I heard earlier today that the A286 resurfacing has been put back from the planned start next Monday 29 September by two weeks. BT very recently notified SCC that they want to cable the A286 for high speed broadband – this has the backing of the Leader – so they will be going in on Monday for two weeks with surfacing to follow. I understand they plan to use existing ducts but are likely to need to dig down where they encounter obstructions, so it is best they go in ahead of us and in advance of the five year embargo on excavation for planned works once the new surface is in. The electronic signs will be changed to read ‘Road closed for BT works’ or similar.
Category Archives: Surrey News Updates
Mental Health Services: Have your say on the draft strategy
Mental Health Services: Have your say on the draft strategy.
Commissioners of health and social care services have been working with residents to explore how emotional wellbeing and adult mental health services can be improved. A public consultation on the draft joint commissioning strategy for Emotional Wellbeing and Adult Mental Health is taking place. It was co-produced by the six Surrey Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and Surrey County Council with residents to improve local services.
Your views are needed on whether the draft strategy includes the right priorities and actions to improve services. They are particularly keen to hear from people and carers with experience of mental health services in Surrey and North East Hampshire. They would also like to hear from groups or organisations involved or interested in mental health issues and request these organisations to promote the consultation and encourage the people using your services to submit their responses to the questions they ask and any other views in relation to the strategy. Visit the link to see the documents and submit your views:
http://www.healthysurrey.org.uk/your-views/emotional-wellbeing-and-adult/.
The consultation will run until 28th September 2014.
Dunsfold Cycle Time Trials This Week
Subject: Cyclists Required for Road Safety Trials at Dunsfold Track – This Week
Transport Research Laboratory (TRL, www.trl.co.uk) are currently recruiting participants to take part in some Road Safety Trials. They are running the trials on behalf of Transport for London (TfL) at the Dunsfold Park Track (home of Top Gear) in Cranleigh, Surrey. More trials will be taking place during June this year and we are seeking more cyclists (aged 18 or over) to take part. The trials are scheduled for the following dates:
Cyclist Trials
· Tuesday 10th June
· Wednesday 11th June
· Thursday 12th June
· Tuesday 17th June
The approximate times for the sessions for cyclists are:
08:30 – 11:15,
10:15 – 13:00,
12:30 – 15:15, and
14:15 – 17:00.
A reimbursement of £40 will be made on the day as compensation for your time and travel expenses.
Waverley Cycling Forum have asked me to publicise these trials so that we can recruit as many keen cyclists as possible to take part!
If you have any queries or would like any further information about the trials, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Trials Team on getinvolved@trl.co.uk.
Invitation – Serpent Trail Launch – Friday 13th June
HASLEMERE, SURREY’S TRAVEL GATEWAY TO SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK
Haslemere is the perfect gateway to the South Downs National Park and offers easy bus or train links, including direct trains from Guildford.
From June, one of the largest walking areas in the south, namely the South Downs National Park, becomes all the more accessible by rail or bus, thanks to improved signposting between Haslemere station and the start of the Serpent Trail. Starting with the serpent’s ‘tongue’ in Haslemere High Street, the 64 mile Serpent Trail route snakes its way through pretty Hampshire villages to Petersfield and into the National Park.
So, whether you’re taking on the full long-distance challenge from Haslemere to Petersfield, or choosing a shorter option, you can easily get there and back by bus or train, even on a Sunday.
Come and join us on 13 June 2014
We’re running a launch event to celebrate improved access to the trail from Surrey’s new travel gateway, starting at Haslemere station. If you’re free on Friday 13 June, love walking and want to sign up to join us, please email diane.cooper@surreycc.gov.uk as soon as possible and we’ll contact you with more details or please return reply card for the Serpent launch.
Celebrate improved access on the Serpent Trail Leave the car at home!
FRIDAY 13 JUNE
10am prompt HASLEMERE STATION (1 mile walk)
10.45am Launch at National Trust, Swanbarn Farm, Collards Lane, Haslemere (inc. refreshments)
11.15am GUIDED WALKS start from Swan Barn
WALK 1 – 8km (5m) to National Park boundary and return
WALK 2 – 10km (7m) to A286 Bell Road and return by bus to Haslemere
WALK 3 – 18km (11m) to Liphook Station
Rsvp: diane.cooper@surreycc.gov.uk
Watch the Explore Twitter feed to find out more about this. Detailed route descriptions can be found at www.westsussex.gov.uk
The independent panel set up to review and recommend the level of Surrey County Councillors’ allowances has resigned
PRESS RELEASE
INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL RESIGNS AFTER SURREY
COUNTY COUNCILLORS VOTE FOR HUGE HIKE IN ALLOWANCES
The independent panel set up to review and recommend the level of Surrey
County Councillors’ allowances resigned en bloc last week after councillors
threw out their proposals and awarded themselves a massive new payments
package.
The allowances for the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council have been
hiked up by some 60% and allowances for eight roles that the panel
considered already overpaid and needing reduction, have remained static or
been increased. The total increase in allowances, which are paid for by
Council Tax Payers, will now cost £62,000 more per year than the panel’s
proposals, constituting an additional quarter of a million pounds over the
four year period for which it is set. All but four of the 61 Special
Responsibility Allowances agreed by the Council are currently held by
Councillors of the ruling majority party.
“This flagrant disregard for the carefully considered recommendations of
its own Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) has left us with no
alternative but to resign,” said panel chairman Cathy Rollinson. “Like most
members of the public, we do not believe that it is right for councillors
to award themselves pay rises, against the advice of an independent panel.”
“Surrey County Councillors have awarded themselves significant increases in
allowances that are not supported by any evidence. Councillors carry out an
important role on behalf of the community and the IRP, after much research
and consideration, recommended a scheme that reflected the responsibility
attached to each role, the time needed to fulfil those duties and a
comparison with allowances paid by councils similar to Surrey.
“The IRP recognised that the Basic Allowance, which is paid to all 81
Councillors, had not been raised since 2008 and consequently recommended a
modest increase of 5.3% to £12,418. This has been agreed by the Council.
However, the allowance awarded for every single one of the special
responsibility roles undertaken by Councillors is higher than that proposed
by the IRP.
“A 59% increase has been agreed by the Council for the Leader’s Special
Responsibility Allowance to £43,000 – the IRP recommended £35,548) and a
60% increase for the Deputy Leader ( to £31,250 – the IRP recommended
£30,333). Four recently introduced Cabinet Associate posts have been
awarded £12,500, 18% more than recommended by the IRP.
“The Council also rejected the panel’s suggestion that the increases might
be phased in over several years, deciding to implement them all with
immediate effect. The IRP also proposed that Councillors should provide tax
payers with an annual on-line report, outlining how they had fulfilled
their roles, and that the Leaders of the political groups might consider
implementing an annual assessment of the performance of each Councillor
within their group. These recommendations were not even discussed by the
Council.
“As a result of the total disregard which the County Council has paid to
the well-researched and cohesive proposals of the Independent Remuneration
Panel, put forward at a time when there is wide-spread belt-tightening
amongst tax payers, all three members of the Panel have resigned with
immediate effect.”
This is the third time that the councillors have refused to accept the
panel’s recommendations. In 2010 the Panel conducted a fundamental review
of Councillors’ allowances and issued a report that recommended the
redistribution of allowances on a fairer basis, rewarding those who carry
greater responsibility. Where there was no evidence of additional
significant responsibility, the Panel recommended the reduction or
withdrawal of allowances. The Council rejected these proposals.
In 2008, the IRP made a series of recommendations on the appropriate number
and level of allowances and specifically recommended that the number of
councillors receiving special responsibility allowances should be reduced
to below 50%. The Council rejected this proposal and introduced a further
seven new allowances.
ends
Notes for Editors: All Councils are required by The Local Authorities
(Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 to set up and maintain an
Independent Remuneration Panel of three people who are not themselves
councillors. Panels make recommendations on basic allowances payable to
all councillors, special responsibility allowances as well as travel and
other allowances. Councils are required to have regard to the
recommendations of the panel before amending their scheme of allowances.
Government guidance states that “if the majority of members of a council
receive a special responsibility allowance [in addition to the basic
allowance], the local electorate may rightly question whether this was
justified.“ Source: New Council Constitutions: Guidance on Consolidated
Regulations for Local Authority Allowances, Office of the Deputy Prime
Minister (2003)
The members of Surrey County Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel are:
Cathy Rollinson (Chairman), Janet Housden and Kathy Atkinson.
————————————————————————————————————-
I voted against the increase at full council last week.
From Your Local Guardian:
Residents’ Association and Independent councillors on SCC criticised the increased allowances at a time when the council is plannning to save £72 million in this financial year.
Councillor Nick Harrison, leader of the Residents’ Association and Independent group of councillors, who represent Nork and Tattenhams, said: “There is a total lack of common-sense and affordability within the new allowances scheme forced through by the Conservative majority of the county council.
“An independent panel took the time and effort to properly consider what level of public money should be used to reimburse councillors for their work in the community.
“Most of the panel’s recommendations were rejected or twisted in such a way that they favour the executive roles within the council while stripping away some of the importance placed on people who scrutinise how vital public services are managed and funded.”
Eber Kington, Residents’ Association councillor for Ewell Court, Auriol and Cuddington, added: “This is another occasion when the Conservatives at SCC have written their own cheque to be cashed once again using public funds.
“The council taxpayer will be paying over 70 per cent more for the leader and cabinet than 18 months ago. That’s too much, too soon, for too many.
“At a time when the public is still seething about bankers’ bonuses and expenses for MPs, the Tory administration treat them with contempt and vote through pay rises for themselves, some of which amount to a 60 per cent rise.”
Review of Surrey Rights of Way Improvement Plan
The draft review of the Review of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan is available on the County Council web site via this link or using the search term Review of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan on the County Council home page: www.surreycc.gov.uk
The date for comments on the Rights of Way Improvement Plan is Friday 9th May.
Also available for comment and can and downloaded is the ‘Environmental Report for the Surrey Rights of Way Improvement Plan Review 2014’ and a Non-Technical Summary of this report. The closing date for comments on the Environmental Report is Friday 13th June.
Please send forward comment by email to: alec.baxterbrown@surreycc.gov.uk
or by post to: Alec Baxter-Brown, Surrey County Council, Countryside Access, Whitebeam Lodge, Merrow Complex, Merrow Lane, Merrow, Guildford, Surrey, GU4 7BQ (please address comments as ‘Rights of Way Improvement Plan Comments’).
Parking Review Update – Permits in West Street and St Christopher’s Place
Just to let you know that the shared use bays (1 hour or permit holders) proposed in St Christopher’s Green and West Street Service Road (opposite the fire station) are now being advertised until 2 May.
On Friday afternoon the parking team at Surrey County Council letter dropped all the St Christopher’s Green, Popes Mead, Chestnut Avenue, West Street and Bridge Road properties that are allowed to get permits in area J.
This is in addition to the usual street notices and newspaper advertisement. The SCC website was updated today to reflect this. See here.
The main advertisement closed on 4 April and the parking team is currently going through all the comments and objections ready for the 9 May Committee meeting.
Temporary Traffic Signals Along A286
I would like to inform you of some works due to start on April 7 2014. SSE will be undertaking works to renew High Voltage electricity cables utilising temporary traffic signals along the Grayswood Road between Highercombe Road and Lower Road.
The works are essential and are to replace electricity cables which (as I am sure you are aware), have recently failed resulting in many residents being left with generators providing their electricity supply. The works have an anticipated duration of approximately one month.
In order to minimise traffic congestion we have permitted the works to start early and utilise the Easter break when schools will be closed.
Whilst works along this road are never desirable removing generators and providing residents with a new robust electricity supply would seem paramount.
Phase One Parking Proposals for Haslemere
Site visits for the Waverley-wide parking review were carried out in September and October 2013, with recommendations presented to the Waverley Local Committee on 13 December 2013.
The decisions made at the meeting were recorded in the minutes. Decisions, resolutions and plans.
The recommendations are now being formally advertised. The drawings showing all the locations, by councillor division; are shown bvia this link https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/parking/parking-news-and-updates/parking-news-and-updates-in-waverley.
Should you wish to comment or object to one or more of the proposals, you can do so by completing the feedback form here: Waverley Parking Review.
The closing date for all submissions is Friday 4 April 2014.
Alternatively should you wish to physically view the drawings of the proposals you can do so by visiting one of the following locations during their normal office hours.
- Haslemere Library, 91 Wey Hill. Haslemere.
In addition please note:
- That the proposed permit holder only schemes for the shared use parking bays in West Street and St Christopher’s Green, Haslemere will be advertised in April. Please also note that the proposals for these are still shown on the plans.
This is an extract for Haslemere from the committee report.
3.8 HASLEMERE
Weydown Road (24050, 24052, 24116, 24138, 24139) Along the entire length of the road, introduce sections of single yellow line applying 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday in order to prevent parking on both sides of the road in any one place. A section of single yellow closest to Derby Road on the western side of Weydown Road will have a restriction applying only between 3pm to 5pm Monday to Friday in order to benefit visitors to the nearby Church. Weydown Road is currently heavily parked by commuters on both sides of the road which makes the passing of two way traffic very difficult, obstructs sight lines due to the bend in the road and puts cyclists at an increased risk due to their unnatural position in the road. In addition to these proposals, double yellow lines will be provided on the Weydown Road junction with High Lane and the existing single yellow lines by the junction with Derby Road will be upgraded to double yellow.
Derby Road j/w Weydown Road (24052) Upgrade the single yellow lines on this junction to double yellow to maintain sight lines at all times of the day.
High Lane j/w Derby Road and Weycombe Road (24140) Introduce double yellow lines on this staggered set of junctions to maintain sight lines and road safety. In addition, keeping this area clear will help the school crossing patrol officer who works by the Derby Road junction.
Derby Road (24050) West of the junction with Church Road, extend the existing double yellow lines on the north and south side further westwards in order to cover driveways and give better sight lines and access, particularly during school pick up and drop off times. In addition, downgrade the section of 8.30am to 6.30pm single yellow line restriction outside Derby House to the same times are per the remainder of Derby Road (10am to 2.30pm). This will provide additional parking during school pick up and drop off times.
Church Road (24050) Outside the accesses to numbers 15, 17 and 19, introduce two lengths of double yellow lines to improve sight lines for these drives and to limit the parking between the two dropped kerbs to two vehicles as opposed to three vehicles.
Tanners Lane (24055) Extend the existing double yellow lines on both sides of the road to improve traffic flow and sight lines. On the south side the lines will extend up to the Church Green Cottages. On the north side the lines will extend up to the extent of the white dashed edge of carriageway marking by Church Hill Gate.
Bridge Road (24054) Extend the existing double yellow lines by the junction with Popes Mead up to number 13 Bridge Road. This will help with the passing of traffic without impacting too significantly on the current parking practices of Bridge Road residents.
West Street (Service Road by Fire Station) (24054) The residents parking bay here is underused during the day and it is therefore proposed to introduce a free one hour limited waiting period (in addition to permit holders) in order to allow this bay to be used by visitors to the nearby shops as well as by existing resident permit holders.
Sandrock (24117) Opposite numbers 10 and 11, extend the existing double yellow lines opposite the driveway of number 11 to assist with access to and from this drive.
Courts Hill Road (24058, 24117) On the north side introduce 4 lengths of double yellow lines to prevent parking opposite the drives to numbers 1a, 3 to 9, 11 and 15. In Courts Hill Road parking only takes place on the north side and this makes it difficult for residents with properties and driveways located on the south side to exit their driveways. This proposal eradicates this problem throughout the street. In addition, revoke the ‘permit holders only’ parking bay outside Haughton House as this bay is very underused during the day and is causing unnecessary displacement of vehicles to the eastern half of Courts Hill Road.
It is also proposed to allow properties with steep or narrow driveways on the north side Kings Road (24057) Extend the existing double yellow lines on both sides of the road southwards up to and partly beyond the Leisure Centre entrance to prevent parking on this section of bend to maintain sight lines and road safety. This is a change for the TRO only to match the layout currently on the ground.
St Christopher’s Green (24051) On the unrestricted section by the church, introduce a 2 hour limited waiting bay for three vehicles (same restriction as Bunch Lane) in order to provide additional visitor parking for the Church or nearby shops. On the residential side on St Christopher’s Green, extend the existing double yellow lines by the garage to cover the dropped kerb for this garage. In addition, outside properties ‘Dawn Cottage’ and ‘Elmbank’, convert this section of residents bay here to permit holders or 1 hour limited waiting. As this parking bay is underused during the day, having these two end spaces available for visitors to the shops will make better use of the available space.
Lion Green (24056) Outside the Methodist Church, revoke the single yellow line to allow parking during the day but extend the existing double yellow lines that are to the east of the church by approximately two car lengths. This extension of double yellow lines will cover the eastern access to the church and a car length beyond in order to help maintain traffic flow by clearing the white central hatching that reduces the width of the carriageway lanes at this point.
Lion Mead (24056) Increase the limited waiting period on the parking bay from 1 hour to 2 hours in order to give additional time for church visitors.
Lion Lane (24049, 24051) On the north eastern side of Lion Lane, introduce double yellow lines from the junction with Underwood Road (also covering this junction) northwards up to the boundary of numbers 76 and 78 (excluding the lay-by outside numbers 40 to 44). This proposal will significantly improve two way traffic flow by keeping parking on this side within the layby areas only and not allow parking to take place half on and half off the footway which happens during school pick up and drop off times and in the evenings.
Weysprings (24051) Outside number 2, reduce the existing double yellow lines so that they do not cover the dropped kerb for this property. This is at the request of the resident.
Lower Road, Grayswood (24047) On the north side between the existing school keep clear marking and double yellow lines, fill in this gap with additional double yellow lines in order to keep parking on one side of the road only in the vicinity of the Grayswood House entrance and prevent parking by this entrance.
This is consultation only and any comment may be sent to me on nikki.barton@surreycc.gov.uk or David Curl, Parking Strategy & Implementation Team Manager Parking Strategy & Implementation Team Local Highway Services Surrey Highways on 0300 200 1003 or via e-mail david.curl@surreycc.gov.uk
Waverley Borough Council’s creative arts project starts this Thursday
Waverley Borough Council is funding a creative arts project which places art in day care settings locally. The project aims to give meaning and value to the past and present lives of older people using the arts as a way of accessing and enriching personal memories and life stories. The project is due to start at The Orchard Club, Haslewey Community Centre on Thursday, 27th February at 1.15pm to 2.45pm in the Lounge.
The Orchard Club is able to offer a lift to and from the centre for a small donation.
