A planning application from Hambledon Football Club for an additional pitch and training area at its Badger Park ground has resulted in a considerable number of comments, both for and against.

So far approximately 100 householders from the village and beyond have registered their views on the Waverley Borough Council’s planning website. Many residents close to the Hambledon Road ground, which is in countryside designated as Green Belt and of National Landscape value (AONB), have submitted strong objections, but many others are in support.

(Photo shows pitch and club house. Proposed new pitch will be in the field in the distance)

Hambledon Parish Council considered the application during its February meeting. At that time, the application had only just been registered with Waverley and no comments – for or against – had been made. Nor were there any comments from statutory consultees, such as Surrey County Council which has since listed additional requirements for the application to be approved.

In its initial response the parish council affirmed its commitment to the provision of sporting facilities and noted that no new structures were proposed in the rural setting of the club. However, it also stated that it was too early to consider any neighbour responses.

The parish council has requested additional time from Waverley in order to consider and respond to the views of residents and other recent developments. This has been granted.

It is important to note that the decision on whether to grant or refuse permission is made by Waverley, which is the planning authority for this area. The parish council can only submit comment, which must be confined to relevant planning grounds.

The application and all documentation and comment can be found HERE

Please read on for further details.

Surrey County Council is seeking input in to developing their Rights of Way Improvement Plan. This sets out how public rights of way meet the needs of the public, now and in the future. The current Rights of Way Improvement Plan dates from 2014 and needs to be reviewed.

Surrey County Council is responsible for around 2164 miles (3482 km) of public rights of way. These paths are both in the countryside and urban areas. They are important for enjoying and exploring, for travelling to work or school and for health and wellbeing. They are part of what makes Surrey a special place to live, work and enjoy.

A public right of way is a path that anyone, by law, has the right to use. There are four types:

• Footpaths for walking, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs
• Bridleways for walking, horse riding, cycling, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs
• Restricted byways for walking, horse riding, cycling, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs and horse-drawn carriages
• Byways for all modes including motorised vehicles

Surrey County Council have asked for your feedback by filling in on online form located here before the 10th March. Your feedback will help to develop the priorities and actions of the new Rights of Way Improvement Plan, which will be produced in 2024.

Such feedback could include but is not limited to the following:

• Gaps between almost adjacent public rights of way
• Sections of Footpaths, Bridleways and Byways that for periods during the year can become all but impassable to those on foot
• Sections, where if a landowner could be persuaded to dedicate a parallel route through, say, a field, then the public right of way could avoid a busy or dangerous road
• Locations where a public right of way is severed and either has poor sight-lines or is busy / has fast traffic, that could benefit from being bridged
• Readily accessible locations where a PROW could be improved to be free of obstacles.

More information can be found at the Surrey County Council homepage located here.

To make the evening not too late for children, Wonka at the village hall tonight (Saturday 17th) will be starting earlier than usual. Doors open at 6.00 and the film starts at 6.30.

Tickets will be available on the door and online by clicking on this link

https://ti.to/hambledon-village-hall-surrey/wonka

The Hambledon Cricket Club AGM will be taking place on Tuesday 20 February 2024 starting at 8pm. As the cricket club pavilion is currently being renovated the meeting will be taking place at Hambledon Football Club. 

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].