Parish Council News Update – August 2024

Letter from the Chairman

Dear Villagers,
As we finish with summer and move into the busier autumn period, we reflect on a period of change. Since I last wrote in these pages, we have in place a new national government. Only time will tell how the changes afoot affect planning and the protection of the AONB (or national landscape) and the Green Belt. But there have also been changes afoot at your Parish Council.

New Councillor

As, despite the May local election, a vacancy unfortunately arose on the Parish Council, we sought to fill the vacancy. As a reminder, your Parish Council consists of up to 9 Parish Councillors. Tandridge District Council advertised to see if a by-election was wanted, but none was requested, so the Parish Council advertised its vacancy. There were a number of applicants for the role. We are pleased to announce that Cat Neave was selected and is now a Parish Councillor. We welcome Cat to the Council!

Retiring Auditor

The Parish Council have been fortunate to have an unpaid, volunteer internal auditor for many years. Clifford Catt has served has very kindly supported the Parish Council and the village for 21 years. And after 21 years of service, he is now retiring. The Parish Council and the village offer him great thanks for his long years of service. As the Parish Council could not identify another volunteer certified accountant, we are now undertaking a one-year contract with Mulberry & Co. If you are a certified accountant and think you have a few hours a month to spare in the future, please do email our Clerk, Karen Newman.

Chalkpit Quarry Housing Development Application

This application for a large housing estate on the Chalkpit Quarry, an area of land in the AONB that was due, under its mining and minerals license, to be restored to nature, is still pending. Given the application requires a variance of the minerals license, Surrey County Council has, despite protestations of the planning authority, taken on the full housing planning approval. Given the potential changes in the National Planning Policy Framework, it is difficult to predict the outcome of this application. That said, there are currently no proposed changes to policy on AONB designated landscapes.

Travellers’ sites near Woldingham

You may recall that the WPC along with a number of other Parish Councils, worked with the Chesham and Farleigh Parish Council to support their push for enforcement on sites in their Parish owned by travellers on which there were unauthorised structures and uses. Enforcement is never easy and while we will need to continue to track the situation to know the final outcome, we are pleased to report that enforcement and stop notices for unauthorised activities and structures were served on the site on Beech Farm Road on the 15th of August.

Speedwatch

Summer holidays and a small number of volunteers have impacted the number of speedwatch sessions this summer. Speedwatch leader Jeremy Wormington reported in June “We only conducted a couple of sessions due to volunteers being away, the poor weather in the early part of the month and the lack of volunteers. Overall, we recorded 10% of vehicles exceeding the 36-mph threshold, which is our lowest percentage to date, so hopefully we are having some impact. Even so, we had two drivers at well over 50 mph in the 30-mph zone. If Speedwatch is to have the success that most villagers would like to see then we do need more volunteers, just one hour per week would be great.”

As a reminder, in December 2023 Woldingham Speedwatch started up again, after many years of dormancy, to monitor the speed of vehicles passing through Woldingham. The speed of the vehicle is captured on a speed gun and the data is sent to the Police who then issue warning letters to those breaking the speed limit.

However, if Speedwatch is to have the success that most villagers would like to see then Jeremy urgently needs more volunteers. If you can spare one hour a week most weeks, Speedwatch needs you! Speedwatch monitoring is always in pairs. If you might be able to help, please email our Clerk, Karen, at parish.clerk@woldingham.com.

Litter Pick morning of 9th of November 2024

The next community Litter Pick, orchestrated by Councillor Alex Foulds, will be on the morning of November 9th, commencing at the Glebe. All ages help and there are drinks and cakes afterward. Save the date!!

Carols in the Crescent 7th of December 630pm

Every year the Parish Council run this well attended event, usually with the North Downs Consort and others providing choral music, with mulled wine for the adults and hot chocolate and glow sticks for the kids. Save the date!!

Chairman Deborah Sherry

 

Woldingham School – Temporary Parking in Field

The Parish Council has been communicating with Woldingham School about the use of the front field next to the entrance for temporary parking. As a reminder, the School is permitted to use the field for parking on up to 28 occasions per calendar year. The School keeps a register and recently advised the Council that they had exceeded the permitted usage this year. Part of this has been caused by the contracted works taking place on site, which have placed added pressure on parking at the School. They have been keen to reassure us that they have developed a plan to manage this situation more effectively once the project concludes in September. The completion of the sixth form works will significantly reduce the pressure on their available spaces, allowing for a much more controlled approach to field usage.
The Parish Council reported this overuse to Tandridge District Council who contacted the School and reminded them that the use should not continue this year and of the limitations for the future use of the land.

We will continue to communicate with the School and ask residents that, if they see any further use of the land this year, to send dated photographs to parish.clerk@woldingham.com.

Vice Chairman Carole North