housing

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Hambledon’s 503 bus reprieved

Hambledon’s only bus service, the 503, is set to be reprieved by Surrey County Council, reversing a decision to scrap the route as a cost-cutting measure.

This is a victory for the campaign mounted by Hambledon Parish Council and local residents to save the service.

Following the SCC Local Transport Review earlier this year, aimed at finding savings on council-subsidised rural routes, the 503 was one of a number of services to be scrapped, subject to public consultation.

The parish council vociferously opposed the proposal and many villagers raised objections during the consultation process.  SCC has listened, and at a meeting of its Cabinet on May 24th, members are expected to endorse the review team’s recommendation that the 503 continue.

The parish council argued that it was wrong to withdraw the only bus route serving the village, leaving residents without any public transport. The 503 is a lifeline for a number of elderly or infirm residents who rely on the bus to get to shops, supermarkets, banks and surgeries in Milford, Godalming and beyond.

village bus

Agenda documents for the May 24th meeting, available on the Surrey County Council website, state that the council recognises “the important role that bus services play for our residents”, adding: “To address some of the concerns expressed during the public consultation exercise it has proven possible to recommend some enhancements to the original proposals.”

These include reversing the decision to scrap the 503. The 523 Milford hospital service from Godalming has also been reprieved.

Currently the 503 operates on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays, twice in each direction, beginning and ending at Lane End. The recommendation is for the service to continue on at least Wednesdays and Fridays and possibly on another day to be determined.

The parish council has asked to meet with SCC planners to discuss ways of increasing passenger numbers, perhaps re-routing the service to take in new areas of development. In the documents the council states that it is “working to stimulate patronage on bus services and reduce the need for council funding.”

The 503 is operated by Stagecoach but subsidised by Surrey County Council. The transport review examined services across the county. Faced with cuts in Central Government funding, SCC is looking save £2 million on its transport budget by next year.

The recommendation to be voted on on May 24th will enable SCC to achieve the required savings needed from the review, documents state.

 

 

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Planning for Hambledon’s future – Latest

In 2003 Hambledon produced a Parish Plan to help shape its future.  Since then the Parish Council has examined various other formal frameworks to ensure the village’s ambitions for the years ahead are taken into account by Waverley Borough Council and other authorities.

These have included producing a Village Design Statement and Neighbourhood Plan, a route which some villagers had asked the council to consider.

After seeking professional advice – and taking into account the cost and resources necessary for such measures – it was decided that there were insufficient benefits to justify the time and money involved.

Instead it considered producing a Community Plan, which is smaller in scope that a Neighbourhood Plan and arguably more relevant to a little rural village.

Whichever method the parish council adopted for drawing up a blueprint for the future, it would require financial assistance and community volunteers. In the event neither was forthcoming.

It was hoped that funding for a Community Plan would be awarded by the Big Lottery Fund and that sufficient villagers would volunteer to participate in its preparation.

However, The Big Lottery, which distributes National Lottery money for community causes, turned down the request. The application had been carefully prepared with professional help. But Big Lottery experts could not see why a Community Plan was required to address the needs and issues set out in the application.  (This point had also been raised in previous advice given to the Parish Council, including from Waverley Borough Council.)

The second set back was that one month after an appeal for volunteers appeared in the Parish Magazine and on the village website only six responses had been received.

So it’s back to the drawing board.

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Although there have been changes since Hambledon produced its Parish Plan in 2003, it would be difficult to improve on its objectives.  The Parish Council has therefore decided to continue using it as a base document but to up-date it and re-issue it, either in its existing form or in a new format and perhaps with a more appropriate title.

Village organisations and individuals are therefore being asked what would make Hambledon a better place for them and their activities.

The responses will be incorporated in a discussion paper which will be made widely available early in April.  The paper will then be discussed and questions arising from it addressed at the Parish Assembly on 16 April.  Funds for printing the completed plan have been included in the 2016-17 budget. It will also be available on the village web site.

So, in thanking those who did volunteer to help with a Community Plan, the Parish Council  now asks them and as many other villagers as possible to give some thought as to what they think would make Hambledon an even better place in which to live.

Examining the 2003 Parish Plan and its most recent up-date might be a good point from which to start. This can be found on this web site here: Parish Plan documents . Or you can ask the Clerk ( via email, or telephone 01428 684213) for a hard copy

Please make sure that comments are either posted by leaving a comment on this article, or sent to the Clerk by 15 March so that they can be included in the discussion document.

 

 

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Dunsfold redevelopment consultation deadline 5th Feb

Screen Shot 2016-01-05 at 15.31.53As 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

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Housing Needs Survey

The latest Housing Needs Survey, carried out across all households in Hambledon, has just been published and full details are available here:

hambledon HNS

housing needs JW report

The first is a copy of the survey and the second is an executive summary.

The survey was carried out by Surrey Community Action at the request of Hambledon Parish Council and it follows the acquisition of Orchard Farm by the English Rural Housing Association.

Of the 314 survey questionnaires sent out 261 households responded – an 83.12 per cent return. Across the country a 10 to 35 per cent return rate is common, so the Hambledon response has been described as “outstanding” and demonstrates how engaged the village is.

Continue reading →

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING – Dates and Developments

WRITTEN BY HAMBLEDON PARISH COUNCIL | 18 DECEMBER 2014 

Most residents will be aware of a proposal by the English Rural Housing Association to build 17 homes – 12 designated as affordable – on land at Orchard Farm, off Wormley Lane (see previous news items).

The village will have a chance to see the ERHA plans when it holds an exhibition of them at the Village Hall between 3pm and 8pm on Thursday January 15.

The Parish Council will then hold an open meeting at the hall on Wednesday January 28, starting at 8 pm, which will provide an opportunity for the whole village to debate the proposals.

ERHA has not yet submitted a planning application to Waverley Borough Council, which will determine the issue, and will not do so until after the village has been consulted.

In the meantime the village and its parish council will need to consider another proposal, just submitted, for four affordable homes and two market price homes on land beside the Merry Harriers car park, on the opposite side of Hambledon Road to the pub. This land is currently used as a campsite.

Continue reading →

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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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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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Waverley Planners Approve Brickworks Country Estate Development

ImageWaverley Borough Council has approved the scheme to build a country house estate on the site of the derelict Nutbourne Brickworks in Roundals Lane.

Members of the Central Area Planning Committe were unanimous in their approval when they met to consider the application by Millgate Homes on Wednesday (May 25th).

The developers had applied to build a mansion house, staff cottages, a gate house, stables and garages on the 220-acre site.   Nearby residents favoured the proposal and Hambledon Parish Council gave its support, but only after securing a covenant that safeguards the site from further development or change of use. Continue reading →

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Draft report of Housing Needs Survey, Hambledon, November 2010

This report, by Surrey Community Action’s rural housing enabler, Mona Johannson, was considered by Hambledon Parish Council at its meeting on 11 January 2011.  It is reproduced in full in the Minutes section of the Parish Council pages on the village web site.  The findings suggest that the village could accommodate a second affordable housing scheme.

A shortfall in affordable housing stock throughout Waverley triggered the Parish Council’s decision to commission the survey, which was carried out during September-October last year.  All households in the Parish received a questionnaire:  35 per cent were returned and 72 per cent of respondents favoured a further affordable housing project.  Both  figures are considerably higher than average response, indicating a good level of support for another scheme to complement the development completed in 2001 at Duncombe Cottages. Information provided by households who felt themselves to be in housing need suggested that a second scheme could comprise five one- or two-bed rented units and two two-bed shared ownership units. However, it must be remembered that these are to-day’s figures.  Until such time as units become available some of the needs will have been met elsewhere and not everyone may still be in need. The Parish Council has adopted the report and will now consider possible sites.   Some were suggested by respondents to the questionnaire but if anyone else has any ideas please let the Clerk know.  Mona Johansson will be getting in touch with households who indicated that they might be in housing need to remind them that, if they have not already done so, they should register with Waverley Borough Council (essential for anyone who requires any form of affordable housing). Mona Johansson will remain involved and, depending on progress made with site identification, Waverley and social housing providers will also become involved in the discussions.