Beware – there is a significant icy patch on Malthouse Lane between St. Dominic’s entrance and the top of the drive of Malthouse Farm. This afternoon (Thursday) a vehicle has just skidded badly, damaging the brick wall and the 4×4 vehicle. Anyone on foot or driving by please take extra care while these temperatures are so low.

If you have been to the village shop recently you will have noticed some construction taking place next door. Hambledon now has its very own play area! 

Located on the site of the previous log stepping stones, which had succumbed to the damp, this new play area will be a welcome addition for the growing numbers of families now living in the village.

Some finishing touches are yet to take place – there is to be a see-saw on the site too, which has been held up due to shipping delays – but the play area as it stands is ready to welcome its first small footsteps.

Recognising the changing demographics of the village, the play area received the backing of the Parish Council and has been made possible through the use of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding.  Other village organisations are able to bid for CIL funding and further details on how to apply will be made available by the Parish Council in the new year.

A big thank you to Stephen Dean whose land the play area is located on, as well as to the village shop staff who have supported the project and it’s installation.

Are you, or someone you know, struggling with the rising cost of living?

Hambledon Parish Council manages a small fund that it receives annually from the Henry Smith Bequest. In previous years, funds have been given to help with heating bills or buying groceries for example.

For possible help, please contact the Hambledon Parish Clerk, Catherine Russell, by email: [email protected]. All enquiries are confidential.

As the temperature continues to drop, Warms Hubs have been set up around Waverley to help those who are are struggling to heat their homes. Warm Hubs are open to all and offer a warm, safe space where residents can expect a friendly and inclusive welcome this winter. Some of these hubs also offer refreshments.

A list of Warm Hubs can be found here: List of warm hubs in Surrey – Surrey County Council (surreycc.gov.uk)

Join us for the annual Hambledon Village Christmas Party, where you can enjoy live music from The Likeness, a fully licensed bar, and delicious grazing boards.

Dance the night away to your favourite tunes, enjoy a drink or two with friends, and feast on an array of tasty snacks.

The party will take place at the Village Hall on Saturday December 17th, from 8:00 PM to midnight. Tickets are £20 per person and can be purchased on-line using this link https://ti.to/hambledon-festival/christmas-dance-2022.

Hambledon resident Julia Osborne is exhibiting her work at a pop-up gallery from this Friday at the Coal Yard Creatives site near the Merry Harriers. Julia, a former freelance illustrator, has teamed up with 7 other local artists to fill an empty unit alongside the Coal Yard Creatives. Julia is pleased to exhibit: “We thought it would be great to combine forces and fill the empty unit at the Coal Yard and co-incide with their Christmas Market event on Saturday the 10th. 25% of all proceeds from sale of the artwork will go to the cancer charity the Fountain Centre.”

The Open Gallery is everyday until 16th December, and the Coal Yard event is on Saturday 10-4pm.

Redundant office space at Witley Station is being made available as a base for a local community group or charity and any organisation interested is invited to submit a proposal.

The space is within the main building on Platform 2 and was once part of the station master’s house. It consists of a single ground floor room and three office rooms on the first floor.

The rooms are being offered at a peppercorn rent, initially to August 2024, although a longer term may be available. No sub-letting is allowed.

The closure of Hambledon Road on the approach to the Hydestile Crossroads is expected to be lifted by early afternoon today (Wed Nov 30th).

However, road closure signs may remain in place because the responsibility for removing them rests with another contractor, not the road repairers! So the advice is to ignore the signs from this afternoon and passage should be possible.

On a separate issue: Readers of the December parish magazine may have noticed that two different start times have been given for the Midnight Communion at St Peter’s Church on Christmas Eve.  Continue reading →

If you are wondering who is responsible for the latest village road closure – this time on Hambledon Road at Hydestile – do not blame the usual suspects. Blame a badger.

The road is completely closed in both directions, preventing any through traffic and causing a lengthy diversion through Witley and Milford.

Unfortunately an error appeared on page 10 of the December issue about the price increase for subscribers to the Parish Magazine. The start of the second paragraph correctly reads “Unfortunately, the annual subscription has gone up to £9.00” but there is an error later on in the reference to cheque payments where the price was incorrectly given as £8.00.   

Whether you pay online or by cheque, the annual subscription price for 2023 is definitely £9.00. Apologies for any confusion caused. 

After a two year break the traditional Village Christmas Party will be held at the Village Hall from 8pm on Saturday 17th December. Tickets are £20 each. There will be live music from The Likeness, grazing boards (included in the ticket price) and a licensed bar.

Tickets can be purchased on-line using this link https://ti.to/hambledon-festival/christmas-dance-2022.

As construction work on the Orchard Farm affordable homes development finally gets under way, consideration needs to be given on what to call the new access road.

The housing association English Rural has permission to build nine homes on land between the A283 Petworth Road and Wormley Lane. The existing Orchard Farm building has been retained and sold together with some paddock land. Seven affordable properties and two open-market bungalows are to be built on the remainder.

PLEASE NOTE: MIDNIGHT COMMUNION AT ST PETER’S STARTS AT 11.30PM, NOT 11PM AS INCORRECTLY GIVEN ON POSTER BELOW.

Tickets for this event can be purchased on line using this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/xmas-gathering-tickets-461750537287