Local News
'Grey belt' homes approved on old Guildford stable patch despite residents' pushback
Half of the homes are earmarked to be 'affordable'
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Diocese of Guildford apologises for its role in 'historical adoption practices' across Surrey
The Diocese has apologised for the "pain, trauma and stigma endured, often carried over a lifetime, by those affected"
Haslemere’s Signal Box Now Open as a Museum
The conversion of Haslemere signal box to a community museum is complete. South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail Wessex have formally handed over the keys of the signal box to the Haslemere Signal Box Trust, marking the transfer of the Grade II listed landmark into community ownership. The Tru...
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Letter: Why Is Our Council Ignoring the Erosion of Family Housing?
From Tamsin Mayhead Guildford Residents for Responsible HMOs organiser In response to: Who Will Champion Residents Concerned By HMOs Now? I would like to thank former councillor Fiona Davidson for her letter on the subject of Houses of Multiple Occupancy or HMOs. This is indeed a serious concern, an...
Borough Council Expected to Extend Permission for Tunsgate Market Stalls To Trade
By James Moules local democracy reporter Councillors are poised to wave through plans to keep two long-standing market stalls running at a popular spot in Guildford town centre. Guildford Borough Council has applied to allow the stalls at Tunsgate Arch to continue trading for another five years. The...
Surrey Heath Takes Advantage of Court’s VAT Ruling
By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter Surrey Heath Borough Council is changing its leisure contracts to avoid paying VAT. The change, which will make Places Leisure an agent of the council, will save £286,000 a year going to the Treasury. The windfall will be split 50/50 between the council a...
Sections of 'structurally unstable' Guildford Second World War shelter could be filled in
The bunker is unknown to many, despite the fact that it is under a children's playground in the town centre
County Council Releases Its Plan To Create More School Places in Ash
By David Reading Surrey County Council has launched a consultation exercise on its plans for the expansion of Ash Grange Primary School from September 2028. The proposal is to expand the Ash school from a one-form entry to a two-form entry school. The expansion will be funded by Section 106 contribu...
Long-standing Guildford market stalls set to be granted permission to trade for another five years
The fresh plans would not change the operating hours
Letter: The Report Is Correct – A Clean Air Zone is Not the Answer
From Jim Allen In response to: A Clean Air Zone Would Not Be Appropriate For Guildford, Says Report Five years ago I took part in an air pollution study with Professor Prashant Kumar of the University of Surrey, Professor and Chair in Air Quality and Health, also the founding director, Global Centre...
Letter: A 10 Per cent Limit on HMOs Is Sensible
From John Redpath former R4GV borough councillor In response to: We Need a Responsible Approach to the Problem of HMOs The 10 per cent limit mentioned in Veronica Mansfield’s letter seems sensible and is a percentage is used by other councils. Take the planning policy of Bristol (a university city...
MP Fears Race Course Could Be Used for Thousands of Homes
By James Moules A Surrey MP’s petition opposing the development of new homes at Kempton Park Racecourse has hit 2,000 signatures. Spelthorne MP Lincoln Jopp (Con) has claimed developers are preparing to submit a planning application to put up thousands of new homes at the racecourse site in Sunbur...
A Clean Air Zone Would Not Be Appropriate For Guildford, Says Report
By James Moules local democracy reporting service A clean air zone for Guildford has been deemed “not proportionate to local need” given the town’s air quality issue is “primarily concentrated” on one particular street. Guildford Borough Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider...
'Significant issues' could result in a major change at Guildford train station for first time in nearly 50 years
Rail operators agreed to the rule when the station was first redeveloped in the 1980s, but now they want to scrap it
Updated: Police Hunt For Motorcyclist After Horse Rider Is Seriously Injured In Ash Green
Surrey police this week appealed for help in identifying a motorcyclist reported to have caused a horse to fall and seriously injure its female rider in White Lane, Ash Green. The incident happened on Saturday, June 13. The horse rider reported that the motorcyclist, who had a female passenger, revv...
Guildford clean air zone plans 'not proportionate' as pollution 'concentrated' on one street
The town's air quality issue is focused on one busy street
Bankrupt Council To Fund Lightbox Energy Bill
By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter The Lightbox is set to receive £131,000 from Woking Borough Council to help offset the shock of rising energy bills – after it was discovered the “fabulous” cultural hub had been undercharged for years. The soon to be council-owned Thameswey Energ...
Youth clubs to be launched in Guildford and five other Surrey towns as unemployment rises
The Government has chosen six areas in Surrey as it aims to tackle youth unemployment and provide 'vital support'
Woking’s Council Houses To Be Part of Asset Sale
By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter The ghosts of Woking’s disastrous investment strategy, which bankrupted the borough council and cost jobs, services and tax rises, are beginning to be laid to rest after three of its failing companies were set to be sold – but at cost. The council w...
Parking Fine Refunds
By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter More than 100 people have already requested refunds for parking fines incorrectly issued in some Elmbridge council car parks. Elmbridge Borough Council has launched a refund scheme for motorists who were erroneously sent penalty charge notices (PCNs) betwe...