The Village Hall Cinema is showing that Christmas family favourite ‘Elf’ on the afternoon of Sunday December 10th. Doors open at 2pm for a 2.30 start. Tickets £5 each from the shop. Children under three sitting on laps go free! Popcorn, minces pies and soft drinks/tea and coffee will be available.
Tickets are also available online at Eventbrite for £6.13 (they add their own fee) at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/elf-at-hambledon-surrey-tickets-769180458457?aff=oddtdtcreator
The excessively wet and muddy bridleway 186 beside the Merry Harriers is likely to receive substantial maintenance and improvements next summer, Hambledon Parish Council has been told.
The parish repeatedly raised the appalling state of this right of way with Surrey County Council, which is responsible for footpaths and bridleways, finally resulting in an SCC officer carrying out an inspection.
With an increased budget expected to be approved for maintenance, he has subsequently contacted the parish council to state that it hopes to carry out repairs in 2024.
Bridleway 186 is an important walking, cycling and riding route, connecting the village with Hambledon Common and Enton, but has become almost impassable. At the eastern end, between the Merry Harriers and Dare Mead, run off means the path is wet and boggy all year round. At the western end, where it reaches the common, a small stream floods a wide area.
John Baker, a SCC countryside access officer, has made several visits, including one with parish councillors, and is now proposing a raised section with a ditch and soak-away to one side at the eastern end and an improved culvert to take the stream under the bridleway at the western end.
This is subject to further inspection by SCC-appointed contractors and other approvals.
Mr Baker said: “Our budget for next year has not been set, but assuming it remains as we have been told, I am confident that this path can be done during Summer 2024.”.
Budget restraints have led to rights of way maintenance across the county being shelved, but the increase in outdoor activity during the Covid pandemic, and the pressure that has put on footpaths, has brought about a change of approach.
The parish council has constantly raised the state of Bridleway 186 with SCC. Village volunteers have carried out some maintenance, including the laying of sleepers, but the necessary repairs would be way beyond the parish budget.
Mr Baker indicated the parish council may be able to use Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to go towards repair costs, despite Waverley Borough Council previously indicating this would not be possible. Hambledon’s parish clerk is now investigating this.
Hambledon residents and others living nearby will have seen that the owner of the field beside Station Road and Hambledon Road, at the Hydestile Crossroads, has employed contractors to remove vegetation on the roadside banks.
This has resulted in a considerable change to the landscape, as did the earlier removal of trees. The preservation of hedgerows is important as they are a vital habitat for wildlife. However, Waverley Borough Council stated today that the work has been carried out lawfully and the landowner intends to replant.
It was a week of goodbyes, swiftly followed by hellos, as Hambledon’s “local”, the Merry Harriers, changed hands.
The village’s popular freehouse had been in the ownership of the de Savary family since 2017. Following the death of Peter de Savary last year his widow Lana decided to sell the pub if an appropriate buyer could be found.
That has now happened, and last week Sam Fiddian-Green and Alex Winch, the business partnership behind the acclaimed Hilltop Kitchen at nearby Munstead, took over the reins at the 16th Century pub.
The previous weekend (Nov 11th and 12th), regulars said goodbye to the de Savary era, and to parting chef Nick Ash, in fine style, with a crowded meat raffle on the Saturday afternoon and a final session on Sunday evening.
The pub reopened last Thursday when it was time to welcome Sam, Alex and their staff to Hambledon. Both are pictured below, Sam to the left of the photo.
Our other photographs (below) show customers on the final two days under the de Savary ownership, the first at meat raffle and the second on the last night, as pub manager Martine Mason and bar manager Louise Thomas prepare to offer half-price drinks, to cheers all round.
There are to be changes. The llama treks have ended and the food offering has been changed, to reflect chef Sam’s sustainable farm-to-fork cooking using local produce. Alex has said the bar area will remain a place where locals will feel welcome, and the range of real ales are much the same as before.
Hambledon Parish Council has invited them to attend one of its forthcoming meetings to outline what plans they may have for the future trading of the pub.
Rock Hill will remain closed for up to four days for emergency carriageway repairs to a water leak and the resulting pothole.
This follows injuries to cyclists in two separate incidents. Both hit the pothole descending Rock Hill in the direction of the Merry Harriers and adjacent to Hambledon Nursery School. One suffered a broken nose after being propelled over her handlebars on Friday evening and the other received facial injuries after coming off his bike at the same location yesterday morning.
Both required hospital treatment at Accident and Emergency.
Hambledon Parish Council has been in touch with Surrey County Council Highways Department and Thames Water and, yesterday evening, a barrier was erected around the leak.
This morning, engineers returned and closed the road off to begin assessing the work required. It is not the first time this leak has emerged and, as before, there seems to be some dispute over whether the water company or the highways authority is responsible for the repair.
The council has spoken to the engineers currently on site. No work was taking place and it was clear that they were awaiting further instructions. They said that repairs are likely to take three to four days and during this period the road will remain closed to vehicles, although pedestrians and bicycles can pass.
They were asked if traffic light control could be introduced to allow vehicles to pass but the answer was “no” because the road is too steep and narrow to allow safe passage.
It seems the repair, when it comes, will not address the underlying issue of why this problem reoccurs, but will involve excavation, infilling and resurfacing. It was made clear that, with so many repair issues on local roads to be attended to, this is all the village can expect.
Hambledon Road remains open from the Hydestile Crossroads to the Merry Harriers and nursery school in one direction, and from Lane End through the village to Church Lane in the other. The signposted diversion is along the Petworth Road towards Milford, turning right into Culmer Lane/Water Lane, and then Station Road to Hydestile (or the reverse of).
Drivers should be aware the Culmer and Water Lanes are narrow, steep in places, badly rutted and with a considerable amount of surface water. Motorists may prefer to taking a longer diversion through Milford.
A carriageway water leak on Rock Hill, approaching the Merry Harriers, has now developed into a large pothole. A cyclist hit this earlier today, was treated initially for his injuries at the nearby Hambledon Nursery School, and has since been taken to A&E.
Over the weekend, a cyclist hit the same pothole, went over her handlebars and suffered facial injuries including a broken nose. She was cared for by Merry Harriers staff until an ambulance arrived.
This leak has previously been reported by Hambledon Parish Council but despite repairs, the problem keeps returning. Today the council has, once again, reported the issue to Surrey Highways and also to Thames Water.
It has also been reported by the Nursery School following the accident today and staff have been told that the issue has been “escalated” by Thames Water.
Hopefully temporary repairs can be made as soon as possible and the parish council will press for a more effective permanent repair.
In the meantime, please take extra care when descending Rock Hill and we are grateful to the nursery school and to Louise at the pub for the help they have given. Also, thanks to David Edmiston for swiftly placing some warning cones by the pothole.
Don’t miss out on getting your tickets for the Village Quiz with, as ever, fantastic quiz master Bill Dann. Tickets cost £12.50 each and are available from the village shop. This includes a delicious chilli con carne and baked potato supper. Vegan option will be available so please let the person on the shop till know if you would like this when you buy your ticket.
As always, there will be a well-stocked bar and a great raffle. This year, profits from both the bar and raffle will go to Macmillan.
Tickets always go very quickly so make sure you don’t miss out! Maximum team size 6 people.
‘Eccentric and individualistic, Barbie is exiled from Barbieland because of her imperfections. When her home world is in peril, Barbie returns with the knowledge that what makes her different also makes her stronger.’
‘A riotously entertaining candy-coloured feminist fable that manages to simultaneously celebrate, satirise and deconstruct its happy-plastic subject.’ The Guardian
Certificate 12a
Pink Gin, Pink Prosecco and other non-pink drinks will be available from our well-stocked bar. Dressing up not mandatory!
Doors and bar open at 7pm and the film starts at 7.30pm. All bar profits will go to the Fountain Centre at the Royal Surrey County Hospital which provides invaluable emotional support and complementary therapies for cancer patients and their loved ones. Join us for a great film and to help support this wonderful cause.
Tickets £5 from the Village Shop and on the door.