahead with plans to bring WWF to Brewery Road Car Park in Horsell. What has now become clear is the cost of this great ambition. I revealed back in November that the WWF HQ will require a new bridge to cross the canal and connect it to the town. The current bridge across the canal badly needs to be replaced (if only the Council had maintained it properly would that be necesary?). However WBC is looking at spending up to a million pounds on this new bridge and not asking WWF for a penny towards a rather important requirement for their new building.

Last week's News and Mail brought news of even more cost to Woking tax payers. The paper reports that WBC is giving the site away and giving WWF a long rent free period. It would be very nice to have WWF in Woking (on a site in the town centre rather than Horsell) but can an environmental charity with a couple of hundred employees really bring enough economic benefit to our town to justify this huge give away.

Relocation of the Fire Station
The second attack on Horsell relates to plans to move the fire station, currently located in the town centre, to land on Kestrel Way, behind the allotments on Bullbeggars Lane and the Salvation Army. This proposal is at a very early stage. I am totally opposed to this move. It is the wrong location for the fire station. It is wrong for the residents who will be disturbed by this facility so clsoe to their homes and wrong for the residents who will have speeding fire engines tearing down their local roads to get to emergencies. Although fire and rescue services are the responsibility of the County Council, Woking Council is involved and this can only mean more costs for Woking residents.

I have two messages to Woking Council - Leave Horsell Alone and stop wasting our money!

WWF submit application for Brewery Road car park

2010-12-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

WWF has submitted the anticipated application to build a new headquarters building on Brewery Road car park. You can view the full details of the application here. Please be aware that Public Access for Planning that holds planning applications has been updated and you may find the interface very different from your last visit. The facility to view documents from an application does not appear to work on Macs or Google Chrome browser. I have taken this up with the planning department and await their response. I have also noticed that my detaails, as a councillor for Horsell West are not showing up on applications.

You can give your views on WWF's application online or write to the Council. If you have a view please remember to have your say.

Sainsbury's Self Service Tills Encouraging Use of Plastic Bags?

2010-11-26T05:02:00.000-08:00

I am growing increasingly frustrated with the operation of Sainsbury's self service tills which seems to be completely at odds with the store's policy to reduce plastic bag usage.

The tills give the option of using your own bag. Several times I have put down my bag, containing my purse, phone and other items in order to add a few purchases to the bag. The till refused to work, saying there was a problem with my bag and to ask staff for assistance. A member of staff then came over and pressed a few buttons and I was able to complete my purchases. At no time did a member of staff tell me the till didn't like me puttting a bag down that already contained other items. My husband pionted out the problem with other items in the bag so on my next visit I had an empty Sainsbury's reusable bag with one empty carrier inside. The till still refused to work.

This systems seems to promote the use of Sainsbury's branded plastic carrier bags which are prominently placed on the tills whilst the reusable bags are further away, out of reach.

I have written to Sainsbury's and asked why the operation of the self service tills is so much at odds with their policy to reduce plastic bag usage. Specifically I have asked the store:

Why can't I add a few purchases from Sainsbury's to my handbag?
What if I do some shopping at other stores then call into Sainsbury's for some bread or milk. Why can't I add these items to my bag?
Why don't staff tell customers what is causing the problem so they are at least forewarned for their next visit?

I will update this post with the reply I receive from the store.

A Gold Plated Bridge for Woking?

2010-11-25T17:04:00.000-08:00

Woking Council expect to spend up to £1 million pounds on a new bridge between Brewery Road Car Park and the town centre. This new bridge will replace the wooden bridge which is in a state of disrepair (in my view mainly down to a lack of maintenance by the Council).

Since we learnt that WWF hoped to build a new headquarters on Brewery Road car park questions have been asked about who would pay for a new bridge and how much it would cost. I have asked on two previous ocassions about the cost of the bridge and received no figure. Suddenly the Council has told us it will be up to a million pounds! Do they plan to build a gold plated bridge?

We are told the reason for the high cost is because the bridge will carry services across the canal. These services could include Combined Heat and Power (CHP) with the pipes to carry heat requiring to be of a signifgicant size. The interesting thing is that WWF are yet to commit to using the CHP service offered by Woking!

Light up the night - Saturday 27 November

2010-11-22T05:58:00.000-08:00

Horsell's canalside will be lit up on Saturday 27 November when a cavalcade of brightly decorated and illuminated boats make their way along the canal from the Lightbox to Bridge Barn. This is a wonderful event, especially for children. The boat owners make a real effort to decorate their boats and the effect of all the colourful boats and fairly lights is amazing.

Woking Council staff will also be on the canalside to promote 'Light up the Night' which encourages people to travel safely and feel comfortable when around Woking during the winter months.

The cavalcade starts at 4.30pm on the canalside by the Lightbox. There is also the annual craft fair at the Lighbox earlier in the day. Mince pies and mulled wine are to be served at the Lightbox as darkness falls (I assume you have to pay for those but its not clear in the information provided by the Council)

For full details of these events on Saturday 27 November click here.

I definitely recommend dropping by to see this event.

Neighbourhood Policing is here to stay

2010-11-19T06:38:00.000-08:00

I was very pleased to get an assurance on the future of neighbourhood policing from Chief Inspector Mark Rowley of Surrey Police last night.

Chief Inspector Rowley was part of a panel at the Surrey County Council "Have Your Say" event in Chertsey. I took the opportunity to praise the force for the importance placed on neighbourhood policing in recent years and to ask the Chief Inspector for reassurance that this would continue. I pointed out the excellent service provided by PC Parish (pictured) in Horsell.

The Chief Inspector said that Surrey Police were committed to continuing community policing and despite a programme of reducing more senior officers was still recruiting new officers. He explained that the force was losing back office staff and buildings but keeping police.

This is very good news for Horsell where having a dedicated local police officer has really made a difference to low level crime and anti-social behaviour in our village.

BBC Surrey Gets It Wrong

2010-11-17T11:04:00.000-08:00

Big confusion over at BBC News Surrey this evening. They report a spate of burglaries in Woking but state that they took place in Horsell.

In fact not one of the burglaries listed in the story took place in Horsell. The roads mentioned are in Goldsworth Park, Kingfield, Old Woking and St Johns.

I have sent a message to the BBC asking them to correct their error.

UPDATE - Had a call from Peter Stewart, News Editor at BBC Surrey whilst I was out today. Caught up with him at the Surrey County Council Have Your Say event this evening. He apologised for the incorrrect information on the website but said that it came direct from a Surrey Police press release! Site has now been updated so burglaries are correctly listed as being in Woking. Only thing is Woking is now described as a "village"!

Finally - a response from WWF

2010-11-10T06:23:00.000-08:00

I finally got an update from WWF in response to my request for information on the new HQ plans for those unable to attend the consultation events. They have directed me to their website which gives the "vision" of the new offices they want to build on Brewery Road car park. They have also sent me two pictures which don't seem to show much more than the ones I took on my phone at the consultation.

If you do have more questions on the new headquarters you can send them to WWF at newhq@wwf.org.uk or send them to me at cllrann-marie@woking.gov.uk I will be happy to help you get further answers or information from other WWF or Woking Council.

Latest Horsell West Planning Applications

2010-11-10T05:26:00.000-08:00

Just one new application in Horsell West this week.

PLAN/2010/1035
Application for a ground floor side extension and single storey rear extension at 3 Whopshott Avenue, Horsell.

Halloween Attack in Horsell

2010-11-02T03:15:00.000-07:00

Just seen a worrying story on the BBC News site about an attack in Horsell on Sunday night. A young man was punched, kicked and robbed of his mobile phone by a group of three men when walking along Brewery Cut / Footpath 19a. The group ran towards Brewery Road after the attack.

The attack took place around 11pm. The attackers are described as being in their "late teens to early twenties and of medium build" .One of the three attackers was a litttle taller than the others and was "wearing a white mask similiar to the one in the horror film Scream". He carried a white plastic bag. A second attacker was of "mixed race or Asian appearance with black gelled hair". He was wearing a black hooded jacket and a "black bandana with a light-coloured pattern over his nose and mouth".

Did you see the group on Sunday night or do you know who they are? Please get in touch with Surrey Police if you have any information. You can call Surrrey Police on 0845 125 2222 quoting reference WK/10/7866 or if you prefer you can contact Crimestoppers without giving your details and at no cost on 0800 555 111.

Full details are on the Surrey Police website.

Gathering views on WWF's plans for Brewery Road Car Park

2010-11-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

I have set up a poll on the blog to gather views on WWF's plans for a new headquarters building on Brewery Road car park. Please cast your vote on the poll which you will find at the top of the web page on the right hand side. Please leave your comments on the plans in response to this post.

Latest Horsell West Planning Applications

2010-11-01T07:19:00.000-07:00

A bumper crop of applications as we move into November. Click on the link to go direct to the full details of the application on Public Access for Planning. You can view plans, elevations, photographs and the full application documents and submit your own comments directly through the site

PLAN/2010/0991
Oak House in Ridgeway is the site of an application to build two detached houses, of 1.5 storeys high and with 3 bedrooms. This is the third application for this back garden development. Previous applications in 2007 and 2008 were refused by the planning committee with this decision confirmed by Planning Inspectors on appeal. Local residents are particularly concerned that this proposed development is out of keeping with the area. Ridgeway is an "urban area of special residential character".

PLAN/2010/0937
Application to retain a garage at 20 Grobars Avenue.

PLAN/2010/0979
Elmbury in Bury Lane is the subject of an application to erect a two storey side extension, single storey rear extension and front porch.

PLAN/2010/0969
Hamlyns, acccountants, at 98 High Street Horsell seek advertisement consent for the installation of 1 x non-illuminated fascia sign and 1 x externally illuminated sign. This is one sign on a side wall of the property and a sign at the front. It appears to be an updating of existing signage.

PLAN/2010/0970
Application at 5 Church Close for first floor extension, two storey rear extension, two storey side extension with integral garage to form a two storey property. Planning permisssion was previoulsy given in January 2010 for "Alterations and extensions to the property to form a two storey property with integral garage and single storey rear extension.".

PLAN/2010/0975
Application at 14 Claydon Road for a single storey side extension.

PLAN/2010/0990
Application for the erection of a two storey side extension with dormer roof extension and single storey rear extension at 12 Rosehill Avenue.

PLAN/2010/0954
There is an application for a single storey rear conservatory at 26 Lych Way.

Police action on speeding in Horsell

2010-10-31T04:18:00.000-07:00

Walking down Brewery Road yesterday whilst my younger daughter practiced her bike riding skills (we've recently removed the stabilisers) I was a little concerned to see a group of police officers at the entrance to Horsell Park. "Has somebody done something wrong?" asked my daughter. Before I could respond our local neighbourhood officer for Horsell PC Josh Parish detached himself from the group and came over to speak to me.

It turned out that PC Parish had assembled the resources to carry out speed enforcement across Horsell. The team had just finished work on Brewery Road and were moving on to Chobham Road and Woodham Road, another team had covered the High Street. Most of these areas are places where I often walk or cycle and there are regular occurrences of speeding vehicles. I have also been involved in Speedwatch at some of these locations. I mentioned to PC Parish that I had recently seen two cars overtaking a third car that was keeping to the speed limit on Brewery Road.

PC Parish told me that a number of tickets were handed out and some warnings given. He also mentioned that the team had not been popular.

I'm delighted to see this police work taking place. Speedwatch is helpful at slowing traffic speeds in the local area but actual enforcement by the police sends a much stronger message to speeding drivers.

"Mouse of Woking" goes for his maiden

2010-10-30T17:12:00.000-07:00

As noted by the abrasive Quentin Letts in the Daily Mail this week our local MP has finally made his first speech in parliament. It has taken him five months to reach this momentous ocassion and he is the last of the 147 Tory MPs to break his duck. Mr Letts describes dear Jonty as the "mouse of Woking" and "Parliament's shyest flower".

As is customary the speech was non-controversial and about the constituency. Several points were rather amusing. He paid tribute to his predecessor Mr Malins and his sporting prowess (apparently he once played against the All Blacks). However golf is more his sport nowadays. Jonty seems to think our former MP will be back in Woking to play golf. I would have thought he is more likely to stay in the rather leafier Reigate, where he lived throughout his tenure as MP for Woking, to play his golf.

Jonty also referred to HG Wells who lived in Woking for several years and set his novel War of the Worlds in the town. He appears to miss the irony that Woking is destroyed by the invading Martians in the story. Continuing the Wells theme he refers to the Martian statue in the town centre. It is pretty obvious he is new to Woking, and still as far as I know, lives in Blackheath, south of Guildford. His Tory colleagues on the Council were none too happy about the expenditure on the Martian statue and used its commissioning as a stick with which to beat the Lib Dems several years ago.

Update 2 November

Just read an interesting item on maiden speeches by the 2010 intake over at epolitix. It seems our local MP was the last of all 227 of new MPs to make his speech. All but four of the new boys and girls spoke to the House for the first time before the summer recess. Jonty spoke 156 days afer the first new MP made his maiden.

Information outside Consultation Events

2010-10-30T17:08:00.001-07:00

I am trying to find out from WWF what information is available to those who have not been able to attend any of the consultation events. I was disappointed to discover at the consultation events that there was no information to take away. I asked WWF, via Woking Council, what information they could provide for those unable to attend a consultation event and got an email address in response. If you do have comments that you would like to send to WWF you can use this address newhq@wwf.org.uk but it doesn’t tell you a lot about the application! I sent an email to this address and asked what information WWF could to provide to those interested. This was now over a week ago and I am still awaiting a response.

Views from WWF Consultation

2010-10-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

As well as attending the councillor briefing on WWF's plans for Brewery Road car park I went along to one of the public consultation events. The evening consisted of a chance to view plans and a model (although there appeared to be less information than that shown to councillors) and a presentation from WWF and their architects followed by questions. The event was reasonably well attended, there were around forty people for the presentation. WWF took plenty of time to answer questions.

I highlight below the issues I heard raised at the meeting I attended and other issues reported to me from the other consultation sessions.

Height and mass of the building
Although the building looks much better than that proposed by Surrey County Council it is still a large building on the site and will be taller than the houses on one side and the Kingswood Court flats on the other side of the car park.

Access
Access across the site could be an issue. Raising a headquarters building above the car park will mean a new bridge. Woking Council will pay for the new bridge (why WWF could not have been persuaded to pay I do not know). This new bridge will have steps, similar to the current set-up, by the canal. There will be a long ramp for pedestrians, prams, wheelchairs and cyclists; running along about two thirds of the car park. There will also be a lift. The lift is likely to have a capacity of around 15 persons and will also accommodate buggies and wheelchairs.

Parking Spaces
Most, but not all parking spaces will be retained. Around 30 spaces are likely to be lost. WWF will have only a handful of spaces on site with staff permits issued for ‘town centre’ car parks and much encouragement of sustainable travel. A drop off facility will be retained close to the car park entrance.

Coach Parking
There will be no coach parking on site – it seems WBC has agreed this with WWF but this was the first time I had heard of this. The proposed Surrey County Council building was to include coach parking. I am very unhappy that this requirement has been removed and that councillors were not informed. Brewery Road is the only location close to the town centre where coaches can park. It is key for dropping off customers for the New Victoria Theatre. There is nowhere coaches can park by the theatre. This is also an issue for mini-buses, often used by the disabled and vans which may be driven by stall holders for the regular or visiting markets or tradesmen working at town centre businesses.

Car park lighting
How will the car park under the proposed WWF headquarters be lit? Of course Brewery Road was totally refurbished at a cost of £750,000 just a few years ago. This work included improved lighting, sufficient to meet the “Safer car parks standard”. When asked how the car parking would be lit, given it would be under the building, the WWF team referred to low level lighting, probably movement activated. All very good in environmental terms but not for personal safety. People like to see who and what is in a car park before they walk into it, not once they are in there. It will be interesting to see how this is resolved.

Canal – funding for enhancements / improvements
A member of the Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society asked about funding for canal enhancements or improvements. This seemed to be something to which WWF had given little thought, but they did say they were open to proposals from local groups. I will be pushing Woking Council and WWF for a substantial contribution to the canal if the building goes ahead.

The effect on local business interests
Several people raised concerns about the effect of a new WWF headquarters on local business interests and the Methodist Church. Access to the theatre, particularly for those arriving by coach was one concern and access to the Lighbox, particularly during the construction phasem was another. There were concerns about parking for those using Trinity either for worship, or to attend events, would park. I am especially concerned to understand if there has been any specific consultation with these local groups.

First sight of WWF plans for Brewery Road

2010-10-18T15:04:00.000-07:00

Had my first sight of WWF's plans for Brewery Road car park tonight. Quite a few changes from earlier suggestions. Car parking is retained, as required by WBC. The new headquarters building is on stilts above the current car park. The building is 14m high and two storey. There is a curved roof and the design appears open with a fabric of natural materials.

My initial thoughts are that is is much better than other proposals for Brewery Road car park but it is a large building, taking up pretty much the whole site, car parking will all be under the building (thought it will be open to the side) and there could be access issues.

The building will connect to a new bridge over the canal (replacing the existing bridge). There will be access to the bridge from steps or a lift at the 'drop off' area and a ramp between the building and the canal. I have questions about the capacity of the lift at busy times, operating hours for the lift, support for lift problems and alternatives if the lift is out of action.

A 'drop off' facility for those driving people to or from the car park is provided. There appears to be no facility for coach parking.

I'll be going along to at least one of the consultation events over the next couple of days to listen to WWF's presentation and hear what residents thinks of the plans. I previously posted full details of the events.

Seeing the plans for Brewery Road

2010-10-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

As an elected councillor I get a 'private' viewing of WWF's plans for Brewery Road car park tonight. WWF and their architects will be setting up in one of WBC's meeting rooms this evening. This is an opportunity for councillors to see what the environmental charity proposes to build on the Horsell car park site.

The wider public are invited to see the plans on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week when they will be on display at the HG Wells Suite in the centre of Woking. WWF will have their plans on display between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on Tuesday 19 October. This will include a presentation on the plans between 7pm and 7.45pm. There will be two opportunities to see the plans on Wednesday. Either between 2pm and 4pm, which will include a presentation of the plans between 2.30pm and 3.15pm or between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.

Anyone can attend these consultation events. There is no need to book a place just go along to HG Wells.

I am still awaiting a response from WWF on what arrangements are being made for those who would like to participate in the consultation but are not able to attend the events on Monday or Tuesday.

After my viewing tonight I will post some information to help inform those who are able to attend one of the events so they know what to expect and give at least some details to those who are unable to attend.

Better Late than Never

2010-10-14T02:18:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to be able to say that there is finally a little more publicity for the WWF consultation events. WWF are consulting residents on plans for a new HQ building on Brewery Road car park.

WWF is front page news in this week's Woking News and Mail and the Council has now put news of the consultation on its website. Whilst listing the dates and times of the events the Council website does not state that there will be a presentation on the plans at one of the evening sessions and the afternoon session. See my earlier post here for full event details.

I am also told, having chased it up, see below, that A4 posters are to go up around the area.

All a bit late in the day given the events are less than a week away but better late than never.

I have been asked what provision is being made for those who are interested to see WWF's plans but who are unable to attend any of the consultation sessions. I am following this up with WWF and will post information as soon as I have it.

Call this consultation?

2010-10-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

I am very unhappy with the lack of publicity from WWF for their forthcoming consultation on plans for a new HQ building on Brewery Road car park. To date we have had only a very small item in the local paper and a public notice in the same paper. I wrote about this last week.

There are so many other ways in which WWF could have informed residents that this consultation was taking place. Noticeboards in Horsell Village, at Wheatsheaf Common and on the bridge to Brewery Road car park could have carried posters. An item on the council web site would have been seen by many residents. WWF have contact details from their initial consulation. Nothing has been sent to those who attended that event. Immediate neighbours to the site (which includes me) have had nothing.

What is the point of consulting if you don't tell people that you are doing it?

I would not have gone to university

2010-10-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

I went to university in the mid 80’s. At this time the North West, where I grew up, had yet to recover from the recession of 1980-1 and Thatcher’s onslaught on the region’s traditional manufacturing industries. The miner’s strike was in full swing when my degree course started in 1984. Youth unemployment was so high that since the late 70’s young people leaving school at 16 had been ‘encouraged’ onto YOP (Youth Opportunity Programme). This programme entailed a period of training on a minimal wage with the hope it would lead to full employment for young people. Most ‘trainees’ on the scheme felt they were just used as cheap labour. I recall hearing of friends and their siblings who finished their YOP one week only to be replaced by a new trainee the following week.

Conscious of the employment situation and the importance of work experience I chose an unusual degree course. I studied History and Politics at Brunel University. Brunel was unique at that time in offering a “thin sandwich” course to all students. This meant my course was four years long but for the first three years I was at university between October and March and then had periods of (usually) paid work experience from April to September. Having this ‘guaranteed’ work as part of my course meant I did not have to worry about returning home and searching for work in the summer holidays. I felt this gave me both the chance to learn about the world of work and secure some income for the following academic year.

Back home my parents made enough to get by, just. There was no money for extras. I was the first person in my family ever to go to university. The whole experience was a mystery, a closed world. I was concerned about how I would live. Debt was a big issue. Although we had no money we did not borrow money. The thought of a debt of £21,000 (even adjusted to 1980’s levels) in fees plus living costs would have been a great disincentive to my university career. I think I may have been pressured to go and find a job rather than run up this sort of debt.

Thinking ahead I worry about those of lower or middle income families who aspire to go to one of the ‘better’ universities. How much will Oxford and Cambridge and Bristol and Durham and St Andrews want to charge in fees? How much will it cost to study medicine or veterinary science? Will the choice of university and course be determined by cost not by academic ability or interest?

I am sick and tired of politicians making promises and then breaking them. Liberal Democrat MPs committed to oppose tuition fees before the last election. I fully agreed with that commitment. I thought that as Liberal Democrats we had principles. Now it seems we are just the same as Labour who brought in tuition fees in 1998, having committed not to do this. What is the difference!

I applaud those Liberal Democrat MPs who have already come out as opposing any increase in tuition fees. I believe there are around 30 to date. I hope there are many more to come.
I have a message to Vince and Nick. Liberal Democrats said NO to tuition fees and we meant NO to tuition fees. We have campaigned on it. We have gained votes from this pledge. We cannot overturn all that we have said in the past. NO increase in tuition fees.

A week of sad losses

2010-10-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

This week I have heard of several deaths, each of which has made me feel rather sad. These were not deaths of relations or even close friends, just people, one of whom I never even met, who touched my life in some small way.

The first sad news came on Monday when I heard that the husband of Woking county councillor Elizabeth Compton had died suddenly. I had only met Mrs Compton on a few occasions but she often referred to her husband in discussions. I saw them together at a meeting earlier in the year and it was obvious they were a devoted couple. I understand that Mr Compton‘s death was totally unexpected. It must be so difficult to lose somebody in that way and my thoughts are with Mrs Compton.

Sad news part two came on Tuesday when I learnt that former local reporter Eileen Whatmore had died. I knew Eileen as the reporter from The Informer, but she had a long history with newspapers in the area. Eileen was always helpful and friendly, if a little exasperated when I sent her Word attachments she couldn’t read on her old Mac system at The Informer! Reading the news on the getsurrey website today I learned that this was also a sudden death. Eileen worked until she was 74, just two years ago. She once revealed to me that issues with her pension led her to work long beyond the usual retirement age but she always seemed to be enjoying her work. I particularly appreciated her help in arranging photographers and writing articles to publicise issues in Horsell. I last saw her earlier in the year, during the campaign for the General Election. She will be sadly missed.

The third piece of sad news started when I read a Facebook post on Monday. I learnt that a friend’s brother was missing. I got to know this lady because our daughters became friends at school. I never met her brother Darryn but his son, cousin of my daughter’s friend, often stayed with her family. My daughter knew the son well and I met him several times. The family live in Stroud and Darryn had last been seen there on Friday afternoon. When he didn’t return home his family thought he may have headed to Woking where he had previously lived for 30 years. I was glad to help spread the message that he was missing and ask people to look out for him via my Facebook page and through Twitter. Sadly I learnt yesterday that his body had been found. As this story unfolded I learnt of a “smiley” family man who, along with his wife, entertained children at parties and events. He was the same age as me and leaves behind a wife, a son just a couple of years older than my elder daughter, his sister and mother, a niece and a nephew that I know of, plus I am sure many more relations and friends. My thoughts are with all who knew him.

I’m not really sure where this post is going but I guess my point is that each of these people was peripheral to my life but I feel sad about each loss. For the first it was the thought of a partner left behind, on the second it was that Eileen’s life ended so soon after her retirement and for the third it was the loss of life at a young age and the great loss to so many. I suppose the other point is that each played a big part in and contributed to their community. Mr Compton supported his wife’s work as a county councillor, Eileen knew and was known throughout the Woking area and Darryn was known in his local area as an entertainer.

Each death brought a little sadness to my weeek.

WWF Announce Consultation Dates

2010-10-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

WWF has announced when it will consult residents on its plans for Brewery Road Car Park. Events will take place at the HG Wells centre in Woking as follows

Tuesday 19 October

6.30 pm to 8.30pm with a presentation between 7pm and 7.45pm

Wednesday 20 October

2pm to 4pm with a presentation between 2.30pm and 3.15pm

and 6.30pm to 8.30pm

The events are pitched as an opportunity to see the "concept design" of what it would appear WWF want to call the "Living Planet Centre".

Please do try and get along to one of these sessions and find out what WWF are planning. I am interested to hear your views. Do you think this is acceptable development for the car park? Would you like to see changes to the plans? Or would you rather the car park stays as it is?

Consultation Concerns

I first heard about the consultation dates earlier this week, with dates only, no times. The next information I had was from an 'In Brief' item in the News and Mail. This contained only the session times. Turning to the notices at the end of the paper I found a very small notice by WWF - taking up a column just one eigth of a page wide. Hardly mass advertising of the events. There is, as yet, no information on the Council website. I have asked council officers to confirm how these events will be promoted.

Planning Application Round Up

2010-10-07T08:59:00.000-07:00

Very few planning applications in recent weeks. Here is a round up.

PLAN/2010/0944
A single storey side extension and a first floor extenson over the existing garage for Asha in Horsell Park.

PLAN/2010/0931
Crombie, 30 Thornash Road is seeking a Certificate of Lawful Development for a single storey side extension.

PLAN/2010/0893
Coxhill Farm in Deep Pool Lane is seeking a Certificate of Lawful Development for a two storey rear extension and single storey extensions to north and south elevations. There was previously an application to demolish the existing property on this site and build a new property. This was withdrawn. This is an application to make these changes to the property without the need to submit a full planning application.

PLAN/2010/0798
Application for a single storey rear extension at 18 Tresta Walk.

PLAN/2010/0864
Another single storey rear extension, this one is at 40 Horsell Park Close.

PLAN/2010/0885
Oak Cottage in South Road are seeking to add a single storey rear conservatory to the property.

An application at 90-92 High Street to convert office space to four one bedroom flats has been refused.

New cycle crossing of Victoria Way

2010-09-10T16:03:00.000-07:00

Crossing over Victoria Way in a rush to work this morning I saw a site notice. I got chance to have a look on the way home. It is an application for a cycle crossing of Victoria Way. The plan emanates from Surrey County Council. The detail is not clear but I think the plan is for a separate crossing for cyclists. The notice says the plans can be seen at the WBC offices but I can't see where there are to be found online. A search of applications for both wards that meet at the road - Horsell West and Goldsworth East produces no relevant application and the Surrey CC site only seems to have applications for mineral extraction. The Cycle Woking website has details of a new crossing of the canal in the Hermitage area but nothing about this plan.

I will continue my search and report back when I have full details of this plan.

UPDATE
Shortly after posting this I received the plans for the crossing in the post. As a councillor for the area I was notified directly. This still doesn't answer my issue that it is not easy for local residents to access this information. Why can't such plans go on to the Internet as for planning applications.

I was also made aware by a colleague that as this is the County Council the notice is effectively a "traffic order" not an application and so they will go ahead and build the crossing unless there is a legal objection. In fact work has now begun to clear the bushes and other plants near to the Council offices in preparation for the crosssing.

I have no reason to object to the crossing. A separate cycle crossing makes sense and gives both pedestrians and cyclists more room. I am just unhappy about the process and Surrey's lack of consultation with local people.

Missing Bus Information

2010-09-09T16:37:00.001-07:00

Further to my piece on changes to buses running through Horsell that were not communicated to passengers another SCC failure in communication has come to my notice.

One of the buses that serves Woking High has been dropped, another has a new number and one has a different departure time. None of these changes were advised to the school before the new term started this week. The school only learnt of the changes through reports from students and parents.

Is it really so difficult to tell people what is going on Surrey?

Planning Applications 9 September 2010

2010-09-09T16:10:00.001-07:00

Can't believe that Thursday has come around again. Time for the weekly update of planning applications.

Just two this week - one householder application and a Council application.

PLAN/2010/0799
Elwood, Waldens Road, Horsell
Summary description has this as "erection of a replacement dwelling" but looking at the detail of the application it describes two storey side extensions and internal reworking. The property is a relatively small bungalow so it maybe that the planners feel this is effectively a new dwelling. I have queried with the planning officer and will update this post when I have more information.
UPDATE - planning officer has told me that as little of original property will remain and it is two storey extensin to bungalow this is classed as 'erection of replacement dwelling'.

PLAN/2010/0820
Application to retain the recycling centre at Kestrel Way for the next two years. Permission for this small site on Kestrel Way seems to come up for renewal every couple of years.

Update on Horsell Scouts and Guides

2010-09-09T15:45:00.000-07:00

Attended the WBC Executive tonight where an "enabling" paper was presented on future funding for community facilities including new accommodation for Horsell Scouts and Guides. The paper envisaged using money made from Wolsey Place shopping centre (now owned by WBC) to fund these local community projects. Some concerns were raised, including by me, about whether the funds from Wolsey Place could be guaranteed in the future. I also asked about how projects would be assessed for funding, what criteria would be most important and about timescales. Didn't really get any satisfactory answers on these questions. On timing I was told by the Leader of the Executive that it was "the beginning of a journey".

The Executive supported the paper and council officers will now progress feasability reports on each of the projects.

New home for Horsell Scouts & Guides?

2010-09-07T15:51:00.000-07:00

Horsell Scouts and Guides has been fundraising for what seems like forever for a new headquarters. The existing building, which is used by the scouts and guides themselves, Young World pre-school and the Karen Clarke dance school needs much on-going maintenance. The group is now reaching the stage where it may have enough to match any funding it can source from grants and it has looked into the funds available from various sources, including Woking Council.

Woking Council has discussed plans with the group and a paper is going to this week's council Executive meeting with proposals as to how the Council might potentially provide funds in the future for Horsell Scouts and Guides and other voluntary groups across Woking, including Horsell Village Hall, sports facilities in Alpha Road and Goldsworth Park and community facilities in Byfleet, Old Woking and St Johns. In summary the paper suggests that money generated from the Council's ownership of Wolsey Place may be used in future to help fund improvements to local community facilities. It is also suggested that this money could be supplanted by subscription from local individuals and businesses.

This matter goes before Woking's Conservative executive on Thursday. I don't have a vote on it but I can say a few words. I am interested to hear your views on this. You can email me at cllrann-marie.barker@woking.gov.uk

Buses and Car Parks

2010-09-05T17:23:00.001-07:00

I returned from holiday to a message from a resident very concerned about changes in bus timetables last week and the lack of information from either Surrey or the bus companies on this matter. Some bus times have changed and other routes have been removed completely. It seems a small number of residents were told of the changes by bus drivers in the preceding week but many were not and waited vainly at bus stops. I am told that new timetables are available at Woking library.

I was aware that changes may be made following the first stage of Surrey's bus "consultation" but certainly had no idea this was to take place last week. I will seek further information from Surrey on Monday.

A short walk across Brewery Road car park early Saturday evening and I thought I was back in Cornwall. There was so much sand in the car park I thought I had been transported to a beach car park. The sand was in the far corner of the car park, where coaches used to park and near the drop off area by the bridge to the town centre. The cause of the sand appears to be holes dug, and neatly filled in the car park. I can only guess that the "holes" are test pits dug by WWF to investigate the land. I recall that Surrey carried out a similar exercise prior to their aborted move to the car park. It would have been nice to have been told about the work and a good idea to get the contractors to clear up when the work was finished. I will contact the neighbourhood officer on Monday about getting the mess cleared up.

Latest Horsell West Planning Applications

2010-09-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

Still very quiet on the planning application front. I've just returned from a week in a sunny Cornwall so two weeks of applications combined follow. This still only means 3 applications. As ever click on the link to go direct to the full details of the application. You can commit directly on the application, send an email with your views or write a letter.

The application for the church site on Meadway Drive, close to the junction with the High Street, has been withdrawn. I am sure there will be a further application on this site and will look out for this application.

PLAN/2010/0802
Flagstones Horsell Vale
Extension at side and rear of property, part single and part two storey. This is an amendment to an application permitted in October 2009. An amendment to the 2009 application was refused planning permission earlier this year.

PLAN/2010/0797
Dennington Ridgeway
Erection of a car port in front of existing garage.

PLAN/2010/0825
Dumgoyne Bullbeggars Lane
Erection of detached single garage / store to rear garden.

Latest Update - Littlewick Road

2010-08-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

Finally managed to get an answer from Surrey County Council about the roadworks in Littlewick Road. Gave up on county officers and went to the general helpline. Staff were very helpful. "Rob" who answered the phone obviously looked on the same web site page I searched, to no avail. However he then spoke to a colleague in Highways and put me through to her for an answer.

I don't recall the name of the person in Highways but she explained that a hole had been found in the road with a cavity underneath. The County Council had to investigate what had caused the hole. A utility was suspected but this had to be explored. After investigation there was no conclusive evidence of what had caused the hole so it will be fixed by County Council contractors. This should now be done in the next two weeks.

Latest Horsell West Planning Appplications

2010-08-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

Still quiet on the planning application front here in Horsell. There have been two new applications in the past week. One is for an extension in Morton Road and the other for a demolition and new building on the outer edges of Horsell at Deep Pool Lane. As you will see below this site has a Chobham address but it is part of Horsell West ward and in the Woking BC area.

To view more details of each application and to submit your views click on the application number below. You can also submit a view by email (the officer dealing with the case is detaailed on each application) or write to the Planning Department at Woking BC, referencing the planning application number.

If there are local concerns about an application and ten or more objections are received a complainant is entitled to put their case before the planning committee.

PLAN/2010/0769
Coxhill Farm, Deep Pool Lane, Chobham
Erection of a two storey dwelling and garage following demolition of the existing dwelling on site.

PLAN/2010/0766
Woodlands, Morton Road, Horsell
Erection of part two storey side and rear extension and single storey side and rear extension.

Good news on Horsell Way Mast

2010-08-20T14:44:00.000-07:00

I received some great news on the Horsell Way mast yesterday. Tyco Electronics, agent for Vodafone and 02, informed councillors that they are to "further investigate the Kestrel Way site as their preferred option". Tyco say that "the Horsell Way site will not be pursued any further at this time".

This means that 02 will look to put up a mast near Kestrel Way, on Horsell Common Preservation Society (HCPS) land. The site is removed both physically and visibly from homes, schools and businesses. It is a site that has had a good degree of public support.

There was much effort to promote this site at the time of the original Horsell Way mast application , but to no avail. It is a real step forward that 02 are now seriously considering this location. I understand 02 plan to meet Woking BC representatives at the site in the near future.

I will continue to keep residents informed on progress.

CAB Cuts

2010-08-12T15:45:00.000-07:00

I am very worried to hear about likely cuts in both staff and services at Woking Citizens Advice Bureau.

Woking Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) provides a range of valuable services to local people. Through a small number of employees and an army of volunteers they offer legal advice, support on housing issues, help on claiming benefits, support on debt issues, employment problems, relationship issues, consumer rights, discrimination and more.

Contrary to popular belief CAB is not funded by government. It is a charitable organisation which relies on grants and donations. Woking CAB is not receiving its anticipated level of funding in the coming year and so it is looking at both cutting services and losing paid employees.

I visited the local CAB earlier this year with parliamentary candidate Rosie Sharpley and South East region MEP Sharon Bowles. We heard from Hazel Craig-Waller about the range of services provided and the number of residents helped by the CAB.

Cuts to the CAB, especially in the current economic climate, will be hard felt. Just at a time when the service is most needed it may need to cut back on its vital services.

Planning Applications 14 August 2010

2010-08-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

Latest new planning applications in Horsell West, as of this week. Still a quiet period. The three applications added this week all relate to residential extensions.

First one up is an application for a two storey rear extension in Bury Lane. Check out the full details at PLAN/2010/0694/HOU.

And the next one is also for an extension, this time it is both a single and two storey rear extension and a single storey front porch in Heather Close. Full details at PLAN/2010/0730/HOU.

The third application is one listed last week (see below) in Holyoake Crescent. The application has changed so rather than a full planning application it is an "application for a certificate of proposed lawful development". Again this is an extension, single storey, at the rear of the existing property.

BriefUpdates

2010-08-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

Unexplained Roadworks
I've just been asked about the roadworks in Littlewick Road in Horsell. Apparently there have been roadworks on this road for around two weeks - but no sign of any work. I had a look at Surrey County Council's web based list of works but there is nothing there about Littlewick Road. I have contacted Surrey County Council to ask what is happening.

Phone Mast
Still no phone mast application I am pleased to say but vigilance continues and I am on the lookout for anything happening on this.

Arthur's Bridge / Well Lane Junction with Lockfield Drive
I am still awaiting information from the County Council on what has happened since my question to the Local Committee about safety at the Arthurs Bridge / Well Lane junction with Lockfield Drive.

A Credit Union for Woking

2010-08-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

Delighted to hear news this week that progress is being made on the Surrey Save Credit Union. The Credit Union will offer a savings and loan service to residents across Surrey, including Woking. The Union will be run by volunteers and offer banking services to those who may have difficulty accessing traditional banks.

The Credit Union has taken a long time to come together but hopes to start offering services next year.

Woking Borough and other local councils have supported the scheme but sadly Surrey County Council have offered little to the Credit Union.

Latest Planning Applications

2010-08-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

Just two planning applications for Horsell West this week. No mast application yet but one plan that is likely to cause concern.

The first is for the erection of an extension in Holyoake Avenue. A previous application was withdrawn so I am guessing that this is a revised application, maybe following advice from planning officers. Planning application reference PLAN/2010/0695/HOU. The deadline for public comments is not clear on this application. I will update the post when I have that information.

The second application may raise some comment. It is for the site of the Gospel Hall, the single storey hall at the High Street end of Meadway Drive. The site was put up for sale several months ago when the religious group who met there decided to centre their meetings elsewhere in the county, closer to where most of their membership live. The site was sold by auction and an application has now been made to demolish the hall and erect a three storey building containing five flats, each with two bedrooms.

My initial thought was that the height of the buidling was out of keeping with other properties in the area. The surrounding area is a mix of two storey houses and shops with flats above. However on looking at the plans I see that the applicant is proposing a building that appears to be styled to fit in with the houses nearby.

My second thought was parking. Four spaces are proposed at the site. With five flats, each with two bedrooms and the potential for residents to be young people sharing this could mean one person per bedroom so potentially ten vehicles. If couples occupied each room it could mean as many as twenty vehicles. Local roads can't cope with the extra cars. This is a particularly heavily parked road, especially along the section between the High Street and South Close. It gets especially busy at school drop off and pick up time. The site also seems rather small for this building. What do you think? Planning application reference PLAN/2010/0700. The deadline for public comments is 19 August, but in practice comments will be accepted up until the time when the application is considered.

Given the public interest that this application is likely to generate and my concerns on parking at the site in particular I have asked that the application goes before the planning committee.

You can submit your comments on any planning application to Woking Borough Council at the Public Access to Planning website. I would also be interested to hear your views on any planning application. Email me at cllrann-marie.barker@woking.gov.uk

Look out for mast applications

2010-08-04T15:02:00.000-07:00

A week and a half into the school summer holidays and I am keeping my eyes and ears wide open for any mast applications. After the pre-consultation on adding to the Horsell Way mast I am concerned that a full appplication may be submitted over the holiday period. Councillors receive a weekly email update of planning applications received and decided. I check this thoroughly each week. I also, particularly at this time of year, check the "Public Access for Planning" website which contains all applications. You can get the latest on planning applications yourself by clicking on the link.

Arthur's Bridge / Well Lane Junction awaiting information

2010-08-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

The "Casualty Reduction Working Group" which was to consider the Arthur's Bridge / Well Lane junction with Lockfield Drive met on 21 July. I have still had no feedback from that meeting. Today I searched Surrey County Council's website for details of the group or its meetings but found nothing. I have now sent a query to Surrey asking what was the outcome of the meeting. I will post a further update when I hear from this meeting and get the full accident figures for the junction.

Update on Arthur's Bridge / Well Lane Junction

2010-07-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

Since I last posted on this accident hotspot a few weeks ago there has been another accident and I received an answer to my question to Surrey's Local Committee.

In response to my question at the Local Committee I was told that the Safety Review I had asked for could only be done for new junctions. Despite the poor safety record at this junction it seems a Safety Review will not be considered. The County Council did agree to put the matter to another committee concerned with road safety. I haven't had any feedback from that meeting.

When I sought further action I was told that the County Council can't legislate for poor driving. I think this rather misses the point.

Whilst I was considering next steps to improve safety at this dangerous junction I drove right into an accident last Sunday. I was heading for Morrisons supermarket on Sunday afternoon. As I approached the top of Arthur's Bridge Road I became aware of a resident trying to pull out of his drive and another vehicle waiting to make the left turn towards Lockfield Drive. I drove around a parked car and edged into a space. It was then that I realised the traffic wasn't moving onto Lockfield Drive. In the middle of the junction, heading for a right turn onto Lockfield Drive there was a car with the driver's side badly dented. To the left of the junction was another car which I assume had hit the first car. Police were on the seen and directing traffic. Drivers coming out of Arthur's Bridge had to turn left onto Lockfield Drive.

I have seen no information about this accident since Sunday. I hope this means that no serious injury was suffered. This does pose the question as to how many non-injury accidents there may have been at the junction. I have written to the police to see if they have the answer.

2010-07-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

Martyrs Lane recycling site is to close for redevelopment from 12 July. It will remain closed for 22 weeks. This means no local recycling site for Horsell residents until after Christmas.

Benefits of the redevelopment will be:

+ Easier, step free access to the recycling containers
+ Separate entrances for the public and HGVs to help reduce queuing
+ More parking – increasing from 20 to 45 spaces

Whilst the site is closed the alternatives are Slyfield in Guildford and Lyne, near Chertsey. Both alternative sites are a similar distance away from Horsell. Lyne is 4.5 miles away from Martyrs Lane, a total of 7 miles from the centre of Horsell village. Slyfield is 7 miles from Martrys Lane and 6 miles from Horsell Village.

In order to cope with the heaviest demand summer months the two alternative sites will stay open until 7.30pm every evening until the end of September.

The improvements sound very welcome. It is disappointing that the site has to be closed for such a long period. This redevelopment has been talked about for some time and it was originally thought that the site would be able to remain open during the work. I do hope that the redevelopment leaves to an improved system that reduces queues into and around the site. The last time the site was changed several years ago it led actually increased queues.

Horsell Way Mast Rears Its Ugly Head

2010-06-30T16:57:00.000-07:00

Barely a month back into representing Horsell West and I came home to a letter I did not want to receive. The communication was from a company representing Vodafone. They were writing as a 'pre-consultation' on plans to share an existing phone mast in Horsell Way with 02. This would involve a larger mast, with antennae and more ground equipment.

Long-standing residents will recall the lengthy campaign fought by local people to reject Horsell Way as a mast site. There was a huge response from residents to an initial pre-application consultation, to the planning application (which was rejected by Woking Council) and to request that Vodafone’s appeal went to a public inquiry. The public case was very strongly put at public inquiry. Despite all of this the application was allowed on appeal. Now Vodafone are back and looking to add to resident' misery.

On receipt of the letter I immediately notified immediate neighbours, those involved in the previous application and Horsell Residents Association about the consultation. A local resident circulated details to those in the closest parts of High Street, including Cromar Court; Horsell Way and Nursery Close.

I have also spoken with the person from the Council who was very much involved in the previous application.

Our response points out to the mobile operators that there is an alternative site, provided by Horsell Common Preservation Society, in a location outside what is considered the 'danger zone' and urging Vodafone and 02 to use this site which can accommodate a number of operators.

I will continue to work with the Council to encourage operators to move to the new site. We must now be on the lookout for the inevitable planning application that is likely to follow this consultation. Going by previous mast appplications it is likely to be submitted in late July or in August. Operators like to wait until much of the population are away on holiday, presumably in the hope the application will not be noticed.

Blog Updates

2010-06-30T16:54:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed a whole swathe of blog posts in the last day. I have been having intermittent problems with my wireless connection on my laptop for the last few weeks. This has meant that when I get time to use the computer it takes so long to tackle other matters such as resident emails and research for meetings I haven't been able to post blogs. I had them all written off-line but not loaded.

I am pleased to say that the problem with the connection is hopefully resolved and my blogs will immediately go online in future.

Concerns about key Horsell junction

2010-06-30T16:31:00.000-07:00

I was very concerned to learn of a traffic accident at the junction of Arthurs’ Bridge Road / Well Lane and Lockfield Drive this week. Several people were injured when a car travelling along Lockfield Drive hit another car turning onto Lockfield Drive. The injured included a toddler who suffered serious facial injuries and was airlifted to St George’s Hospital at Tooting.

I experienced some bad driving at that junction just the other day. I came up Arthur’s Bridge to turn right onto Lockfield Drive with one car in front of me and another one behind. For some reason the driver in front of me slowed and put on his hazard lights as the lights changed. I followed slowly behind but was aware of the driver behind me getting impatient, even before the horn he sounded his horn. The car in front finally got moving and went through the pedestrian lights on Lockfield Drive just before they turned to amber. I got there just as the lights turned amber and stopped. The car behind me, which I think it is quite likely had turned right against a red light, raced up into the outer lane and straight through the pedestrian light that was by now turning red.

History

The junction of Arthurs’s Bridge Road with Well Lane and Lockfield Drive has long created local debate. Take a step back more than 10 years to 1998/9 when the closure of this junction was a big local issue. The police had decreed this was a dangerous junction and Woking, which at that time was responsible for highways in the borough, concurred and put up temporary barriers preventing right turns. At this time there were no lights controlling the junction but there were pedestrian crossing lights, as now, on Lockfield Drive.

The closure of the junction led to much protest, residents were concerned about longer journeys and particularly about having to go through the town centre at busy times to travel to the west, especially to Guildford. Others, primarily those living along Well Lane and Arthurs Bridge and roads off, thought the closure would reduce traffic down their roads, and welcomed the closure.

Despite resident’s protests Woking Council was unwilling to re-open the junction and installing traffic lights was seen as a costly solution. The temporary barriers which initially blocked the road, were made permanent and the debate continued.

Eventually funding was agreed for a light controlled junction. Further delays followed due to budgetary pressure but a light controlled junction was finally installed.

The new junction caused further issues. There were concerns about how the traffic and pedestrian lights synchronised. Parents taking their children to Goldsworth School were very worried about safety. Their concerns included the proximity of the two sets of lights and the short interchange between each phase of the lights.

Former county councillor John Doran worked with residents to review the light sequence. Residents petitioned to have the road narrowed to one lane. The light sequence was improved but no the road remained unchanged.

Moving Forward

This latest accident revives all the previous concerns. It is prescient that Surrey’s Local Committee for Woking meets next week. I have submitted a question to the meeting, requesting a safety review of the junction.

If you saw the accident please contact Surrey Police who are seeking witnesses

Budget Reaction

2010-06-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

I don’t like the additional 2.5% on VAT. It’s pretty galling to think that a fifth of any purchase (with notable exceptions such as books, children’s clothes and cold food) is going straight to the government. Compared to an increase in tax, once we get an increase in VAT, its not likely to go down again. However apparently this level of VAT puts on a par with many of our European neighbours.

There are worrying cuts planned for the future, with talk of 25% cuts in key departments including the Home Office and Education. Only the health service and overseas aid are protected. These cuts threaten our schools and police service. Most of the costs in a school are the teachers. Could this mean a quarter fewer teachers. Maybe a reduction in teaching assistants? I am a governor at a local infant school which has been at the leading edge of high staffing levels, using teaching assistants to complement trained teachers. The teaching assistants are not used to replace teachers they are part of a team in each class. The loss of this valuable resource would have a significant impact on an ‘outstanding’ school.

My reaction to the budget led me to question what Liberal Democrats want from the coalition and how both the party and the country can gain from this form of governance? A detailed coalition agreement sets down what each party agreed to in order to form the coalition. The Liberal Democrats achieved government commitments for a referendum on a fairer voting system, taking those earning under £10,000 out of the tax system (the budget has at least made a start on this objective), a pupil premium to assist disadvantaged pupils and restoration of the link between pensions and earnings.

I can’t be totally happy with the budget. I have concerns about further cuts to come. I am reassured that with or without Liberal Democrat support the Conservatives were likely to have increased VAT. Being part of the coalition means the Liberal Democrats can get some policies through and can restrict or restrain some Conservative policies.

The end of free swimming?

2010-06-30T16:09:00.000-07:00

It is a real disappointment that our new government has dropped the free swimming scheme that was due to run until March 2011. The scheme provided for free swimming for young and older people. My two children both benefitted from the scheme. Users had to sign up to the scheme and were issued with a card to show on each visit to the pool. Initially signing up was free of charge, but more recently a £2 charge was introduced (presumably to cover the cost of administration and the card itself). Until this scheme came in it was getting very expensive just to take two children swimming. I’m sure the actual cost can be quite prohibitive for those with bigger families. My older daughter can now head to the pool by herself and a free swim was a great way of keeping her occupied and exercised at weekends and in the holidays. She loves swimming and it was one more way of keeping her away from the computer.

I have to confess to having less knowledge of how useful the scheme was for older people but I can imagine it was of great benefit to those on a fixed income. One less thing to pay for is always welcome.

I’m particularly unhappy that the scheme is set to end in July, just as the school holidays begin. Several years ago, during a brief period of Lib Dem control of Woking Council, we were keen to provide free swimming, although just for school holiday periods. The scheme was trialled over an Easter holiday and was popular. Local police figures showed a drop in anti-social behaviour during that holiday period, Hardly conclusive I know but I do firmly believe that offering young people some positive activity to fill their time with, that is accessible to all, can play a part in reducing less desirable behaviour.

I note that Liberal Democrats in Three Rivers, Hertfordshire are keeping the free swimming scheme running, at least to the end of the school holidays. Wouldn’t it be great if Woking Council could do the same?

Fox Concerns

2010-06-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

I was concerned to hear about the presumed fox attack on twin baby sisters in North London recently. We have a large fox population in Horsell. I frequently see foxes running into the woods near my home and late at night or early in the morning I see foxes all over the village.

A few years ago I was asked about the fox population by residents of Waldens Park Road. They had seen a number of foxes around and were concerned about the safety of their children. I contacted Woking Council and they provided a very useful booklet about foxes which I passed on to the residents and posted on my Window on Woking site. You can find the booklet here http://www.woking.gov.uk/planning/envhealthservice/pest/otherprotectedspeciesandfoxes/urbanfox

Fast forward to 2010 and I have been contacted by a concerned resident, worried about foxes living vey near to her home, in the light of the attacks on the baby twins. I have passed on the booklet details but I have also written to Woking Council asking what additional measures they are proposing in the light of the weekend’s events and actions being considered by both London boroughs and the Mayor of London.

Golden Farewell to Humfrey

2010-06-30T15:59:00.000-07:00

I see our former MP Humfrey Malins has received a ‘resettlement grant’ of £54,000 after standing down as an MP at the general election.

I can understand that it is appropriate to pay a resettlement grant to those MPs who lose their seats at an election. It would seem particularly necessary for those who may have moved to, or lived in their constituency and who may now need to relocate in order to find alternative employment. This does not apply to Mr Malins. He never took it upon himself to live among the people he represented here in Woking and he stood down by choice. I believe he continued his ‘other job’ as a crown court recorder throughout his parliamentary career. On this basis I fail to understand why he should receive this huge amount of money. One assumes he his life will continue as before, he’ll just be doing one less job.

Maybe Humfrey would like to make a parting gift to Woking from his windfall – a donation to the local hospice would be a popular choice. Alternatively he could give the £50,000 to George Osborne to help plug the hole in the country’s finances.

Next steps

2010-05-08T04:36:00.000-07:00

So, after all the hard work of the campaign, I am delighted to be Horsell West's new representative on Woking Borough Council. Now the real work starts ...

There are three main strands that I will focus on in the coming weeks

Getting Informed
I need to be up to data on current Council issues, my role as a councillor and the issues that my predecessor (Richard Sanderson) has been dealing with in Horsell. I was a councillor between 2004 and 2008 so this gives me some advantage over a 'virgin' councillor but I am sure I still have much to learn over the coming weeks and months. We have an informal meeting of Lib Dem councillors this weekend, I am attending an induction for all new councillors early next week and Richard and I will get together for a briefing session later in the week.

Finding my role on the Council
All councillors attend full council meetings and need to work with the rest of the group to decide which committees they should sit on. For the group running the Council several members need to serve on the Executive which runs the Council and sets policy direction. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee casts a critical eye over Council decisions. Then there are two essential committees with regulatory powers - Planning and Licensing. Planning is the committee that residents are most likely to have encountered. Planning applications go before the committee for everything from a household extension to a major new development. Licensing looks after all licensed premises, pubs and bars, late night opening of restaurants and cafes. Finally the Standards Committee is responsible for ensuring high standards of conduct among councillors and looks at any legislation involving standards, as they relate to the borough council and the Appeals committee deals with appeals on homelessness.

I need to find my role, one that will best represent Horsell and use my existing knowledge and experience. I was Vice-Chair of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee (there used to be several) and Chair of Licensing Committee during my previous time on the Council. However, planning matters are important and I should maybe consider this committee. Richard Sanderson was on the committte in the past.

Listening to residents and setting priorities
The previous two strands are important and necessary, but most important of all is taking forward your priorities. I would like to work with the County Council to improve road safety. I will push again for real, effective traffic calming in Brewery Road; measure to slow traffc in South Road, tackling parking in the village centre, dealing with commuter parking. I will follow closely plans for a WWF HQ on Brewery Road car park and raise resident's serious concerns. I'd like to see more youth provision in the village.

But what about you? What are your priorities? What do you think I should be doing in the coming weeks and months. Please comment on here or send me an email, drop me a line or telephone. All my details are available from the Council but for now use my personal email annmarie.barker@gmail.com as it will take a while for me to be set up on council systems.

Once I have all your ideas I will post on here, letting you know what I will be working on, in the short, medium and long term. I will then report back on progress. I look foward to hearing from you.

Elected - Thank you very much everybody

2010-05-08T04:00:00.001-07:00

I was honoured and delighted to be elected the new councillor for Horsell West in the early hours of Friday morning. As ever Horsell was very close between Liberal Democrats and Conservatives. Just 47 votes separated me from the Conservative candidate. UKIP came in a whisker ahead of Labour. The final results was

Ann-Marie Barker 1852
Conservative 1805
UKIP 245
Labour 217

Thank you to everybody for all your votes. Of course the General Election pushed up the turnout but I do feel very humbled that more than 1800 Horsell residents gave me their support.

A huge thank you to my team, particularly Richard Sanderson and his wife Sarah. Richard has represented Horsell as a councillor for more than a quarter of a century and Sarah has been behind him all the way. I hope I can carry on Richard's good work over the coming four years. I wish Richard well in his 'retirement' . Big thanks are also due to John Doran, former Horsell county councillor, who has been a stalwart of Horsell campaigns over a number of years. Rob Payne, as ever, did a wonderful job getting our poster boards up, and promptly down again. Margot and John Craig were always there to lend a hand. Many others played their part, helping us to deliver literature, canvass and prepare material. Thank you to everybody. It couldn't have been done without you.

Would you vote Labservative?

2010-05-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

As support for the Lib Dems increases in this election it is interesting to see the reaction of the two old parties "Labservative".

Here in Woking the Tory and Labour candidates have been agreeing with each other at the hustings. They agree to such an extent that the Conservatives quoted the Labour candidate, extensively, in a recent piece of literature.

I heard recently of a hustings in Hampshire, where, when asked which party they would support in a hung parliament the Labservative candidates said each other.

These two old parties really seem to be so concerned to preserve the old system, that's the one where they take it in turns to run the country and Lib Dems and other smaller parties get a few seats. Labservatives know it may be a few elections to wait, but eventually it will come around to their turn again. Neither of the old parties wants the Lib Dems to upset their cosy life.

May Fair on Wheatsheaf Common

2010-05-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

Enjoyed a lovely afternoon out at Horsell Scouts and Guides May Fair today. Well, it was lovely when the sun was shining. When the clouds came over, an icy wind blew and it was seriously freezing out there.

As ever the scouts and guides put on a great show, from tug of war and it's a knockout for the children, through the brilliant Karen Clarke dancers, birds of prey, martial arts and a fire brigade rescue demonstration. My younger daughter was fascinated by the man being rescued from a car by the fire brigade. She also loved the big slide and mini-waltzers.

We walked around the fair with Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Rosie Sharpley who had some interesting chats with our Horsell neighbourhood police officer, the local fire brigade and local residents.

Horsell Residents signed up some new members, there was much interest in Horsell Common Preservation Society and I was pleased to see they now have postcards of the Pegasus sculpture on Broomhall Common.

A hot topic of conversation for me was what class our children would be in when they start at Horsell Village this September. Didn't find anyone else who'll be in the same class but did learn about somebody we know from a local toddler group.

Judge a man by the company he keeps ....?

2010-05-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

Is there any truth in this old saying?

It certainly rang alarm bells for me when I saw that the Tory Euro MP who called the NHS "a 60 year mistake" had been in Woking supporting the Tory candidate.

It seems to run counter to the Tory candidate's claims to support the NHS.

In election literature our 'local' Tory talks about his role on the Surrey Health Scrutiny Committee. He says that he has been working to secure the future of Woking Community Hospital. Sounds good doesn't it? Rather a shame then, that when he had an opportunity to vote against the loss of beds at Cranleigh Community Hospital (in his county council division), he sat on his hands. Only one person on the committee voted to save beds at Cranleigh Community Hospital - Rosie Sharpley, Liberal Democrat candidate for Woking.

Parking Issues

2010-04-29T15:22:00.000-07:00

Lots of road issues tonight, mainly on the subject of parking and cars driving too fast. This is in an area on the edge of current parking restrictions in Horsell. Whilst I don't like the idea of Horsell becoming one giant Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) something has to be done in certain roads.

Unlike our Conservative colleagues, who go ahead and make changes to the areas without asking or even telling residents, we Lib Dems like to consult first. Time to get out in the next few weeks and ask residents if they would like some parking restrictions. The option for a 9.30am to 11.30am parking restriction seems to work well for some roads. It removes all day commuter parking.

Residents may remember the dreadful situation in Arthur's Bridge Road a few years ago. Commuters and LA Fitness users parked all along the road and on every junction. Visibility for drivers, cyclists and pedstrians was terrible. The local Lib Dem team consulted residents on appropriate restrictions, including double yellow lines on junctions. We can all travel along and across the road now without fear.

Conservative Concerns

2010-04-25T15:57:00.000-07:00

I hear news that the Conservatives in Woking are not happy with Lib Dem literature. A key issue for them seems to be us pointing out that Woking was the third choice for their candidate. It's absolutely true. He tried for Ann Widdecombe's old seat in Maidstone back in January 2008, and failed. Then he went up to Lancashire, trying for another safe seat, later the same year. He failed. Finally he settled on Woking in October last year and became parliamentary candidate. I make that three tries for a seat.

He had of course stood a number of years ago in a seat in Oldham, the area where he grew up. He lost. Similarly the Lib Dem candidate for Woking, and local Woking resident, Rosie Sharpley stood in another Surrey seat, Horsham in 2005. Rosie went to school in Horsham so when the Lib Dem candidate for that seat stood down, Rosie filled the gap, late in the day. She was up against Francis Maude, a senior Tory with a large majority. Rosie knew she couldn't win but flew the Lib Dem flag and cut her parliamentary teeth. In 2006 Rosie put her name forward for Woking Constituency and was selected as parliamentary candidate.

2010-04-25T15:54:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on previous posts today

- Surrey County Council has still not deigned to reply to my concerns about the new traffic posts on Brewery Road

- There seems to have been no progress on potholes. A few weeks ago there were council contractors out and about repairing holes but I haven't seen any for a while now. I cycled down Wilson Way (runs from High Street to Pares Close, St Andrews School and several smaller roads) and counted 36 potholes!!!

Mad March Hares

2010-04-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hot on the heels of the posts on Brewery Road (on which I am still awaiting a response from Surrey) I hear news of further failures of consultation from our beloved County Council.

Over in Brookwood a new traffic island, dubbed "Fishwick Island" by local residents, in reference to a senior county council officer, like the Brewery Road posts appeared in late March. The island is meant to help pedestrians and cyclists cross the A322 Bagshot Road, in the run up to Brookwood Crossroads. It is located opposite the Total petrol station and is on a direct route betwen two parts of the canal bank. Residents were surprised to see the island appear close to an existing combined pedestrian and cycle crossing. According to local residents the crossing affects cars wanting to make a right turn at the crossroads and has led to some motorists driving around the island (potentially against on-coming traffic).

The island appeared around 20 March and residents knew nothing until it was in place. See the website set up by residents here.

A further piece of County Council folly is detailed on the getsurrey website. Surrey has had to take out a cycle lane in Leatherhead, which cost 70K to install. The cycle lane was too narrow and featured numerous obstructions. In an attempt to widen the path Surrey used paint that made the path slippery when wet.

Still no response on those posts

2010-04-14T02:34:00.000-07:00

Well, surprise, surprise, Surrey County Council have still not bothered to reply to my emails about the posts erected on Brewery Road. They are obviously holding out to their 20 day reply time.

I have yet to find anybody who thinks the posts serve any useful purpose . Taking a trip along Brewery Road you can now watch pedestrians dancing and weaving to find a way past each other on the new narrowed path.

Three weeks to election day ...

2010-04-14T02:24:00.001-07:00

We are now over a week in to the election campaign proper and the pace is really hotting up. I am finding that people on the doorstep have a much clearer idea of which way they are going to vote, although there are the inevitable "undecided" and those who may not vote at all because of the expenses scandal and behaviour of some MPs.

There is a great deal of support for Vince Cable, so many people tell me he is the only one talking sense on the economy. Recognition of Rosie is very high and people are keen to vote for a local candidate who has worked for our area for so many years.

On your marks, get set, go ...

2010-04-06T02:57:00.000-07:00

Politicians around the country are off on the final sprint of the 2010 election campaign. Gordon Brown went to the Palace this morning and has now announced, as everyone anticipated, that 6 May is the date for the General Election. My husband seems to go have got into election mode - I threatened to paint Rosie on his back in this outfit!

Residents of Horsell West, and some other parts of Woking, will have two votes on 6 May. One for a new MP for Woking and one for a new local councillor for Horsell West. In both cases a 'new' face is guaranteed.

Humfrey Malins is standing down and the Liberal Democrat candidate Rosie Sharpley is in with the best chance the Lib Dems have ever had to replace him. Rosie is well known in the constituency. She's been a councillor in Goldsworth Park for 21 years, worked locally as a nurse and served as a magistrate in Surrey. As the Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson she's worked hard for our area in the last three years.

Meanwhile over in the Tory stable, Mr Malins stood down just over a year ago but a new candidate was not selected until last October. I understand that 'local' candidates did put their names forward but a PR man from Blackheath, who had already tried to get selected in Lancashire and Maidstone (Anne Widdecombe's seat) was chosen to go up against Rosie.

Labour have gone for a young candidate, having been deserted by their original candidate who went off to try for a 'safe seat' in London.

UKIP are definitely in there as well. I don't know much about their candidate. He comments a lot on various online forums. I believe he lives in one of the huge blocks of flats by the station. I suppose that gives him a good 'overview' of much of Woking.

In Horsell West I am looking to replace Richard Sanderson, who is standing down after a massive 26 years on the Council. He is the longest serving councillor and dates from a period when there were just a handful of Liberals on Woking BC. Now the party is one seat behind the Conservatives.

Richard and I have spent much time talking to residents in the last year and looking into local issues. I want to return to the Council to provide a voice for residents who often seem to be forgotten by both Woking and Surrey. This tendency has been shown all to clearly in recent weeks when Surrey took it into their heads to put traffic posts along the sharp bend on Brewery Road. During my time on the Council I was pleased to be able to intervene and stop Woking BC putting in a bid for a Casino, without consulting residents. As a result of my intervention the Council was forced to consult, via a telephone survey, and the conclusive answer was "No" to a casino.

If you still need to register to vote you have until 20 April. You can also register to receive your vote by post or to get someone to vote on your behalf. Details for Woking residents can be found here.

When is a flood not a flood?

2010-04-04T17:14:00.000-07:00

Why when Surrey County Council can't see it of course!!!

Many residents will have encountered the flood that regularly engulfs the zebra crossing on the route from Brewery Road car park to Footpath 19A (a popular walking route to Horsell Park and beyond).

At times the flood renders the crossing totally unusable. As the flood subsides it is possible to travel across the road in the vicinity of the crossing, but this may involve pushing the button on the Pelican lights and then running to the edge of the crossing to find dry land.

Pedestrians walking along the pavement are at risk of a free cold shower. Some drivers are considerate and slow down or drive in the centre of the road (on-coming traffic allowing). Others race through with not a care for those on foot. Back in January my daughter and I were soaked by some inconsiderate fool travelling through the standing water at speed.

Surrey say they don't know what is causing the flooding. They recently told the local paper there wasn't a flood there when they came to look at the situation. I expect that would be because of their dreadful response times. Anybody who has sent an email to Surrey will probaly recall getting an instant response - but this response just tells you they will respond to you query in 20 working days. A month, to respond to a query!!

Still no response

2010-04-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

I am still awaiting a response from the County Council on my questions about the posts erected on Brewery Road. It is now Easter, so Tuesday is the earliest time I can expect a response.

I have seen a reply to a local councillor on the erection of the posts and it confirms my suspicion that they were funded from some money left in the budget at the end of the year.

I wish they had put that money into something that would benefit the local area. I don't have to go far to suggest several things they could do, just in Brewery Road, such as:

Stopping the flooding that makes it dangerous to cross at the zebra on the route from the car park to Horsell Park and threatens pedestrians with a free cold shower
Filling in the potholes on Brewery Road that are growing by the day
Re-surface Brewery Road

And of course the list gets longer the further I travel , but this is indicative of the issues facing us all over Horsell and Woking.

Last Post ...

2010-03-31T16:30:00.000-07:00

The whole series of posts are now in place, all around the bend on Brewery Road. I have received nothing from Surrey County Council. Not even an acknowledgement of my email raising concerns. Tomorrow will be a week since I raised by concerns. I know a number of residents have also raised concerns. Surrey just went ahead and erected the rest of the posts.

Residents, quite rightly, have to apply for planning permission when they change the appearance of their home in even a minor way. Why is it that the County Council can erect these posts which have such a dramatic effect on the local scene and block the pavement without telling local residents.

I have found one person who has a use for the posts!

Concerned about traffic posts on Brewery Road

2010-03-25T14:11:00.000-07:00

I'm very concerned about some new traffic posts that are starting to be erected along Brewery Road. The aim is to slow traffic but I am not at all convinced that they are going to be effective. The posts are set to cover a huge distance from just past the postbox (near the children's playground), right along the bend towards Woking, and finishing just before the next side road into Horsell Moor.

I think the massed effect of these posts is going to be ugly and intrusive. They will really spoil what is currently a green view across Horsell Moor, defined by trees, shrubs and grass.

The posts are positioned quite a way into the pavement so will reduce pavement width, quite critical as the pavement narrows as it approaches Horsell Moor. I will be difficult for people to pass as the road narrows towards the road into Horsell Moor and quite a problem for double buggies.

Residents haven't been consulted on the erection of the posts and people I have spoken to so far are not convinced that traffic speeds will be reduced.

I have written to the County Council officer involved raising my concerns, as has local Lib Dem councillor Richard Sanderson. Despite being an elected representative in Horsell he was not informed of the County Council's plans.

I believe the posts are being erected because there is some money left in the budget at the end of the year. Residents are not to get their long awaited traffic calming, despite this having been proposed by former Lib Dem county councillor John Doran a number of years ago. I understand the budget is frozen for all road safety schemes for the coming financial year. This scheme appears to be a sop to Brewery Road residents. In my view the County Council are wasting their money. Residents want real traffic calming.

Taking A Stand

2010-03-22T04:52:00.000-07:00

I am now in possession of my nomination papers to stand as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Horsell West at the forthcoming local elections.

My long serving colleague, Richard Sanderson, is standing down after 26 years as a local councillor.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to take over and continue his hard work over many years. Of the three councillors representing Horsell West there are currently two Conservatives and one Liberal Democrat. I hope to maintain a Liberal Democrat presence in the ward to reflect the strong Liberal Democrat support in Horsell.

If elected I am keen to continue the work I did on the Council between 2004 and 2008. I will set out my aims and objectives over the next few days. Along with others in the local Liberal Democrat team I have been talking to people around Horsell since last September so I hope I have a good idea about what concerns people. If we haven't visited you and you would like to raise an issue please let me know.

Communication and consultation are key priorities. Residents need to kept informed about what is going on in their area and given a chance to have their say. As a councillor:

I was successful, against Conservative opposition, in requiring neighbours to be directly informed about applications for extended hours or entertainment licences from licensed premises
I informed residents about plan for mobile phone masts
I ensured residents knew about major planning applications

Local Policing on the National Stage

2010-03-22T04:41:00.000-07:00

Good to see Horsell and the Allotments featuring on the Today programme on Radio 4 this morning. I was particularly pleased to hear praise for our local neighbourhood police officer PC Parish (now an Acting Sergeant) who was very accurately described by one of the allotment holders interviewed as a “First class local constable”. PC Parish, along with a series of PCSOs (two of who have gone on to become full police officers) has been doing a fantastic job of policing Horsell for almost four years.

Do Conservatives Really Want to Listen?

2010-03-22T03:37:00.000-07:00

Surrey County Council, Woking Borough Council, local police and other agencies involved in providing services to people in Woking held a 'Community Question Time' last Wednesday. It was one event, for the whole borough, held in the HG Wells in the town centre. Many attendees will have had to park in the centre and incur a parking charge.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend the event - conflicting pressure of husband, older daughter and me all wanting to be in different places at the same time and a younger daughter to get to bed. From reports I have heard it sounds like I didn't miss much. It was not so much a question time as a talk at you time. I recognise that there is a need for a certain amount of introduction and scene setting required at this type of event but when an event is billed as a community question time you would expect the floor to open up to public questions with the minimum of preamble. Not so at this event apparently.

The funny thing is a local Conservative is now suggesting that a quarterly or twice yearly event that moves around the borough would be a good idea. It's a great idea and one that was put in place under the theme 'Tune In' through a local Liberal Democrat initiative.

I did see the term 'Tune In' on some advertising for last week's event, but it was a misnomer. The purpose of 'Tune In' was to hold a regular dialogue in the community. As with last week's event the various local service providers got together. The difference was that there were several events around the borough, based on policing areas. One 'Tune In' event was held in each area before the Conservatives quietly forgot all about it. 'Tune In' set a framework and really engaged local people. I attended two events, in Horsell and in Goldsworth Park, both were packed and there were many people keen to play ar part in their local community. As far as I can see all that is left of the initiative is 'clean-up days' in some areas. These are great events and a good chance for the community to work together but Tune In was meant to be so much more.

You Don't Have to Clean Your Wheely Bin

2010-03-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

Hot on the heels of my experience with the dodgy burglar alarm company I hear news of a company offering to clean wheely bins. Nothing wrong with this. Some residents may appreciate having their wheely bins cleaned for a fee. The issue with this company, according to BBC News is that they tell residents that Woking Council requires their bins to be cleaned to meet council standards. Woking Council has confirmed that it does 'advise' residents to keep their bins clean but it does not employ a company to enforce bin cleanliness. The company concerned uses the name 'Woking Wheelie Bins'.

You can see Woking Council's advice on this matter here. This includes using the Surrey Police non-emergency number if you are concerned by a sales representative at your door 0845 125 2222.

Beware of Callers Offering Free Burglar Alarms

2010-03-17T15:52:00.001-07:00

Last night I recieved a sales call at home. This, in itself, is unusual because our phone is TPS (Telephone Preference Service) registered. Signing up to this free service dramatically cuts down the number of sales calls. There are still a few that come through but most companies abide by the rules and the threat of a fine.

The caller said they were from the 'National Crime Research Group' and due to 'a slight increase' in crime in the area they were working on a campaign to improve safety. Alarm bells immediately started ringing for me as I had never heard of this organisation and I knew there hadn't been a rise in crime in our area. I carried on listening as I wanted to know the reason for the call. I can't recall the exact words used by the caller but the implication was that this organisation was working with police or another recognised body.

The caller told me that my household was one of four lucky winnners of a free burglar alarm. She offered to get her colleague to call me straight away to arrange a visit and a time to fit this new 'free' alarm. At this point I said 'no thank you' and ended the call.

I tried dialling 1471 but the number was withheld. I did an internet search and no record of the company name I was given. I then sent the details of the call to our local neighbourhood police officer to see if this was something he had encountered before.

As expected I had a prompt reply today. The neighbourhood officer had not come across this before but colleagues came up with details. I was sent a very useful press release explaining that these people provide a free burglar alarm but commit 'lucky winners' to contracts that can cost thousands of pounds.

The 'con' has been reported to trading standards across the country. Callers use various 'company names' and say they are working with the police or calling as part of a government scheme or researching for a fire and security alarm company. They aim to visit straight away to fit the 'free' alarm but also sign people up to pay fees for monitoring, upkeep, and rapid response facilities. These fees can add up to thousands.

If you do sign up for one of these schemes you have a seven day cooling off period in which you can cancel. However if you have the alarm fitted within these seven days you waive this right.

The warning is beware. Be very cautious. If you receive one of these calls report it to the local police. Please advise older residents you know of this con.

National Parking Award for Brewery Road but WBC still want to build over it

2010-03-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Brewery Road car park has won a "prestigious award" for its 'recent' refurbishment. This award is supported by 'Parking Review' and the 'British Parking Association'. The Conservative Leader of the council said he was "delighted that Woking's efforts to improve our car parks through a multi-million pound refurbishment programme have been recognised nationally".

It is nice to get national recognition and I am sure residents appreciate having clean and safe car parks but, this refurbishment is hardly 'recent' and it seems incredible that WBC is taking praise for a car park they seek to build on just as soon as they can.

A classic quote in the Council's press release says "It is also clear the Council has a strategy for ensuring the parking environments are well maintained into the future." Well, I hate to tell you 'Parking Review' and 'British Parking Association' but this one is not planned to be well maintained into the future. WBC plans to replace the car park with an office block. The site will still provide car parking but at least some will have to be above or below ground.

Parking in Horsell to avoid expensive Woking car parks

2010-03-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

I was down at the bottom end of Horsell Moor recently and saw the terrible state of the edge of the ground around the sports field and down to the squash club and junction with Arthurs Bridge Road. Cars have driven all along the area, some have really churned up the earth. There is no grass here at all, just mud. It really is an awful mess. This is a popular areas for commuters to park and walk into Woking.

Cars are also parked all along the road here, which at least means they are not blocking up residential roads and preventing people parking near their homes.

I can understand why people park their cars out of the town centre. It is just so expensive to park in Woking now. For somebody working a 5 day week you are talking about a cost of £8 per day or £40 a week. Add to that the ever increasing cost of petrol and its a huge chunk of many people's salary.

Now I am all for encouraging less car use and more cycling and walking but its not always possible for all sorts of reasons.

Perhaps Woking Council should look at another type of car parking provision. I wonder if there is any spare land on the Kestrel Way industrial estate where parking could be provided at low cost and a minbus service could bring workers into the town centre?

Clearing up Horsell

2010-03-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

Saw a huge pile of litter all along the edge of Brewery Road last week. It's on the wooded area that separates Brewery Road from Horsell Moor. I immediately informed the excellent neighbourhood officer for Horsell and she got straight back to me to say she had passed a request for a clean-up to SERCO, the council's contractors.

I came along there again this morning and all the rubbish is still there, plus a bit more. I've contacted WBC again. They are awaiting confirmation from SERCO. Hopefully the area will soon be clean and green again.

Inaccurate Conservative bar charts

2010-03-15T03:56:00.000-07:00

Conservatives complain long and hard about bar charts on Lib Dem leaflets. Grumbles range from claims of inaccuracy, through the choice of election result shown to which parties are displayed. I was very surprised therefore to see a recent Conservative leaflet, displaying, guess what, a bar chart.

Now, you would think, that for an election in Woking the local Conservatives, who under the incumbent MP Humfrey Malins had a majority of 6612 at the last general election would want to a bar chart showing the local situation. But no, perhaps the Lib Dems are just a bit too close for comfort, especially when Mr Malins is standing down and they only get around to selecting a marketing man from outside of Woking to fight their corner late last year.

The Conservatives have gone for the national general election result in their bar chart - and they can't even get that right!

Living in the UK's 'pothole capital'

2010-03-13T14:51:00.000-08:00

Surrey is the UK's pothole capital, according to a survey by Kia cars. Our county is in first place in a survey by the car manufacture with Hampshire in second place. Kia has seen a 150% increase in claims resulting from potholes in the last month.

It seems its impossible to make a journey around our area at the moment without spotting potholes. The sheer quantity of holes in the road is incredible. I can't see how Surrey expect to get them fixed with their extra money, which comes down to just a few thousand for every ward in Surrey.

Here's a pothole recently spotted in Horsell.

Poll says no to Wolsey purchase

2010-03-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

Hardly a scientific sample but amongst those who voted in my mini-poll on whether Woking Borough Council should have bought Wolsey Place 71% said no.

I think the Council stil has some work to do if it is to convince residents of Woking that this purchase was a good idea.

Threat to Local Fire Service

2010-03-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

Very worried about the latest news on our local fire service. There are threats of loss of fire stations in Surrey (although Woking is not mentioned) and reductions in staff numbers and hours and the number of engines. It is being suggested that there will be less full-time fire fighters and more retained staff on duty at night. This will reduce response time as retained staff need to travel to a fire station before responding to a call. Fire Brigade staff say this could lead to fires spreading further and potential loss of life.

Following a county council meeting on Friday the Executive member responsible said she could not "confirm or deny" rumours of up to 60 job losses.

I am concerned about the way this is being handled by Surrey County Council. The future of the fire service was due to be discussed in an open meeting, with public and press attending. At some point this decision was changed and the public and press were asked to leave the meeting.

The local press are also reporting that Surrey twice misssed out on a chance to get additional funding through not submitting a business plan on time.

Horsell on Google Streeet View

2010-03-12T16:02:00.000-08:00

Take a look at Google Maps and discover Horsell on StreetView. You can wander the streets of Horsell and zoom in and out on the area.

It is interesting to work out when Google filmed here. On Wheatsheaf Common Carters Steam Fair vehicles are in situ. This puts the date to mid September. On the corner of Broomhall Common and the Brewery Cut footpath there is a bare tree stump but no amazing Pegaus carving so filming must have been before 2009. Church Hill is closed and there is a water company van on the village side. My best guess at the moment is September 2008.

This is certainly a fascinating way to look around the area. It is very much a street (or road view). As far as I can see none of the footpaths are covered through Horsell and you can't even take the route from Brewery Road car park to the town centre.

Sections were obviously filmed at different times. Check out a dry Brewery Road (in the main) but a very sodden High Street and surrounding roads.

Here's Brewery Road and the car park entrance.

2010-03-02T05:24:00.000-08:00

I posted yesterday about whether Lord Ashcroft would pay all those back taxes he owes. I think it is highly unlikely but it is an interesting comparison between the wealthy lord and the average man or woman in Woking.

Lib Dem Chris Huhne has calculated that Ashcroft owes an astonishing £127 million in unpaid taxes. This is the total that is likely to have been levied on his wealth since 2000 when he was appointed a Tory peer.

It is beyond belief that a man who has a say in setting our taxes has failed to pay taxes that could have paid for health services, police on the street or schools.

A petition has been set up calling on Lord Ashcroft to pay up. Why not sign here http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ashcroft-should-pay-a-decade-of-taxes.html

Tories reject plans to slow traffic in Horsell Village

2010-03-02T01:53:00.000-08:00

Conservative run Surrey County Council has rejected plans to slow traffic in Horsell Village. Former Lib Dem County Councillor John Doran had persuauded the Council to include plans for a 20mph limit through the village and around local schools. This plan has now been deemed 'too costly' and dropped so far down the County's list of schemes it is not likely to happen in the foreseeable future.

Evidence shows that a pedestrian struck by a vehicle driving at 20mph is likely to suffer slight injuries. At 30mph a pedestrian is more likely to be severely hurt and if hit by a vehice driving at 40mph or more a pedestrian is likely to be killed.

Lib Dem run Portsmouth has shown that all is needed for such a 20mph scheme is to erect 20mph signs. This has been done in Portsmouth and they now have evidence of reduced accident rates.

The sad thing is that Surrey now has a policy to support 20mph zones, having shown little interest in the past. What a pity they can't put their own policies into practice.

Will Lord Ashcroft pay his back taxes?

2010-03-01T03:16:00.000-08:00

It has taken quite some time but Lord Ashcroft, a Tory peer and major party donor has finally admitted he is non-domiciled. This means that although he pays some tax in the UK, he does not pay tax on all of his interests. As everybody with the slightest interest in the political world has known this for some time it is hardly news.

Lord Ashcroft is a Deputy Chairman of the Conservative party and is currently using his millions to fund campaigns to elect Conservatives in target seats. The BBC suggests he has spent £4 Million in Tory target seats in recent years and that he has been the largest single Tory donor since 2005.

However, credit where its due. Lord Ashcroft has finally come clean. About time too! He now appears to say that, if his party leader, dear Dave, goes through with plans for “anyone in the Lords to be resident and domiciled” he will pay UK tax. Mind you he doesn’t state this explicitly. Oh no. He says he agrees with Dave’s plans on the Lords and that he expects to be sitting in the Lords for many years. Maybe he knows that Dave won’t get around to requiring the Lords to be ‘resident and domiciled’ for many years.

I can’t help but compare this to a Mr or Mrs Jo Public who rely wholly or partly on benefits. Their status changes, maybe through employment, it could just be a few hours extra work. If this is not declared, and the relevant agency finds out about a change in status, immediate amendment to benefit payments will be required. Mr or Mrs Public will also have to pay anything that has been overpaid.

Surely Lord Ashcroft is effectively over paying himself. He is not giving up the tax that we ordinary citizens have to pay on the money that we earn. Now he implies that, if the law changes, he will pay UK tax. About time too. But my question is will you be paying your back tax Lord Ashcroft?