Tadworth & Walton Residents’ Association Spring Newsletter 2019 www.tadworthwaltonra.co.uk JUBILEE WOODLAND AWARD & NEW AGREEMENT By Jill Bockmeulen & Robin Parr-Davies March 2019 - Jubilee Woodland ready for Spring bloom t is always a pleasure to report good news for the community and we In 2017, to ensure its long-term future, that Committee became a are pleased to announce that the Jubilee Woodland Management part of the TWRA which was formalised in the TWRA’s updated Committee have been awarded £10,522 under the Government’s Constitution ratified at that year’s AGM. During 2018 it became clear ‘Pocket Parks’ Initiative. This scheme seeks to support communities that the original Agreement needed to be updated. The Committee Ito establish small parks up to 0.4 hectares or refurbish existing parks drafted a revision which is currently with the Council for further where people can relax, exercise, socialise and play. consideration. The Council have confirmed that although they nominally It is our intention to renovate existing play equipment and install new retain ownership of the land, they are fully supportive of the Jubilee play structures in the Jubilee Woodland as well as additional planting to Woodland remaining as a community managed facility for the long term include more screening and bulbs. The new play facilities will increase and we do not expect to see any major issues arising from this update. the range and type of equipment for younger children and so hope that In summary, although the Jubilee Woodland Management Committee the Woodland will be a more exciting venue in future. Work on the is now a sub-committee of the TWRA’s Executive it will retain its own improvements is expected to start shortly. Bank Account and there will be a number of Committee members The application which Gillian Hein made on behalf of the common to both the TWRA Executive and the Jubilee Woodland Management Committee was supported by Reigate and Banstead Committee with the Jubilee Woodland Committee Chairman always Borough Council, particularly with the assistance of David Watts, the being a locally elected Borough Councillor. There will remain a close Countryside and Woodland Office, whom we wish to thank. association with Reigate & Banstead Council for support in terms of maintaining the boundaries, ensuring that the trees are safe and cutting New Agreement the grass. They will also give advice on health, safety and environmental The Jubilee Woodland was originally an unused and overgrown patch of issues and will also be responsible for insuring residents and users of the land stretching alongside the north side of the railway line from Tadworth Jubilee Woodland. We hope that this new Agreement will be ratified Street towards Tadworth Station. Starting in 2012, and over the following with the Council during 2019. 18 months or so, a group of local volunteers transformed the area into a safe open space where families and children could meet and play safely Wed 15 May and where nature conservation could be highlighted and encouraged. 7.00pm for 7.30pm Under the instruction of Park Rangers provided by Reigate & TWRA AGM Banstead Borough Council, volunteers cleared the rubbish, weeded, Chinthurst School planted and generally improved the appearance of what was to be Tadworth, KT20 5QZ called the Jubilee Woodland. Later in 2013 the area was recognised by the Queen Elizabeth Fields Trust. Sat 18 May In conjunction with the Borough Council, a ‘Jubilee Woodland 2.00pm Management Committee’ was established under the Chairmanship of MAY PAGEANT the then Council Leader Victor Broad and in December 2012, an Starting from Walton Pond, Agreement between the Committee and the Council was drawn up to the theme is a ‘All That Glitters’. regulate its activity and specify the support available from the Council. news for the Jubilee Woodland (do you make use of Tadworth’s only Chairman’s Report green recreational space?), and an important award for our Vice Chair. Clive Elcome welcomes you We still need more hands to help with all this: you don’t have to be a ‘committee person’ to be of value! Just contact one of the TWRA very warm welcome to our Spring ’19 Newsletter. First of all, Committee if you’d like to find out more. your diary! Does Wednesday May 15th look clear? If so, As ever our thanks go to our local Councillors Jeff Harris, Vic Broad, please be sure to note that our AGM takes place on that date Rachel Turner and George Curry for giving up time to attend our at Chinthurst School, 7.00pm for 7.30. It will be a pleasure to Committee meetings, helping us to keep abreast of Community Asee you, and you will be served a glass of wine and nibbles on arrival. matters. Since both Vic and George will not be running for re-election There will be guest speakers in addition to the normal business. in May, we say farewell, and wish them well for their future. As ever, we’ve been busy since our last issue. More trees have been STOP PRESS. Potential developers of the Kitlands site on Chequers planted in street verges; carols sung in the Jubilee Woodland; a living Lane have invited the Tadworth and Walton Residents’ Association to a Christmas tree planted at Gun Corner and plans for a Tadworth in Bloom meeting to discuss the redevelopment of the site, but to date we have advanced – all in addition to monitoring local planning. There is good no details of their proposals. TWRA’s Gillian Hein Selected for Volunteers’ Award illian has been associated with TWRA for some thirty behind the current programme of tree planting in the grass verges of years. Her title of ‘VICE’ Chairman belies her true role as Tadworth’s streets which has planted some 102 trees, and the associated the mainspring of the Association. Without Gillian, there creation of a team of Tree Wardens to monitor and maintain its results. would be no TWRA. For all this time, she has held a Apart from her work with the TWRA, Gillian is a committee member watching brief on Planning issues relating to both of CPRE Surrey Branch, actively campaigning to preserve the quality of GTadworth and Walton. Local residents have been able to gain from her our rural environment. expertise – the legacy of her previous career as a Planning Officer. Gillian has helped to shape for the better, the way both Tadworth Apart from her Planning responsibilities, Gillian was a principal and Walton look and feel today, and for all these reasons, richly instigator in the creation of the Jubilee Woodland from what had been deserves this Award which will be presented to her on April 10th at previously an overgrown patch of wasteland. She was the moving force County Hall. TWRA Financial Report By Robin Parr-Davies or the year ending 31st December 2018 there is a Bank Balance of £21.2k, down from £34.8k in 2017 which included significant grants for our Verge Trees Project, now mostly spent. There is £8.9k of Pfizer funds for projects yet to be specified for 2019. FThere is a small reduction in subscriptions to £6.4k (£6.7k in 2017) which is more than offset by an increase in Donations. The proportion of subscriptions paid by Standing Order remained at 39% and we continue to encourage our members to pay by this method as it greatly The Gage Players perform a play by Bettine Manktelow assists our Road Stewards. 2nd, 3rd, 4th May 2019 at The Riddell Hall, Walton There has been a small reduction in the bank balance to £5.4k for Doors: 7.30pm - Tickets: £10 - Booking: 01737 812703 the Jubilee Woodland. Street Tree and Tree Stump Update By Patricia Brookwick STREET TREES AND A LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE TREE STUMPS A further 30 trees were planted in December 2018 as part of the Following a large number of tree fellings by Surrey County Council TWRA Street Tree Project. Eight different species were selected for towards the end of 2018 we have been canvassing the Council to get planting including the Liquidambar, Amelanchier, Whitebeam and the stumps removed. Although welcomed in a naturally wooded Himalayan Birch. In addition to the roads in which we have planted environment, the stumps add nothing to the urban street scene and previously, this phase included Vernon Walk, Downsway Close, Epsom delay our efforts in replacing street tree stocks; stumps should also be Lane South, Whitebeam Way and Tadworth Street. removed to prevent suckering and fungal root rots. Unfortunately S.C.C. A living Christmas tree was also planted for the residents of Walton on could not offer us any assistance with this until Councillor Jeff Harris the Hill. A Picea Pungens Hoopsii, a form of the Colerado Blue Spruce, stepped in. was chosen for its beautiful blue needles and dense conical habit. Slow to With his generous support and intervention we have now started a grow it will eventually reach a mature height of around six metres. The rolling programme of stump removals. The work will commence with the tree was decorated with colourful lights just in time for Christmas. removal of 15 stumps in Spring 2019. 2 Local Matters in Walton & Tadworth By Gillian Hein RECENT WALTON PLANNING DECISIONS developments and so they have no obligation to make a contribution. The former Bramley School premises will re-open in September as Eagle Developers have approached the Residents Association and local House School (Bramley) and will cater for up to 36 pupils with autism residents about redeveloping 15, The Avenue for 33 flats in a three spectrum disorders.