Parish Council News Update – November 2022
Chairman’s Update
At this month’s meeting, we had a wonderful update from Tandridge Voluntary Action on the Tandridge Befriending Scheme. The Scheme supports hundreds of people in the District and we have 6 Befrienders and 3 Befriendees in Woldingham. It’s light touch weekly support, perhaps an hour a week, if you would like to befriend someone. And if you would like some companionship or a bit of help, consider joining as a Befriendee. The Scheme has been incredibly successful as people are matched based on interests, and so all who partake find their lives enriched. The feedback has been great and the Scheme and each person who volunteers make a difference. Our very own Vice-Chairman, who is also our District Councillor, Carole North, is the Tandridge District Councillor appointed to Tandridge Voluntary Action. If you would like to participate, either as a Befriender or a Befriendee, please contact Lucy Darlow on 07796307286 or befriending@tva.org.uk.
You may receive your December issue of Woldingham Magazine at the end of November, so I note that our November meeting is on the 30th at 7.30pm and we are delighted to host the CEO of Get Golfing, which run North Downs Golf Club. He will update us on the Club and his plans for it. If you read this before the meeting, do join as he will be speaking first. (Note you can always contact our Clerk Karen Newman at parish.clerk@woldingham.com if you would like to join by Zoom).
Road Gritting
It’s that time of year when we must remind you all monthly to keep your hedges and other foliage trimmed away from the road. The tractor and plough and gritter must be able to pass safely, make turns and turn around when not on a through road. When snow, sleet and hail are predicted, please also (when able) keep cars from blocking the road. If the tractor cannot pass or turn, it cannot plough or grit your ride. As a reminder, the WPC contract for roads that Surrey Highways does not grit. While it has been unseasonably warm, weather predictions indicate a cold winter, so let’s all ensure we are prepared by keeping our roads clear.
Carols in the Crescent Saturday 10th December
And again, your monthly reminder to please save the date! Carols in the Crescent will be on December 10th, 2022, at 6.30pm. There will be mulled wine, hot chocolate, warm minced pies and glow sticks for the young (and young at heart)! A huge crowd attended last year’s carols, despite the weather. We will be graced once again with the lovely voices of the North Downs Consort. Carol sheets will be available for all to heartily join in. Please join us!
Councillor Vacancy
With the Coronation, the summer picnic and various village improvements in our near future, we remind you that we still have one vacancy for a Parish Councillor. Parish Council work is very varied. Want to help on security and safety? Planning? Or prefer to help run events? We need you. There are many different ways to get involved and you do not need any specific expertise. If you might be interested, please reach out to parish.clerk@woldingham.com or myself or any of our Councillors.
Chairman Deborah Sherry
Celebrating the Kings Coronation: 6th-8th May 2023
Following the very successful Platinum Jubilee events, plans are underway to have a host of celebrations around the Coronation.
Saturday 6th May: There will be a barn dance with live band, caller and street food vendors starting around 6pm, so the younger residents in the village can join in.
Sunday 7th May: St Paul’s Church will be holding a Thanksgiving service from 10-11am.
We would also like to encourage street parties for those roads that would like to do one. If anyone is thinking of considering this do get in touch with Di Murray (editorial@woldmag.co.uk) as she was on the organising committee for the Southfields Road street party last Jubilee and is happy to provide information on what is required from a statutory / legal point of view.
Vice-Chairman Carole North
Supplementary Planning Guidance on Flooding
For the last twelve months or so, Councillor Peter Holbrook and myself volunteered to be part of a steering group initiated by Surrey County Councillor Jeremy Webster, regarding the compilation of a comprehensive flooding supplementary planning guidance for Tandridge. The group includes councillors from various parts of the District, but in particular from areas that are typically most affected by flooding, such as Whyteleafe and Godstone. The purpose of this document is to emphasise that flood mitigation in development can be a material consideration in the planning process, and it will be used alongside other policies within the council to help take the correct decisions on planning applications for developments in flood risk areas.
This draft document is now in its final stages. It is worth noting that it will incorporate some site-specific guidance in addition to the more ‘generic’ clauses, which should further assist any prospective developers in adopting a comprehensive approach to flooding from the early stages of their feasibility studies, rather than as an afterthought.
We are at the point now where we are aiming to be able to get a final draft of the document into Tandridge District Council’s Planning Policy Meeting in January 2023.
Councillor Irina Hoble-Aldersley