Archive for category: News

• Guildford Borough Council announced last month that they will be reviewing the Local Plan.  This is a statutory obligation and we hope that the Lib Dems who lead the council will be bold enough to make positive changes. This northern part of the borough has already been massively overdeveloped since the adoption of the Local Plan in 2019 and infrastructure is struggling. More homes will lead to even greater strain on roads and for local services including medical, education, foul water capacity. Please see this link for further details from GBC  https://www.guildford.gov.uk/localplan

 

• We are looking for some volunteers to help us tidy our memorial garden behind the War Memorial. It is not heavy work and is suitable for volunteers of all ages so do let us know if you might be free for an hour or so via clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk  

 

• There are endless HGVs thundering through the weight restricted lanes of Ockham. You can report these to SCC direct if you can safely capture a photo: https://customer.surreycc.gov.uk/hgv-watch

If you are able to join the small local teams for HGV Watch and / or Speed Watch, please let us know. You would be very welcome and the more people involved, the more reports we can make to SCC and the police.

 

• The flooded lanes, potholes and crumbling road surfaces all continue to cause problems. We are in daily (often several times a day!) contact with SCC highways on these issues. We are being well supported on this by OHRA and our SCC Cllr Booth who is aware of how bad the roads have become and is also regularly chasing SCC on our behalf.

Please keep reporting the issues as we know that volume of complaints helps gain attention.

Seriously large or dangerous Potholes: If you think the issue is an immediate risk to public safety please call SCC anytime, day or night on: 0300 200 1003 If you are calling outside of normal business hours, please hold for option 3 (for Roads and Transport) followed by option 2 (for Highway and traffic signal emergencies).

Potholes and all other Highway Issues: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roadworks-and-maintenance/report-a-highway-problem

 

• Jonathan Wade the Project Lead from National Highways was invited to our March PC meeting but declined our invitation. This was disappointing particularly when considered alongside the M25 closure this weekend. We have repeatedly asked NH to liaise with us about the inevitable use of the local road network as a result of the M25 closure and regrettably, they have ignored our multiple requests. If you do notice excessive traffic and dangerous driving at any time on local roads please do report it to the police (using 999 or 101 depending on the severity of the issue) and if you are able to obtain a reference number for your report, please let us know. You may also want to report issues directly to National Highways m25j10@nationalhighways.co.uk  and we have been advised that Ben Spencer, MP in Runnymede and Weybridge has also said he would be interested to receive reports of delays due to the M25 closure this weekend: spencer.mp@parliament.uk

We will be re-issuing our invitation to Jonathan Wade for our April PC meeting

 

 

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

• We were pleased to welcome Andy, one of SCCs Flood and Climate Resilience Specialists, to our January meeting. Andy stressed to us the importance of reporting all flooding. All reports are triaged so the more reports received, the greater the chance of priority.
• To report flooding to commercial property, dwellings and land: Email flooding.enquiries@surreycc.gov.uk
• To report flooding to the highway: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roadworks-and-maintenance/report-a-highway-problem
• To report foul water flooding: https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/report-a-problem
• Please be aware that if you have a ditch close to your home, you may be responsible for maintaining it. For details on riparian responsibility https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roadworks-and-maintenance/report-a-highway-problem/drainage-and-flooding/living-next-to-a-watercourse-your-rights-and-responsibilities  Maintenance of local ditches by those responsible can ease local flooding so please check the link above.  
• The Ockham Flood Forum will soon be up and running
• All road users will have noticed the terrible of some of our local roads. Old Lane in particular is in an appalling state and we are pushing hard to get some attention from SCC to address the issues there. Please help us by reporting flood issues, potholes, crumbling edges etc to SCC using the following links (evidence in the form of photographs and/or dash cam video is useful if you have it but even if you don’t, please report regardless as we know that the volume of complaints helps to push the issue up SCCs very long list of areas needing attention!).
• Seriously large or dangerous Potholes: If you think the issue is an immediate risk to public safety please call us anytime, day or night on: 0300 200 1003 If you are calling outside of normal business hours, please hold for option 3 (for Roads and Transport) followed by option 2 (for Highway and traffic signal emergencies).
• Potholes and all other Highway Issues: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roadworks-and-maintenance/report-a-highway-problem

 

• The Inquiry for the FWA has now ended with a decision from the Inspector expected in the Spring. We are still fundraising to pay for all the professional expert help received. A significant shortfall remains so if you are able to donate, it would be very much appreciated. All donations of any amount, from a few pounds upwards all help enormously. Account name: Wisley Airfield Action Group, sort code: 20 35 35, account number: 10574287 (or by cheque delivered to Helen Jefferies, Alms Heath Cottage). Very many thanks for all donations to date.

 

• The Ockham Speed Watch group are doing a tremendous job and we are keen to encourage other residents to participate. If you can find a free hour or so monthly and are interested in joining the team please contact clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk and Alyson will signpost you to the team leader, Becky.

 

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

• We were delighted to be joined by two local police officers at our November Parish Council meeting. The police officers were interested to hear about life in Ockham. They urge everyone to report all crime even if you feel that the matter is minor. Issues to report might include bike theft, antisocial behaviour, parking on double yellow lines etc.  The best way to report a non urgent crime or suspicious activity is by calling 101 or going by online https://www.surrey.police.uk/ro/report/ or via their facebook livechat https://www.facebook.com/SurreyPolice/?locale=en_GB

 

• The Inquiry for the FWA is ongoing (until 1^st December) and OPC/WAG/RHS continue to be well represented by our experts. We are still fundraising towards the target of £200,000 needed to help pay for all the professional expert help required. A significant shortfall remains so if you are able to donate, it would be very much appreciated. All donations of any amount, from a few pounds upwards all help enormously. Account name: Wisley Airfield Action Group, sort code: 20 35 35, account number: 10574287 (or by cheque delivered to Helen Jefferies, Alms Heath Cottage). Very many thanks for all donations to date.

 

• There is a planning application for up to 200 dwellings for the Land East and West of Hatch Lane, Ockham GU23 6NU. Application no: 23/P/01607.  This is the third ‘parcel’ of land that makes up Allocation A35 on the FWA. OPC are working on an objection letter and we will share some objection points very soon via OHRA mailing list and VAWNT.  Please look out for this and object.  This application relies heavily on the infrastructure delivery for the Taylor Wimpey part of FWA and we have stated to GBC that we believe the application is premature and we encourage you to state this in your objections.

 

• Following the October by-election, we now have a new Surrey County Councillor, Cllr Dennis Booth. Email: dennis.booth@surreycc.gov.uk

 

• OPC are still looking for someone to lead in a local cross parish Climate Action Network group. Are you able to help?  If you would like further details, please contact our clerk, Alyson clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk

 

• Please be aware that if you have a ditch close to your home, you may be responsible for maintaining it. For details on riparian responsibility https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roadworks-and-maintenance/report-a-highway-problem/drainage-and-flooding/living-next-to-a-watercourse-your-rights-and-responsibilities Maintenance of local ditches by those responsible does ease local flooding so please check the link above.

 

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

From Monday 02 October to Monday 04 December, SGN will be carrying out essential work to reposition and reinforce the gas main infrastructure located under the Ockham Roundabout in Wisley. We’ve planned these works in collaboration with the team carrying out the A3 / M25 Junction improvements.  Our work is not connected to the road improvement works, if you have any questions regarding the gas work please contact SGN.

The current gas main is an old metal gas main with a history of leaks. By repositioning and replacing this gas main, we will minimise the risk of having to return in future for emergency repairs. We also need to complete these works before the demand for gas increases during winter.

Due to the location of the existing gas main, it is necessary to have varying traffic management on the roundabout while we work. For safety we’ll be working under a single lane closures, apart from one weekend when we will need to close the south side of the roundabout – detailed/map below.

Weekend Closure – south side of the Ockham roundabout

Friday 20 October to Sunday 22 October

We’ll be carrying out work across both lanes on the south side of the roundabout, a weekend closure of the southbound A3 slip road and the south side of the roundabout will be required.

The closure will be in place from 7am on Friday 20 October until 23:00 on Sunday 22 October.

A signed diversion route will be in place for road users on the A3 over this weekend.  Access to north side of roundabout from Ripley will be maintained as highlighted in map below.

To help minimise the impact for road users, we’ve planned the closure for a weekend when commuting traffic and school runs are not required. We’ve also planned these works to support the upcoming fireworks display at RHS Wisley.

Bus routes may be impacted – we’d advise passengers to contact their service provider for the latest information about changes to their services over the weekend.

We appreciate how disruptive lane and road closures are for the local community and our engineers will do all they can to minimise the inconvenience we cause. Our engineers will be working from 8am to 4pm during our work.

If you’d like to get in touch about the gas works, you can speak to our Customer Service team on 0800 912 1700 who will direct your enquiry a member of the project team for response.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

SGN Major Works Team