++++++ News from your Hersham Conservatives: Summer 2014 ++++++ DON’T FORGET: The Police Panel Meeting is on The Wednesday 13th August 7.30pm at St Peter’s Church Hall. Make your voice heard on Hersham’s Hersham News policing priorities. Local issues, local action, local Conservatives | Visit our website: www.esherwalton.com Elmbridge local Elmbridge Civic Improvement Fund election results ECIF has been established for WE are delighted that Mary many years and is still going Sheldon and Ruth Mitchell (pic- strong. It is a discretionary tured right) were re-elected as scheme that provides funding to Councillors for Hersham North improve towns and villages in and South respectively at the the Borough. May 22nd local elections. Applications from independent Ruth and Mary write: “We retail businesses, trade associa- would like to thank residents for tions/groups, chambers of com- once again putting your confi- merce and community organisa- dence in us. It is a huge honour tions will be accepted. to represent our community in Priority will be given to Hersham and, whether you voted projects that enhance the area, for us or not, we shall do our are likely to attract business and very best to respond to every re- where improvement will be long quest you may make or concerns lasting (e.g. 5 years). you may have and to always act Several shops, businesses and and speak on your behalf during community groups in Hersham the next four years.” have already benefitted from Overall in Elmbridge, the Con- ECIF. Why not apply at www. servatives gained an additional elmbridge.gov.uk/business/ecif, seat in Molesey East against the or [email protected] national trend. or 01372474398. We now have 32 seats out of 60 on the Council. New playgroup A lease has been signed for a playgroup to open in the Herbert Crook Pavilion Certain to make a big splash! close to the cricket square in Council must act Coronation Recreation Ground. After some internal refurbishment works to be over Pleasant Place carried out by the new lease s residents will know, the Committee voted overwhelm- holder the group is expected to the travellers in Pleasant ingly to allow a further five year open in autumn. APlace submitted a further temporary permission and while All users are being strongly Planning Application, seeking to recognizing that changes in the law encouraged to drop-off and extend their residential occupa- had meant that the Council had not pick-up their children in the car tion on a permanent basis. yet been able to identify alternative park in Coronation Recreation The Application was considered sites, this process must be com- Ground rather than the Rydens on 30th June by the North Area pleted before 2019. Grove entrance, which is Planning Sub-Committee. Hersham Meanwhile all conditions must be not suitable for a number of South Councillors John Sheldon rigorously enforced. vehicles to park on the narrow and John O’Reilly (pictured) force- Speaking to The Hersham News corner in this road. fully voiced the anger and frustra- after the meeting, councillors tions of local residents over Sheldon and O’Reilly said: the last nine years “The Council is on and particularly notice that we expect since the disas- that five years must be trous decision sufficient time for the by a Planning identification of other OUR last newsletter reported Daily decisions will be taken Inspector to grant sites and we and the agreement to put a splash- on the weather to decide to a five year tempo- residents demand park in Hersham Recreation open the park on warmer days rary permission in final closure on Ground, and we promised to outside of the six week school 2009. this unacceptable give more information on this. holidays. In the event problem.” A suitable contractor has now Residents have asked about been identified and installation the possibility of vandalism - will be in the autumn so that due to the design of the splash- Cleaning up paths everything will be ready for lots park almost all of the moving Cllr Mary Sheldon writes: ‘Many of fun next summer. parts are underground and will Safety improvements residents have contacted me One of the main advantages therefore be very robust. about dog-fouling on pavements, of a splashpark, apart from It will be installed on the same and the need to cut back the un- pure enjoyment, is that it can be footprint as the existing pad- for Burwood Road dergrowth and clear litter. turned on at very short notice dling pool, which is already ersham South Coun- I recently visited every footpath compared to the 1-3 hours for a surrounded with animal proof cillors Ruth Mitchell, in Hersham, accompanied by the paddling pool. fencing.” HJohn Sheldon and John Borough Council officer respon- O’Reilly with Hersham County sible for having them swept, Councillor Margaret Hicks have cleaned up and litter-picked, and met Surrey Highways Depart- have highlighted several areas ment to discuss progress on the that seem to get overlooked. proposed traffic enhancements In particular the back of Albany along the Burwood Road. Road between Thistlecroft Road We have reached full agreement and Pratts Lane and the foot- on the way forward and are opti- paths between Queens Road and Hersham 01932 252464 mistic that an additional £85,000 Queensway South. will be allocated from Elmbridge’s Scotts Lane has now had a Cobham 01932 864929 Community Infrastructure Levy grand clean-up and a litter bin Claygate 01372 462724 (CIL) to complete the programme. will be installed on a trial basis - I The next phase will hopefully funding arrangements using CIL be- encourage everyone to use it. be the installation of a pedestrian tween Surrey County and Elmbridge If you notice any footpath that Quote: ITH10 crossing and the options for this Borough Councils. you feel should be given more when booking are expected to be published soon “We look forward to residents attention please let me know. followed by a full consultation with for £10 off being actively involved so that this Colborne’s have also been asked hair services* residents. part of Burwood Road becomes to provide a cigarette-butt recep- www.academysalons.com Margaret and Ruth commented: safer for all users and particularly tacle for the many stubs on the *Terms apply. See website. “This is one of the first partnership children attending Burhill School.” ground close to their premises.’ GORGEOUS Elmbridge Council A word from Margaret sets out 2020 vision Hersham’s county councillor ELMBRIDGE’S Conserva- Margaret Hicks surveys the tive administration has set the Surrey scene: ambitious goal of making the Borough Council financially self-sufficient by 2020. Like all local authorities, EBC is dependent on an annual mainte- nance grant from Central Govern- ment but this has been diminish- ing for years under successive governments. Not knowing how much of a hole this could leave in the finances has made long term- ing planning more difficult. Despite this Conservatives have frozen council tax for six of the past eight years, and trimmed £8million from annual spending been using money from the Gov- without impacting services. ernment’s ‘New Homes Bonus’ to Esher councillor Tim Oliver is bolster reserves. This has allowed I am commencing the process of Helping Hersham to bloom the Cabinet member for Resources the council to invest £13million in developing a five year parking local assets, such as a row of shops strategy for Elmbridge looking ERSHAM in Bloom Squires again recommended and oversees Elmbridge’s legal and which was purchased in Cobham. at the needs across the Borough has once again filled and supplied the summer IT departments, finances and asset Acquisitions will be made around so that businesses and retail can the troughs and barrels bedding plants, and more than management. H He said: “All local authorities the borough, and intended to yield attract local shopping. throughout the village with 80 geraniums were kindly a 6% annual return. And also a strategy for cycling colourful plants, and this donated by Woodlark Nurseries would like to be in the posi- Cllr Oliver said: “Local govern- in Elmbridge so that longer cy- year the group has grown in for the enjoyment of the tion of not having to rely on the ment isn’t just about emptying the cle routes can be marked up on numbers of helpers. Hersham community. Government grant, but for most wheelie bins, Elmbridge has the our roads and encourage cycling A most successful planting Should anyone wish to self-reliance is not a realistic ability and resources to be a top as a healthy family activity session was held in early June sponsor a plant container and/ prospect. Elmbridge is one of the borough to live in. We’ve got the Increasingly Surrey Libraries when over 20 people turned up or have your name or company few councils where, because of the environment and the quality of life are becoming information points outside Costa to help with the displayed on it please contact decisions we’ve taken, that is now and it’s up to the council to see how and I would like to see if we can work. Mary Sheldon 01372 467812. achievable.” To reach the goal the councilhas we can add to that.” build an extension to our own Hersham Library with the extra Scouts’ ‘well deserved’ windfall space being used for quiet read- ‘Soundbite’ News and Events: ing and small meetings. What do Community Infrastructure Levy good causes, as a direct benefit you think? opened in 2002 is seeing a big rise (CIL) for Hersham made its first from building developments.” n Hersham Panel Meeting - This is I have been working with Surrey in members and is among the most recommended payout on 17th 1st Hersham are a successful an opportunity for residents to meet Early Years and Walton Charity successful in the entire County.