Police action on speeding in Horsell

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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.