Issue 50 Welcome to the 50th edition of our parish newsletter designed to keep you up to date with that is happening in Broadacres, Fairlands, Jacobs Well, Perry Hill and Wood Street Village Welcome to the 49th edition of our newsletter designed to keep you up to date with what is happening in the parish. Spring 2019 REPORTING ISSUES If you notice any issues, Increase in Parish Precept such as potholes, flooding or leaks, don’t The precept was set at £197,256 in 2016/17 more grant aid to local organisations to benefit leave it to someone else and remained at the same level during residents and in lieu of the grant to the church, it … please report it! 2017/2018, decreasing to £196,712 in has been agreed that the parish council will 2018/19. provide two cuts of the parish churchyard. Potholes, pavements, blocked and broken At the January full council meeting, after Insurances and running costs have increased, as drains, flooding, fallen lengthy discussion, it was agreed by the parish have the costs of grass cutting (including verges) trees and overgrown council that the parish precept be increased and tree surgery. Additional Christmas lights at vegetation, can be for the year 2019/2020 to £226,915 to take Perry Hill Green have been provided, and a reported directly to into account a number of significant factors. further piece of replacement playground Surrey County Council. The increase for a Band D property will be equipment will also be installed at Worplesdon £9.09 per annum, which increases the parish during Summer 2019. This can be done online precept for a Band D property to £65.70. or if you consider a The level of increase was marginally reduced as problem to be an 2019 is an election year and to adhere with the council have also agreed a reduction in the immediate threat to life election guidelines there is a requirement for number of meetings held across the year and or limb, or do not have the parish council to have monies set aside for additionally staff will no longer receive pay for contested elections. internet access, call their hours worked above their contracted hours. Please Contact Centre on 0300 In addition to providing statutory services to note that the parish council does not have an ‘out 200 1003. the parish, the parish have been actively giving of hours’ facility. The same applies to crimes or anti-social behaviour. Please report Elections - May 2019 incidents directly to Surrey Police on 101 or On Thursday 2nd May 2019 Borough and via their website (if non- Parish elections will take place. urgent) and 999 (if urgent). If you are thinking that you would like to stand as a Parish Councillor, please contact the Clerk ITEMS OF SPECIAL for more information. INTEREST 21 February - 2 - 4pm By becoming a parish councillor you become - Children’s activities, someone your community will look to for help, Worplesdon Memorial guidance and support - a community leader Hall with the power to influence decisions for the 29 March - Annual Parish benefit of the people you serve. Meeting, Jacobs Well Village Hall We would welcome anyone interested to 4 May - Maypole Dancing, attend our event on 26 February 2019 to allow Wood Street Village you to find out more and to give you the Green opportunity to meet current councillors. 21 July - Wood Street Village Show The drop-in event will take place at the Parish 15 November - 10.30am - Office (Unit 2—Beaumont, Parklands, Railton 12noon - Flood Forum Road, Queen Elizabeth Park, Guildford, GU2 Meeting, Worplesdon 9JX, from 2pm to 8pm. All are welcome. Sports Pavilion Aldershot Road - Pedestrian Refuge The parish council is very pleased to announce that permission Surrey County Council have offered every assurance that the has been granted by the Secretary of State for the provision of works will be carried out before the start of the new school year the long-awaited and much needed pedestrian refuge to assist in September 2019. pedestrians crossing from Gravetts Lane across a busy and high-speed stretch of Aldershot Road, neighbouring Hunts The parish council are contributing 95% of the overall cost, Farm. which equates to approximately £25,000, with the balance being paid by the Surrey County Council-Guildford Borough Council This will offer those pedestrians and cyclists who cross the Joint Committee. road at this point, a more visible island where they can stop and re-assess the traffic before setting off across the final Once installed, the ongoing maintenance of the refuge will section of highway. become the responsibility of the county council. Continuing Playground Upgrades Some of the eagle eyed amongst you might have noticed that We will hopefully be replacing the Wicksteed climbing unit at we have been upgrading the swing seats at both Fairlands and Worplesdon play area during Summer 2019. Please keep an eye Worplesdon play areas. The cradle swing seats have been out on our social media pages for your chance to vote for your replaced and at each site a new slightly peculiar looking seat favourite proposal. has been installed! This is called a Tango seat and offers the chance for you to put a smaller child on the cradle seat end and either the grown-up can sit on the other end, or a larger child. The two-seater combination has been a hit with the parents and carers who have worked out the secret over at the play area in Jacobs Well! Tango seat Beryl Barton - 14.11.18 The parish council wishes to extend their condolences to John Barton following the passing of his wife, Beryl. Beryl was one of the founder members of Fairwood Helpers, member of the Women’s Institute and involved with the FLGCA since moving into Dynevor Place, Fairlands some 63 years ago. The parish council was represented at Beryl’s funeral by the Clerk to the Council, Gaynor White. Fortunately Beryl was able to attend the ceremony where Fairwood Helpers received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in October. This award is the equivalent of an MBE for voluntary organisations. Fairwood Helpers have been operating for 20 years and completed over 10,000 jobs. Fairwood Helpers are always on the lookout for volunteers to man phones and/or to be drivers for appointments and trips or assist with other jobs. If you would like to talk to someone about how you can help Fairwood Helpers, or how they can help you, please call 01483 237619. Page 2 Worplesdon Flood Forum - Emergency Response The flood forum was set up by the parish council in 2005 as a Over the last 12 months, we have seen marked direct response to serious flood events within the parish. The improvements to the watercourses across the parish. As a message is still the same: prevention is better than cure, which result, we would like to extend our gratitude to Merrist is why owners of properties with ditches and streams are Wood, Surrey Wildlife Trust, the parish groundsman, Peter gently reminded of their responsibilities. Trevena, and to all those who have actively busied themselves! The meetings take place throughout the year and range from formal but friendly ‘round table’ events to walkabouts which All parish residents are welcome to attend the meetings. The tour areas either directly affected or areas which are cause for next meeting will be held on Friday 15 November 2019 at the concern. All parish residents are able and actively encouraged Worplesdon Sports Pavilion (behind the Memorial Hall), at to attend these meetings, especially if they have any concerns. 10.30am. The flood forum unites the bodies which are involved in We would also like to establish an emergency response flooding – such as Thames Water, Guildford Borough Council, service for the parish to allow us to respond to a number of Surrey County Council, and the Environment Agency. Since the issues which may affect the parish. setting-up of the flood forum, and with the support of landowners effectively managing their property, thankfully the If you would be interested in joining the list of emergency instances of severe flooding to properties have diminished. response volunteers please email the Assistant Clerk. Jacobs Well Pond and Wood Street Village Pond The parish council is aware of the crassula growing in one of Village pond, had to be removed after if had fallen into the the ponds at Jacobs Well. It is proving exceptionally difficult to water during the Autumn, coming to rest in a dangerous obtain quotes for its removal due to the specialist nature of position. qualifications required. The situation will continue to be monitored. It is likely that the higher water levels in the pond, as a result of the standard outflow being deliberately blocked, We would like to remind all residents to not introduce any contributed to the weakening of the tree’s root structure. plants or wildlife to the ponds from their own domestic ponds. Whilst some species can be easily constrained in a domestic Whilst we are continuing to investigate the high water level pond environment it is considerably more difficult to look after issue, we would like to remind residents that the outflows them in an open setting which has a delicate ecological balance. should not be blocked under any circumstances and serve an important purpose in keeping the pond as an active A large willow tree, located on the left of the Wood Street balancing pond. Keep Britain Tidy – Great British Spring Clean We will be actively seeking to support Keep Britain Tidy for this To be added to the volunteer list to receive emails, please year’s Great British Spring Clean! The events run from 22 contact the Assistant Clerk.