++++ News from your Weybridge and St George’s Hill Conservatives ++++ WeybridgeThe News Winter 2018/19 Local issues, local action, local Conservatives | www.runnymedeweybridgeconservatives.com HELLO AND WELCOME A ‘master plan’ for Weybridge centre HELLO and welcome to The WEYBRIDGE Hospital and Li- Weybridge News, a community brary could come together under Cash injection for newsletter produced and one roof under a new ‘master delivered by your Weybridge plan’ for the town centre. cinema project Conservative councillors. The possibility of an multi-pur- Our thanks first of all to all pose community hub were among of you who supported Local the topics at a public meeting with Conservative candidates in Conservative Councillor Tim Ol- May’s Borough elections. iver, Leader of Elmbridge Borough We are delighted that Charu Council and Weybridge’s County Sood was elected to represent Councillor, in October. the St George’s Hill ward with Other questions at the Your Voice WORK is continuing to trans- a healthy majority, but sorry Matters event related to traffic form Weybridge Hall into a to lose Andrew Muddyman in congestion, the High Street, recent local cinema with flats above. Weybridge Riverside - by less planning permissions and concerns The building had been under- than 50 votes. L-R: Tim Oliver with St George’s Hill councillors Ian Donaldson and Charu Sood over a possible sale of some of utilised for some time despite Overall, the Conservatives the Churchfield allotments by the various initiatives to revive its won over 46% of the vote Tim said Surrey County Council local stakeholders. Their objective Weybridge Charity. fortunes. And it was found to be in Elmbridge and regained had been aiming to improve the will be to meet the future needs of Cllr Oliver said: “The past few in need of significant investment control of the Council. We are library for some time and, with the Weybridge residents and deliver months have been very busy work- (around £400k) for internal delighted that Tim Oliver was event of a new hospital hub being additional benefits to the town cen- ing with residents and key groups work alone to simply retain the appointed Leader of the Council built following the fire, there would tre’s vitality and viability. on starting to build a master plan status quo. (Weybridge residents will know be an opportunity to integrate a North West Surrey Clinical Com- for the town. There is a very real Planning permission was Tim as our county councillor). number of services on the site. missioning Group (CCG), who are opportunity to create an all purpose granted in March this year to The new administration has hit Surrey County Council and the local NHS decision makers, are community hub bringing together convert the Hall into a cinema the ground running by insisting NHS England are jointly seeking launching ‘The Big Picture’ – their healthcare and community facilities on the ground floor with five -af on improvements to the refuse funds to develop the Weybridge open and honest discussion with such as the library as well as the fordable housing units above. service, taking steps to abolish master plan in consultation with local people about delivering care community and sure start centres.” We expect the building to the previous administration’s outside of hospital. remain in council ownership tennis tax and securing a High Tim continued: “Following this, and the cinema to be run by a Court order to protect 150 of there will be a clearer picture of the RA fury as Tories cinema operative. our parks, car parks and open services that will eventually go into Cllr Ruth Mitchell, the Cabinet spaces from unauthorised scrap ‘tennis tax’ the new healthcare facility at the Member overseeing the project, encampments. Weybridge hospital site. ELMBRIDGE’S Conserva- said the final bill is likely to be Tim Oliver recently held an “They will want to engage the tive Cabinet has voted to scrap around £2 million due to com- open meeting in Weybridge to local community closely including the tennis court hire charges plications. take questions from residents around the design.” introduced last year by Resi- Weybridge Councillor Michael that was lively and well dent Association and Lib Dem Freeman added: “There are no attended. We are working hard n ON 3 MAY, Charu Sood was councillors. disappointed” and predicted that doubts about the benefits the to make Weybridge “honoured” to be elected as a Entry pad gates and online book- court hires would drop off. cinema could bring to Wey- and the borough Weybridge St George’s Hill ing will be retained to track usage Conservative Cllr Andrew Kelly bridge. It is disappointing that an even better Councillor with a majority of and keep vandals out, but fees will hit back saying: “Cllr Mrs Turner the risks associated with the place to live and over 400 votes. be scrapped, if the Full Council says the public should not get any- project – such as asbestos – work. Enyoy the She says: “It is a real privilege agrees. thing for free. They don’t. They were not fully considered by the edition and best and a pleasure to represent the RA councillor Janet Turner pay their council tax.” Ending the previous council administration. wishes for 2019. community’s interests at the fumed: “What next, will we give charges - dubbed the ‘tennis tax’ “We will ensure that it will not - John Council and I promise to live up the swimming pools for free?” She by critics - honours a promise in increase the parking difficulties Rowland said she was “more than a little to the expectations of all of my our May manifesto. voters who have trusted in me.” and noise for near neighbours.” On the case over local roads Fight goes on for THE parlous state of St George’s Walk-in Centre Avenue continues to be of major concern to Weybridge residents. YOUR Weybridge Conserva- With winter on the way, further tive councillors are continuing break up of the road surface is in- to campaign for a replacement evitable. While it can’t come soon for the town’s much missed enough, funding for the resurfac- walk-in centre, which burned ing of the worst section is to be down in July last year. included as part of the Brooklands While the two GP practices are Business Park Accessibility Project. running smoothly in the tempo- Your Weybridge St George’s Hill closer with confirmation that the rary accommodation on the site, councillors, Ian Donaldson and government-backed Enterprise M3 patients with minor injuries are Charu Sood are strongly lobby- Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) often having to travel to A&E at ing Surrey County Council for the will provide part-funding. St Peter’s or Walk-in Centres in resurfacing works to be completed Additional funds of £625,000 Woking or Ashford. in the early stages of the project. from the Community Infrastructure Cllr Ian Donaldson (St Traffic reduction also remains Levy are being sought. George’s Hill) attended a meet- our priority. The bottleneck from The route was granted planning ing of the Local NHS where Weybridge town centre through permission earlier this year and will he was informed that Walk-in Weybridge Station and down into be separated from busy traffic and Centres are being replaced Brooklands Road continues to be a make it easier and safer to cycle by Urgent Treatment Centres headache for road users. and walk in the area. It will be well (UTCs). Providing alternatives is crucial surfaced and have enough lighting Cllr Donaldson told Weybridge to cutting congestion. A major for use all year round. News: “Regardless of what scheme – known as the Brook- The scheme will include a range it’s called, the key issue is that lands Business Park Accessibility of improvements to the area Weybridge has a centre which Project - is to establish a cycling included improvements to pedes- can deal with urgent but minor and walking route between the trian crossings close to the station, medical issues. If it made sense Brooklands Business Park, Wey- improving signage and providing for Weybridge to have a Walk-in bridge Railway Station and towards better public bus facilities. Centre it makes just as much Weybridge town centre (including Councillors have been advised sense for it to have an Urgent between the station and Heathside that work on this transformative Treatment Centre.” School). This has moved a step scheme should start in 2019/20. COMMUNITY Council crack-down on illegal camps NEWS ESIDENTS demanded with convoys of up to 60 vehicles action to tackle the spate flocking to the Borough. ‘PRE-CONSTRUCTION’ Rof unauthorised camps Cllr Oliver added: “We will works are underway ahead of and fly-tipping in the Borough, review the security of all of our improvements to the Wey- and Elmbridge’s Conservative open sites so that our communities bridge Streetscape between Council has done just that. can enjoy their surroundings, Ship Yard and Elmgrove Road. At the our direction, officers whilst continuing to closely Plans include a small plaza applied for, and secured, a monitor any illegal activity across close to the Ship Hotel as well temporary High Court Injunction the Borough.” as paving and street furniture in the summer which protected In the long term Surrey County improvements outside Wait- 150 of our local parks, open Council and the 11 boroughs are rose and Morrison’s. spaces and car parks. However, working together to establish Detailed design work has con- with the order set to expire this transit sites for travellers. These tinued apace, and it is hoped month, we returned to court to are likely to be in the East and that the work will begin in the make the case for a three year West of the county and provide New Year. Weybridge Council- extension, which was granted. places for traveller communities lor Michael Freeman says the The Council’s injunction to stay for a short time, arrest, fines or seizure of assets. impacted by the disruption revitalisation works have been prevents any individual from hopefully removing the cause of In the absence of an injunction throughout the summer.” “a long time coming, but will occupying land for residential unauthorised camps. the council has to carry out The Council provided evidence be worth the wait.” purposes, including caravans, If you spot any weakened welfare checks and obtain court to the court of large-scale fly- mobile homes and vehicles or security fence posts, railings etc. orders which take several days. tipping and the cost of clearing depositing waste. that protect public land, please Leader of the Council, Cllr Tim it, damage to gates and barriers, It also means rule breakers can report these so the council can Oliver said: “I am delighted that lost parking income and the be rapidly moved on – as we saw affect repairs. the protective injunction has been significant impact camps have on at Brooklands Lane in September Go to www.elmbridge.gov.uk/ extended for three years. This communities, resulting in loss of when an incursion was resolved news/unauthorised-encampments will bring relief to our residents communal facilities. within hours - under threat of and businesses who have been The issue has been growing BROOKLANDS Park is to get solar-powered toilets like the one pictured above, when the Brooklands race Railway won’t Danfo facilities are installed in Allotment the next few months. car visits Council pay for ramp GOOD NEWS for Whiteley governance Village residents who will again have the opportunity to register with the Hersham Surgery as Dr N. Sahathevan has arrived and the list is now open. Cllr Ian Donaldson is pursuing resident concerns with the lack of NHS dentistry. YOUR Conservative council- lors have long campaigned for IT SHOULD be easier to make the station ramp on the Brook- an appointment with a GP thanks lands Road side of the station to a new national ‘extended ac- to be permanently opened. cess’ initiative. BROOKLANDS Museum South Western Railway (SWR) In addition to being able to representatives visited Esher say they will consider the pro- book GP appointments at your Civic Centre in October and posal and provide an estimate of local practice, you will also have staged a unique demonstra- the likely cost, but are refusing access to additional appoint- tion showcasing their famous to fund it. Your councillors are ments during the evenings and at Napier Railton race car. IT MIGHT often be missed but Weybridge Riverside Council- looking into all the options. weekend at four locations across Built in 1933, this legendary one of the biggest landowners in lor Michael Freeman welcomes a Cllr Charu Sood (St George’s the local area (Walton, Ashford, vehicle set the all-time speed the centre of Weybridge is the decision by the Council to make Hill) summed up: “It’s a great Sunbury and Woking). record for the Brooklands track Weybridge Charity. the process of apppointing Trustees frustration that the ramp remains These additional appointments at Weybridge, and is very much It has a long history of helping more transparent. closed at peak times. We are will be available from 6-9pm on part of Elmbridge and motor local residents in financial need and He said “It is unfortunate that the disappointed that SWR will not weekday evenings (including racing history. fulfils the important function of trigger for this was the news that fund a scheme that its customers bank holidays) and from 9am to Tamalie Newbery, the new maintaining a large open space at the Charity wanted to sell part of so clearly support. midday at weekends. Patients chief executive at the Museum Churchfields. This provide allot- the allotments for development. We will consider carefully can book these appointments addressed councillors, with the ments to bring to residents op- “Residents can bring much needed alternative funding methods through their local GP practice. desire of deepening the partner- portunities for fresh air, a healthy skills and local knowledge in help- to open the ramp permanently, ship between the Museum and life style, exercise and, of course, ing the Charity raise new funds, providing it can be done cost- ST JAMES’ Church in Wey- the Council. “home grown” fresh fruit and veg. respond to changing needs and in effectively.” bridge has installed the town’s She explained that the Napier Elmbridge Council formally developing its approach to improv- Cllr Ian Donaldson (St Georg- first community defibrillator, Railton embodies Brooklands appoints six of the nine Wey- ing quality of life and life chances es’s Hill) has raised concerns which is available to the gen- Museum, as a place where his- bridge Charity Trustees, who have for local disadvantaged people. with Surrey County Council eral public 24-7. The purchase tory is kept alive, with awesome traditionally been councillors or “That is also the aim of the Wal- about weeds on the bridge, and and maintenance of the equip- machines, engineering and the former councillors, but a number of ton Charity which seems to provide expects that these will be cleared ment has been financed by St. fantastic people who design, residents have expressed an interest a good local example just up the in due course by either the coun- James’, The Friends of Wey- build and run them. in the role. road from us”. cil or Network Rail. bridge Hospital and Waitrose.

Become a member ELMBRIDGE laid down the law with its waste contractor WHY join the Conservatives? after hundreds of missed Membership comes with a collections over the summer. number of benefits, including: Cllr Glenn Dearlove, Cabinet l A chance to choose the member for Environment and national party leader Transport, held “robust” meetings l An invitation to all of our with Amey and its directors, in events, from regular small which he insisted the company informal gatherings to large improves or faces fines. dinners with high profile guest He tells The Weybridge News: speakers “As a result, our contractor, l The opportunity to stand for Amey, has trained more existing the party in local elections staff to be drivers and is rolling l A chance to vote in other out improvements to the in-cab internal elections and to attend devices, so that missed collec- the Party Conference. tions can be closed down in real l As as member you will also time. In addition an extra garden be helping to shape the future of waste vehicle has been intro- Esher, Elmbridge and the wider duced. country. “We will continue to monitor Find out more at performance to ensure that resi- www.conservatives. dents of Elmbridge receive the com/join quality of service they expect.”

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