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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Peter Seaward - Chairman
As I write it seems the glorious Indian summer
is about to come to an end and the prospect of
the evenings drawing in is not especially
appealing. No doubt the BRA will continue to be
busy regardless of the weather with the winter
hanging baskets; Christmas lights and
Remembrance Day as just a few of the things
we will be working on. The squareabout will
again be closed for Remembrance Day on
November 11th as happened last year. This was
appreciated by almost everyone and the inconvenience is for a very short time. You
may have noticed large poppies appearing on lampposts in adjoining districts and
Mole Valley will also be putting these up here as well.
Heritage Day was a great success with over 1,000 people visiting the Tithe Barn in
Manor House Lane. We are grateful to Michael Nicholls and all his family for opening
this wonderfully restored building to the village as well as for the many displays
about the long history of the both Little and Great Bookham.
Changes to the High Street proposed by SCC created interest and as a result new
proposals are now to be recommended by SCC with information about the changes
available by December. The resurfacing of the A246 was done quickly albeit with
considerable problems caused to those who live close by due the overnight working.
SCC’s track record with these large projects is good but dealing with smaller
problems is still a challenge. Note the railings at the top of the High Street or the
sink hole by the Recreation Ground on Lower Road. In spite of our constant
pressure on SCC we cannot get these issues dealt with rapidly. We may have to
accept that more local effort will be needed. The BRA work clearing and maintaining
our thirty Town Paths and tree management are examples of what can be done.
These projects were possible as we were able to get money from Highways and
Local Councillor Allocation and employ local contractors to do the work. Anyone
with Project Management experience who could help with the small management
tasks associated with these jobs please contact me.
We are conscious that we in the BRA must continue to improve our communications
with you and to this end we will be circulating a small survey in the next few months
which will be a great benefit to us if you could complete.
And finally if you can please let us have your email address. We promise not to
bombard you but use this channel to let you know about some of the more
important topics that affect us all as they arise. You can register on-line at our web
site.
Looking forward to seeing you all at the Late Night Shopping evening.
Peter Seaward
In this issue: Page
The Bookstall 2
Bus Services 2
Norbury Park 3
Remembrance Services 3
Planning Group 4
New Curate at St Nicholas Church 4
Bookham Baptist Church 4
Community Winter Grit and Salt Bins 5
Police and Community Safety 5
South Bookham Space 6
Bookham Youth and Community Centre 6
Renovating Our Roadside Verges 7
The Grange 7
Bus Services continued 7
BRABA 8
Eastwick Road Church 8
Friends of Bookham Common 9
Bookham Vanguard 9
Footpaths 10
Flood Forum 10
Working Together 10
Roads 11
10th Anniversary Christmas Opening 12
About Bookhams Residents’ Association 12
Chairman: Peter Seaward: [email protected] Tele: 01372 452532
Secretary: Andrew Freeman: [email protected]
Newsletter: Les Huett: [email protected]
Autumn 2014
Bookhams Residents’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2014
2
The Bookhams Residents’
Association Newsletter is published
twice a year in the Spring and
Autumn and is distributed by a team
of volunteers to all BRA
membership households.
If you have any comments on the
Newsletter or any additional reports
you would like to see, please e-mail:
Or comment on our Streetlife page:
www.streetlife.com/page/
bookhams-residents-association/
Or call: 0300 030 9890
Calls are charged at a standard land
line rate from either a land line or
mobile.
THE BOOKSTALL
John Allen
Many of you may have read elsewhere
that after twelve years of running the
bookstall on Village Day I am standing
down from organising the event.
However, Tony Alsbury has said he will
continue to receive or collect any books,
plus CDs and DVDs you may wish to
donate in the hope that someone will
come forward and take over from me. I
should add that I will be only too happy
to pass on the accumulated knowledge I
have and assist on the day.
It will be a pity if this popular stall has to
come to an end as half of the proceeds
have been going towards the Christmas
Lights and half to the Bookham
Community Association. It is interesting
to note that the first year produced an
income of approximately £200 which
steadily increased up to last year with a
figure of £2,040. However it has been in
the news that book shops have not been
selling so many books, possibly because
of on-line purchasing and the popularity
of Kindles and E-books as this year our
takings dropped to £1,654. The books
we did not sell were given to The
National Trust Book Shop at Polesden
Lacey.
Hopefully someone will come forward to
take over from me and I will be only too
BUS SERVICES
Keith Francis
Bookham is most fortunate in having
more bus services than most villages.
Quality Line’s 408 Effingham to Epsom
service via Leatherhead Tesco’s and
Reptons Coaches whose bus has
returned to service the 478 Leatherhead
Tesco’s to Guildford both continue as
before.
Buses Excetera 479 Guildford to Epsom
service via Leatherhead has been
revised. The very good news is that it
now runs to the same timetable Monday
to Saturday plus an early evening
service. However, from Guildford the
route now leaves the A246 at East
Horsley Duke of Wellington via
Bishopsmead Parade which part of that
village previously had no bus service and
it then continues to Effingham Junction
railway station before returning to its
former route past the Howard of
Effingham school to Bookham, and vice
pleased to talk it over with them. My
telephone number is 01372 454555. In
the meantime Tony Alsbury will be
having a stall on the first Friday of every
month at the weekly Country Market
held at The Old Barn Hall between
10.15am to 11.30am. Finally I wish to
express my thanks and appreciation to
my team of helpers who so willingly
contributed to the success of this event
as without them it would not have
happened.
versa. Unfortunately this detour does
mean that the service takes eleven
minutes longer.
Although the 479 Sunday service from
Guildford now starts later there are
earlier buses on this route which start at
the Howard of Effingham School that
then go through our village to
Leatherhead and Epsom. Also, the late
afternoon bus from Epsom and the re-
timed last bus now only go to the
Howard of Effingham School.
As the 479 no longer goes via
Leatherhead Levett Road Buses Excetera
revised 489 Monday to Saturday service
now runs from Leatherhead Tesco’s via
the Levett Road estate through
Leatherhead to Bookham station and
return.
Buses Excetera have introduced a new
477 Banstead to Guildford hourly
Monday to Friday daytime service which
goes past Epsom Hospital which should
help patients and visitors. It then goes
along the A24 through Ashtead to
Leatherhead and takes the A246
through Bookham.
Finally, the other buses in the wider
area, Quality Line’s 465 Dorking to
Kingston and the Buses Excetera 516
Dorking to Epsom via Box Hill, Headley
and Leatherhead continue as before
except that the 516 is now operated
using low-floor entrance buses.
For full details including the revised
times of our bus services please see the
timetables at the bus stops.
The recently published free Surrey
County Council timetable book is
available in libraries or the Guildford Bus
Station travel centre.
Continued on page seven...
Bookstall (inc CDs and DVDs)
donations:
Tony Alsbury: 01372 456464
Keep in contact on line at bookhamresidents.org.uk or 24 hour telephone line: 0300 030 9890
3
NORBURY PARK
Michael Anderson and Andrea Neal
(Ranger Norbury Park)
Over the summer the Norbury Rangers
and volunteers have been hard at work.
Chalk grassland and woodland condition
assessments have been carried out and
butterfly surveys completed. Paths and
tracks have been receiving special
attention and guided walks have been
conducted. The accumulation of tree
refuse (from twigs to enormous tree
trunks) which has been lodged against
Pressforward Bridge since the floods has
now been cleared by The Environment
Agency. They did in fact use the
operation as a training day showing
staff the range of equipment they have
including two different tractors with
various winches.
Autumn is now setting in. The Belted
Galloway cattle have returned and
continue, by their presence, to make a
difference to the care of The Park. They
remove nutrients, leaving a real variety
of sward height, creating some bare
patches of soil and also leaving
mountains of dung! All of these are
good for wildlife be it the chalk
grassland plant species which need poor
nutrient soil and bare earth for seeds,
the invertebrates needing a variety of
vegetation height and sometimes bare
soil, and also those that enjoy a good
patch of dung!
The Ranger team are starting to look
ahead to work planned for this winter,
much of it woodland management.
There will be some felling of Norway
spruce and some coppicing, which are
both part of the management plan for
Norbury – activities part funded by the
Forestry Commission’s English Woodland
Grant Scheme.
REMEMBRANCE SERVICES
9th and 11th November
Pat Morrish / John Allen
Remembrance Services will be held at
St. Nicolas Church on Sunday 9th and
Tuesday 11th November. At a time when
there seems to be no let up in conflicts
across the Middle East and elsewhere,
this is an opportunity for us to reflect on
the freedom we enjoy and to give thanks
to those who fought and died on our
behalf over the past 100 years.
On Sunday 9th November an Act of
Remembrance will be included in the
normal 10am service at St. Nicolas
Church consisting of special hymns,
prayers and two minutes silence at
11am. Anyone coming to the church with
a wreath will be invited to place it by the
War Memorial at the end of the service.
After this service the 3rd Bookham
Scouts will march to the British/Canadian
The Belted
Galloway
cattle have
returned to
Norbury
Park.
Friendship Tree in Eastwick Park Avenue
for Remembrance prayers and the laying
of a wreath.
On Tuesday 11th November a short
service of remembrance starting at 10.50
will be held at the War Memorial, when
names of the fallen will be read, wreaths
laid and The Last Post sounded by Clare
Hoath. A wreath will also be laid at All
Saints Church in Little Bookham.
Once again, we will be closing twenty
metres of the four roads which meet at
the square-about in the centre of
Bookham village, from 10.45am until
11.15am on Tuesday 11th November,
whilst the service is being conducted at
the War Memorial.
If anyone has concerns or queries
about this planned closure, could
they please contact
Mr. Pat Morrish on 01372 459050.
Bookhams Residents’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2014
4
PLANNING GROUP
Stan Miles
In the standard task of the Planning
Committee, during the last six months,
107 planning Applications for Bookham
were reviewed including ten applications
for fifteen new houses to be in filled or
developed on existing sites. On these we
raised nine objections based mainly on
Overdevelopment of the sites and often
supporting local residents’
representations. Of the applications
objected to, six were subsequently
Refused by Mole Valley Development
Committee.
In the wider aspects of Proposed
Developments in the locality, a
Representation was sent to Guildford
Borough Council expressing concerns
regarding the pressure that would be put
on Bookham’s Health, Education and
Traffic systems by the proposed changes
they were considering for Housing
Development in Effingham, specifically
the plan that 300 houses would be built
as part of the Howard of Effingham
School Development.
A request was made that Guilford
correlate its Planning with both Mole
Valley District Council and Surrey County
Council to ensure that the indicated
Bookham Infrastructure could meet the
pressure generated by 300 extra houses
in the locality.
A NEW CURATE AT ST NICOLAS CHURCH
Revd David Sigsworth
Thank you for the welcome that
Sherayne and I have received as we
have been settling into life here in
Bookham. Its a delight to be taking up
the curate’s post at St Nicolas Church.
Finding ourselves on our way here came
as a pleasant surprise, especially to
myself because Great Bookham is a
place I’ve been visiting for many years
to see members of the family.
We are both originally from the North
(and, I feel its right to mention, from
different sides of the Pennines!), but
Sherayne and I have spent many years
of our lives in Guildford, in fact we met
and married there. It was while
attending St Saviour’s church in
Guildford that my sense of calling to
ordination emerged, which has led to
two years of training in Bristol before
joining St Nicolas church and rector Alan
Jenkins.
I hope experiences in earlier life,
working for many years as a project
manager, and prior to that enjoying a
brief time as a market researcher and
also as a teacher, will be helpful as I
move into this ministry for the church.
Sherayne and I have always had a heart
for community and being involved in the
locality, so we will enjoy getting to know
all that is going on in Bookham. When
relaxing we enjoy being out in the
countryside and admiring the creation
around us, which Surrey provides plenty
of opportunities for!
Looking forwards to sharing the next
four years with you. Every blessing,
Revd David Sigsworth.
BOOKHAM BAPTIST CHURCH
A new Youth Minister
Revd Rob Stevens
I appreciate the opportunity to introduce
myself as the new ‘Youth Minister’ at
Bookham Baptist. I have the wonderful
privilege of being married to Alona. We
have four children, all girls (yes guys you
can sympathise with me!), who range in
age from two to thirteen years old.
I’ve been in Bookham for a couple of
months but prior to that I was leading a
church on the borders of Greenwich &
Bexley for five great years. The church
placed a high priority on sharing the
good news of Jesus and engaging with,
bringing hope to & the transformation of
it’s local community so I spent a lot of
time involved in community initiatives.
These included the founding of a
Foodbank (which served the whole of the
borough of Bexley), providing a help
hub, supporting our local youth centre,
serving as Chair of Governors at our local
primary school and often spending Palm
Sunday walking around the community
with a Donkey… although often that
involved lots of pushing of the Donkey to
try and get it moving!
Prior to being in South East London I
was training for ministry at Spurgeon’s
College and serving as an assistant
minister of a church in Tadworth. I’ve
spent most of my working life working
with children & young people,
particularly in educational contexts.
I’m really excited to know that it is God
who has now moved us to Bookham and
that he has a plan for us in this place.
There is so much potential in this local
community and so much I’d like to see
flourish even more than it already is. I’m
looking forward to getting to know our
local young, local schools, working with
the other churches in the village and to
seeing what exciting dreams can be
brought to fruition.
I look forward to meeting many of you
over the coming months and to learning
how Bookham Baptist Church can serve
you and make the good news of Jesus
known to you. Grace & peace, Revd Rob
Stevens.
Concerns about any registered
applications can be raised with the
Planning Committee either via
the BRA web site or to the
Planning group at:
Revd David and Mrs Sherayne
Sigsworth
One of the many hanging baskets in the
village provided by the BRA.
Keep in contact on line at bookhamresidents.org.uk or 24 hour telephone line: 0300 030 9890
5
A COMMUNITY WINTER GRIT AND SALT SOLUTION
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Clr Clare Curran
There are 35 individual salting routes
across Surrey covering 1186 miles or
about 39% of Surrey's roads, extending
to 1477 miles or about 49% during
prolonged severe weather conditions. In
addition, the County Council also
provides grit bins so that residents off
the priority gritting routes can
themselves help to keep some roads
safer.
Across the whole Bookham village, there
are just over a dozen SCC grit bins,
which are about to be supplemented by
5 more at key locations, identified by
residents. However, it is clear that this
still leaves a lot of difficult and
potentially dangerous corners and
junctions in the village some distance
from the nearest grit bin, and which may
go untreated in frosty or snowy weather.
With this in mind, the BRA working with
County Councillor Clare Curran, have
made arrangements for a supply of road
grit/salt, suitable for treating roads in
snow and heavy frost, to be made
available free of charge to any Bookham
resident who is willing to volunteer to
look after a particular steep or tricky
stretch of road or corner or junction in
bad weather. This is a simple yet
effective way of ensuring that our roads
can be kept safer in bad weather. The
only request that the BRA make is that
they know the name and address of the
person who has the grit, since it will
have to be kept in a garage or shed until
needed. It is not particularly bulky, and it
can be delivered.
Many thanks too to the Vineries Nursery
for their invaluable help in establishing
this scheme.
POLICING & COMMUNITY SAFETY
Neil Clarke, 13363
Crime Reduction Advisor - Eastern
Division
When you are a victim of a crime, your
perception about “feeling safe” can
change dramatically. People can quote
any number of statistics to prove that
Surrey is a very safe place in which to live
but if you become a victim of the crime
those statistics tend to become
meaningless.
It is impossible to prevent crime but there
is so much that can be done to reduce
the risk of becoming a victim. It is often
the most simple of actions that can make
a would-be burglar decide not to bother
targeting your home and property and go
elsewhere. That isn’t to say that you will
never be targeted but the likelihood can
be reduced very significantly.
In Mole Valley, we tend to have spates of
particular types of criminal activity, some
of which tend to be seasonal and others
that continue on a fairly regular basis.
In the past, we used to have seasonal
spikes of thefts of property from
unattended motor vehicles in beauty spot
car parks but this has become a year
round problem. Despite officers patrolling
at beauty spots and car parks, advising
people about not leaving items of value in
their cars, we continue to see victims
reporting this type of crime to us on a
fairly regular basis. Our advice is never to
leave any items of value in your vehicle.
The most common places are under the
driver’s or passenger’s seats or in the rear
foot wells and, of course, in the boot.
Items such as handbags, laptops, purses,
household paperwork, cameras etc. have
all been stolen from unattended vehicles.
It takes a matter of seconds to break into
an unattended vehicle so, apart from not
leaving items in the car, we always
suggest leaving the glove box open and
the boot shelf off to show that nothing
of value has been left in the vehicle.
Domestic burglaries are not very
common in Surrey but they do happen
and it’s normally due to some insecurity
at a premises that makes it easy for an
opportunistic thief to get in. Burglars like
to work unobserved, so high hedges
which obscure the front of the house are
very popular “hiding places”. A clear line
of sight from the roadside to the front
door is a good deterrent, as is having
visible signage that a property has an
intruder alarm. That doesn’t mean a
fake alarm box, as most burglars can tell
the difference between a real alarm box
and a fake!! The font size on the
lettering is different on a “fake” box and
many burglars know this.
Having some dusk till dawn lighting at
the front and rear of your house is also
an effective deterrent, as it removes
pools of shadow where a burglar can
work unobserved as well as conveying
the impression of occupancy. Dusk till
dawn lighting is also relatively
inexpensive to run and it turns itself on
and off depending on the natural light
levels.
In urban areas, a simple audible intruder
alarm is a good deterrent – plus the
accompanying signage that comes with
having an alarm system. Burglars are
deterred by warnings that indicate that
the property has an alarm in use! If you
are considering an alarm system, I
would suggest that you check out the
NACOSS website, which gives a wealth
of useful information on what is
currently available on the market.
Please contact Peter Seaward,
([email protected]) or
Cllr Clare Curran
if you would like to take advantage
of the BRA scheme for collection or
delivery arrangements. Flower display provided by The Crown
public house.
Bookhams Residents’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2014
6
BOOKHAM YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTRE
David Cox OBE
Bookham Youth & Community
Association
Regular users – maximise use of
Centre
It’s good to report that due to a new
regular user, the Centre is now fully
utilised, apart from occasional party
slots, with the vast majority being taken
by groups working with a variety of
young people.
Pre School
Smarty Pants continue Monday to Friday
during term time with all the Centre
facilities being available. You can find out
more about Smarty Pants by contacting
Debbie Hill 07834614420 or via
Sports & Get fit
Want to get fit using our spacious Sports
Hall & Hardcourt?
Monday afternoons:
13:45 Pilates with Helen Stevens
Contact [email protected]
15:00 U3A Badminton & Table
Tennis
SOUTH BOOKHAM SPACE
Volunteers needed to build on
SPACE success!
Trevor Goul-Wheeker
The AGM of South Bookham Youth &
Community Association Ltd held in June
heard that usage of SPACE had increased
by a fantastic 43% in the year ending
March 2014, due to many more party
bookings and even more regular user
activities.
As a result of this success, the SBY&CA
Trustees are seeking additional
volunteers to help with all aspects of
running SPACE: Friends of SPACE are
needed to help with marketing, bookings
and maintenance. Anyone interested in
knowing more should contact SBY&CA
Chairman, Trevor Goul-Wheeker, on
New activities last year included Amanda
Warwick Dance Arts, Dorking &
Leatherhead Pole Fitness and two netball
clubs; Ashtead NC and the Wanderers
NC to further broaden the great range of
activities available to local people. Since
June, two new activities have started at
SPACE: BH Pilates on Saturday mornings
8.30-9.30 am and Zumba with Katie on
Thursdays from 17.45 - 19.00 pm.
Weekend party bookings now include
wedding receptions as well as ever more
children’s parties, especially for those
with kids that want to use of the outdoor
five-a-side soccer, netball, tennis or
basketball area, called Outer SPACE.
As a result of this success the Trustees
were delighted to confirm that the
charges for hiring SPACE and Outer
SPACE will remain unchanged for a 3rd
consecutive year.
The SPACE team are still searching new
users, especially a basketball team to
use Outer SPACE and any local
organisations needing a purpose built
committee room with smartboard
technology.
Katie Smith leads Zumba classes
Sunday mornings:
08:45 Circuit training
10:00 Pilates
Contact: [email protected]
Mobile: 07801810665
Thank you for helping us!
Friends Life provided a group of
volunteers to help paint a large internal
area of the Centre as part of their way of
giving back to the community. The team
from the Enterprise Risk Department
enjoyed their day and are keen to return
next year. Veolia have continued helping
with practical assistance and this
continues to be greatly appreciated.
We have also received financial support
from local residents and Bookham and
Horsley Inner Wheel.
Without the support of businesses,
organisations and local individuals
keeping the Centre going will be that
much harder. Help manifests itself in
many ways be it allowing us to advertise
in retail outlets, providing raffle prizes,
helping with work parties, financial
donations and other practical assistance.
On a regular basis the Centre is
managed and kept going by a group of
volunteers who give what time they can
with either expertise or just “mucking
in”. We are looking for potential trustees
(only 4 meetings a year) who can bring
their experience to the organisation and
those willing to help with fund raising
and work parties.
Dance to Live 60s & 70s Music
Saturday 29 November 8-11pm –
you may not be too late!!
“Band from the Pub” are providing the
music. Tickets reserved in advance at
£10.00 pp including plated Ploughman’s
meal. Group tables available. Bring drinks
& snacks. Contact David on: 078253
54763.
If you feel that you would like to
give a bit of time to help us
continue this asset for our
community: contact David on
07825 354763
For further details on all the great
activities taking place at SPACE or
to hire the facilities, please visit:
www.southbookhamspace.org.uk
or email:
Keep in contact on line at bookhamresidents.org.uk or 24 hour telephone line: 0300 030 9890
7
BUS SERVICES
...Continued from page two.
Surrey County Council have started a
county-wide bus review which could
affect us and our bus services.
Marion Chow
Fundraising & PR Coordinator
It has been a very busy past few months
for The Grange with Heritage Day
attracting a bumper number of visitors,
largely thanks to the weather and the
lure of some wonderful tea and cakes!
During October, a number of local
schools were invited to take part in The
Big Draw, The World’s Biggest Drawing
Festival. The school groups got involved
in printing, drawing natural objects and
creating works of art all within The
Grange’s fabulous ballroom. It is the
second year that we have organised this
type of event and it is a lovely
opportunity for both the schools taking
part and The Grange.
For more details of both these
events, please call Marion on
01372 455231 or email:
RENOVATING OUR ROADSIDE VERGES
Frances Fancourt
You will soon see our roadside verges
getting smartened up! Councillor Clare
Curran has helped the BRA to secure a
welcome grant from Surrey County
Council for the maintenance and
enhancement of Bookham’s verges. Over
past years many trees have died and
have often been cut down to stumps.
The money will be used to remove most
of the stumps and dead trees, and the
Bookham Tree Wardens will use the
remainder of the money to replant trees
along some of the roads where trees
have died. Stumps and dead trees will be
removed from The Garstons, Eastwick
Park Avenue, Lower Shott, Durleston
Park Drive, Sheridans Road and Hilltop
Rise. Pruning work will also be carried
out in the High Street (the big walnut
needs a little management), Greenacres
and Fernleaplus a few other sites.
Once the new trees have been planted
we appeal to residents to help us keep
them watered. A new tree should ideally
have at least one watering can every
week for 2-3 years, come rain or shine.
This will help them to put down fine roots
which will bind with the soil and help
them feed and thrive in their new
locations.
These works are due to take place during
November. Thereafter, if you have a
dead street tree or stump which has not
been removed, please let me know and I
will add it to the list for future works.
These works are in addition to the final
Liquidambar trees in Greenacres
Currently the review is only on SCC's
website (their preferred method of
submission) but the hard-copy will be
available at council buildings, libraries
and bus stations, i.e. Guildford, from
early next month. So bus-users may care
Our next major event will
be The Bridge Masterclass
with Andrew Robson OBE,
The Times Bridge
Correspondent. Held on
Monday, 3rd November,
tables are still available at
£200 (4 players) including
lunch and wine.
Rounding off the year will be The
Grange’s Annual Christmas Concert on
13th December 2014, held at the
amazing Menuhin Hall at The Yehudi
Menuhin School Stoke D’Abernon. Tickets
are £17 available directly from the
Menuhin Hall’s box office on 08700
842020. If you would like to be part of
The Grange Choir, rehearsals will be
every Wednesday evening from 19th
November.
to complete the review only after they
have seen the paper version. The
deadline for submission is 14th January
2015 and they have
scheduled September 2015 for any
changes to take effect.
year of Big Tree Plant grant which will
see new trees planted in South
Bookham streets.
Tree Wardens are:
Lawrence Hole (Fetcham):
01372 452769
Jenny Wilson (Bookham):
01372 453573
Frances Fancourt (Bookham):
01372 454000
Bookhams Residents’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2014
8
BRABA
getting down to business...
David Smith
What a lovely Spring and Summer we
have had after such a dreary Winter. I’m
sure you will agree that the flower
displays around the retail areas seem to
have benefitted from the good weather.
The hanging baskets were lovely and
particularly spectacular was the flower
bed at the top of the High Street outside
Rawlings and Kensett and Laytons. Our
thanks go to The Vineries Garden Centre
for planting them all up and for
sponsoring the flowerbed and to the BRA
for funding the baskets.
There have been some changes to the
retail profile in the village this year with
some businesses changing ownership
and others reopening with entirely
different offerings. I’m sure you’ll join me
in welcoming them all and wishing them
every success.
As always at this time of year, our
thoughts turn to Christmas and in
particular late night shopping event. As
2014 is the 100th anniversary of the
start of the First World War, this year the
theme will be Peace and Goodwill. This
year is also a special year as it marks the
10th anniversary of the late night
shopping event itself. There will be
themed windows in many of the shops
and other activities for you to enjoy.
BRABA will once again be putting up
Christmas trees and festive lights above
shops where we can, so we can add to
the tremendous display organised and
funded by the BRA. BRABA’s “Keep
Bookham Bright” collection tins will
appear in lots of shops once the trees
are up with all of your donations going
to support the BRA in their work to
continue and improve the festive lights in
the village.
Before that, all of you who have been
out and about in Surrey over the last few
months will have seen the poppies on
lampposts campaign which aims to
commemorate the First World War and
are designed to stay up for the duration
of the four year centenary. Bookham
Retail and Business Association plans to
raise money for the British Legion by
getting as many poppies in windows and
on lampposts around the retail areas as
possible by asking businesses to make a
donation and display their poppy. If you
are a business and would like to
participate in this event please come and
see me and even if you are not a
business you could also participate in
this event by making a donation and
displaying a poppy. You will find me at
Wishing Well, 7 High Street, Bookham.
If you are a local business and are
interested in joining our
association, please email
Michelle at [email protected]
EASTWICK ROAD CHURCH
Sue Ferguson—Church Secretary.
After 6 months of building work the new
foyer and ramp for the disabled was
completed in September , and an Open
Afternoon on October 11th was an
opportunity to thank all those who had
given financially, given their expertise,
the architect and all the building team.
The new foyer provides much more
circulation space not only for church
members but also for the many groups
who use the premises. A new meeting
room has also provided an additional
room for smaller meetings. Wheelchair
users will appreciate the new ramp from
the car park to the church and hall.
We embark on the next phase of the
Project in January when we will improve
the toilet and kitchen facilities which we
hope will be of benefit to all. New flower
beds have been carefully planted. Our
thanks to everyone involved and for the
patience of hall users during this period.
Keep in contact on line at bookhamresidents.org.uk or 24 hour telephone line: 0300 030 9890
9
FRIENDS OF BOOKHAM COMMONS: SPRING CAMPAIGN
Robert Hall
Chairman: Friends of Bookham
Common
The new Natural Play Area on Great
Bookham Common is now open and has
been very well received by lots of
children accompanied by parents and
grandparents. The opening was
performed by SCC Councillor Clare
Curran who has been actively involved n
the project.
It offers timber ‘challenges’ for all whilst
parents can sit and watch and enjoy the
use of a couple of picnic tables. The play
area is within easy walk of the Tunnel
Car Park, close by Bookham Station
where turning left towards the Isle of
Wight pond it can be found on the left
after about 400 yards.
We are extremely grateful to National
Trust Commons Keeper, Ian Swinney
and his team of Volunteers for all their
work in constructing this facility which
has been funded by Surrey County
Council and the Friends of Bookham
Commons.
Most of the National Trust notice boards
have leaflets have leaflets available.
Various projects are being considered for
next year where it seems there is some
demand for more timber benches so
walkers can stop and rest weary legs!
Meanwhile since the beginning of this
year, the number of members has
increased by over 90% following wide
publicity about the Friends. Very
encouraging!
BOOKHAM VANGUARD
Cathryn
Hossack
Bookham
Neighbourhood Forum prepare for
2016 referendum
The new natural play area at Great
Bookham Common. Photo: Ian Swinney.
Inset: Robert Hall thanks Clare Curran
at the play area opening.
The preparation of the Neighbourhood
Development Plan (NDP) for Bookham
continues.
The Forum's timetable for producing the
NDP is dictated by Mole Valley’s Housing
and Traveller Sites Plan (HTSP). Until
Mole Valley District Council meet in
January 2015, we shall not know what
sites, if any, are proposed to be released
from the Green Belt in Bookham. So, for
now, the Forum are concentrating on
preparing Policies that can apply within
the current built‐up area of Bookham
(not in the Green Belt), and will take into
account what comes out of the HTSP
planning process in January 2015. The
aim is to produce a Draft Plan and take
into account feedback from the
community during 2015, before putting it
forward for examination and finally
voting on the agreed, final Plan in a
community referendum in May 2016.
The Forum will spend their next meeting
listening to proposals for policies to
include in the Draft Plan and will provide
feedback before the policies are firmed
up. Once the Draft Plan is written the
whole community will be able to
comment on it, in early 2015.
The recently advertised October Public
Event, originally planned to launch the
Draft Plan has been postponed, so please
look out for the new Plan Launch Date
which will be advertised online and
widely around Bookham early in 2015.
The next Forum meeting will also see the
election of a new Chair. Lucy Botting the
retiring Chair was elected as a district
councillor for Bookham North earlier this
year. Due to potential conflicts of interest
in the two roles, Lucy has reluctantly
resigned her Neighbourhood Forum role
as Chair but remains as a member of the
Forum.
As well as preparing policies for the NDP,
members of the Forum and Task Force
(Forum working groups) have found time
to comment on the Guildford Borough
Draft Local Plan as it affects Bookham.
To see these comments and keep up to
date with the latest news from the
Neighbourhood Forum please visit the
website, join us on Twitter or Facebook
or get in touch to sign up for the regular
newsletter.
***STOP PRESS***BOOKHAM
NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM***
At the October meeting of the Council it
was agreed that current planning policy
for Mole Valley would be reviewed and
changes proposed at the December
meeting. Any impact this may have on
the timing or content of the
Neighbourhood Plan for Bookham will be
reported on the Bookham Neighbourhood
Planning website and in the next
newsletter.
Bookham Neighbourhood Forum
www.bookhamvanguard.co.uk
Twitter: @bookhamvanguard
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
bookhamvanguard
Those that want to know more
about joining the Friends can email
or visit our new website:
www.bookhamcommonns.org.uk
Bookhams Residents’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2014
10
FLOOD FORUM
Michael Agius
The Bookham Flood Forum has
continued to hold regular meetings,
where. BRA meet with
representatives of SCC, MVDC,
Thames Water (TW) and the
National Trust (NT), under the
Chairmanship of County Councillor
Clare Curran.
As was to be expected, the meetings
over recent months have included
discussion of the problems arising
from spring water flooding earlier in
the year. Springs at the Lower Road
Rec were still producing substantial
flows of water through until early
June. Long term solutions at three
problem locations along Lower Road
i.e. the Rec, Manor House Lane and
off The Howard playing fields are
still being assessed by the SCC
Highways design team. Their plans
are still awaited.
Recent meetings of the Flood Forum
have reviewed the current situation
at previously identified problem
areas:
the central area of the village i.e.
Lower Road at The Crown PH,
High Street, Church Road to Fife
Way where SCC have carried out
CCTV surveys and have started
analysing the footage.
Church Road, Fife Way to
Bookham Common, where TW
have lined the surface water
drain continuously from Solecote
to Bookham Common. The
length from Fife Way to Solecote
awaits root clearance before it
too can be lined.
Little Bookham Street and the
Sole Farm Avenue where. BRA
have been active in trying to find
a solution with residents and
proposals have been submitted
to MVDC for them to consider
funding and implementation.
Park Green/Greenacres/The
Park, where the outfall to The
Park is blocked by roots is now
on Thames risk register.
Hambledon Place, Highcroft Court,
Westfield Drive, Hill Road and Barclay
Close where further investigation is
still required.
Kennel Lane, The Glade and The
Copse where further investigations
are ongoing
at No 8 Mill Close, where flooding has
been experienced over many years.
The long standing drainage problems
along Dorking Road are yet to be
resolved and BRA continue to pressure
SCC. Further areas where investigation
was required were identified as Park
Green/Greenacres and Fox Lane.
“WORKING TOGETHER”
Michael Anderson
The Bookham “Working Together”
informal group was set-up towards the
end of last year to see how our many
local organisations can work together to
help each other and address common
issues and concerns.
Coming out of the initiative a Volunteer
Workshop and a Volunteer Fair have
already been held. Plans are in hand for a
Social Media Workshop which would help
organisations distribute information to
the community. The group have also
given thought as to how best to
strengthen our community links with The
Howard of Effingham School.
The next group meeting is scheduled for
mid-October. One of the possible Agenda
items for this is to discuss the aspirations
of “The Meeting Place” to set-up a
community meeting place or help centre
in the Village.
I would be pleased to answer any queries
readers may have on what the group are
trying to do, or on the planned Social
Media Workshop which is to be on
Saturday November 15th.
Michael Anderson
(01372) 454790)
FOOTPATHS
Michael Agius
During the last six months a number of
footpaths around Bookham have been
cleared of vegetation and weedkiller
applied, using funds received from SCC's
Localism Fund under their Lengthsman
Project. This involves money being given
to Parishes and Residents Associations to
carry out works in their locality which
SCC would normally carry out but do not
have the manpower to do as regularly as
should be done.
Later this year BRA will be submitting a
Bid to SCC for additional money from the
Localism Fund, to enable them to carry
out further works on village footpaths by
local contract.
Should anyone know of footpaths that are
likely to need attention in the coming
summer, please email Michael Agius:
[email protected] and he can check
whether or not they are already on the
schedule.
Before and after: the footpath from
Merrylands Road to Little Bookham
Street .
If anyone knows of areas that are
subject to flooding as a result of
drainage blockages, please
email Michael Agius:
Keep in contact on line at bookhamresidents.org.uk or 24 hour telephone line: 0300 030 9890
11
ROADS
Michael Agius
As previously reported, Surrey County
Council has developed a five year
programme of major road repairs called
Project Horizon. This financial year,
2014/2015, included the A246
Leatherhead Road from Young Street to
Rectory Lane, which was completed over
a period of four weeks in late August/
early September. This completed the
length from the Effingham traffic lights to
Young Street. Eastwick Drive is also
programmed for this year.
Next year the resurfacing of the following
roads is scheduled: Crabtree Lane, Little
Bookham Street, Meadow Way/The
Copse (Eastwick Drive to The Copse),
Willow Vale (The Copse to the end),
Willow Vale (Spring Grove to the end),
Mill Close and the High Street .
In addition to the Project Horizon
schemes, the bottom part of Manor
House Lane, which was left in a very
dangerous condition as a result of the
very wet weather in the earlier part of
the year, was resurfaced as part of an
emergency works programme.
Other ongoing projects under the
2014/2015 ITS programme are:
further design of improvements on
Rectory Lane from The Grange to
the A246 with implementation in
2014/2015
improvements to the High Street,
principally for the benefit of
pedestrians. This scheme proposed
that the High Street be retained for
two way traffic, whilst allowing for
the construction of three raised tables
that would reduce traffic speeds and
act as pedestrian crossings. The
tables would also allow traffic in each
direction to pass more easily. The
proposals went out to consultation in
August and September and resulted
in some 200 returns to SCC.
The replies showed no overwhelming
If you have any highways problems
near you, the best way to report it
is to go to www.surreycc.gov.uk
and ‘Report It’,
or phone 0300 200 1003.
Please also email Michael Agius on
[email protected] so that he can
keep a record of the problems.
support for the proposals and it was
agreed at Local Committee in September
that an alternative design would be
developed.
Re-surfaced A246 at the top of the High Street
Re-surfaced Manor House Lane that was closed for sometime during the winter
floods.
Bookhams Residents’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2014
12
ABOUT THE BOOKHAMS RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.
Bookhams Residents' Association (BRA)
was established in 1926 and aims to
represent the views of all who live in
Great and Little Bookham on important
local issues to the local authorities and
other public bodies and is independent
of all political parties.
The BRA has a membership of 3,000
households which represents 7,000
residents i.e. approximately 60% of
Bookham's population. By having a
strong membership embracing the whole
of Bookham the BRA can ensure that
members views will be respected, noted
and acted upon by the local authorities
and others.
BRA Membership is £2.00 per annum
per household
The BRA Newsletter is published twice a
year in the Spring and Autumn. In
addition to the print edition the BRA
website is updated regularly as and
when new stories affecting the
Bookhams become available and there
is a Streetlife.com page for discussions.
On the web site you can also register to
receive occasional emails on BRA
activities and village stories throughout
the year.
There are also number of regularly
updated Notice Boards around the
village.
www.bookhamresidents.org.uk
www.streetlife.com/page/
bookhams-residents-association/
If you prefer to speak to the BRA team
please call 0300 030 9890 and leave a
message and a team member will get
back to you.
10th Anniversary
In partnership for Bookham’s
Christmas Opening
Thursday 11th December 6 - 8.30pm
“Peace & Goodwill” (to recognise the WW1 Centenary)
Local traders in competition for the Best
Dressed Window with this theme.
Bookham High St and part of Church Rd:
Closed to traffic for safe shopping & Carol singing.
The Grove:
Traders here are also open for business
Baptist Church:
Local businesses with stalls in the hall + Refreshments.
Music & Story Telling in the Sanctuary.
St Nicolas Church:
Display of decorated Christmas Trees.
Craft & activities for the children in the Pastoral Centre.
The Library:
A display remembering the WW1 Centenary.
