Former Wisley Airfield Planning Application 22/P/01175 Initial objection submitted
Initial objection letter has been submitted to GBC from Wisley Action Group/Ockham Parish Council
News from Ockham Parish Council September 2022
We have just over 2 weeks to send in our objections to Guildford Borough Council regarding the Taylor Wimpey planning application for Former Wisley Airfield (ie by midnight on 3rd October)
There are a huge number of reasons why this application will impact negatively on our village. We know that amongst your concerns, if the application is approved, are the traffic impacts (endless queues and delays are anticipated). A further significant worry is the effect the proposed development will have on access to existing medical and education services. Other points include the very great harm to the Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Area from the increase in visitor numbers from a new housing settlement, the loss of Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land and of course the visual impacts – the development will dominate the skyline and change our rural community forever.
Together with Wisley Action Group (WAG) and Villages Against Wisley New Town (VAWNT), we are going through the 300+ documents and will shortly send out, via Ockham & Hatchford Residents Association mailing list, our suggestion of what you might want to include in your letter of objection to GBC. You will receive this soon with information on how to send it and who to. You should also receive a flyer from VAWNT through your letterbox giving additional information. Contact vawnt.group@gmail.com
Thank you to all those who have already objected. Some excellent points have been expressed.
In other news…..
- We hope you have noticed the changes made at the War Memorial and the two fine new benches. Thank you to Cllr Sonjia Moran for all her work coordinating this initiative. The job is not quite finished but it will be ready in good time for Remembrance Sunday – the centenary of the War Memorial itself.
- The newly purchased vehicle activated sign for speed awareness will soon go up in Old Lane – this will bring the number of these signs to slow traffic down in the village to 3.
- The National Highways M25A3 roadworks are now underway and with Ockham Lane still closed, delays are a huge problem for our whole community. We have shared (via OHRA mailing list) our recommendation that you report ALL delays to National Highways and Surrey County Council.
Please contact the Parish Clerk with enquiries
Mrs Alyson Blackwell – email: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk
Ockham Parish Councillor vacancy – expressions of interest invited by 30th September 2022
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 to take a lead for the Council on climate change. A group has been established working collaboratively with neighbouring Parish Councils on initiatives to review local ideas on how to address climate change. The Parish Council has supported greening initiatives by planting trees in the Parish.
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 boundaryThe 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 will be in contact or you may wish to attend a Parish Meeting as an observer, the next meeting is on 11th October 2022.
We are inviting expressions of interest by 30th September 2022.
News from Ockham Parish Council July 2022
News from Ockham Parish Council
July 2022
- Cllr Sonjia Moran has set up a working party for the Memorial Garden initiative and is inviting volunteers to come forward. To join in please contact Sonjia on sonjia.moran@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk.
- Taylor Wimpey has given notice in the Surrey Advertiser of a Planning Application on the Former Wisley Airfield expected in July 2022. The Parish Council resolved to use professional expertise to help defend the Village.
- Councillor Cross is attending a meeting this week with Surrey County Council and Guildford Borough Council to look at how traffic will be controlled during the works to the M25/A3 Junction 10 due to commence in September 2022. The Parish Council plan to invite National Highways to a meeting in the autumn, further details to follow.
- Thank you to Residents who shared with the Council their feedback on the Upton End consultation.
- Agreed a new design for the Historic road sign to depict a racing car in recognition of the old Tyrrell’s factory in Ockham. This is the final sign on order to mark the boundary of Ockham Parish.
Next Parish meeting is on Tuesday 13th September at 8pm at All Saints’ Church. Residents are welcome to attend.
Please contact the Parish Clerk with enquiries
Mrs Alyson Blackwell email: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk
Parish of Ockham – Notification of Vacancy in Office of Parish Councillor
Notice is hereby given pursuant to rule 5 of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England & Wales) Rules 2006, that consequent upon the resignation of Mrs Walton, a casual vacancy exists in the Office of Councillor for the said Parish.
If a request for an election to fill the said vacancy signed by ten registered electors of the said Parish is received on or before 19 July 2022 by the Proper Officer of Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BB, an election will be held to fill the said vacancy. If no such notice is received by the Proper Officer, the vacancy will be filled by the Parish Council by co-option.
Tom Horwood
Proper Officer
Dated: 29 June 2022
News from Ockham Parish Council June 2022
- In reply to many questions received, we will be sending some information about the Consultation for Upton End this week via OHRA. We hope this will provide you with the information you need to reply. Please note, this is not a planning application. We believe that this proposal for 70 homes should form part of a Consultation for the entire A35 Former Wisley Airfield allocation. Ockham Parish Council will be objecting to the Consultation on this basis using this email address: uptonEnd@lrmplanning.com rather than by completing the form provided on the website.
- Surrey County Council and Guildford Borough Council Cllr Colin Cross has asked us to provide (again) a list of issues with pavements and roads within Ockham. We have a long list which includes a section of pavement by the War Memorial, Old Lane and Guileshill Lane. If you have any additions for the list we have missed, do let us know via Alyson our clerk.
- Local resident Emily Inge has set up a group ‘Ockham for Wildlife’. After a brain storming session at our last Community Coffee morning, we have come up with lots of ideas for improving our own gardens and Ockham as a whole. There are also many opportunities for participation and resources to share. Please join the whatsapp group for more information https://chat.whatsapp.com/G4EG1DaCOFU5iTw3gmU1oO
- The new Vehicle Activated Sign for speed awareness has been ordered and we hope to have it up in Old Lane soon. We know that Old Lane traffic remains a huge problem.
- Cllr Sonjia Moran is leading our Memorial Garden initiative. If you want to feed in any ideas, please contact Sonjia on sonjia.moran@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk.
Please contact the Parish Clerk with enquiries
Mrs Alyson Blackwell – email: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk
News from Ockham Parish Council May 2022
- A number of residents and parish councillors attended the recent Taylor Wimpey presentation of their so called Master Plan. The feedback we have received is that the presentation was scant on detail including specific information about mitigation measures for the total lack of infrastructure required to support the site – so no change there. We are advised that Taylor Wimpey are likely to submit an outline application for planning imminently. We will keep you informed.
- Ockham Parish Council have initiated an ‘8 Parishes’ group who are now meeting regularly to discuss issues that affect our area. We are working together on planning concerns and sharing information to our mutual benefit. We will keep you updated.
- We are planning an unveiling of the Queen’s Canopy plaque which marks the planting of the trees and shrubs donated to us by SCC for HM Queen Platinum Jubilee. This will take place on Ockham Playing Field. Date and time to be confirmed.
- At our Annual meeting, we discussed climate concerns and shared some ideas which included: improving the insulation in our homes, water butts, avoiding use of chemicals and pesticides in our gardens and participating in Plantlife’s No Mow May https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/about-us/news/no-mow-may-how-to-get-ten-times-more-bees-on-your-lockdown-lawn
- Sonjia Moran has been co-opted onto OPC as a parish councillor. Welcome and thank you Sonjia.
Please contact the Parish Clerk with enquiries
Mrs Alyson Blackwell – email: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk
News from Ockham Parish Council April 2022
- Ockham Parish Council will hold our Annual Meeting at All Saints’ on Tuesday 10th May at 8 pm. We have invited an interesting speaker and will be serving wine after the meeting. All welcome.
- We will shortly be purchasing a vehicle activated speed awareness sign for Old Lane to match the signs we have in Ockham Lane and Ockham Road North. We believe that these signs are helping to reduce the speed of vehicles through our historic village – although we are aware there is still much room for improvement.
- Old Lane is looking terrible at present with tyre tracks on the verges and a number of overhanging and dead branches. We have raised the matter of the large number of HGVs driving on our weight restricted lanes with the police and are taking this forward with them and with SCC.
- The climate crisis continues to be an area of focus for the Parish Council and we are interested to hear your thoughts on how we can reduce our carbon footprint in Ockham. Please share your suggestions at our Annual Meeting or send them to our clerk if you are not able to attend.
Please participate in our competition!
- We would like to update the photo on the home page of our new website https://ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk/ to an image that reflects Ockham in the Spring. Please send in your photos to our clerk or to Cllr Simon Waldman at simon.waldman@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk by the end of the month.
Please contact the Parish Clerk with enquiries
Mrs Alyson Blackwell – email: clerk@ockhamparishcouncil.gov.uk
Ockham Parish Councillor Vacancy
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 or would like to be involved in highway matters for the Community. Other areas the Parish Council is involved with are on planning matters and climate change. We have secured some funding for an exciting community project and there is an opportunity to be involved from the outset.
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 will be in contact or you may wish to attend a Parish Meeting as an observer.
We are inviting expressions of interest by 8th April 2022.
Support for Ukraine
The situation in Ukraine is upsetting and concerning. Parish councillors’ thoughts and sympathy are with everyone who is affected. Some residents have been in touch asking how they might help the people of Ukraine. We would urge those wishing to help to donate and support the appeals that are being managed by UK charities. We have highlighted one below but there are many other appeals. It is for individuals to decide whom they wish to make donations. Unfortunately, Parish Councils by statute are prevented from making donations directly.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has a Ukraine appeal bringing together 15 leading aid charities. DEC charities are in Ukraine and neighbouring countries meeting the needs of all refugees and displaced people. DEC’s appeal can be found at their website, please click on the following link: https://www.dec.org.uk/how-you-can-help
In addition, the Government’s home for Ukraine schemes been launched and can be found at:
homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk
The Homes for Ukraine scheme will allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety, including those with no family ties to the UK. Phase One of the scheme will allow sponsors in the UK to nominate a named Ukrainian or a named Ukrainian family to stay with them in their home or in a separate property.
The webpage enables individuals and organisations to register their interest and receive further information as the scheme is developed. There is an FAQ page at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions