Horsell Moor Resurfacing Defies Logic

On Sunday I took a look at the resurfacing work on Horsell Moor. Signs went up a week or so ago advising residents and other users of the road that it would be closed overnight on a couple of days over the last week.

I was pleased to hear that this road was to be resurfaced because the work was much needed.  There are potholes and damaged road surface all along the road.  However I was a bit puzzled because I had also heard at a county council meeting that Horsell Moor was on a standby list for resurfacing.

Part of Horsell Moor is now resurfaced

On further investigation I came to understand that the main part of Horsell Moor would be resurfaced but the section from Brewery Road to 1A Horsell Moor was not being done at the same time.

The Dividing Line
Resurfacing only part of Horsell Moor

This seemed totally illogical but imagine my shock when I realised that only the section of Horsell Moor from near the children's playground to Arthurs's Bridge Road and the part of the road outside the cricket club and children's nursery entrance has been resurfaced.  This leaves the main residential section of the road and the two other entrances from Brewery Road untouched.

Where is the logic in resurfacing just part of a road when the whole of the road is quite clearly in need of this treatment.

What is the financial logic in getting all the equipment to site, having it delivered on huge low loaders, bringing all the workmen to the site just for one small section of road.

Potholed road left untouched on Horsell Moor

On top of this I am told by residents that notices they received about the works implied that the whole road was to be resurfaced.  I have also heard that councillors were aware only part of the road was to be done.  Well maybe the county councillor is aware but I was never even told the road was to be resurfaced, despite receiving general public notifications about road works.  I learnt from being told by residents and noticing the signage on the road.

More time to pay Council Tax

Woking Council has always collected Council Tax for Woking, Surrey and our police and fire services in 10 instalments. There is one advantage of this to residents.  For two months of the year there is no Council Tax to pay.  The advantage to the Council is that all the money is collected earlier in the year and it provides greater certainty in future budgeting.

This year dear old Mr Pickles, the Local Government Minister told councils that they must offer residents the opportunity to pay Council tax in 12 instalments.  I must admit I hadn't realised that other authorities already offered this option.

Woking Council don't seem too keen to promote the longer payment terms as they have hidden information about making the choice on the back of local council tax bills.

If you would find it easier to budget or make council tax payments over 12 months just give the council a call and ask them to revise your payments.

With some residents being asked to contribute to their Council Tax payments for the first time or to pay more of their Council Tax bill this year as I set out here this could be of some help.