Meet your Witley councillors on March 31st

Parish Council announcement

Meet with your Parish Councillors and discuss Village matters. See if you want to be a Councillor and consider co-option or standing for election in May 2007. Meeting is between 10.30am and 1pm at the Council Office, Milford Village Hall, Portsmouth Road, Milford.

Milford welcomes their new Vicar
Parish Council announcement

Milford has been without a resident Vicar for about a year and at last a new face is about to enter the Parish Church. The Reverend Clive Potter will be 'installed' by the Bishop of Guildford at St John's Church, Milford on the 26th April 2007.

Webcast wins top Internet award

Surrey Advertiser, February 16th

Waverley Borough Council has scooped a top European award for the use of Internet technology. eParticipate is an innovative technology that allows Waverley residents to watch meeting where and when they want.

See the webcasts at: www.waverley.gov.uk/Council/webcast.asp

Witley Councillor wanted
Surrey Advertiser, February 16th

Witley Parish Council has appealed for a new member to swell its ranks. Councillor Simon Payne has resigned due to work commitments. Call 01483 422044 for more infomation on how to become a councillor.

Public left bemused by council squabbling over kitchen waste trial claims
Haslemere Herald, February 9

Conservatives have been told to "produce evidence or shut up" over their claims that Lib Dem "incompetence" has meant the borough missing out on a weekly kitchen waste trial. Guildford, Mole Valley and Elmbridge are undertaking trials with Surrey.

Waste collection service complaints
Haslemere Herald, February 9

A working mother of two toddlers has written to the Haslemere Herald, saying that she is unable to fit all of her rubbish in her wheelie bin. After auditing the contents of her wheelie bin, and finding nothing in there that could be recycled, she was told to take her excess rubbish to the tip.

Editor's comment
Are the tips intended to be where you dispose of household waste? If they are, that means that household waste is going to landfill, and Waverley's claim to have increased recycling from to 40% from 22% is partly due to residents taking their domestic rubbish to landfill.

Lib Dems deny ‘incompetence’ over new waste collection trial
Haslemere Herald, February 9

A scheme that would have eliminated smelly, overfilled bins in Waverley was turned down by the borough council, according to the area’s Conservative group. The scheme, proposed by Surrey County Council, would have run a trial period of collecting kitchen waste on a weekly basis. The Conservative group claims Waverley Borough Council turned down the opportunity to take part in the scheme, but environment portfolio holder Victor Scrivens denied they were ever invited to join.

Heat turned up in row over Waverley's kitchen waste
Surrey Advertiser, February 9th

The row over recyclable kitchen waste has escalated with more political muck being thrown about. After an angry outburst by Councillor Victor Scrivens at Waverley's Executive Committee meeting, his Conservative critics have stood by their claim that the borough failed to take the opportunity to join in with a county council funded kitchen waste trial/ Councillor Scrivens maintains that the Liberal Democrat-led Waverley administration knew nothing about the opportunity.

Bravo Victor, don't forget the rubbish
Surrey Advertiser, February 9th

Editorial: Something is rotten in the state of Waverley - and it's not just the household rubbish that has to fester for the best part of two weeks before it is collected. It is also the rubbish spoken in the council chamber. Unhappy councillor Victor Scrivens is obviously feeling the heat over his authority's green credentials which have taken a beating over recent weeks.

Lib Dems deny ‘incompetence’ over new waste collection trial
Farnham Today, February 2

A scheme that would have eliminated smelly, overfilled bins in Waverley was turned down by the borough council, according to the area’s Conservative group. The scheme, proposed by Surrey County Council, would have run a trial period of collecting kitchen waste on a weekly basis. The Conservative group claims Waverley Borough Council turned down the opportunity to take part in the scheme, but environment portfolio holder Victor Scrivens denied they were ever invited to join.

Warbler has a big say on incinerator
Surrey Advertiser, February 2

Surrey County Council has pulled the plug on Wisley as a possible site for a mass rubbish burner after receiving advice on the effect it could have on the Dartford Warbler, an endangered species. SCC Executive member for the environment, Councillor David Munro, has pre-empted any claims from anti incinerator campaigners that the warbler blocking three sites is proof that the burners are a health risk.

Downing Street petition for the Royal Surrey

It is now possible to petition 10 Downing Street directly by email. If you oppose the closing down of the Royal Surrey Hospital, please go to http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Save-RSCH/ and add your name.

The petition reads:

We, supporters of the Campaign to Save the Royal Surrey County Hospital, call on the Prime Minister to halt the possible closure of and cuts to services at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford. The hospital has provided high quality health care to generations of residents from Surrey and the surrounding area, and we believe that the hospital should have an integral role to play in providing excellent treatment for local residents of all ages for years to come. NHS care in our community would be severely damaged by any decision to close or substantially reduce the services available at the hospital. We urge the Government and the Prime Minister not to take this retrograde step and to safeguard the future of the Royal Surrey County Hospital.

Drugs den closed down by police
Haslemere Herald, January 26th

A drugs den in Witley has been closed down by Surrey Police in a raid that saw hundreds of cannabis plants seized.

Scathing criticism for fortnightly bin collection
Haslemere Herald, January 26th

A Haslemere resident has complained that whilst he recycles everything he can, bins are overflowing with filth and disease, and rubbish is littering the once tidy neighbourhood. Whilst many of the town's residents are up in arms over the scheme, the council has won praise for its recycling efforts from Ben Bradshaw, minister for the local environment! Waverley claim that in December they sent the lowest amount to landfill in Waverley's history - below 2,000 tonnes - whilst the recycling figures remain at around 40%.

Editor's note - if the 40% rate has remained constant, then this implies less rubbish was collected overall, which ties in with the fact that many Waverley residents did not have a collection for over three weeks in December.

Borough council's recycling figures "absolute rubbish"
Surrey Advertiser, January 19th

Waverley's waste collection service has been branded as "rubbish" despite high praise from government ministers. In December, the lowest ever amount of landfill waste in WBC's hisitory was collected - below 2,000 tons, and recycling figures remained at 40%. However questions were raised about the accuracy of these figures. Adam Taylor-Smith, councillor for Witley and Hambledon, asked whether this had anything to do with many residents not having their rubbish collected for three weeks in December, and whether it included the increased volumes going to landfill from amenity tips.

Police root out drugs factory
Surrey Advertiser, January 19th
Read article here

A major drugs racket has been uncovered by Surrey Police following a raid on a cottage in the middle of Witley. Between 300 and 350 plants were recovered from a house on Petworth Road.

Householders should pay to tackle "Europe's biggest rubbish heap" says LGA
Haslemere Herald, January 19th

Britain is Europe's biggest rubbish heap, and families should fork out for excessive refuse collection in the near future. Martin Shorten, Waverley's head of environmental services said "We have no plans to propose or implement pay-as-you-throw, but in the event that powers being made open to us, we would look at very carefully"

Traffic Problems worsen as more waste is dumped
Surrey Advertiser, January 19th

The official figures from Surrey show a dramatic increase in traffic into the Witley site. Since 2002, from May to September traffic movements have increased from around 10,000 a month to 14,000 - an increase of 40%.

Lib Dems rubbish Tory accusations over waste trial
Surrey Advertiser, date?

Council leaders at Waverley Borough Council have hit back at claims that they have missed the chance to take part in a new recycling trial. Conservative members have criticised the administration for failing to sign up to a weekly kitchen waste collection trial which would have been funded by Surrey County Council.

Witley tip nears the brunt of festive waste mountain

Haslemere Herald, January 12th

With the twelve days of Christmas ending, Witley tip was hit by a flood of people ditching their festive waste.

Recycling site changes are brought forward

Haslemere Herald, December 29
Click here to see full article

Plans to improve and extend recycling facilities in Waverley have been brought forward to the beginning of 2007. Borough councillors have voted to use £80,000, which they originally planned to spend in the new financial year (from April 2007), this financial year instead. Improvements to the recycling sites include improved information and signage to help users sort out their recycling, increased capacity for cardboard recycling, and improved organisation of the sites so that they are easier to keep clean and tidy.

Improvements should begin soon, and the authority says it is hopeful residents will begin to notice a difference by the end of March. For a full list of sites and materials that can be recycled visit www.waverley.gov.uk/ recycling or phone 01252 717614.

Editor's note: This will have no impact on the Witley site, which is run by Surrey County Council.

Councillor hits out at Waverley’s ‘publicity machine’

Haslemere Herald, December 29th
Click here to see online article

A Waverley councillor has lashed out at the Liberal Democrat regime, and what he calls its “publicity machine”. Tory Adam Taylor-Smith lambasted the Lib Dems in an email, accusing them of issuing biased media statements, before branding them unnecessarily secretive. Mr Taylor-Smith, councillor for Witley and Hambledon, snapped after the receipt of “quasi-political” press releases from Waverley Borough Council’s communications department.

Borough takes tough line on its waste strategy

Haslemere Herald, December 15

Waverley portfolio holder for the environment, Victor Scrivens, has revealed that WBC has so far saved £110,000 "thanks to a recycling push over the past year". However Veolia, the current holder of Waverley's waste contract, were criticised for not providing for recycling of metal and cardboard.

Editor's note - what happens to that £110,000 - will Waverley residents get a refund?

School Ofsted reports

OFSTED is the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England.
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/

Click on a name below to see the OFSTED report for the School:

Witley CofE Controlled Infant School
Church Lane, Witley , Godalming GU8 5PN
Report, October 2006

Busy Little Bees
Church Room, Witley Infant School, Church Lane, Witley , Godalming GU8 5PN
Report, September 2005

Godalming College
Report, May 2005
Godalming College is outstanding says inspectors

Woodlands Montessori
Chichester Hall, Petworth Road, Witley , Godalming GU8 5PL
Report, January 2005

Rodborough Technology College
Rake Lane, Milford , Godalming GU8 5BZ
Report, February 2001

Recycling Soars in Lib Dem run Waverley

Lib Dem Press Release, January 4th

LIberal Democrats are claiming that recycling levels are at a record-high in Waverley thanks to the Lib Dem led Council. The percentage of recycled waste has risen to 40%, up from 22% last year putting Waverley among the best performing councils in the country. Nearly three quarter's of the borough's residents now recycle, up by half on last year.

Residents fuming over once a month recycling collections
Surrey Advertiser, December 15th

The threat of more misery for residents in Waverley was lifted when the council responded to complaints about the new refuse and recycling collection schedule. Some households were facing a recycling collection once a month on three occasions in 2007 instead of fortnightly.

UK householders face"pay as you throw" rubbish tax

Sunday Times, December 3
>>> See full article here

THOUSANDS of householders are facing the prospect of paying Britain’s first domestic rubbish tax under an Environment Agency proposal to trial the system in councils across England and Wales. The scheme would see householders charged according to the weight of all non-recyclable waste they put out for collection each week. Green waste — recyclable paper, metal and glass, for example — would still be taken away for free.

Mast Plan is ditched
Surrey Advertiser, November 24

People power has caused T-Mobile to abandon a proposal for a 30-metre mast on private lanad behind Wheeler Lane in Witley.

(see http://witleymast.blogspot.com)

ERM report on Witley Civic Amenity Site

Environmental Resources Management

ERM have written a detailed report on the Witley Amenity Site. The report refers to problems for local residents, but those residents were not consulted whilst drawng up the report. It suggests that the site can be developed without causing further problems to residents. It does not however state how this would be possible.

One of the problems they point out:

3 The access road to the site runs between houses and their gardens. Intensifying traffic movements along this track might well result in harm to these residents’ amenities. This is made more pertinent as the site is located in a designated Tranquil Area.

(My bold italics)

See their site report for the Witley and Mytchett Civic Amenity Sites here

Scheme to beat rogue traders

From The Haslemere Herald, 10 November, 2006

A scheme to protect Surrey residents from cowboy workers and traders has reached an important milestone. The Buy With Confidence Scheme, which lists tradesmen who have been checked by Trading Standards now has more than 200 members.

Visit the website at www.buywithconfidence.info or call 01372 371666 to choose from accredited traders.

Citizen Advice Bureaux merge

From The Haslemere Herald, 10th November

Residents of Waverley look set to benefit from a merger of all the Citizen Advice Bureaux across the borough. The four existing bureaux in Farnham, Godalming, Haslemere and Cranleigh have formed a district structure.

Take a look at the CAB Waverley website for more information

New green waste collection site

From: Surrey Advertiser, 10th November, 2006

A new green waste collection point is to be introduced to increase recyling facilities for residents in and around Godalming. The new weekly Saturday collection is being tried at Flambard Way, on Saturdays from 8a.m. to 1p.m. Residents can take their garden waste there, and it will then be transferred to the council's collection vehicle.

Technical Paper 3 - Waste management facilities

Surrey County Council - facilities that are likely to come forward as development proposals.

"The County Council has a duty as Waste Disposal Authority to provide facilities where the public can deposit, free of charge, large or bulky items of household waste. There are fifteen Civic Amenity (CA) sites located throughout the County and these provide a range of recycling facilities in addition to providing a place to deposit waste for onward movement to an appropriate waste facility. It is possible that as recycling rates across the County increase there may be a need for additional facilities. In general, a minimum size of half a hectare is considered appropriate although larger sites would be better able to meet the need for growth and to accommodate vehicle movements".

Source : Surrey County Council, Technical Paper 3 - Waste management facilities

Surrey Waste Plan paves way for incinerators

Surrey Advertiser, October 20th

The Surrey Ad has reported that the SCC has adopted a new policy for how rubbish generated in the county should be dealt with, and that it is likely to pave the way for at least one incinerator, with the front running site being at Capel.

Waverley comments on The Submission Draft of the Surrey Waste Plan

Extracted from:
Waverley Borough CouncilEnvironment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee
24th July 2006
SURREY WASTE PLAN SUBMISSION DRAFT

The following text is extracted from the above document

4. In the document “Site assessment Report 2E Final Report,” dated February 2006, there were two sites in Waverley for treatment plants and one landfill site. The treatment sites were at:·

• Runfold Antiques, Guildford Road, Runfold, Farnham .
• Petworth Road, Community Amenity site, Witley

The landfill site was at Ewhurst Brickworks.

5. The Borough Council objected to all three sites, and the Runfold site and the Ewhurst Brickworks have been deleted from the Plan. However, the Witley site remains as a proposal. Petworth Road Civic Amenity Site Witley – proposed improvements to existing facility

6. The existing Civic Amenity (Community Recycling Centre) at Petworth Road is identified as requiring internal improvements. This is generally welcomed since such sites make a great contribution to recycling. However there are constraints on the site.

7. The only Local Plan designation applying to the site is the Green Belt “where any development which would materially detract from the openness of the Green Belt will not be permitted.”

8. The site is situated on the A 283 between Milford and Witley. It is within the 2 km zone of the Special Area of Conservation and the 1km zone of the Wealden Heaths Special Protection Area. The development would not be likely to have a significant effect on the SAC or SPA because there would be no dwellings with pets on the site nor is there any direct access to the heaths for visitors to the site.

9. The road access appears satisfactory, and there is a Community Amenity site there already. There would have to be an expansion of the site, which may have an effect on the surrounding openness. Intensifying traffic movements along the access track “might well result in harm to these residents amenities”.

There is no scope for a large scale site here because that would have a detrimental effect on the dwellings. The County Council’s consultants were of the view that the Civic Amenity site could be expanded if adjacent commercial land became available, but other waste treatment would not be appropriate. And the site remains in the Plan.

>>>> See the full document here

Editor's note

"Intensifying traffic movements along the access track “might well result in harm to these residents amenities”.

Residents believe the EXISTING level of traffic is problematic.

Anger as cardboard at recycling centre is sent to landfill

A Waverley resident expressed her concern after being told that two and a half tons of cardboard left at a recyling centre in Godalming would be sent to landfill.

Source: The Haslemere Herald, 20th October

Thousands pack street to back protest

The protest rally against possible cuts at Guildford’s Royal Surrey County Hospital has been hailed a huge success by its organisers. Politicians from all parties, union figures and supporters from the independent campaign to save the hospital were all pleased with the turnout, estimated at 6,000 people

>>>> See the full story in the Surrey Advertiser, on 27 October

Where your council tax goes

74% Surrey County Council
11% Waverley Borough Council
3% Witley Parish Council
12% Surrey Police Authority

Source: Waverley Borough Council website

Editor's Question: So what happens if Surrey Police merge with Sussex?
How do they remain accountable to the electorate?