Category Archives: Haslemere first

Haslemere partnership wins national award for station redevelopment scheme

Press release

From the Community Rail Network | news@communityrail.co.uk

Haslemere partnership wins national award for station redevelopment scheme

A group of Haslemere community organisations and local authorities have won a coveted national ‘community rail’ award for their work transforming the town’s popular railway station and information hub.   

The Arts Society, Haslemere, Haslemere Museum, and Haslemere Town Council, supported by Surrey County Council, South Western Railway, and other regional partners, fought off strong competition to take home the Most Enhanced Station award, sponsored by Greater Anglia, at the 16th national Community Rail Awards, on 9 December.

They were recognised for the Haslemere Community Station project, which saw partners come together to develop the station as a gateway to the town and its surroundings, promote rail as sustainable and healthy travel, and boost the area’s social and economic vitality.

The scheme centred around a major revamp of the Haslemere Information Hub, which was transformed from a modest facility only open in the summer to a bigger community space, run by a team of 35 volunteers, now open year-round to make the station a focal point for visitors and the community.  

Project chair Nikki Barton thanked the “wonderful” team of volunteers and station staff at Haslemere for the “huge added value” they had brought to the project.

She said: “We are all totally delighted, it is an exceptional partnership that has come together here. The project started from a very small germ of an idea, but community rail has so much potential to deliver good and positive work, and recognition of that has drawn in partners who had never worked together before.

“For the first time, we got the Surrey Hills AONB, South Downs National Park, and the National Trust all sitting around the table with local community groups to look at how we could use sustainable rail travel to promote Haslemere as a gateway to this beautiful surrounding countryside. Also, the new Surrey Hills to South Downs Community Rail Partnership evolved from this project, which is really exciting.”

The Community Rail Awards, organised by Community Rail Network, recognise the important, often unsung, work by community rail partnerships, station friends, and other community rail groups across Britain. They shine a light on vital projects across this growing grassroots movement, highlighting community rail’s contribution to sustainable mobility, social inclusion, community development, and wellbeing.

The awards were delivered as an online gala evening for the first time with 550 guests, including community rail volunteers, officers, rail industry leaders and government representatives.

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “Our congratulations go to all involved in the Haslemere Community Station project, which has cemented the station’s place at the heart of the community, and made a major contribution to local sustainable development.  

“The Community Rail Awards recognise the achievements and passion of community rail volunteers, groups and partnerships across Britain. Their tireless efforts connect local people with their railways and stations, bring communities together, and enable more people to access sustainable travel. This contributes to greener, healthier, happier communities, and promotes wider access to opportunity. This couldn’t be more important right now.

“We will be holding up this brilliant example from Haslemere nationally, to inspire more communities to engage positively and draw on their railways and stations.”

Details of all 2020 award winners are on the Community Rail Network website here.

For information on the Haslemere Information Hub, go to www.haslemereinfohub.co.uk.

ENDS

Notes for editors

For more information, pictures, or further interview opportunities, please contact Nikki Barton at nikki.barton@surreycc.gov.uk.

Community Rail Network – Community rail is a unique and growing national movement comprising more than 70 community rail partnerships and 1,000 volunteer groups across Britain that help communities get the most from their railways. Community rail is about engaging local people at grassroots level to promote social inclusion, sustainable and healthy travel, wellbeing, economic development, and tourism. It involves working with train operators, local authorities, and other partners to bring improvements and help our railways and stations to serve local needs.

Established in 2000, Community Rail Network provides support and advice to the community rail movement. We share best practice and connect community rail partnerships and groups together, while working with government at different levels, the transport industry, and the voluntary sector to champion community rail and share its insights on sustainable transport development.

Community rail is evidenced to contribute high levels of social, environmental, and economic value to local areas. A 2019 study estimated volunteer activity alone was worth £33.2m every year.

See communityrail.org.uk, follow and tweet us at twitter.com/CommunityRail, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/CommunityRail/, or sign up to Community Rail News at www.communityrail.org.uk/news/community-rail-news-sign-up/.


Haslemere Station – Winner – Most Enhanced Station – Community Rail Partnership Awards

At the Community Rail Partnership Awards last night, Haslemere won the Most Enhanced Station Award. This is a partnership between many local organisations (Haslemere Town Council, Surrey County Council, Haslemere Visitor Information Centre, Haslemere Hall, The Station House, The Chamber of Trade & Commerce, as well as South Western Railway, Surrey Hills AONB, South Downs National Park, and the National Trust). Thanks to all involved.

Ken Griffiths was shortlisted in The Outstanding Volunteer category. Well done to Ken.

South Western Railway update on the December 2020 timetable

Dear Nikki,

I wanted to write to you to provide an update on our plans regarding our timetable from 13 December 2020.

In October SWR informed our stakeholders about our plans to increase services from 13 December 2020. The decision to increase our services was made earlier this year, at a time when we were seeing a steady increase in passenger numbers.

However, since I wrote to you, the nation has entered a second lockdown and from tomorrow we will again be entering a tiered system of restrictions. As you will appreciate, these measures have had an impact on our passenger numbers both current and forecasted.

In light of this, with the permission of the Department for Transport, we have taken the decision to “rollover” our weekday timetable from 13 December 2020 to 26 March 2021. We believe this is the right decision for our business and the taxpayer, who through the Government have been supporting the rail industry throughout this pandemic.

To summarise our timetable from 13 December 2020:

Weekdays – SWR will continue to operate the same timetable that has been running since early September 2020, subject to final approval by Network Rail and planned engineering works, particularly over the Festive Period.

Weekends – Some weekend timetables will still change to reflect patterns in demand and to accommodate planned engineering works, so we are advising our customers to check before they travel.

I hope you will appreciate the scale of the challenge posed by the fast-moving situation presented by COVID-19 as we try to keep our passengers informed of changes in a timely manner. Please rest assured that my colleagues at SWR and Network Rail are working hard to ensure journey planning systems are up to date with the latest information.

While weekday services should be correct through to March 2021, we are working closely to ensure that planned engineering works during the festive period and weekend changes are reflected in the system. We are confident the journey planners will be fully updated by 5 December 2020, although weekend timetables will be subject to change up to 4 weeks in advance of travel.

More information on our current and future timetable can be found at: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/timetables        

Thank you for your continued support.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Hopwood
Managing Director
South Western Railway

Haslemere Town Council EGM this evening

There will be an Extraordinary Council Meeting on Monday 30th November at 7pm.

AGENDA

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Council to decide whether or not to accept apologies for absence. RECOMMENDED: That where reasons are given by Members they are approved.

2. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS To receive from members declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Non-Pecuniary Interests, in addition to those listed attached in relation to any items included on the agenda for this meeting, in accordance with LOCALISM ACT 2011 s. 29 and The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012.

3. DISPENSATIONS Town Clerk to report on any dispensations granted prior to the meeting relating to the approval of the budget, the approval of any borrowing under the Local Government Act 2003, the making of the precept, the making of the calculations under ss 49A, 49B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the approval of an allowance, payment or indemnity to Members.

4. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN APPENDIX 1 To review and consider the amended Haslemere Town Council Neighbourhood Plan for Regulation 15 submission to Waverley Borough Council for Regulation 16 public consultation, prior to independent examination and referendum. Recommended: the amended Haslemere Town Council Neighbourhood Plan be submitted to Waverley Borough Council for the Regulation 16 public consultation.

Longdene Road, Haslemere – Surface Dressing pre-patching (Road Closed)

Dear Cllr Barton

Please find attached the letter for the pre-patching work on Longdene Road, Haslemere. Letters have been delivered today.

Roadworks during the coronavirus restrictions

The government and Department for Transport have asked the Highway Sector Council to make every effort to deliver essential highways projects on all local authority highway networks, whilst abiding by the COVID-19 safe working practices. We are therefore carrying out these works in line with central government and COVID-19 safe working practises and in accordance with the CLC Site Operating Procedures, endorsed by Public Health England.

Our sub-contractor will have appropriate procedures in place to ensure their staff can comply with government advice. We would ask that you please respect these workers as they deliver these highways services.

We will continue to keep Surrey moving and all key routes will remain open and safe for key workers. For more information visit www.ourroads.today.

If anything changes with the details of these works, we will let you know. You can also find up to date details of the works on www.surreycc.gov.uk/roadworks. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us on works.communication@surreycc.gov.uk.

Kind regards

Works Communication Officer

Works Communication Team

Surrey Highways

UPDATE: A3 Hindhead Tunnel Improvements to Technology – Planned Closures

UPDATE: A3 Hindhead Tunnel Improvements to Technology – Planned Closures

As part of the ongoing work to upgrade the technology within the Hindhead Tunnel, we will be closing the Tunnel (in both directions) overnight (between 9pm and 6am) on the following dates:

  • Saturday 5 December 2020 and Sunday 6 December 2020 north and southbound tunnel
  • Saturday 12 December 2020 and Sunday 13 December 2020 north and southbound tunnel

During the closures northbound traffic will be diverted via the A325 (from Longmoor), B3004 (Kingsley to Alton) and A31 (towards Guildford). Southbound traffic will be diverted along the A31 (to Alton), B3004 (Alton to Kingsley), A325 (to Longmoor).

Please note that the works may be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. We’ll advertise closure on yellow signs placed in advance alongside the road.

We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption you may experience during these closures.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to know about our work, please contact us on 0300 123 5000 or email info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Or you can visit our website at https://highwaysengland.co.uk/travel-updates/daily-closure-report/ where you can find a weekly report of all full closures across the network.

Yours faithfully

Area 3 Communications Team

Waverley’s Local Plan Part 2 Consultation

News Release Issued by Waverley Borough Council  

Local Plan Part 2 Consultation

Residents, businesses and developers are being invited by Waverley Borough Council to give their views on the draft Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies.

The council adopted part one of the new Local Plan in February 2018. This set the overall strategy for development in the borough for the period up to 2032 and contains key strategic policies, including the number of new homes to be provided and their broad distribution. Local Plan Part 2 will complete this work by setting the policies that direct planning application decisions, and will allocate sites for housing in Haslemere and Witley, where individual Neighbourhood Plans are not doing so. Part 2 of the Plan also allocates sites in the borough for Gypsies and Travellers and will review other land designations.

You can comment on the document by submitting your views between Friday 27 November 2020 and Friday 29 January 2021 (inclusive).

The plan and supporting documents as well as information on how to make a representation, will be available to view on the council’s website at: www.waverley.gov.uk/LPP2.

Hard copies of the documents will be available for viewing at the Council Offices, The Burys, Godalming, GU7 1HR by appointment only, and other suitable arrangements will be made for those who are not able to view the documents electronically and who are either unable or unwilling to travel to Godalming during the current pandemic. Anyone wishing to make such arrangements should contact the council’s Customer Services Team on 01483 523333.

In addition, the consultation will run for a period of nine weeks, rather than the statutory minimum of six, in order to mitigate any impact on the consultation that may be caused by Covid-19. Following the consultation, the plan will be updated and submitted to the Secretary of State for approval and subsequent adoption as council policy.

Councillor Andy Macleod, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Services said: “The draft Local Plan Part 2 is the result of a great deal of hard work by our officers, detailed evidence gathering, public consultation and working with our partners in town and parish councils across the borough.

“We want Waverley to continue to be one of the best places in the UK, where people of all ages want to live, work and visit.

“The pre-submission consultation, starting on Friday 20 November, asks all interested parties what they think about our proposals for a new suite of development management policies and site allocations, as set out within Local Plan Part 2.

“We want to make sure this plan is right for our communities. The council is very interested in hearing your views and I would encourage everyone to take the time to get involved.”

For further information contact:
Tel: 01483  523296
Web : www.waverley.gov.uk
Email: communications@waverley.gov.uk

Invitation: Be a Councillor Event – Thursday 10 December 2020

Sent on behalf of the LGA Independent Group

I am writing to let you know about a virtual Be a Councillor event that the LGA Independent group are holding for people interested in running as an independent candidate in local elections. Please share this with anyone that you know has considered or is interested in standing as a councillor.

The event will be held on Thursday 10 December 2020 from 6pm – 7.30pm. The event will include a presentation covering an introduction to being a Councillor, followed by an opportunity for a Q&A session with a panel of experienced independent councillors.

To register for the event, individuals need to email: independent.grouplga@local.gov.uk including their name and local authority area. The Zoom joining details will be sent out by the LGA Team to those that have registered, at the beginning of the week of the event.

Best wi

Aimee Wittams-Smith

Political Officer (Independent Group)

Local Government Association

18 Smith Square

Westminster, London

SW1P 3HZ

W: https://www.local.gov.uk/lga-independent  

Road closure on Midhurst Road, Haslemere – Pre-patching for Surface Dressing

Please find attached the leaflet for the pre-patching works in preparation for surface dressing on Midhurst Road, Haslemere. The leaflets will be delivered to local residents and businesses tomorrow.


Road closure

30 November

9:30am – 3:30pm

For 3 days

Please see the attached leaflet for the extents of our work.

Roadworks during the coronavirus restrictions

The government and Department for Transport have asked the Highway Sector Council to make every effort to deliver essential highways projects on all local authority highway networks, whilst abiding by the COVID-19 safe working practices. We are therefore carrying out these works in line with central government and COVID-19 safe working practises and in accordance with the CLC Site Operating Procedures, endorsed by Public Health England.

Our sub-contractor will have appropriate procedures in place to ensure their staff can comply with government advice. We would ask that you please respect these workers as they deliver these highways services.

We will continue to keep Surrey moving and all key routes will remain open and safe for key workers. For more information visit www.ourroads.today.

Sometimes our plans have to change, often due to bad weather or problems on other works in the same programme which can have a knock on effect. If anything changes with the details of these works, we will let you know.

You and your residents can also find up to date details and receive updates of the works on https://one.network/

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us on 0300 200 1003 or email works.communication@surreycc.gov.uk.

Kind regards

Works Communication Officer

Works Communication Team

Surrey Highways

Email: hannah.hayes@surreycc.gov.uk

For more information about what we do, please visit our Surrey Highways website.

We always try to provide excellent customer service; please let us know how we are doing.

You can follow us on Twitter @HighwaysSurrey and Instagram @Surrey_Highways.