Local News
Comment: A Storm In a Teacup? No, Rules on Candidacy Should Be Re-examined
By Martin Giles Our story about the eligibility of a Surrey County Council employee (Questions Raised About Successful West Surrey Candidate’s Eligibility) who stood as a candidate in the recent local election has caused a stir. And so it should. Compliance with electoral law underpins our democra...
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Challengers Celebrate The Impact Made By The Charity’s Supporters
Challengers, the Guildford children’s charity, welcomed supporters and local councillors to their community open day in Guildford. The event on Saturday, May 23, gave the charity the opportunity to celebrate the impact made by their supporters and provided a chance for guests to meet the team, whi...
Our Programme of Upgrades Will Be Good For Passengers, Says Network Rail
Trains are running through to Portsmouth Harbour again after Network Rail and South Western Railway completed the latest phase of upgrade work on the Portsmouth Direct Line. Work to upgrade signalling in the Havant and Portsmouth area began in March, replacing ageing equipment that is said to be inc...
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Letter: We Need This Gantry To Improve Water Supply
From Jim Allen In response to: “Huge Yellow Horror” Spoils Guildford’s Surrey View The “yellow horror” appears to be an unloading gantry, designed for direct transfer from trucks into the reservoir. Regarding concerns, the alternative to this assembly would be a future without water. The c...
‘Huge Yellow Horror’ Spoils Guildford’s Surrey View
By Isabelle Trubshaw Guildford residents are protesting about the unexpected instalment of a large gantry on Pewley Hill reservoir, which they say is polluting the panoramic views over Surrey. Erected over the last few days by Thames Water, the structure – described as a “huge yellow horror” b...
Plans To Build a Further 65 Homes in West Horsley Have Been Deferred
By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter Charles Church Developments hoped to receive planning permission for 65 homes in West Horsley after the company’s proposals, which also include a children’s play area and pond, had been recommended for approval. However, Guildford Borough Council’s p...
Plans for 234 Homes That ‘Could Overload Road and Water Networks’ Refused
By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter Plans for 234 homes that would have “sprawled into the essential boundary between Godalming, Milford and Eashing” have been rejected despite warnings that Guildford Borough Council could lose a costly appeal. Developers Ashill Land had hoped to build t...
Insights: The Gathering Storm – Part 3
By Bernard Quoroll Former local authority CEO See also Insights: The Gathering Storm – Part 2 I ended my last Insights commentary by mentioning the announcement by the new West Surrey Council leader of a brave new localising agenda at the first meeting of the shadow council on 21st May. It wa...
Couple Behind Bars After Causing Death by Dangerous Driving
A couple have been jailed for causing the death of a motorcyclist near Guildford. Justin Whelan, 33, and Kayleigh Grant, 37, have been jailed for a combined total of 13 years following a fatal collision in Westwood Lane, Wanborough, on October 14, 2023. Whelan, driving a blue Ford Mondeo, lost contr...
Rogue Builders Brought to Justice
By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter Crooks from a £331,000 rogue builder network that “profited from the exploitation of elderly and vulnerable people” have been sentenced. In 2019, fraudsters targeting people across Surrey, Essex and London pressured their victims into paying large amo...
Plans for 74-bed care home opposite 550 home Surrey development as land sold
The land has been sold to a healthcare contractor with plans to build a luxury care home already approved
Letter: Electoral Commission Guidance Needs To Be Clear
From Adam Aaronson In response to: Questions Raised About Successful West Surrey Candidate’s Eligibility The link in the article shows that the Electoral Commission guidance was last updated in 2023, which was before elections for the new authorities were established. It could be that when the new...
Summary of GBC Planning Decisions – May 27 2026
Guildford Borough Council has provided the following summary of the decisions taken by the Planning Committee at their meeting in Millmead on Wednesday, May 27. The webcast of the meeting, with links to papers, can be found here: https://guildford.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1084971 ...
Questions Raised About Successful West Surrey Candidate’s Eligibility
By Martin Giles Questions have been raised about the eligibility of a Liberal Democrat councillor who successfully stood in Guildford in the recent West Surrey Shadow Council elections. The candidate in question, Joanne Shaw, was elected to the new shadow authority as a member representing Guildford...
'UK's first' green bridge opens over Surrey A3 offering walkers and wildlife safe passage
It is possibly one of country's most unique motorway bridges and you'll find it not far from Guildford
New Heathland Bridge Officially Opened at A3/M25 Junction 10
By Chris Dick The A3 “Cockcrow Bridge” was officially opened yesterday (May 25). The green bridge, planted with heathland flora, cost £3.7 million to built – just over one per cent of the overall £317 million cost of the M25, Junction 10, expansion. Measuring 68 metres in length and 30 metre...
Award-winning service for Guildford's most vulnerable at risk of closure leaving users 'mortified'
News of the closure has been described as "devastating" with many now worried they will lose their independence
Woman And Child Face Abuse During Incident At Supermarket Car Park
Surrey police are appealing for witnesses following an altercation in a supermarket car park during which a woman and her child were verbally abused. The woman was also spat at during the incident at Morrisons in East Hill, Oxted. The altercation, which took place towards the front of the store near...
End in sight for temporary traffic lights on Guildford A-road, gas company says
Gas works on the Guildford a-road began earlier this month, with the temporary traffic lights causing delays
Police Condemn Menace Of Rural Crime After Farm Animal Is Stolen And Killed
Surrey police are appealing for witnesses following an incident where a lamb is suspected to have been stolen and killed in a field off Pirbright Road, Normandy. The police said in a statement this week: “Rural crime has a significant impact on local livelihoods and animal welfare, and we take rep...