Woking Weekly Round Up

Who should pay Council Tax? 

Currently there are a range of Council Tax discounts for those least able to pay and on unoccupied or under-occupied properties.  The government, in it's wisdom, has decided to let local authorities decide who receives discounts on council tax in future.   Of course government has also decreed that local authorities will fund any discounts given.  Woking Council is running a consultation on where discounts should be given or reduced or removed.  It is open until 7 December.  Have your say here.

Saga of Brookwood Cemetery Still smoulders

The saga of Brookwood Cemetery continues to smoulder.  In the last week there was a fire at the office on the site.  Previously a car was damaged while parked at the cemetery.  A long running court drama came to an end in recent weeks when the current owner Erkin Guney was ordered to hand ownership to his father's widow.  That saga went back to Mr Guney senior's sudden death whilst visiting Cyprus.  The Surrey Advertiser covered the latest developments.

The cemetery is a valued local asset, lying at the heart of the modern history of Woking.  It continues to provide burial services for a number of communities.  Members of the Al Hilli family murdered in France were recently buried at Brookwood.  We can only hope for a stable future for the cemetery but that is far from certain at the moment.

Tragedy for Mayford Village Hall

Tragedy struck Mayford Village Hall in the early hours of Sunday 17 November.  
A serious fire, feared to have been started deliberately,  caused substantial 
damage to the well used community facility reported the Surrey Advertiser.

Lewis Wins in Austin

Good news for Woking based McLaren this week when Lewis Hamilton won his penultimate Grand Prix for the team.  For Lewis it was a second F1 victory in the US.  Formula 1 has not been to the States for 5 years but Lewis won the last race that was run on American soil.

I was intrigued by the unusually shaped track which I learnt is the first one to be custom built in the US for Formula 1.

Davies upstaged by talking dog

Comedian and actor Alan Davies appeared at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking last week.  According to his tweet he enjoyed his time in Woking but apparently thought it was more notable that the winner of Britain's Got Talent is one of the 'stars' of this year's panto at the theatre.

Alan Davies ‏@alandavies1

Enjoyed tonight's gig at the Victoria Theatre Woking but the big news is Pudsey the dog is in Dick Whittington here starting next month...

A Town Called Malice

The Jam song title, penned by Paul Weller, continues to hang over Woking.  Weller was interviewed about the song along with fellow band member Bruce Foxton in the Guardian last week.  One classic line from the interview is Paul's assertion that he doesn't think  "the swinging sixties ever hit Woking".

I wasn't around at the time but I'd be interested to hear the views of older residents on Paul's view.

Who voted for our Police and Crime Commissioner?

At the end of a long day of election results a quick review of who in Woking voted for our new Police and Crime Commissioner.

A total of 12,190 Woking residents voted for their new Police and Crime Commissioner on Thursday.

There was just a 15.6% turnout in Woking with fewer than half of postal voters using their vote and only 1 in 10 other voters making it to the polling station.

Across Surrey turnout was 15.7% with the highest turnout of 19.8% in Mole Valley and the lowest of 13.1% in Spelthorne.

Kevin Hurley, a former Detective Chief Superintendent with the Metropolitan Police was elected as Woking and Surrey's first Police and Crime Commissioner.

The election used SV - Supplementary Vote - the same system used to elect Boris as Mayor of London.  This means that voting slips had 2 columns rather than one to place a vote in.  In the first column voters put an "X" against their preferred candidate.  Voters can then also choose to out an "X" in the second column - a supplementary vote.

When votes are counted any candidate achieving at least 50% of the vote is the winner.  If no candidate achieves 50% of the vote the second preference votes are used.  The top two candidates go head to head.  All other candidates are ruled out and their second preference votes allocated to the top two candidates.

In Surrey the Tory candidate was ahead by 13 votes on first preferences but had only around a quarter of the vote (26.1%).  When second preference votes were allocated between the Tory and second placed Independent candidate Kevin Hurley the latter came out on top (by a large margin).

Surrey's vote for "former police chief, zero tolerance" was confirmed at 17.40 after a count which seemed to take up rather a lot of day given the low turnout.

Will Police and Crime Commissioners have a mandate

Turnouts are reported to be very low in many areas for Police and Crime Commissioner elections.  I couldn't help but think how Tories are very quick to complain that union ballots for strike action are invalid if there is a low turnout.  Here's Francis Maude last year commenting on one ballot:

"i note that only one in five PCS members voted for strike action"
In the same year dear old Boris, Mayor of London suggested a 50% turnout should be required in strike ballots.  Many local elections don't get a 50% turnout never mind the omnishambles that has been the elections for Police and Crime Commissioners.

Turnout has been so low I think the public has sent a clear message to the government that they are just not interested in having a Police and Crime Commissioner.

It is little known that today was also to have been a day of elections for Mayors in major cities.  Only one city, Bristol, voted to have an elected Mayor.  Another rejection of Tory centralisation of power in the hands of one person.

Take this back to the drawing board Theresa May.

And the winner is .. Apathy

It is very hard to predict the result of the Police and Crime Commissioner election in Surrey. With 6 candidates, one each from three major parties plus a UKIP and 2 Independents, it is difficult to know who will finish where.

Surrey is of course a predominantly Conservative county. All its MPs are Conservative. All its councils are Conservative run (although there are some such as Mole Valley and Woking with a strong Lib Dem presence).

This would appear to point to a victory for the Conservative candidate. But what about the Independent ex police chief who went for the Conservative nomination and on failing to win decided to go it alone. Or the other independent who is the last chair of the Surrey Police Authority, the body that an elected PCC will replace.

Don't forget UKIP who has a former policeman up for election.

Labour have little hope with no MPs and only a handful of councillors in the county.

That leaves Nick O'Shea the Lib Dem candidate who has family experience of the police service, many years of management experience and an understanding of budgets from his work as an accountant.

But I think the real winner when results are announced on Friday will be apathy. Whoever I going to be out first PCC will not have the support of the public because so few have voted in this omnishambles of an election.

If you read this on Thursday there may still be time. Polls are open until 10pm. Why not cast a vote for anything other than apathy.

Woking Weekly Round Up

Putney Philanthropist builds houses in Woking

Just love this story of a philanthropist who has built 3 houses in Woking, and sold for a profit which she has given to good causes.  Charlotte Grobien who lives in Putney has now donated £1M through her charity 'Give it Away'.  The charity makes donations to a disabled nursery school, Great Ormond Street and a small theatre.  Charlotte is now looking to renovation projects to raise more money for good causes in the future.

The next Lewis Hamilton?

The Knaphillian had the story of a young man from Knaphill who is making his way in the world of racing this week.  Piers Hickin made his debut with Hill Racing on Saturday 10 November having cut his teeth in the world of karting.  There is more information on Ginetta racing.  Could this be a homegrown Lewis Hamilton of the future?

Remembering a Byfleetian who died on the Somme

In the week of Remembrance Day the Surrey Advertiser had this heartwarming story of a great niece who tracked down what happened to her uncle in WWI.  Maurice Matcham grew up in a little cottage by the railway line in Byfleet - since demolished to make way for the M25.  He died on the Somme in 1918, aged just 22 years.  He is commemorated on both a memorial in Arras and on the Byfleet War Memorial.  Following her research Jan Simmonds now believes she knows in which offensive her relation died.

Brookwood Cemetery to be at heart of 2014 Centenary

Staying with Remembrance I spotted a small mention for Brookwood Cemetery in an article on This is Kent.  Brookwood, along with Folkestone and Mons in Belgium is to be key a location for for the centenary commemorations of the start of WWI on 4 August 2014.

Does the Co-op understand social responsibility?

I have always held the Co-operative in pretty high regard.  They offer ‘convenient’ local shops that serve communities and run an ethical business.   Costs are usually a little higher than at the bigger supermarket but that‘s the price you pay for being able to pop in for a few pints of milk or a loaf of bread.  Until recently my only grumble was that staff at my local store sometimes seemed to focus less on operating tills and reducing queues than on stocking shelves.  Not a big deal just a hassle when you are you in a rush.

My view was changed by events a week or so ago.  The disabled daughter of a lady from Pyrford whom  I know only through Twitter took a trip to the local Co-op.  The child in question uses a wheelchair. She had gone to the local  Co-op with her 14 year old aunt to buy a comic.  Teenager and child were refused entry to the store because ‘wheelchairs were not allowed inside’.  This incident was very upsetting for both children and left the disabled child in particular feeling she cannot go to shops as she is scared about what might happen and how people will react to her.  The events have really knocked the poor child's confidence.

That the incident happened was bad enough but what followed was even worse.  There is yet to be a proper apology from the Co-op.  There has been no suggestion of what the company will do to right the wrong it has done to the family.  There has been no indication of what action the store will take to make sure this does not happen again.  The Surrey Advertiser covered the story and got a quote from the company which merely said they would like to apologise for the upset and that there had been an ‘unfortunate misunderstanding’.

I took a look at the Co-operative website to re-assure me about their ethics and understand the company policies.  The first thing that struck me was the company by-line “here for you for life”.  Obviously not if you are in a wheelchair.  

Reading on I found the company has a great initiative “to be the most socially responsible business in the UK”.  Hard to believe this given recent performance.  

I learnt that in 2012 the Co-op launched an ethical plan in which it states “we will continue to be socially inclusive”.  They haven’t even started being inclusive here in Woking!  This ethical plan is great on giving back to the community and the environment but I can see nothing in there about inclusivity for those who have a disability.  Read it for yourself here. 

I would like to see the Co-op focus a little more on its core business.  I would like to see Co-op shops accessible to all.  I would like staff to be inclusive and offer the same level of service to all customers.

After this dreadful incident I would have liked to have heard from the Co-op  that it was speaking to the staff member involved, offering further training in customer service skills, particularly in relation to customers with specific needs, finding out whether other staff in the store also needed this training and reviewing layout to see if the store could be made more accessible whilst still having the full range of stock displays.

Maybe this will come but it has been some time since the incident and the last I heard was that the Co-op were investigating the matter.

The Co-op suggests the incident was an 'unfortunate misunderstanding'.  I think that unfortunately the Co-op is misunderstanding its social responsibility.

Monthly Breath of Fresh Air

The Horsell 2nd Thursday Club is a breath of fresh air for the village.  Born from the fantastic success of the Horsell Jubilee event it is going from strength to strength.  I was delighted to be able to make it along to a meeting for the first time this week.

Every second Thursday in the month a loose gathering of people get together in Horsell.  The group receives updates on current and planned activities and new ideas are raised.  Separate groups meet to take forward schemes.

Tonight we were updated on progress at Pares Woodland Garden which I visited last weekend, a potential community choir, a film club, and a charity raising money for two schools in Madagascar (the birth country of Paul our Horsell pharmacist).  There was also discussion about two Christmas events - a Horsell Christmas Fair on 30 November and a Horsell Christmas card delivery service.

Find out more about this community focused grouping here.  Why not sign up to help out at the Christmas Fair or lend a hand delivering the local Christmas post.

Woking Weekly Round Up

Mousetrap comes to Woking

Mousetrap comes to Woking

Mousetrap, penned by Agatha Christie, is coming to Woking as part of its first ever tour.  The play which has spent 60 years in London theatres will be at the New Victoria Theatre between Monday 12 and Friday 16 November. More information here from Get Hampshire.

Woking Core Plan Launched

Eagle Radio covered the launch of the Woking core plan this week.  Sounds very dull but this is the critical document that sets out broad guidelines on what can and can't be built in Woking over the next 15 years.  It says how many new homes need to be built and what proportion of new properties should be 'affordable'.

Woking FC Glory Days

Woking lost at Gateshead on Saturday and previously failed to make the first round proper of the FA Cup this year but Paul Caulfied in the Independent looked back at Woking's stunning victory over West Bromwich Albion over 20 years ago.  That FA Cup fixture was real slaying for the Woking team over much higher placed opposition.

Abu Dhabi Downer for Lewis

The Formula 1 weekend started well for Lewis Hamilton with a pole position in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but ended badly with an engine failure putting him out of the race from a dominant position at the front of the race.  BBC News covers his reaction.

Fireworks in the Park

A huge crowd enjoyed the annual Round Table fireworks at Woking Park on Saturday.  This was the 19th annual firework display which raises money for local good causes.  As usual the fireworks were set to music with this year's theme 50 years of James Bond films.  Local photographer Lisa got some great shots of the display.  Look out for the 20th display in 2013.

Check out the new Town (sorry Jubilee) Square

Following my visit to Pares Woodland Garden on Saturday I dashed home for a quick change of clothes and then into Woking town centre.  I was attending the opening of the much improved square in the town centre, now re-named Jubilee Square.

A veritable host of dignitaries attended the event including the High Sheriff of Surrey, Chairman of Surrey County Council, Mayor of Woking, Leader of Woking Council and representatives from the contractors who worked on the new square and changes to Wolsey Place.

Paralympian Ade Adepitan unveils a sculpture of himself

The opening event involved the unveiling of a stone in the square, viewing the amazing pictures from Celebrate Woking over the year combined in fantastic mosaics, unveiling a sculpture of paralympian Ade Adepitan and a plaque from Woking Lions.

A mosaic picture like those now displayed in Peacock Walk

The new square is very impressive and so much more bright and open.  Having Cafe Rougé opening on to the square really brings life to the area.  However I still don't understand why the square was renamed.  As I found out after asking at a recent council meeting changing the name cost £5,000 in 'direct costs'.  

If you haven't been recently why not make time to take a look at the new square and maybe stop for a bite to eat at Cafe Rougé or Pret a Manger.

The miracle of Pares Woodland Garden

On Saturday I visited Pares Woodland Garden in Horsell for the first time.  It is located on the hill behind Horsell village, close to the Pares Close flats and behind the houses in the closes off Meadway Drive.

I had known for some time that a local resident, Tony Noel, wanted to improve this overgrown area.  What I hadn't realised until Saturday was quite how large an area was involved.  I was familiar with the site on top of the hill but had no idea how far it went back or indeed that there were natural pathways behind the mass of holly and bramble that covered the area.

Tony had asked me several years ago if local schools would be interested to take on the site as a wildlife garden but the response from schools was that it was too much to take on when they had their own wildlife areas on site.  It took the Second Thursday Club to run with Tony's vision.  This loose collection of Horsell residents meet, as the name suggests, on the second Thursday of each month.  The group considers proposals for community action in the area and Tony's woodland garden has become one of their projects.  Other project, either current or in the pipeline, are a Christmas shopping evening in Horsell village on 30 November, regular litter picks, a choir and aiding a local resident with a small preserve making business.

Volunteers have done an amazing job so far on clearing Pares Woodland Garden.  I am sure it will become a fantastic amenity for Horsell.  I only had chance to drop by and take a look at progress this week.  I hope to go back on a future weekend and make my contribution to the miracle that is Pares Woodland Garden.

Delight as Woking News and Mail goes weekly

I'm delighted that the Woking News and Mail is now a weekly publication.  Our local paper has caused me a whole range of emotions over the last year or so.  

First I was sad that Woking would no longer have a dedicated newspaper and that the local journalists on the paper would lose their jobs.  Then I was relieved  when I learnt that many journalists had secured roles with the Surrey Advertiser.  I was pleased when that paper gave a far greater focus to Woking with a specific Woking edition.  The Surrey Ad continues to give a great Woking service and I am now a regular purchaser.

I was very pleased when I learnt that Knaphill Print was to revive the Woking News and Mail.  I was cautiously optimistic on the future of the paper as it was initially a monthly publication.  It was a real pleasure to see the paper become a fortnightly feature and I am now delighted that the News and Mail is restored as Woking's dedicated weekly paper.

The story of the paper's revival was covered on Eagle Radio this morning and summarised on their website.  

Comet to crash?

Worrying news that retailer Comet is heading towards administration.  The Financial Times says that the end could come as soon as Thursday 1 November.  An article in the paper goes on to say that the company which was bought by a private investment firm earlier in the year hit problems when stocking up for Christmas.

Locally there is a large out of town Comet store at the Wey retail park in Byfleet.  We can only hope the chain is rescued and jobs are secured.

Woking Weekly Round Up

Desmond Tutu visits St Peter's

At the full meeting of Woking Council on Thursday night we heard from the Mayor that he had met Archbishop Tutu at St Peter's hospital just outside Woking earlier in the week.  Desmond Tutu was visiting Woking's local hospital to Woking People has the full story.

Cards victory at Newport

After the disappointing exit from the FA Cup through a late opposition goal last week Woking FC recorded a great 3-2 victory over Newport on Saturday.  The win was a great birthday present for News and Mail journalist and match reporter Tom Oxtoby.

Hustings for Police and Crime Commissioner role

Candidates for the role of Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner have attended several hustings events recently including one in Ashtead reported on by Get Surrey.  Victim Support organised the event which was attended by all 5 candidates.  Unfortunately I have not heard of any events organised in Woking.  Nick O'Shea the Lib Dem candidate has made a number of visits to Woking.  I reported here when Nick and I met residents in Horsell.

Old Knaphill Library to becomes homes and a memorial garden

Woking Council confirmed this week that the site of the old Knaphill library will now be the location of 6 affordable flats and a memorial garden.  Knaphill Resident's Association has the story and resident reactions.

Jail terms for Poppy Tin thiefs

As poppies go on sale for donations to the 2012 Poppy Appeal it is good to hear that two brothers who stole collection tins from Woking and other locations in the South East in 2011 have been jailed.  

Surrey Police report back on the sentencing of the brothers from Kingston who committed a number of theft and burglary offences including stealing collection boxes in Epsom, Walton-on-Thames and Woking.

Report It

Been busy making reports to Surrey County Council over the last couple of days.

First I saw a huge flood at a bus stop on Goldsworth Road. Then I found a streetlight out on Brewery Road.

Although a bit 'clunky' the "Report It" function is a great way to tell the county council about everything from potholes to faulty street lights and blocked drains.

You can access online reporting at the Surrey County Council web site.

Beware phone calls from Direct Response

Sitting at home nursing a cold today I received a phone call from a company called Direct Response.  The man on the end of the line told me that:

• Direct Response was in the local area for a couple of days 
• Direct Response was running a local crime and safety campaign called "Home Safe Home"
• Direct Response was "registered" with the local police.   
• Direct Response was offering a wireless alarm system which directly contacted police, fire and paramedics
• Our household was one of four to have been randomly chosen for receipt of a free trial system

Lots of alarm bells rang in my head as I listened to this sales patter:

Issue 1 - We have TPS so they should not be phoning us trying to sell their alarm system or any associated services
Issue 2 - A call to Surrey Police on the non-emergency 101 phone number confirmed that they do not endorse this company
Issue 3 - I can find no record of a Home Safe Home campaign anywhere, not even on the company's own website
Issue 4 - A little bit of research found this Watchdog investigation from 2010 on the same company.  At that time they offered systems but then charged a monitoring fee of £58 a month (the link to emergency services) as part of a contract that could leave a home-owner with a bill of £3.400.

If you do receive such calls please do try and gather as much information as possible so we can get evidence of any misleading claims that are made.  Report the call to the police using the 101 non-emergency number.  If you are TPS registered also report the call to the TPS.

I do wonder if this company are making calls in our area because Surrey Police this week launched a campaign urging residents to take steps to make their homes safe.  Full details of Surrey Police recommendations to keep your home safe are here.

Woking Weekly Round Up

A weekly round up of news from and about Woking

How would you fill Council Tax gap?
Woking Council launched a consultation on plugging the gap left by a cut in government funding for those who can't pay all of their Council Tax bill. How do you think Woking should cover this hole in its finances.  Take part in the consultation.

Recycled nappies anybody?
Down in the south of Surrey the County Council has just started a trial to recycle nappies.  Residents of Mole Valley will be able to recycle used nappies which will then be turned into plastic pellets and cardboard fibres.  BBC News covered the story.



Woking village among best places to bring up children
Sutton Green has been voted one of the top 20 places in England and Wales to raise a child.  According to Family Investments the Woking village with the postcode GU4 is at no. 19 in the chart.  My council colleague Will Forster has the story.

Train like Lewis and Jenson at McLaren
It's not often I admit to reading the Daily Mail but an article in which their motor racing correspondent tries out the McLaren driver training regime made interesting reading.  If you and a friend fancy training like a champion there are details of a competition at the end of the article.

Woking out of FA Cup
You know when you read an article and think that's tempting fate.  This piece on BBC Sport following an interview with Woking Assistant Steve Thompson did it for me.  The article title referrred to Thompson "eyeing an FA Cup run" only for the Cards to lose 1-0 to a very late Ebbsfleet goal on Saturday in the fourth round of the competition.


Call for new water main
After the collapsed water main on the A320 near St. Peter's Hospital the other week Horsell resident and Horsell Common Preservation Society Estates Manager Paul Rimmer has called for the water main to be replaced.  Paul refers to almost annual incidents over the last ten years in a Get Surrey piece.  

Councillor hits out at Tories on European Arrest Warrants

Speaking at the Liberal Democrat Regional conference in Guildford in support of an emergency motion proposed by Nick O’Shea, candidate for Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, Cllr. Ann-Marie Barker said “Wanting to opt out of the European Arrest Warrant is yet another example of crazy Tory little islander mentality.  Do they think their insularity will protect us?”

Cllr. Barker continued “We know here in Surrey that crime crosses the border from London let alone the drugs that come across many borders to reach our streets.  Police need as much help as we can give them to work in partnership with other European law enforcement agencies.  Don't let the Tories destroy this important plank of European working together”.

South East region Lib Dems unanimously passed the emergency motion which condemned Teresa May’s recent announcement that she intends to opt-out of cross-Europe law enforcement measures, including the European Arrest Warrant.  In proposing the motion Nick O’Shea referred to the recent case of the Eastbourne schoolgirl and her teacher who were located in France thanks to close cooperation with other European law enforcement agencies and the European Arrest Warrant.  Nick noted that 13 former security and police chiefs had written to the Home Secretary asking her to reconsider on this matter.

If you would like to support the campaign to keep the European Arrest Warrant you can join Nick and Ann-Marie by signing the petition.

What's all this about Police and Crime Commissioners?

Good question.  Many people aren't aware that in England and Wales (except for London) we will all be asked to vote for a Police and Crime Commissioner in less than 4 weeks time on Thursday 15 November.  In this election Woking votes elect a Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

What is the role?

A Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for each county is a Conservative idea to give the public more control over local policing.  The Home Office web site tells us that having a PCC will make police more accountable to the public and cut crime.  The Surrey Police Authority sets out the role of the PCC in more detail here.

Independent candidates

It was originally suggested that elections for a PCC would attract good Independent candidates.  It was implied that it wouldn't be politicians that stood for the roles.  Take a look at the Home Office web site and there is lots of talk about how anybody can stand for these new roles.  David Cameron says it is "a big job for a "big local figure" and the Home Office says "This is an opportunity for people from all walks of life to stand and to make a difference".

Sounds great but the reality is rather different.  A candidate needs 500 signatures to stand.  Political parties have access to the electoral roll all year round so it is easy find signatories.  Independent candidates will only get access when they are nominated and nominations only closed this week.

National elections such as the General and European elections include a Free Post - allowing candidates to send a piece of literature to the electorate at no cost to themselves.  They have to pay for design and printing of the literature but the Royal Mail delivers it free of charge. There is no Free Post for the PCC election.

Party political

Having said the roles would primarily attract non-political candidates the Conservative and Labour parties have gone about putting candidates in every county.  These candidates include several former MPs.  Michael Mates is standing in Hampshire and former Woking MP Humfrey Malins tried to get the Conservative candidacy for Surrey.   Among the Labour party it is also a popular role for past MPs.  John Prescott and Alun Michael are in the running.

Initially the Liberal Democrat position nationally was not to run candidates.  The party recommended that we back good Independent candidates instead.  There was some logic in this approach but when it became clear both Conservative and Labour parties were to stand candidates it seemed illogical to a majority in Woking and Surrey not to give the electorate the choice of a Liberal Democrat candidate as well.

Then came the issue of a candidate. I heard there was a Member in Mole Valley who was interested.  He was a local businessman and former district councillor with experience of policing.

Nick O'Shea Lib Dem PCC candidate

In fact Nick O'Shea is the ideal candidate.  If elected he is excellently qualified to be Surrey's first PCC.  Nick comes from a line of policing. Both his father and his grandfather were policemen in Surrey.  He lives in Dorking now but has lived all across Surrey at various times including in Woking.  He is a trained accountant and he runs his own business so he knows how to budget and make the numbers add up.  He has much knowledge of policing in Surrey.  

On selection he set up a programme to spend time in each of the eleven Surrey boroughs.  In Woking I took him around Horsell and we talked to residents in Graylands about local issues including policing.  Colleagues took him to Goldsworth Park to hear of local issues in that part of Woking.

Nick has a clear manifesto and knows exactly what he would do if elected on 15 November.  See his website here.

Other Runners and Riders in the race for PCC

Julie Iles - Conservative candidate 

Current member of the Police Authority and magistrate.  She supported abortive plans to privatise policing which cost Surrey taxpayers £160k.  Has held positions in the Tory party such as Chair of Southern Women's Conservative Association.

Robert  Evans - Labour candidate 

Former London North West MEP.  Despite being MEP for the area he failed to hold the parliamentary seat of Brent East for Labour being beaten into second place by Lib Dem Sarah Teather. He has also been beaten by Conservatives in Uxbridge .  He appears to have Iived in Weybridge throughout his time of representing London in Europe.  He made a big issue of opposing police privatisation but now that is ruled out he seems to have run out of ideas.

Peter Williams - Independent

Current Chairman of Police Authority and magistrate. 

Kevin Hurley - Independent

Beaten in race to be Tory candidate so is going it alone.  Former police Borough commander.  Says he is standing for the zero tolerance policing ex chief party.

Robert Shatwell - UKIP

Ex police officer and past UKIP agent for local elections in Woking. 

Here in Woking polling cards have started dropping through letterboxes ready for the election on Thursday 15 November.

Byfleet stays in Woking thanks to Lib Dems

Lib Dems keep Byfleet part of Woking

The Boundary Commission has announced its latest proposals for future parliamentary constituencies including Woking.  Having consulted on its initial plans the Commission is now proposing that Woking should keep its current parliamentary boundaries.  I never understood the reasoning behind the changes proposed so this is great news for Woking.  

Original plans for Woking constituency involved the loss of Byfleet and the addition of Pilgrims ward from Guildford.  This meant the loss of a Woking borough ward and its replacement with an area outside the borough and closer to Farnham than Woking.

Byfleet is closely linked to the other two wards in the east of the borough  West Byfleet and Pyrford.  The links between these areas are strong and they are commonly known as the "three villages".  Taking Byfleet out of Woking constituency seemed illogical to local Liberal Democrats.  

Lib Dem Borough councillor for Byfleet Anne Roberts put Byfleet's case at the Boundary Commission's public hearing in Crawley.  Cllr. Roberts pointed out that Byfleet looks to Woking as its major town and administrative centre.  This assertion appears to have been supported by the Commission.

Disappointingly local Conservatives took a different view and the Boundary Commission report refers to “Those supporting the transfer of Byfleet, including the Conservative Party, have argued that it is separated from the rest of Woking by the M25.”  It's hard to believe that local Conservatives were prepared to cast Byfleet adrift because a previous Conservative government allowed a motorway to be cut through the borough.

Pilgrims ward is a very rural part of Guildford.  For much of it the nearest town centre is Farnham.  There seemed no logic in attaching this area to Woking.  It is a ward that elects one Conservative councillor with a large majority so you can see the attraction for one party if this area became part of Woking constituency.

Thankfully common sense has prevailed.  This may all be academic for the moment as the new boundary proposals are unlikely to get through parliament.  However they could return after 2015 so I am pleased that the Boundary Commission now supports the status quo for Woking constituency.