Category Archives: Surrey News Updates

Start-up ‘taster’ session

From Waverley’s Head of Economic Development

Dear all,

We are trying to support anyone interested in starting their own business at this time, utilising our contract with Enterprise Business South. Please can you promote this start-up overview to your networks, via social media channels/ community boards, to get the word out there.

It is open to anyone. The first one takes place on 23rd September and subject to demand, we would like to run these monthly.

FREE tickets can be booked from an Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/are-you-ready-to-start-your-own-business-tickets-118450182685 

Starting your own business (working for yourself) can be an exciting adventure and we are here to help you every step of the way.

“You don’t know, what you don’t know” is a great saying and relevant to starting a business. There are so many considerations in the early stages that understanding which are the most important will dramatically increase your chances of success.

This free thought-provoking overview covers…

• The reality of working for yourself

• Employment v self-employment

• Are you the right type of person?

• How to avoid common pitfalls

• Local support, funding, & grants

• What are the first/next steps?

A copy of the slides, templates and fact sheets will all be supplied by email after the event.

Thank you for your support in this.

Regards

Catherine

Catherine Knight

Economic Development Manager

Waverley Borough Council

The Burys, Godalming GU7 1HR

Government’s Planning White Paper Published

From: Chief Executive, Waverley Borough Council – Tom Horwood
Subject: Planning White Paper published
To: Waverley Borough Councillors, Parish & Town Clerks

Dear Councillor/Colleague

The Government’s White Paper, Planning for the Future, has been published today and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/launch-of-planning-for-the-future-consultation-to-reform-the-planning-system.

We shall be looking in detail at this in the coming weeks and discussing it with you, noting that the deadline for consultation responses is 28 October. We shall also circulate further commentary and analysis from other sources as it appears.

With best wishes

Tom

Tom Horwood – Chief Executive, Waverley Borough Council

Surrey County Council Libraries re-opening plan

Here is some information about Surrey’s libraries re-opening:

Haslemere Library is in the last tranche – planning to be open on August 17th offering click and collect door service allowing customers to return their items and collect Ready Reads and reserved books. These libraries have not yet been confirmed but it is anticipated that they will be opening

The libraries listed above that are reopening on the 17th August will offer a limited browsing, borrow, return and PC model subject to staff availability, further updates to guidance and any local lockdowns. This includes revised HR guidance regarding shielded and vulnerable staff, the restart of schools and other childcare settings, and current local and national guidance which all may impact on staff availability.

This document gives more detailed information about libraries re-opening.

Speed Enforcement Campaign Identifies 475 Speeding Offences on Surrey’s Roads In Just 13 Days

Message from Surrey Police:

Over thirteen days in late May and early June Surrey’s roads policing officers took part in the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Fatal Four National Speed Campaign.

Whilst speed enforcement is part of the daily job for officers, dedicated patrols were sent out in support of the campaign.
 
Between Monday 25 May and Saturday 6 June officers spoke to 496 drivers on Surrey’s roads. Of these, 377 were men and 369 were over 25 years-old.
 
During this period, 518 road offences were identified, some drivers had committed multiple offences, of these 449 involved cars, 21 involved motorcycles, 27 involved vans, and 21 involved lorries.
 
The majority of the 475 speeding offences related to 30 mph zones (344) followed by 70 mph zones (83).
 
Officers issued 208 traffic offence reports during this period, 22 people were reported for summons, and 248 people were given a verbal warning.
 
Drive SMART – The Surrey Safer Roads Partnership, supported the campaign, as they continue work to combat the high speeds taking place on the county’s roads. Drive SMART is also running a county-wide awareness campaign to raise awareness of speed enforcement with fewer motorists on the county’s roads due to government restrictions that are in place.

Matt Furniss, Chairman of the Drive SMART partnership board and Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, said:

“While there have been fewer cars on the roads during the lockdown, we have seen more people walking and cycling. There are multiple benefits to this for health and the environment, as well as reducing congestion, so we’re currently working to put in measures across the county to encourage residents to travel by foot or bike.
 
“Roads aren’t just for drivers, so it’s vital that we keep them safe for everyone who uses them. At the county council we’re pleased to be working with the police and other Drive SMART partners to bring speeds down on our roads and make them safer for all.”

Following the NPCC speed enforcement campaign Chief Inspector Michael Hodder who is in charge of roads policing in Surrey and Sussex said:

“Over the past month we’ve carried out work to engage with all road users to improve road safety for everyone. This has included Operation Close Pass and responding to issues identified to us by our communities across the county.
 
“The NPCC campaign focused specifically on vehicles travelling at excessive speed, not just on motorways and A roads, but also quieter more rural roads. The results of the campaign show that the vast majority of speeding offences we observed on Surrey’s roads were in 30mph zones.
 
“This re-enforces the view that emptier roads have led to temptation for irresponsible drivers who do not foresee the consequences of their actions. It only takes a split second for something catastrophic to happen. We must share the roads responsibly, it is imperative we continue to work together to reduce the pressure on the NHS and emergency services, so they can focus their efforts on saving lives and caring for our communities”.


Message Sent By
Jim Pusey (Police, Corporate Communications Officer, Surrey Police)

A3 Hindhead Tunnel – Improvements to Technology – Overnight Closure on Saturday 6 June

Dear Stakeholder,

A3 Hindhead Tunnel – Improvements to Technology – Overnight Closure on Saturday 6 June

As part of the ongoing work to upgrade the technology within the Hindhead Tunnel, we will be closing the Tunnel (in both directions) overnight this weekend.

The closure will be in place from 9pm on Saturday 6 June through to 9am on Sunday 7 June 2020.

During the closure a signed diversion will be in place via the A31 and A325.

Please be aware that due to the current Covid-19 Pandemic, all our works are subject to change due to available resource by our Supply Chain, as well as possible adverse weather conditions – please check the yellow signs placed in advance for confirmation of the closures dates/timings.

We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption during our work. If you have any questions, or if you’d like you know more about our work please email us at info@highwaysengland.co.uk or call us on 0300 123 5000.

Yours faithfully

Area 3 Communications Coordinator

South East Region

www.highways.gov.uk

Response to my Question at Full Council regarding greener, safer transport

I shared last week that I had submitted a question to The Leader of Surrey County Council for full council. This meeting took place this week online as an informal meeting.

My question was about a lasting legacy of greener, safer transport.

Here is the response from Cllr Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways:

These have and continue to be very challenging times and as a necessity established behaviours have been forced to change. It is correct that the statement from Government expresses a desire to make changes to road layouts to support the Covid-19 recovery and cycling/walking. The County Council takes the whole green agenda very seriously and prior to the Covid-19 crisis the direction was to increase sustainable modes of transport. With the changes caused by the crisis and the need to socially isolate, this has become even more important.

An Officer group has been established and tasked to consider what our appropriate response to meet these challenges could be. Members will be kept updated.

In this document you can read the questions and responses from this week’s full council here.

Surrey County Council – Adult Social Care Coronavirus briefing

Please find in this link Surrey County Council’s latest Coronavirus Special Briefing from the Adult Social Care Information and Engagement Team, which the council hopes you will find useful at this time. Information correct as of 14th May 2020.

This edition features:

  • Revised details about coronavirus testing in surrey
  • New virtual wellbeing and mental health interactive hub launches
  • Healthwatch Surrey survey
  • Carers across Surrey set to receive a helping hand through online sessions
  • Eye care services
  • The Brigitte Trust
  • Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
  • Action for carers is running support groups by video link
  • Co-op introduces gift card scheme for vulnerable customers
  • Mencap TV
  • Sight for Surrey Deaf Services
  • The Sunnybank Trust
  • Headway Surrey
  • Warmth Matters project
  • Trading Standards’ No Cold Calling Packs
  • Stay Alive App
  • New app launched provide online support to Dads

Surrey’s Community Recycling Centres

This is the first video Surrey County Councillors have been sent to communicate with residents. More communications will be sent out in the coming days.

Watts Gallery’s Great British Art Quiz

This week, on Thursday, The Great British Art Quiz in The Guardian had its questions set by the team at Watts Gallery: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/may/07/great-british-art-quiz-watts-gallery-surrey

Do also take a look at their digital resources (including bedtime stories, creative activities, collections tours, and wellness activities in our Watts At Home programme) via https://www.wattsgallery.org.uk/home/ 

Information on their Art for All community partnerships can be found here too: https://www.wattsgallery.org.uk/whats-on/art-all-online/

Phased reopening of most of Surrey’s community recycling centres (CRC) from Monday 11 May

There will be a phased reopening of most of Surrey’s community recycling centres (CRC) from Monday 11 May. To make sure that each facility can operate in line with Public Health England guidelines, and to protect the safety of our staff and our residents, there will be restrictions in place.

However, there are limits to the numbers of people on each site, changes to what materials are accepted and revised opening hours. Due to the fewer numbers of people who can safely be on site and the impact of potential queuing on surrounding roads, our smaller sites in Bagshot, Caterham, Cranleigh, Dorking and Warlingham will remain closed.

Residents should only use the CRCs if they absolutely need to, and must check for the latest information before they travel at surreycc.gov.uk/recycling or by calling 03456 009 009 as these arrangements are subject to change.

As outlined in DEFRA guidance, journeys to waste sites are only allowed under the lockdown restrictions if the waste materials cannot be stored at home without causing risk of injury or harm to health. Please see the Government’s guidance about essential travel (GOV.UK)