Friday, 30 November 2012

Mr Farage's Sense of Humour

I'll say one thing for UKIP Leader Nigel Farage he has a great sense of humour.  This was demonstrated today after UKIP managed second place in two parliamentary by-elections.
 
Mr Farage announced UKIP as the "third force" in British politics.  An amusing claim which just isn't backed by the evidence.  Look at how the figures stack up.  Of course UKIP has a number of Euro MPs, although according to Channel 4 Political Editor Michael Crick in this piece Mr Farage himself considers them "oddballs and eccentrics, too old, often lazy, sometimes corrupt".  UKIP has a handful of councillors across the country, many are defections from other parties.  They don't have any MPs.  In the second places they achieved this week less than 1% of the electorate in Rotherham voted for them and less than 0.5% of the Middlesborough electorate. 
 
Compare this with the Liberal Democrats.  We have 12 hard working MEPs.  One of our MEPs here in the South East is Sharon Bowles who is the first woman and first British MEP to chair the powerful Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.  Sharon was this year named the most influential Briton on EU Policy and recently made it on to the shortlist for Governor of the Bank of England.  We have 57 MPs and they have places in Cabinet and at junior ministerial level.  We are in government. 
 
The second piece of humour from Mr Farage is that he is believed to be considering Neil and Christine Hamilton as potential UKIP candidates for the European Parliament.  Michael Crick in the article referenced above suggests UKIP is looking for people with the right kind of "modern, serious image" to replace some of his current MEPs.  Not quite what comes to my mind when thinking of the Hamiltons.  Neil lost his seat in what has been dubbed the "cash for questions saga", she went off to parade around the jungle as a "celebrity" and they have both appeared on tv games shows



Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Horsell Christmas Fair & Christmas Tree Festival



I am looking forward to taking part in the Horsell Christmas Fair this Friday.  It is going to be a great late afternoon and evening in the village centre.  Many shops in the High Street will be opening late.  The shops will be decorated with Christmas Trees, the pubs are joining in and there will be hot chestnuts on sale, stalls from local voluntary groups and small enterprises, crafts in the Village Hall and a treasure hunt for children.  Whilst you walk around the village you can listen to and even join in with carol singing from our own Community Choir.

The Crown is now home to Thurstons the Horsell Brewing Company.  This is the first brewery in the village for 95 years (the last I assume was the one in Brewery Road).  Thurstons first beer is Stedman’s ale and it will be on tap on Friday 30 November.
 

The Christmas Fair starts at 4pm and activity goes until 8pm.  For full details of event times and layout of the Fair buy a programme at local shops including Spar, Needle and Thread, LA Fitness, Squires Garden Centre, Butchers for just £1.  The programme contains one entry into the Grand Raffle.

Whilst all this is going on in the High Street up at St Mary’s Church on Church Hill the Christmas Tree Festival will be in full swing.  This is the second year of the Christmas Tree festival, organised by the church and the Parent Teacher Association from Horsell Village and Horsell Junior School.  The whole church will be taken over by many different interpretations of the Christmas Tree from the traditional back to nature tree with pine cones, through a Lego tree, a Brussels sprout tree, lollipop tree and even a tree of cup-cakes.   The Christmas Tree Festival is open from 10am to 8pm on Friday and from 10am to 4pm on Saturday.  You even get to vote on your favourite tree.  Suggested entry to the Christmas Tree Festival is £3 for adults but children are free. All proceeds go to the PTA to support learning at our local schools.

If all this isn’t enough Friday evening excitement at 8.15pm Horsell Cinema Club has its first outing showing Miracle on 34thStreet in the Village Hall.  The film begins at 8.15pm.  Tickets priced at £2.50 will be available from Seymours Estate Agents on the day.

Monday, 26 November 2012

What is Kevin Hurley going to do for us?

Surrey first Police and Crime Commissioner Kevin Hurley took office last week.  Mr Hurley stood for election on a platform of "zero tolerance" and all candidates for the new policing position talked about more "bobbies on the beat".  But what is zero tolerance and how will or new PCC get more police on our streets? 


Zero Tolerance

My understanding of the term was similar to that set out in Wikipedia  (not always a reliable source but appears accurate in this case).  It has typically been used to refer to sentencing policy.  As PCCs won't have any control over this area I was puzzled as to how Mr Hurley was going to apply it.

Discussions and interviews I have seen with Mr Hurley refer to tackling issues e.g. if a police car drives past a gang of youths who abuse the officers in the vehicle the police will stop and speak to the group.  Mr Hurley goes on to talk about discretion being used as to what happens next.  Seems like reasonable policing to me, hardly zero tolerance.

It all seems rather contradictory so we will just have to wait and what impact our new PCC has on Surrey policing.

Bobbies on the Beat

Another puzzle is how Mr Hurley will get more "bobbies on the beat".  He talks on his website about "more visible street policing" and about reducing back office roles.  

However Mr Hurley has called a halt to selling off police stations.  Surely operating police stations requires back office staff and also keeps police officers in the station rather than on the street.

The Surrey police strategy, defined by former Chief Constable Mark Rowley,     was to sell off police buildings and base police in other community facilities.  The money from sales and reduced estate costs was ploughed back into local policing to keep neighbourhood police teams on the streets.  

If the police stations are to stay open how will Mr Hurley fund police on our streets.  His website talks of using the "ill gotten gains of criminals" to pay for beat officers.  Shades of Tony Blair and taking drunks to cash points to get money out to pay fines.  There are powers at a national level to seize money from serious criminals involved in crimes such as drug dealing and money laundering.  Are these powers available to PCCS?

Maybe the answer lies in this blog post from Mr Hurley covering his time policing Hammersmith and Fulham.  It seems extra police resouce came from calling on local businesses to fund police.  Is this Mr Hurley's plan for Surrey?















An evening with Paddy Ashdown

Paddy in full flow

On Wednesday of last week I had an interesting evening off from work, family and local politics and travelled to Portcullis House to hear  Paddy Ashdown, his former speechwriter Max Atkinson and other speechwriters speak as part of Parliament Week.  The event was organised by the Speechwriters Guild and there were many current speechwriters in the audience.


I was amazed to hear Paddy, a Lord of the realm, former MP, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats and former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovovina admit that he got very nervous, even to the point of shaking, in advance of big set-piece speeches. 


Max Atkinson who worked with Paddy on a number of his key leadership speeches showed a series of films of Lord Ashdown over the years.  Many of the clips were familiar to me.  I had watched them either in person or on television.  However the earliest clip Max showed was new to me.  It showed Paddy at the Liberal Assembly in Llandudno 1981.  Casually dressed, youthful and passionate there was much there of the later Paddy, just a little less refined.

I enjoyed the evening on several levels.  Going into Portcullis House is an amazing experience.  This modern building contains rooms where Select Committees meet, catering facilities for MPs and parliamentary staff and MPs offices.  On the committee floor the walls are hung with fabulous paintings of current and past parliamentarians.  It was great just to meander around the committee floor and look at the paintings.

Paddy Ashdown is a great, relaxed speaker and so down to earth.  He arrived late for the event, having had to stay and vote in the Lords.  He walked in and set down in the audience, looking quite at home.

I heard a number of tips for making good and memorable speeches and made some useful contacts.  I rounded the evening off walking back over Westminster Bridge with the beautifully lit London Eye and Royal Festival Hall in view.

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

One last challenge for David Beckham


As David Beckham announces he is leaving LA Galaxy and says he is looking for “one last challenge before the end of my playing career” why doesn't he come to Woking and propel our local team to the top of the league?

A top flight player to a local team?

There is precedent for this.  Between 1993 and 1997 former Chelsea player Clive Walker was on the Woking team.  He played a key part in several FA Trophy cups and in securing an FA Cup replay against Coventry.  He was of a similar age to Beckham when he made his debut for the Woking team.

Supporting non-league football?

Big stars always want to support grass roots football.  What better way to do that than going back to the grass roots yourself.  Woking gate income would rise, as would that of the teams they play against.  It would be a major boost for non-league football.

What is there to attract the Beckham family to Woking?

I'm sure 'Posh' would love to shop at the Peacocks.  The Beckhams could buy a mansion in Hook Heath and hob-nob with our local MP and leading Tory councillors.

Ron Dennis could give David and Victoria a test drive in his latest road cars built at the Woking factory.

Mr and Mrs Beckham can take their pick of local gyms to maintain their physiques and the children can swim at the Pool in the Park or Spectrum in nearby Guildford.  There are lots of soft play areas around for the youngest Beckham and bowling or Laser quest for her brothers at the Big Apple.

The whole family could enjoy Spice Girls the musical when it undoubtedly arrives on the Woking stage at the New Victoria Theatre and the Ambassadors cinemas have all the latest films plus a Saturday morning kids club.

Arts and culture are on offer at the Lighbox, we have a fantastic new library with a teenage zone that will appeal to the older Beckham boys and Mizens Steam Railway at Knaphill attracts young and old.

Woking offers easy access to top UK theme parks with Thorpe Park on our doorstep in Chertsey and both Legoland and Chessington within a forty five minute drive.

If the Beckhams have become big basketball fans whilst in the states we’ve got the Blackhawks playing locally.

Horsell Common is great for family walks and bike rides in the countryside.

Woking is just a 25 minute train ride from the centre of London for all those important business deals and ideally situated within easy reach of Heathrow and Gatwick for all that globe trotting.

Lots to attract a family to Woking ...

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.


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.
















Friday, 16 November 2012

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.

Thursday, 15 November 2012

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.

Sunday, 11 November 2012

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.




Friday, 9 November 2012

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.

Thursday, 8 November 2012

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.

Sunday, 4 November 2012

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 RougĂ© 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.

Thursday, 1 November 2012

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.