Flood Related Contacts

With the recent rainfall an no respite appearing in the weather forecast, the following information may be of use if you are experiencing flooding related issues. Please contact the most appropriate authority:

• If there is a threat to life – call 999
• If there is road flooding – call Surrey CC (Highways) – 0300 200 1003
• If sewers and foul water are involved – call Thames Water – 0800 316 9800
• If a main river or watercourse overflows – call the Environment Agency – 0345 988 1188
• If none of the above helps, please refer to the Old Testament of the Bible: Genesis – Chapter 6, verse 15, where you will find some dimensions for building a boat ?

GBC - New Supplementary Planning Document

Message from Guildford Borough Council Planning Policy Consultations

Draft Climate Change, Sustainable Design, Construction and Energy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

Guildford Borough Council has produced a Draft Climate Change, Sustainable Design, Construction and Energy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and will be consulting on the document from midday Friday 28 February to midday Monday 30 March 2020 (inclusive).

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) cannot create policy; rather they provide detailed guidance on how the Council will apply planning policy when determining planning applications. This SPD sets out guidance on adopted Local Plan policies that relate to climate change, sustainable design and construction and low and zero carbon energy.

If you would like to comment on the draft SPD, please visit the consultation homepage at https://guildford.inconsult.uk/consult.ti/CCSDCE20/consultationHome. Please use the 'Online comments form' to respond to the consultation.

Alternatively, you can let them know your views by emailing planningpolicy@guildford.gov.uk, or by writing to: Planning Policy, Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BB. Please ensure you make it clear which part of the SPD (page, section, paragraph) your comments refer to.

Printed copies of the documents will be available to view in all Guildford borough libraries (during usual opening hours) throughout the consultation period.

Please note that verbal or anonymous comments cannot be taken into consideration. Your comments will be published alongside your name, but your personal details, such as your email or postal address, will not.

I am aware that some of you have had problems trying to use the GBC Planning Portal. It appears to be suffering from breakdowns. Note therefore, that if you are affected when trying to place your comments on the GBC site, as an alternative, you can submit your comments by e-mail to planningpolicy@guildford.gov.uk. This address should be used for policy comments only, any comments on individual planning applications should be sent to planningenquiries@guildford.gov.uk

Strategic Development Framework - Supplementary Planning Document for Guildford Borough

We have been contacted by Guildford Borough Council (GBC) about a draft Strategic Development Framework (SDF), Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for Guildford Borough, “The SDF SPD provides detailed formal guidance to assist future master-planning, planning and development of the strategic sites” . This in part includes “Land to the South of Ash and Tongham”, which some of you will know is Policy A31 of the Local Plan.

The Draft Strategic Development Framework (SDF) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) can be found at: https://guildford.inconsult.uk/consult.ti/SDFSPD/consultationHome

If you wish to make comments you have until midday on Monday 24th February to submit comments. The document should also be available at local libraries and at the GBC offices.

If you would like to comment on the draft SPD, please visit the consultation homepage at https://guildford.inconsult.uk/consult.ti/SDFSPD/consultationHome. GBC has asked that you use the ‘Online comments form’ to respond to the consultation. Alternatively, you can let them know your views by emailing planningpolicy@guildford.gov.uk, or by writing to: Planning Policy, Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BB. Please ensure you make it clear which part of the document (page, section, paragraph) your comments refer to.

The specific areas affecting Ash, Ash Green and Tongham are covered within pages 138 to 155 and also Appendix B. The details within those pages should be read in the context of the first part of the SPD.

Ash Bridge - Planning Application

I write to advise you that the expected Planning Application for the proposed road bridge over Ash Station level crossing has been placed on the Guildford Borough Council Website. If you go onto the GBC Planning Website, you will find the application under 19/P/01460. The full title is:

19/P/01460 | Construction of a road bridge with associated footways and cycle path connecting Guildford Road / Ash Hill Road Roundabout to a new junction with Foreman Road over the North Downs Railway Line south of the existing Ash level crossing, in addition to associated junction improvements, landscaping mitigation, ecology management measures, flood mitigation measures, and drainage. | Land east of Ash Railway Station & Foreman Road & south of, Guildford Road, Ash, GU12.

A direct link to the application can be found at - https://preview.tinyurl.com/y5hrvmp6

There are 124 documents associated with the application, which I am yet to read. However, I have been informed by representative of GBC that this application is for the Road Bridge and that a further application for a footbridge will follow in due course. All comments regarding the Road Bridge need to be logged on the GBC system within 21 days of the submission date, which was 20th August. So by my calculations you have until 10th September 2019 to comment.

Over the past 6 months or so, after listening to the concerns of many residents in Ash, Tongham and Ash Green, I, members of ASHRA, AGRA and also residents formed a working group and attended meetings with Councillors and Council officials to discuss and challenge the background and philosophy for the Bridge. The aim of the working group was: "To determine if the proposed bridge is the most cost efficient way of alleviating traffic problems around Ash Level Crossing, without increasing the risk to pedestrian or traffic flow at other locations in Ash, Ash Green, Tongham and Normandy and without burdening council tax payers with the financial risk should additional traffic management systems be required in the area."

I have yet to read the 124 documents and hope to find that some of the points we raised in our discussions have been addressed. However, I need to advise you that the documents in the Planning Application are the work of GBC and that they have not (so far) been endorsed by ASHRA or AGRA.

Later this Month or during the first week in October, I plan to hold an AGM of ASHRA. The AGM will cover a number of topics, including a discussion about this application for the Road Bridge. I hope that you will be able to attend and I will welcome your views as we discuss this and other issues. The date and venue for the AGM is yet to be finalised, but I expect to be writing to you by the end of next week with the details.

Regards

John Dymott (Chairman)

ASHRA

Surrey County Council Consultations

In addition to the consultation for the Recycling Centre, Surrey County Council are also conduction consultations on the topics below.

The feedback questionnaires are available online at surreycc.gov.uk/consultations. You can also pick up a hard copy at your local library or children’s centre or request one via text to 07860 053465 or by calling 03456 009009. The consultation closes on Friday 4 January 2019, so not much time.

Given that the consultations affect some vulnerable people who may not have access to the internet, please think about your relatives and neighbours who you think might be affected by the proposals and help them to get their views expressed.

The topics are as follows

Concessionary bus travel

The proposal for disabled bus pass holders is to:

• Move to the national statutory level for free travel between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays and free travel at weekends and on public holidays.

The proposal for companion bus pass holders is to:

• Move to the national statutory level and withdraw free travel for companions

Family Resilience: Children's Centres

Doing things in a new way will mean changes to the services that children, young people and families use at the moment. The Council has looked first at children’s centres and then will look at youth work and youth centres.

The Council believes that if families get additional or intensive support, things will get better for them and they won’t need specialist services. Everyone who works with them will come together to find the best way to help a family and try to stop problems before they happen.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

The County Council is consulting on how to strengthen support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), at a time when the amount of funding available is not keeping pace with the growing levels of need, such as autism.

The council is consulting on a strategy to shift resources more towards early identification of children's and young people’s needs and providing more early support closer to home and wherever possible in mainstream schools and settings.

Libraries and Cultural Services

The Council is asking for views on five principles that form a strategy which they believe could inform proposals for transforming libraries and cultural services in Surrey: