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HAVE YOUR SAY ON HAMBLEDON’S THREATENED BUS SERVICE
Surrey County Council has arranged a public walk-in session in Godalming to discuss the proposed changes to local bus services, including its intention to axe the 503, Hambledon’s only bus service.
It will take place next Friday (February 26) at the Crown Court car park where representatives of SCC and the operators Stagecoach will be in attendance on a bus. Residents can drop in at anytime between 10 am and 12 noon to discuss the proposed changes and to express their views.
SCC, faced with budget cuts, is looking to further reduce the subsidy it pays to bus operators to keep rural routes operating. Some areas will see alterations or reductions but Hambledon will be hit hard because it is proposed to withdraw the 503 altogether.
A final decision will be made after the current period of consultation ends on March 14. Hambledon Parish Council is opposing the scrapping of the 503, which it regards as a vital link for many, especially the elderly, to reach shops, banks and surgeries.
Residents who wish the service to continue are urged to make their views known. They can do so online at www.surreycc.gov.uk/transportreview or by phoning 0300 200 1003 to request a copy of the questionnaire to be sent to their home. Copies can also be obtained from libraries and council offices.
- If you know of someone who will be affected by the withdrawal of the 503 who is unlikely to read this online story, please contact them and pass on details of the drop-in session and the public consultation.
Possible Roadworks in Hambledon Road/Clockbarn from 15th Feb
As part of the resident-funded installation of broadband to Hydestile, Openreach and their contractors have been working hard this week in Home Farm Road, Busbridge, at the Crossroads and at Hydon Heath.
Technically there have been some challenges in Hambledon Road and an underground duct will need replacing – we are told there will be roadworks next week, and a possibility of emergency road closure of Hambledon Road (north of Clockbarn Lane). This is because of the very narrow parts of Hambledon Road which prevent safe working. The closure will be short notice and hopefully for a short time. We have leveraged our good relationship with Surrey CC Highways to expedite matters and have been negotiating to reduce the inconvenience but safety trumps most arguments. So please be understanding if you should encounter a Road Closed sign – it will be for a very valid reason.
More detail at www.GU8Superfast.co.uk
Too good to throw away?
The Management Committee of Hambledon Village Hall is organising a Traditional Jumble Sale to raise funds.
This will be held on April 16, more details to follow.
Do you have objects in your home that you have never used or things that have been used, are still in good condition but you don’t need anymore?
Please contact John Tidmarsh on 01428 682067 to see if they are suitable to be recycled at the jumble sale.
Dunsfold redevelopment consultation deadline 5th Feb
As announced earlier on this site, the new planning application for a new town on the Dunsfold Aerodrome is currently being considered by Waverley Council. The deadline for residents to make comments to the planners is 5th February. More information here: http://www.dunsfoldvillage.co.uk
Click here to go to Waverley Planning site: Planning Application Documents
Hambledon 503 Bus service under threat… again
Surrey County Council is proposing to axe the 503, Hambledon’s only bus service.
Having won a reprieve in 2012, once again the county council is making further spending cuts including the subsidy that keeps the 503 operating.
This time the village faces a big battle to keep its bus, even though the need for the service remains as great as ever.
If you want to comment on the proposal then please complete the Surrey Council questionnaire online at www.surreycc.gov.uk/transportreview or fill in a paper version available in libraries and local council offices. Or you can request a copy in the post by calling 0300 200 1003. The deadline is Monday March 14.
SCC will then consider responses to the consultation and final proposals will be debated on May 24. The outcome will be announced in June and changes will come into effect in September.
If you care about the future of Hambledon’s bus, which provides the only public service link to shops/banks/surgeries in Milford, Godalming and Guildford then please take part in the consultation. SCC is suggesting the bus could be replaced by a dial-a-ride service.
Many older residents in the village rely on the 503, which currently operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, twice in each direction.
A handful of residents join the bus in Hambledon and others board as it stops the in Manor Fields and Chapel Lane estates in Milford.
Because of its importance to these passengers, the Stagecoach-operated service is subsidised by Surrey County Council to keep it running. But continuing cuts in funding to local authorities by Central Government are taking their toll.
And this at a time when the need for public transport, and the energy and environmental savings it brings, could not be more important.
Additionally, an affordable housing development at Orchard Farm is currently under consideration. The 503 starts on its doorstep at Lane End. The bus also travels close to the new 100-homes development off Tuesley Lane. Continue reading
Update on Missing Hydestile Resident
January 2nd: From the Surrey Police web site.
A body has been found in the search for a missing man from the Godalming area. The body was found earlier today (2 January), in the Hambledon area. Although the body has yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of George Walker. The 63-year-old was last seen around 3pm on New Year’s Eve (31 December). His next of kin have been made aware of the discovery of the body. At this time the death is being treated as unexplained.
Members of the public and the media are thanked for their assistance in searching and sharing appeals for information.
January 9th: The Surrey Advertiser published tributes to George Walker:
Link to Surrey Advertiser Article
Dunsfold Aerodrome new planning application for 1800 homes
Dunsfold’s planning application to demolish part of the Aerodrome for 1800 homes, a school, shops etc is now online.
Click here to go to Waverley Planning site: Planning Application Documents
Hydestile Resident Lost
January 1st: This is extracted from the Surrey Police report:
Officers are concerned for the welfare of 63-year-old George Walker, who has not been seen by his family since leaving to go for a walk at around 3pm yesterday (Thursday, 31 December).
George is describe as white, around 5ft 8”, of a slim build, with short grey hair and a short grey beard. He was last seen wearing a blue kagool, blue trousers and dark coloured footwear.
Officers have located George’s car in nearby Hambledon. edit: (actually Vann Lane )
A number of enquiries are being carried out and a search of the local area is continuing.
Inspector Adam Smith, said: “Officers are growing increasingly concerned for George’s welfare. We believe he is still in the local area and I would urge any dog walkers or local people out for a New Year’s Day walk to remain vigilant and immediately report any sightings of George to police.”
The police helicopter is also assisting in the search for George.
Anyone with any information on Georges’ whereabouts or who may have seen him should contact Surrey Police immediately on 101 and quote the reference number 45150117329.
As of 19:00 on Friday, George’s son posted on Facebook this:
As soon as we have updated details we shall post them here.
Winter Weather Precautions for Hambledon
A major cut of trees close to power lines was completed this year by Scottish and Southern Energy in an effort to reduce the frequency of electricity supply disruption to Hambledon.
SSE has also upgraded and refurbished power lines into the village and promised better communications in the event of outages.
Nevertheless, it is wise to take precautions in a rural area that has suffered from extensive power failures in recent years, usually caused by trees and branches falling onto cables during high winds.
SSE has provided the Parish Council with a quantity of telephones that do not require a power supply to work, wind-up radios, battery-operated magnetic lamps, safety lightsticks, compact foil blankets and heat packs for warming cold hands.
If you, or someone you know, would benefit from any of these items they are available free for collection from the village shop.
It is important to remember that many modern phones require power to operate so a stand-by phone that simply requires a connection to the telephone line is an essential.
Stock up on batteries for torches and radios.
In extreme weather electricity and telephone lines may fail as may mobile phone networks. Snow or fallen trees can isolate the village. Although such an outcome is rare it has happened. The Parish Council has an emergency plan in place to help cope with such an event.
It is worth remembering that the phone kiosk at the village shop will continue to work in a power failure. The pay phone no longer accepts coins but you can dial 999 for free. You can also dial 100 for the operator to make reverse charge calls.
If you, or someone you know, may be considered vulnerable during a power cut, you can register with SSE’s Priority Services Register on 0800 294 3259. There is a leaflet in the shop explaining this service.
The following telephone numbers and addresses should be kept handy.
SSE – Scottish and Southern Energy (power cuts and emergencies): 0800 072 7282.
Surrey County Council (for on-line updates and advice): www.surreycc.gov.uk/winter.
Latest travel information: https://twitter.com/SurreyTravel
Waverley Borough Council: For general information, refuse collections etc, go to www.waverley.gov.uk adding the word weather to the search bar if your inquiry relates to this issue. Also, for latest news and emergency updates from the borough go to www.twitter.com/waverleybc
Radio updates will be broadcast on BBC Surrey on 104.6FM and on Eagle on 96.4FM
Hambledon village website will also carry updates: www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk
In the village, the Hambledon Emergency Team is:
Stewart Payne – 07831 393561, Tim Coleman – 07838 763767, and Nick Watson – 07770 553686
In the event of severe disruption and communication failure the emergency team will be on hand around the village, centred at the village shop.
A Warmer Winter Ahead For Village Nursery School
Hambledon Nursery School will be a warmer place this winter, thanks to new windows in its two classrooms.
The nursery, formerly the village primary school, dates back to Victorian times and is a listed building. Its original wooden-framed windows were in an advance state of decay but the school had to replace like-for-like to comply with planning regulations – a costly business.
Thanks to a £4,000 grant from the Hall Hunter Foundation – a trust set up by the owners of nearby Tuesley Fruit Farm – and a dip into the nursery school’s reserves, the money has been found to pay for the work, which was carried out over the summer holiday.
Nicola Collett, head teacher, said: “We are delighted with the Hall Hunter grant and very grateful. It enabled us to give the go-ahead for the work and we now have new windows on the southern elevation of the classrooms which were the ones in most urgent need of replacement.”
“They are structured to the original design with wooden frames but are double-glazed. I am actually looking forward to winter this year because the staff and children will be nice and warm and nestled in the classrooms with no drafts to contend with.”
She added: “I suppose the saddest part of the project was actually watching the old windows come out. But remarkably the Hopper style openers and some of the frames have been donated to The Brooking National Architectural Museum in Cranleigh, because they were of significant architectural interest.”
“The next phase will be along the Eastern side of the building restoring and replacing the old original stone bay window. The final phase will be to replace the old Crittall windows in the flat roof extension.”
Vulcan XH558 to fly over Hambledon on Sunday
The world’s last flying Vulcan Bomber, XH558, is soon to be grounded. The plane is doing a farewell tour this weekend, flying a northern route on Saturday 10 October and a southern route on Sunday 11 October.
The southern route will include a leg between Dunsfold and Farnborough which passes just to the north of Hambledon.
Approximate timings of the fly over will be available from the planes Facebook page once it has departed from Doncaster.
You can read more about the history of the plane on Wikipedia.
Thanks to Mike Parry for the heads-up.
Village shop stalwart receives Queen’s Award on behalf of all helpers
Cynthia Miller, who has volunteered at Hambledon Village Shop since it reopened as a community-run venture in 1992, was presented with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at a ceremony on Saturday morning (Sept 19th).
She received the award on behalf of all the volunteers whose efforts have kept the shop at the heart of village life. The presentation was made by Gordon Lee-Steere DL, chairman of the county’s Queen’s Award panel who is pictured (left) with Tim Parker, chairman of the shop management committee. (Photo courtesy of the Surrey Advertiser)
Tim thanked the many volunteers who have helped over the years for their “magnificent community effort” and in particular Cynthia and John and Annie Tidmarsh, who volunteered when the shop was reopened and continue to this day.
For further details please see the earlier news item.
Photos from Stewart Payne:
The 2015 Hambledon Village Show
The Hambledon Village Show will be held at the Village Hall on Saturday 5th September.
The hall will be open for setting up exhibits from 9.30am to 11.30am. Entry fee 20p per exhibit. First and second prizes will be awarded when merited. Please bring your own vases and plates where required to display your exhibit. Baked items may be covered with cling film to prevent the exhibit from drying out.
After judging the show will be OPEN TO THE PUBLIC at 2pm to 4.30pm, free entry. Refreshments available. The silver tray for Best In Show will be awarded at 4pm. Exhibits must not be removed before 4.30pm. Continue reading
Shop Volunteers Await Queen’s Award Presentation
Hambledon Village Shop volunteers are celebrating winning the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service as they await a presentation ceremony as guests of the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey.
The award is the highest given to volunteer groups throughout the UK and recognises their outstanding contribution to local communities. It was created by the Queen to mark her Golden Jubilee in 2002 and has an equivalent status for groups as the MBE has for individuals
For Hambledon it acknowledges the hard work and dedication of many villagers since the shop reopened as a community-run venture in 1992.
The award will be presented by Dame Sarah Goad, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, the Queen’s representative in the county, at a ceremony later this year.
Hambledon Village Shop Community Share Offer
Hambledon Village Shop is converting to a “Community Benefit Society” (rather than a Company Limited by Guarantee). This means that anyone in the community can become a shareholder by participating in the Share Offer.
There will be an open meeting at the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Wednesday 17th June to launch the offer. The offer period ends on 17th July 2015.
The Prospectus, which explains the terms and the process, and an Application Form are available here for download.
Hard copies of the Prospectus and Application Form available at the Shop.
Hambledon Village Shop Community Share Offer Application Form