The Hydestile Crossroads, where accidents occur with regularity, has long been a safety concern to Hambledon residents. The parish council secured a site meeting with a senior highways engineer from Surrey County Council to see if improvements could be made.

SCC has maintained that all signage and road markings are in accordance with statutory regulations and that nothing further could be done. However, it agreed to meet at the crossroads to investigate further.

Some progress was made. SCC will repaint the road markings, which have become obscured at the bottom of Salt Lane, and will support vegetation cuts which would allow for the provision of an additional sign, warning of the Give Way junction ahead.

This would be installed on the right-hand side of the approach to the junction on Salt Lane, where a narrow strip of verge on the right will be cut to provide space for the post-mounted sign.

A dying ash tree opposite the bus shelter can also be removed and a bramble patch beside it has already been cut. The intention is to improve sight lines for motorists at the junction.

Most accidents are caused by vehicles crossing over from Salt Lane towards Milford, and from Station Road across to Salt Lane, in front of cars travelling with a right of way on Hambledon Road. Some drivers have claimed that they were unaware of the junction, although misjudgements clearly play a part.

The engineer said that the junction did not meet the criteria to change it from a Give Way to a Stop, nor would Surrey CC consider changing priorities or installing a small roundabout. He conceded that the steepness of the banks and lack of a verge on the approach on Salt Lane meant that the existing signs were difficult to see. But he insisted that the signage was at the correct statutory distance.

Several issues emerged from the meeting, which was attended by Stewart Payne, parish council chairman, and Councillor Robin McKeith, who has responsibility for highways issues, together with several Hydestile residents.

SCC data on road accidents – upon which decisions are based – does not include the many minor non-injury accidents, which occur. And budget restraints mean that many scheduled works get put back. Inspections on vegetation growth and the state of white lines only take place annually.

It was agreed that the parish council would endeavour to report all issues on-line as they occur and the suggested vegetation cuts and the provision of the additional sign would also be requested with an assurance that approval is likely be given.

The removal of the dying ash, however, will present a budget issue for the parish council. It is likely to take three years for the council to undertake the task. If the parish council were to do it, it would require engaging a private contractor and a road closure while the work is carried out.

• In the meantime, discussions continue over a proposal to impose a ban on HGV’s using the extremely narrow Salt/Markwick Lanes. Local resident Paul Osborne, Hambledon Parish Council and our SCC Ward councillor Kevin Deanus are pressing Surrey Highways to implement mandatory restrictions and a plan, which would involve rerouting HGV away from narrow and unsuitable lanes in Hambledon and neighbouring areas, is currently being considered.

Hambledon has played a part in history-making with the creation of Godalming Minster, a revival of the original thought to have been founded around 820 AD

The new Minster unites Godalming’s parish church, St Peter and St Paul, and St Mark’s at Ockford Ridge with the parishes of Hambledon and Busbridge. This will strengthen resources and increase diocese funding as well enabling the churches to share their ministry across a wider area.

An inauguration service held at St and St Paul’s on Sunday January 14^th was led by Bishop Andrew Watson, the Bishop of Guildford. He was joined by Simon Taylor, who becomes the new Rector of Godalming Minster, and Rev Sheila Samuels, Associate Minister.

Simon was previously the Rector of Busbridge and Hambledon churches. Simon Willetts, Hambledon’s associate minister until the beginning of this year, was also involved in the service. He is taking on a new role within the Minster.

Many others from Hambledon attended the service, which was packed and with standing room only, including members of the St Peter’s congregation. Jeremy Hunt, constituency MP and a Hambledon resident welcomed the creation of the Minster.

Local police, school leaders, voluntary group leaders, the mayors of Waverley and Godalming and local councillors joined with senior clergy from the area. Hambledon was represented by Stewart Payne, the chair of its parish council, and many villagers.

The inauguration service saw much singing, led by the choir of St Peter and St Paul and with others taking part. The Bishop of Guildford gave the welcome and introduction. A member from each of the church’s congregations presented a gift to the bishop. For Hambledon, Ann and Ron Vickery presented a Communion set, fashioned from a melted down English Civil War helmet.

At  the end of the service, children let off party poppers, which cascaded down across the congregation before a commemorative cake was cut.

The Minster was created after widespread consultation followed by a vote by those on church registers. Hambledon’s church will retain its current services as well as a dedicated vicar (associate minister) who will live in the village. Recruitment to replace Simon Willetts is underway.

Minsters date back to the 7^th Century and were once widespread. In Godalming, as elsewhere, they were slowly replaced with the introduction of parishes. However, as the Church of England looks to reinvigorate the work of churches across a wider area and make savings, they are staging a comeback. A Minster was last known to be active in the Godalming area c1100

More information about the new Minster can be found here – https://www.cofeguildford.org.uk/godalming-welcomes-new-minster.php and www.godalmingminster.org or https://www.bhcgodalming.org

Hambledon Parish Council is collecting feedback on potential changes to the speed limits throughout Surrey County Council. Traffic authorities have been asked to consider more 20mph limits and zones in built up village streets in order to ensure greater safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Any changes will be subject to extensive consultation prior to implementation.

Hambledon Parish Council would like to hear from you:

Do you support the introduction of some 20mph limits to the village.

Are there any roads in particular you would support this change on.

Please get in touch with the Parish Clerk if you have any views either way: [email protected]

The Midsummer Ball – Saturday 22nd June

Tables for the Midsummer Ball will be available to reserve on-line at hambledonfestival.co.uk from Monday 15th January 2024 at 10.00am.

Jazz On The Green – Friday 21st June

Jazz On The Green will follow a similar format to two years ago – a relaxed, kid-friendly evening of music from the 19-piece Junction 4 Big Band, The Hambledon Village Shop Choir and others, accompanied by sunset and local food and drink.

Tickets will be available for purchase on-line at hambledonfestival.co.uk from 10am on Monday 15th. Early bird adult tickets are £18 each and tickets for under 16 year olds are free. After 31st March adult tickets will be £20 each.

The Summer Fete – Saturday 22nd June

Hambledon’s Traditional Summer Fête will be held at the Cricket Green on Saturday 22nd June 2024. If you would like to get involved in the fête in any way, running a stall or helping with the setup and organisation please let us know by email at [email protected].

Surrey County Council is responsible for around 2164 miles (3482 km) of public footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways, and byways open to all traffic across the whole of the County. A new Rights Of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) is being drafted which sets out how Surrey County Council can make sure the public rights of way network meets the needs of the public, now and in the future.

Hambledon Parish Council will be giving feedback on what improvements can be made within the Parish. We are looking for additional feedback from those who use the network, please get in touch with the clerk if you have any thoughts you would like to add.

Suggestions may include:

• gaps between almost adjacent rights of way,
• sections of footpaths which become all but impassable to those on foot,
• sections where a right of way is severed or is busy that could benefit from being bridged.

Please get in touch via email: [email protected] by Friday 26th January 2024.

Surrey County Council have also provided a questionnaire that you can fill out that goes directly to them: https://www.surreysays.co.uk/environment-and-infrastructure/rowip-public  . This questionnaire closes on 10th March 2024.

The Village Web Team and its contributors send season’s greetings to all village residents.

Our photos depict the Christmas Eve community carols singing outside Hambledon shop. Great music, wonderful singing and a massive attendance. Hambledon at its best!

Thank you to all who organised or attended this and the host of other activities held in the lead-up to Christmas. There has been live music and dancing at the village hall, carols outside the Merry Harriers followed by a Christmas-themed quiz, a candlelit carols service at the village church and a seasonal market at the Old Coal Yard.

If you want details of church service times or shop opening hours, please refer to the recent posts on this news website.

It’s another busy Christmas week in the Village. On Wednesday The Merry Harriers hosts a communal Carol singing led by our very own musical vicar Simon Willetts, with a few elves assisting. Carols will start at 7pm and will be followed by a Christmas Quiz (expect more communal singing) starting around 8:30pm. The pub will be open from 5pm and, weather permitting, will have an outside bar and fire pits lit, plus some seasonal bar snacks. Currently the forecast is for a dry evening.

Christmas Eve brings the customary carol singing at the Village Shop at 12 noon with mulled wine and minced pies and carols lead by David Kirby’s band of friends (plus a few elves) and the Hambledon Village Shop Choir. There is no charge to attend, any donations are gratefully received and will contribute towards the costs of running the event. (PS Chiddingfold are running a similar carols event this Christmas Eve, can’t wait to see their Christmas inflatables next year.)

For a full list of Church events over Christmas see here.

Finally, please note the Village Shop hours over the festive week:

The shop, deli-cafe and Post Office will operate normal* hours except on the following days:

Christmas Eve – Deli closes at 12:00
Christmas Day – CLOSED
Boxing Day – CLOSED
New Year’s Day – CLOSED

*Normal shop hours are: 7 days a week 08:30-14:00
*Normal Post Office hours are: Mon-Fri 09:00-13:45, Sat 09:00-12:15, Sun CLOSED

Read how grants awarded in 2022 by the Hambledon Community Fund have benefitted the community this year:

HCF Autumn Newsletter 2023

Following the recent water outages a public meeting will be held with Thames Water next Friday, 15^th December. A number of representatives from Thames Water will be present including the Interim Co-CEO. The meeting will be opened by Angela Richardson MP and chaired by Jeremy Hunt MP. It will be necessary to register your attendance in advance.

The meeting will mostly address the most recent outages and what caused it. Hambledon was not impacted by this incident, but it may be of interest as the meeting will also cover what action the company is taking to ensure our water infrastructure is resilient for the future.