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Superfast Broadband

SUPERFAST BROADBAND CAMPAIGN – AN UPDATE

Enton and Rake Lane now have fibre Broadband

Following our Campaign in February, Openreach reversed their decision not to upgrade the street cabinet no.26 next to Milford Station.  This cabinet went live last month and is now Fibre enabled.   Residents that suffered speeds of less than 3MBps are now enjoying real speeds of upto 70MBps.    The campaign success was undoubtedly achieved because of the strong resident support that we received, with over 90% of the 140 Enton/Rake Lane area households and businesses who will now benefit having signed up to our campaign.  Community power does work. We are thankful too for support from Peter Martin, Deputy Leader of Surrey County Council.

Phase 2 of the campaign

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New Housing Target- Have your Say

Waverley Borough Council has been told by central goverment that it must find space to build 8,500 new homes between 2014 and 2031 and is seeking the views of local people.

The strategy and planning for this is known as a Local Plan and the borough is seeking the views of residents before submitting it.

Hambledon residents should by now have received a special edition of Waverley’s Making Waves publication which contains a feedback form. It should be completed and returned by Friday 17th October.

altWaverley is staging a mobile exhibition of its proposals and this can be seen between 10am and 4pm in The Burys car park, Godalming, on Saturday 4th October and in Haslemere High Street car park the following Saturday (11th) between the same hours.

Although no new housing in proposed for Hambledon itself, sizeable new developments in the region could have a major impact on the village – particularly in terms of increased traffic on local rural lanes and demands on local services such as trains, schools and surgeries.

Waverley has devised four potential housing “scenarios” – three of which envisage major development at Dunsfold Aerodrome, something that had previously been rejected.

All boroughs across the country have been told by central government that they must increase housing targets to meet expected demand for new homes and this will have an impact on the Green Belt and on protected Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Local Plan, therefore, is likely to affect us all in some way, so it is important that you give your views.

 

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Household Waste – Surrey County Council Wants Your Views

altSurrey County Council is seeking the views of residents on how it can better manage waste and recycling services.

In a statement it said: “Dealing with the huge amount of waste generated in Surrey homes is the challenging and costly job undertaken by the Surrey Waste Partnership, which is made up of Surrey County Council and the 11 district and borough councils in the county.

Surrey’s Plan For Waste Management outlines what we do with the county’s waste. On a regular basis we take a fresh look at the plan and update it to make sure we’re continuing to manage waste in the best, most cost effective way.

To help with this year’s update we need you to tell us how we can help you reduce, reuse and recycle more of Surrey’s waste.”

To find out more, and to complete the questionnaire (before October 12, 2014) please use the following link:

https://www.surreysays.co.uk/ei-waste-development-team/waste-plan-residents-survey

 

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"Outstanding" Rating For Hambledon Nursery School

Teaching staff at Hambledon Nursery School can enjoy the summer break in the knowledge of a job well done after the government’s inspection body Ofsted awarded it an “outstanding” rating.

All schools are visted periodically by Ofsted inspectors and judged as either Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate. Hambledon Nursery School had been judged as outstanding following previous inspections.

Staff knew that another Ofsted inspection was due but had no advanced knowledge of when it would take place. In the event the inspectors visited in June and the report is now available online at

www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/CARE/EY472201

Open the page and find the link to a PDF document headed Early Years Register inspection report.

Nicola Collett, head teacher, said that staff and parents were delighted with the outcome. She said the report highlighted the professionalism of teachers and how engaged children were in their learning.

The school was originally the village state primary school. When it closed in the 1980s residents were determined to see it remain at the heart of the community as a place of learning.  A campaign led to the acquisition of the Victorian school house complete with playground and its reopening as a nursery school run as a business by a charitable trust. It caters for children aged 2 to 5 and retains its strong links with the village, the church and the parish council.

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Allotments available in Witley

altWitley Parish Council has several allotments available and has contacted neighbouring parishes, including Hambledon, to say it will consider applications from residents.

Hambledon Parish clerk Jane Woolley has previously had enquiries from local people about allotments. However, there are none within the village.

Witley Parish Council owns two allotment sites, with 80 plots at Enton and 60 at Redgate Farm, Milford. The plots are of various sizes and the annual rent depends on the size, but is between £10 and £20 with a £5 water charge and a one-off £25 administration fee.

Anyone interested in applying is asked to contact Fiona Fox, the Witley clerk, at [email protected] or phone the Witley council office between 9 am and 12 noon weekdays on 01483 422044.

 

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Hambledon Broadband not as far reaching as we were led to believe

Residents with phone: Wormley 01428 …
A number of residents of North Hambledon on the Wormley exchange have contacted me – they should be able to get superfast broadband Infinity now that Wormley upgrade to fibre is complete, as promised by Superfast Surrey (Surrey CC). However residents are gradually discovering, one by one, that they won’t get super fast broadband at all.  This is mainly for people 1.5km beyond cabinet 6 on the Petworth Road on the edge of Hambledon.  This means anyone near the Merry Harriers or North of there, or outlying areas such as Vann will not ever get super fast.

My message to residents in such a situation is to contact me Email me  and I’ll happily put you in contact with others in similar position.  My advice is also to contact the Superfast Surrey Team and ask in strong terms: “where’s my Superfast? – you promised 99.7% of Surrey would be covered?”   The person to contact is the Senior Digital Officer Lucie Glenday.  She will delegate but in my experience all her team are not empowered to answer questions other than the FAQ on their website – which don’t tell us anything new.  They say there is a review going on, but one could ask why they did not anticipate so many people were not covered by their Superfast plans that requires them to have an additional review. (we calculate over 2000 in SE Godalming alone). Their website also says they plan to develop alternative solutions for the excluded residents.   I have yet to get anything tangible from them to qualify exactly what Superfast Surrey consider as an alternative.  As of July, they have no alternative solution.
Contact Surrey CC:    [email protected]

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Something strange in the skies over Hydestile

Please open this link to a You Tube video of a very strange event over Hydestile on Saturday afternoon (June 28)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB3z0J9pwA8

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A mini whirlwind snatched a huge piece of agricultural netting and lifted it into the sky over Hydestile. It was filmed by Hydestile resident Stewart Payne. The netting was swallowed up by the low cloud. The incident was reported to police as a danger to low flying aircraft and officers were sent to look for the netting. It was eventually found on farmland, partially draped over a tree, near Hascombe.

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Video and first photo courtesy of Stewart Payne. Second photo courtesy of Surrey Police

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Roundup of events in Hambledon

A busy week of events in Hambledon, including the fete, mid-summer dance and Viewmap unveiling, has culminated with the opening of the refurbished Almshouse.

One of the pair of almshouses in Malthouse Lane has been extended and modernised. No 2 has a new kitchen, en-suite bathroom, a larger living room, under-floor heating, double-glazing, fire alarm and sprinkler system and insulation.

altThe opening ceremony was performed by Audrey Monk, clerk to The Trustees of the Almshouses, who has written a history of the buildings.  They were built in 1907 and, more than 100 years later,  both were considered to be in need of upgrading to bring them up to 21st Century standards.

No 2 became vacant when John Givens moved out two years ago and Andrew Falk, chairman of the Trustees, launched an ambitious fund-raising scheme to help finance the work, which has cost in the region of £100,000. The majority of the work has been undertaken by local builder Mike Coates.

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Greensand Way "Viewmap" unveiling on Sunday

Walkers on the long-distance footpath, the Greensand Way, can now learn more about the views and the location as it passes through Hambledon, thanks to a new View Map and mobile phone scanning device installed on top of the Common.

The stainless steel laser engraved map explains what can be seen from this marvellous high point above the village, with views across to the South Downs. It is mounted on a plinth of locally-quarried Bargate stone.

A second plinth carries a Quick Response (QR) code, similar to a bar code. When scanned into a compatible mobile device such as a phone it will provide a link to this website, which contains a wealth of information about the village, and a narrative about the view.

The Common is Manorial Land and Stephen Dean, Lord of the Manor, will formally unveil the map and scanner on Sunday (June 22) at 3pm. More details below.

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Superfast Community Action is a success

Our First Success!

Following our intervention, Openreach recently agreed that they will fibre upgrade street cabinet no.26 at the junction of Rake Lane and Station Lane. This is a complete reversal of their earlier decision not to do so. It has undoubtedly been achieved because of the strong resident support that we received, with over 90% of the 140 Enton/Rake Lane area households and businesses who will now benefit having signed up to our campaign.  Community power does work. We are thankful too for support from Peter Martin, Deputy Leader of Surrey County Council.

So what now?

There are a further 80 households and businesses currently served by cabinet 26 that are simply too far from it to benefit from the upgrade when it happens later this year. In addition, there are another 59 properties served by street cabinet 48 (located towards Busbridge, and which is already fibre-enabled), that have seen no benefit. Properties beyond about 1.5 to 2 km from their street cabinet see little or no advantage from fibre upgrade as any speed benefits are lost on the final “journey” from the street cabinet to the front door as data passes along copper or aluminium wire.

Our campaign focus is getting a solution for these 139 households/businesses spanning 13 different GU8 post codes. So far, we have an average of 68% of those households/businesses signed up to our campaign. This is a significant achievement but we are making efforts to increase it.

Where are we with BT/Openreach?

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Water Leaks – an update

Early in February the Parish Council sought discussions with Thames Water about the water mains running through Hambledon, in particular along Church Lane, Rock Hill and Lane End where there had been serious bursts during the previous six months, and about pressures in the various mains.

A representative of Thames Water attended a Parish Council meeting in March. Below our photograph of one of the leaks is the latest response from Thames Water, following that meeting.

Hambledon Clean Water Network

Recent bursts

We have repaired three burst water mains recently, one in Lane End and two in Rock Hill. These were separate leaks on an 8’’ clean water main. This main transfers water from Hydon Ball Reservoir to a Water Booster station. We appreciate when our mains burst it can cause real disruption to the local area and can interrupt customers’ supplies and apologise for the disruption. We have been working closely with Surrey County Council highways department to ensure any roads affected by the leaks are returned to an acceptable state. We have agreed a larger area of road that shall be re-surfaced following the most recent leaks at Rock Hill. We have investigated recent reports of further visible leaks in the area and tested any standing water but have not found evidence of any leaks.

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Culverts to be Jetted

The Parish Council has arranged for blocked pipes and culverts along Hambledon Road to be jetted to remove blockages. The work will start on Monday (March 10).

Despite roadside ditches being cleared last year, most are now silted-up following the excessive rain in the past two months. The problems this causes are compounded by the fact that some pipes and culverts under the road have become blocked through lack of maintenance by the Highways Authority. Surface water has no escape and gathers on the road.

Specialist jetting equipment is needed to remove debris from inside pipes and culverts.  With the help of a grant of £1,000 from Victoria Young, Hambledon’s ward county councillor, contractor CCI will undertake this work, starting on Monday and lasting three days.

CCI will work north from Church Lane towards the Hydestile Crossroads. Road width may be restricted where the contractors are working but access will be maintained.

Local farmer Peter Knight has kindly agreed that any silt removed during the work can be disposed of on his land at Feathercombe.

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New Manager Appointed For Hambledon Village Shop

A new manager has been appointed to take over the running of Hambledon’s community shop and post office.

She is Jo Jazeel, and she may be familiar to villagers because she has been running the farm shop operating at the Winterton Arms in neighbouring Chiddingfold since April of last year.

Jo will start on Monday (Feb 17) and will work a 26-hour week, continuing to operate the farm shop as well.

She has useful experience in the retail trade.  In addition to her successful venture at the Winterton Arms, she worked as a temporary sales assistant at Kirdford Community Stores between September 2012 and March 2013. Before that she was an account manager for a retail and supply company and a general manager for a book store. Her various roles included staff management, buying, marketing and distribution.

She also worked as a self-employed dog walker for 30 local clients when her daughter Annie-May, who is now 10, was younger. They live in Chiddingfold.

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Her appointment, which has been made in consultation with exisiting part-time shop managers and staff, results from a decision by Hambledon Village Shop Ltd, the company which operates the business, to appoint a single manager.

Of the previous managers, known as the “Three A’s”, Amanda Wright is reducing her hours to two mornings a week, Alison Wilson will continue with the same hours as before, and Alan Brien will leave after a gradual hand-over of his Post Office duties. Jo will have all managerial responsibility.

Of the part-time staff, Michelle, Cyril Netley and Helena Hockridge will continue as before, subject to any reorganisation of working arrangements that Jo may deem appropriate.

Volunteers will continue to be an integral part of the shop operation and have been informed of the changes.

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Superfast now enabled for Hambledon

Hambledon has now got Fibre enabled to Cabinet 6 of the Wormley Exchange.  The first residents to use the service are seeing speeds of upto 35Mbs (once they sign up to the increased tariff and extra box installed).    The closer to the cabinet the higher the speed possible.   Cabinet 6 on Petworth Road  is not too far from the Wormley Exchange at the top of the hill near the bridge over the Railway.

For those residents that need to check if their postcode is included in ths Superfast Scheme go to:

www.Superfastsurrey.org.uk   If you are included, you need to go to BT, or TalkTalk to request upgrade to their BT Infinity products (extra monthly cost and install fee)

For those residents that are not in the scheme (particularly those to the North of the Village, Feathercombe, Hydestile, & Enton) go here www.GU8Superfast.co.uk to see the campaign to get SuperFast enabled.

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It Was Good Weather For Ducks

Forecasters say that the worst of the severe weather that caused power loss and flooding over the Christmas and New Year period is over.alt

The partly re-surfaced Hambledon Lane has taken a pounding and deep gullies have opened up on either side of some stretches, now marked with a succession of cones. The new surface has broken and bulged in places and, at the Hydestile end, the old surface is in a dreadful state following flooding. Work has yet to restart on finishing the resurfacing, but it is clear that contractors will need to revisit some parts already completed.

Only ducks seems to have enjoyed the miserable weather, with several pairs taking up residence on the “lake” that has formed in the field at Hydestile.

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Power Cut Compensation As Wet Weather Continues

altHambledon residents are to be compensated for the power loss they suffered over Christmas.

The whole village was without electricity for much of the festive period with some parts cut off for four days as a result of severe weather.

Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution has announced that it would pay £54 to customers who were without electricity for 48 hours and a further £54 for each subsequent full 12-hour period without power. Those affected for any length of time on Christmas Day would receive £75.

Further details can be found at http://www.ssepd.co.uk/Goodwill/ and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25590636

altIn the meantime wet and windy weather continues and some residents have experienced problems with minor flooding, mainly as a result of water running off the common into low lying areas.

And Hydestile has seen the arrival of a “lake” in the field beside Hambledon Road and Station Lane as a result of water running off the road, unable to be carried away in blocked ditches and culverts. Below is the view looking towards Hydestile from the Milford direction.

 

Old maps at the turn of the last century show a pond in the same location.  The following photograph shows water pouring over the roadside bank and into the field.