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News from Ockham Parish Council June 2025

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Our thanks to Taylor Wimpey (TW) for attending our PC meeting this month.

Questions from the community had been shared with them ahead of themeeting and their responses included:

  • Flooding: TW were made fully aware once again of residents’ concerns about flooding. We flagged issues with both surface and foul water surging at Bridge End and other locations in Ockham. They advised they are trying to initiate dialogue about their plans for FWA with Thames Water (who are responsible for the network of pipes that carry foul water). We asked for the TW FWA on-site surface water drainage strategy to be shared with residents.
  • Footpaths on FWA: Improved signage and clearance of footpaths is a priority for the community. TW have promised further work on this. There will be a meeting arranged imminently to discuss this on site with residents who wish to attend.
  • Phasing of the project: We asked TW for a simple timeline showing the phasing of when homes will be delivered. We’ll share this with residents when it arrives.
  • Ockham Lane: We were reminded that Ockham Lane will become a quiet lane circa 2027. This will mean reduced speeds and traffic calming measures will be put in place by SCC part funded by TW.
  • If you have concerns to raise about any aspect of the project at any time, TW request that you contact them via communities@wisleyairfield.com

The Minutes of the PC meeting will be available on our website shortly with the full overview of the discussion with TW.

At our next PC meeting, Tuesday 8th July, representatives from the RHS will be attending to talk to residents about their recent acquisition of land and their future plans. All are welcome to attend.

Please contact our Parish Clerk with enquiries: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

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News from Ockham Parish Council May 2025

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  • We have a new Chair! At the annual meeting this week, Imogen Jamieson was voted in OPC Chair with Simon Waldman as the Vice Chair. Many thanks to Dr Malcolm Aish for sitting as Chair in recent years and for the leadership and commitment he demonstrated in dealing with the application to develop the FWA that so dominated this period.
  • Thanks also to Mrs Clare Bevan, Surrey County Organiser for the National Gardens Scheme, who gave an informative and most enjoyable talk about the NGS at our Annual Parish Meeting. Clare shared the history of the NGS with details of the charities and initiatives they support.She illustrated her talk with delightfully inspiring photos of local gardens opening this summer. Do contact Clare for information about NGS including the opening of Bridge End Cottage, Ockham on 19th July or at other times by appointment. Email: clare.bevan@ngs.org.uk
  • You may have noticed new fencing on FWA. Please be assured that public footpaths remain fully open. If you experience any problems with the public rights of way, do report these to SCC: https://shorturl.at/Yy5Zn At their suggestion, we have invited Taylor Wimpey to attend our 10th June PC meeting.
  • Speeding vehicles and issues with HGVs using our local road network, despite the weight restrictions, remain a concern. We hope to increase the number of our speed watch sessions and look closely at data from the vehicle activated signs to see how we can use this to bring change. We do need more volunteers for speed watch so if you can help, please let our clerk know.
  • Finally, Ockham PC hosted a very happy tea party for the VE Day 80th anniversary on 8th May. Over 50 residents ate cake and enjoyed drinks at Ockham Cricket Club. Our thanks to Cllrs Becky and Chloe for organising the event, to Jan Hickson and Susan Mear for the magnificently painted Oak Tree of Ockham and to OCC for providing the venue.Please contact our Parish Clerk with enquiries: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk
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News from Ockham Parish Council April 2025

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  • Do come and join the OPC VE Day 80th Anniversary tea party at Ockham Cricket Club from 4.30 to 6.30 pm on Thursday 8th May. Cups of tea will be supplied and donations of cake to share would be appreciated. Please bring soft drinks/wine to enjoy. There is going to be a magnificent painting displayed of an oak tree which is located just off School Lane and you will be invited to add your own messages to the painted tree before it goes on display at All Saints’ after the event. Our thanks to residents Jan and Sue for creating the painting especially for this occasion. We will be lighting a Lamp Light of Peace lantern at the tea party and encourage you to light your own candle later in the day at the national official lighting up time of 9.30 pm. The tea party should be a great event and we hope to see you.
  • The Parish Council AGM will be held at Ockham Cricket Club at 8 pm on Tuesday 13th May. Wine will be served and Clare Bevan has kindly agreed to be our guest speaker. Clare will be talking about the wonderful National Gardens Scheme which raises huge amounts for charity each year through the opening of private gardens for us all to enjoy. All welcome.
  • We are delighted to announce that Simon Waldman is our new Parish Councillor. Welcome back Simon!
  • We have recently met with Balfour Beatty’s Corporate Responsibility Team and they have agreed to carry out a litter pick. We are waiting for further details and in the meantime our thanks to Ellie at Balfour Beatty and her team.
  • As you know, Surrey has signed up to become a unitary authority – putting borough and county councils under the same umbrella. An interim plan was submitted to central government in March and you can read the details here: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/council-and- democracy/lgr/interim-proposals-devolution-and-local-government- reorganisation

    Please contact our Parish Clerk with enquiries: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

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News from Ockham Parish Council March 2025

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  • It is VE Day 80th anniversary on Thursday 8th May. This is not a public holiday but communities are encouraged to mark the date. One of the national initiatives is for Lamp Lights of Peace to be lit at 9.30 pm and we hope that Ockham will participate. See link: https://ve80.com/

    The PC plan to host a tea party (via donations of cake and wine, we will supply the tea) in the late afternoon of Thursday 8th May. More details including venue arrangements to follow. Offers of help welcomed via our clerk.

  • The Parish Council AGM will be held on Tuesday 13th May. Venue to be confirmed. There will be a guest speaker and it’s a good opportunity to hear a review of the PCs activities over the last year and chat with neighbours and friends. Please note the date in your diary.
  • We are delighted to announce that we have a new Parish Councillor. Details to follow.
  • We are aware that the vehicle activated signs in Ockham Lane and Old Lane are not working at present. We are investigating this and hope to have them fully operational again soon.
  • A number of residents have asked us about the tree felling taking place at Brick Kiln Copse off Old Lane. The landowner does have a Licence to Fell on his land but the Forestry Commission, who issued the Licence, are investigating a possible breach. We will keep you advised.
  • You will have heard about the government’s plans for devolution with local and county councils becoming unitary authorities. Surrey has signed up to be one of the first areas in England to change and consequently there is no Surrey County Council local election in May this year. There has been no formal announcement about the structure of the new authority but SCC Cllr Booth and GBC Cllr Oven will advise us when they have news to share which we will pass on accordingly.

    Please contact our Parish Clerk with enquiries: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

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Ockham Parish Councillor Vacancy – welcoming expressions of interest by 7th March

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Ockham Parish Council currently has a vacancy for a Parish Councillor to be co- opted on to the Parish Council.

As a Councillor you can become a voice for your community and affect real change. Parish Councils are the most local part of the democratic system. We are particularly interested in hearing from you if you have an interest or experience in delivering projects and/or you have an interest in planning matters.

To be eligible you need to be:

  • 18 years of age an elector of the parish or
  • Resided or rented in Ockham for the past 12 months or
  • Principal place of work in the parish or
  • Live within three miles of the parish boundary

    The Parish Council Meetings are held once a month normally on the first Tuesday of the month in the evening and you would have an opportunity to contribute on matters of local interest on the Agenda. You would also be expected to progress tasks and feedback.

    We would be pleased to hear from you if you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor. Please send a brief resume outlining some background information, the skills you can offer and reason for wanting to become a Parish Councillor to clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

    If you would like to have a chat with someone about this voluntary role then please include your telephone number and the Chair or Vice Chair will be in contact or you may wish to attend a Parish Meeting as an observer.

    We are inviting expressions of interest by 7th March 2025.

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News from Ockham Parish Council February 2025

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  • Thursday 8th May 2025 is the 80th VE Day Anniversary. OPC would like to mark this significant date in some way so please let us have any ideas you may have via our clerk.

  • A number of people have been in touch with us about the pony in Alms Heath. Concern has been expressed about her general welfare and we have been made aware that a small local group are generously supporting her. Does anyone know the owner? If you have any information you think might be helpful, please let us know.

  • We have a vacancy on the Parish Council. Are you interested? No particular skills or experience are required, just willingness to attend our monthly PC meetings and take an interest in local affairs. Please contact our clerk for further details.

  • Our grateful thanks to Frances, OHRA Chair, for her tremendous efforts to draw attention to the appalling state of the road and floods at Old Lane and Ockham Lane at Bridge End. Frances recently met SCC Cllr Bax, Surrey’s deputy cabinet member for transport, and SCC Highways officer Colin and gave them a thorough tour where she pointed out every pothole, the crumbling road surface and the flooding. Our GBC Cllr Oven and SCC Cllr Booth also attended in support. Let’s hope SCC now actually do something about all the issues. We are hopeful and we are already aware that Cllr Booth is pushing hard for a full resurface of Old Lane.

  • We have been provided with a grant to replace some of the fencing at the Memorial Garden. This work will be carried out over the next few weeks. Do go and enjoy the spring bulbs there as the weather improves. It’s a lovely space for quiet reflection.

  • No doubt you have heard the formal announcement that the National Highways M25J10 A3 project has been delayed to spring 2026. Another year of disruption for Ockham ahead. We note that press reports have not mentioned the inevitable increase in cost of this publicly funded project. There are more M25 and A3 full weekend closures coming up. The first is weekend 22/23 February. Keep an eye out for the OHRA updates on the closures.

Please contact our Parish Clerk with enquiries: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

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News from Ockham Parish Council January 2025

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  • Our grateful thanks to Cllr Jan Lofthouse for her 10 years of loyal service to Ockham Parish Council. Jan has been very involved with every aspect of village life during her years in Ockham and she will be much missed by us all. We wish Jan all the very best for the future. Jan’s departure leaves a vacancy on the PC and so we will soon be looking for a new councillor. Details to come.
  • We are pleased to advise that the Vehicle Activated Signs in Ockham Lane and on Ockham Road North have now been reinstalled as has the fallen Historic Ockham sign on Ockham Road North.
  • With a full A3 closure this weekend (pm of 17/1 to am of 20/1), we have written to National Highways asking them for support ensuring that drivers follow their prescribed routes and don’t short cut through our village. We hope they will fulfill our request for additional signage to help keep residents and local users safe from harm and disruption.
  • The next Flood Forum takes place later this month and Ockham has a list of concerns on the agenda. If you have flood related issues that you would like us to raise, please contact us via our clerk.
  • OPC wrote to Guildford Borough Council following the Planning Committee meeting on October 24 re the Hallam Land. We have now received their response which is available on request from our clerk if you would like to see it.
  • Taylor Wimpey are hosting a ‘by invitation only’ meeting as a Community Liaison initiative later this week. Representatives from OPC will attend.

We are seeking support from the community to help us monitor the applications that are coming forward under ‘reserved matters’ for FWA. Whilst outline planning consent for FWA has unfortunately been granted, many aspects of the scheme are not yet agreed and we will push back where we can. The heating hub/pumping station and SANG buildings applications are both currently live on the GBC planning portal. Help with reading and reviewing documents is always welcomed. If you think you can help, please let our clerk know.

Many of you have generously donated to Wisley Action Group in the past. Fund raising continues as this will pay for professional help as required bearing in mind that the build programme for FWA will last for very many years. Account: WISLEY AIRFIELD ACTION GROUP Sort Code: 20 35 35 Account number: 10574287. Thank you to everyone who has already donated and for continued support.

Please contact our Parish Clerk with enquiries: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

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News from Ockham Parish Council December 2024

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Despite all our opposition efforts and arguments, the Oral Hearing held last week at the High Court re the development of the Former Wisley Airfield, failed to change the Inspector’s decision. Whilst we wait for the written ruling from the Judge, we wish to thank everyone who has supported us in this long and valiant fight. It has been challenging in myriad ways but the constancy of the local and wider community to safeguard our local area from development for the very many good reasons stated multiple times (lack of infrastructure: inadequate road capacity, education, health, foul water. Harm to ecology, the environment, air quality) has never faltered and we thank you all.

• OPC wish to join and use social media! Please watch out for further news.

• You may have noticed that some of our Historic Ockham village signs need attention as several are askew and one is currently missing. Remedial work has been commissioned. The Vehicle Activated Signs on Ockham Lane and Ockham Road North are also due to be reinstalled.

• Do go over to Ockham Common over the Christmas period if you have time. Frances from OHRA, together with a team of volunteers, has decorated the tree that leads up to the Semaphore Tower. It is a sparking Christmassy uplift and there are QR code links provided for donations to The Dogs Trust and Surrey Wildlife Trust. Great job Frances and team!

• Christmas Drinks are being held at the Cricket Club from 5 to 7 on Sunday 15th December. Hosted by Chloe, Becky and Jemma this is a chance to meet up with neighbours and friends for some Christmas cheer. Please take a bottle and enjoy!

Ockham Parish Council wish you all a very happy Christmas and we thank you for your support this year

Please contact our Parish Clerk with enquiries: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

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Ockham Historic Signs – update

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The Parish Council are aware that along Ockham Road North, one of our Historic Signs is missing at Alms Heath and one is loose further towards the roundabout beyond Guileshill Lane.

Both signs have been knocked, possibly by one of the very many HGVs that use Ockham Road North, and one had fallen completely so it has been rescued by the Parish
Council. Both signs will be discussed at December’s Parish Council meeting and attended to as appropriate during December when we have an operative coming out on our

behalf. During December, our Vehicle Activated Signs on Ockham Road North and Ockham Lane will be reinstated following repair work due to damage sustained in the summer.

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News from Ockham Parish Council November 2024

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  • SCC tell us this is a good time to put in requests for hedge cutting on public land. Please submit your suggestions to Surrey direct: https://tellus.surreycc.gov.uk/
  • The Lovelace Neighbourhood Plan (covering Ripley, Ockham and Wisley) was adopted by GBC in 2021 and within it are policies governing development, including development on undeveloped land. Most of Ockham, apart from the Former Wisley Airfield, was and remains in the Green Belt. The Parish Council examines planning applications in the context of the Neighbourhood Plan and Green Belt concerns, and has raised and will continue to raise objections where appropriate. Safeguarding local green space is essential as incursions into the Green Belt continue. If you have land and are thinking about selling, do check with your neighbours as they may well be interested in purchasing it to safeguard it from future development. Our Neighbourhood Plan and the Green Belt seek to prevent urban sprawl, to maintain our green spaces, the rural landscape and our Conservation Areas, and help protect the multiple local heritage assets of Ockham.
  • We know residents, in person and virtually, attended the recent Planning Committee meeting at GBC regarding the Hallam Land. Since that meeting, OPC have sent a formal complaint to Guildford querying whether legal process was adhered to during this meeting. We know several residents have also complained. The meeting appeared to disregard the democratic process we should be able to rely on. We urge you to watch the webcast https://democracy.guildford.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=130&MId=2809&Ver=4 Do contact us via our Clerk for any information you may need if you too wish to complain.
  • Please continue to support the fundraising efforts of WAG: Account: WISLEY AIRFIELD ACTION GROUP Sort Code: 20 35 35 Account number: 10574287. Thank you to everyone who has already donated. The Oral Hearing relating to our challenge to the Inspector’s decision re FWA takes place on Thursday 5th December at the Royal Courts of Justice/The Old Bailey in the Strand, London WC2A 2LL. The approx. 2 hour time slot to be confirmed the day before. As ever, VAWNT will very kindly send out reminders and further details to keep everyone informed, our thanks to VAWNT.
  • The Wisley Lane Diversion is now operational. The width of the road only goes to highlight the huge loss of trees in this location. The Ockham side of the A3 was full of trees within protected woodland until National Highways marched in. We have flagged the lack of notification of change to the public rights of way (footpaths) with SCC.

    Please contact our Parish Clerk with enquiries: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

  • We understand the very happy and well attended Ockham Christmas 2023 drinks party held at the Cricket Club will be back for a repeat in December. More details to come. Thanks in advance to Chloe, Becky and Jemma.