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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.

 

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Winter Weather Precautions

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Last winter Hambledon suffered from extensive power cuts when high winds brought down power lines.

In a rural and heavily wooded village it was trees and branches falling onto electricity supply cables that caused most of the problems.

SSE, the power supplier, has embarked on an extensive programme of tree cutting around high, and some low, voltage lines to clear them of overhanging branches that pose a threat to power distribution. It has also pledged to improve communications at its emergency call centre. A lack of up-to-date information was one of the major frustrations last winter.

In the event of a power failure customers should, in the first instance, contact SSE on 08000 727 282 to report the problem.

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Storm Brings Down Trees And Power Lines in Hambledon

Hambledon echoed to the sound of chain saws today as local volunteers cleared trees blocking the villages’s roads.

Parts of Hambledon were left without power this morning, particularly along Vann Lane beyond the cricket green. An oak has been brought down by last night’s storm and is lying acoss the road beside the track to Oakhurst Cottage. It is blocking the road and has brought down electricity cables.

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It is a large tree and it will need to be cleared by contractors.  Surrey County Council highways department has been informed, but with hundreds of trees down across the county it is likely to be some while before it is dealt with.

People should use Woodlands Road to gain access to Vann Lane.

Two beech trees blocked Malthouse Lane between the village hall and the Cricket Green turning. Tim Coleman, Arthur Frearson and Stewart Payne used chainsaws to clear the road which was reopened by 9 am.

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Water Main Burst

During the early morning of Saturday,14th.Sept. a large hole appeared in the centre of Lane End,near the entrance to the small car park on Hambledon Common.This was caused by a significant fracture in the water main.The Water Board were on the scene by 7am and immediately closed the road.By Sunday, repairs had been carried out  and the road was passable for light traffic.This is about the fourth time in recent years that the water main has burst.No doubt this is due to the pounding the road takes from heavy lorries and 4X4’s.  P.J.Underwood water spout 001 2water spout 004 2

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Plans on show for new homes on Hospital site

The developer appointed to build more than 100 new homes on redundant land around Milford Hospital is previewing its proposals at a public exhibition and online.

David Wilson Homes, part of the Barratt Group, is displaying the scheme to local residents between 2.30pm and 8pm tomorrow (Thursday 12th September) at Clock Barn Hall, Hambledon Road. It is available online at www.dwhmilfordhospital.co.uk

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Press feature local residents

A reporter and photographer from the Haslemere Herald visited Hambledon recently to speak to residents who regularly use the 503 bus route.

The newspaper carried an article about the re-vamped service, which had been under threat, and published a photograph of villagers at the newly-erected bus stop sign at the Village Hall. The photograph is reproduced below with the kind permission of the Haslemere Herald.

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For more details about how villagers and Hambledon Parish Council campaigned to keep the village bus service and subsequent efforts to increase its usage, please see earlier stories on this website.

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Bus Stops return to Hambledon Road

Bus stop signs and timetables have been reinstated along the route of Hambledon’s 503 bus service.

Only long-standing residents knew where the village bus stops were located following removal of the post and flags over the years. Earlier this year Hambledon Parish Council requested that the signs be reinstated as part of an initiative to raise the profile of the 503 service that links the village with Milford, Godalming and Guildford.

After a visit by Surrey County Council engineers it was agreed that three posts and flags would be re-erected; outside the Village Hall, beside the Merry Harriers and at the bus shelter at the Hydestile Crossroads (pictured below).

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Milford Hospital Unveils Plaque – Galton & Simpson

June 1st saw a significant event for the history of Milford Hospital.  Two former patients returned to see a plague unveiled to mark their meeting in 1948.  Ray Galton & Alan Simpson met as 19 year olds suffering from TB.  They stayed for many years receiving treatment – but their time was well spent.  The started to write comedy sketches together, which were performed on the rudimentary hospital radio service.     They went on to become the foremost comedy scriptwriters – creating Hancock and Steptoe and Sons, and a huge catalogue of shows over the following decades.    The plaque was unveiled by their friend and performer Paul Merton.

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I had the privilege to meet the guys a few years ago, as part of my research for the Milford Hospital History Website.   They described to me in detail their years at Milford, and most interestingly, the location of the original laundry cupboard in which they built their radio studio – arguably the “Birthplace of the British Sit-Com.

You can find the story here.

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