News

26th January 2025

National Trust's proposal to leave Clandon Park as a ruin.

 

Following the devastating fire at Clandon Park in 2015, the National Trust’s initial decision was that the superb ground floor interiors at Clandon, which constituted the house’s chief significance, would be restored. This decision was later overturned in 2022 when the philosophy of restoration was dropped in favour of a hard-line application of ‘conserve as found’ principles to conserve the house as a ruin which is reflected in the current planning applications 24/P/01681 & 82. The house is Listed Grade 1 and is undoubtedly of national importance. The interiors were amongst the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the UK and were the most significant and important feature of this building. There are many recent examples of decisions to restore important historical buildings in the UK following catastrophic fires namely at York Minster (1984), Hampton Court Palace (1986), Uppark in Sussex (1989) and Windsor Castle (1992) all of which have resulted in rediscovering forgotten skills, maintaining ancient crafts, and using historically accurate materials and techniques to recreate the original decor. This approach has not only honoured the heritage of some of our finest buildings but also set a new standard for conservation projects. If you feel as I do that Clandon Park should be restored, I urge you to lodge your objection to planning applications 24/P/01682 & 82 while you still have the chance. The National Trust should hold to its original decision and should, at the very least, restore all the principal rooms at ground floor level so we can enjoy them once again.

17th January 2025

Reforms to Local Government as they may effect Surrey

 

The UK government has announced plans to reform local authorities. The main goals of these reforms are to simplify local government structures and devolve more power from Westminster to local authorities. Here are some key points:

  1. Merging Councils: Surrey's 11 boroughs and districts are set to be merged into possibly two Unitary Authorities. This means that there will be two overarching councils responsible for all local services. This reorganisation is expected to be completed by May 2027.
  2. Directly Elected Mayor: It is expected that these two Unitary Authorities will combine into one Strategic Authority covering the area of Surrey with a directly elected Mayor with significant powers and responsibilities including: - transport and local infrastructure; housing and strategic planning; economic development and regeneration; environment and climate change; and health and public services.
  3. Postponed Elections: Surrey County Council has proposed postponing the local elections scheduled for May 2025 to May 2026 to allow time for the reorganization. This move has been controversial, with some arguing that it undermines democracy.
  4. Debt Management: The reforms aim to address financial issues within Surrey's local councils, some of which are heavily indebted. The new structure is expected to provide a more stable financial foundation.  

The new Unitary Authorities will be granted a range of powers that were previously managed by both district and county councils. Here are some of the main powers devolved to unitary authorities:

  1. Planning and Building Control: Unitary authorities handle all planning and building control functions, including the approval of new developments and enforcement of planning regulations.
  2. Waste Management: They are responsible for waste collection, recycling, and disposal services.
  3. Highways and Transport: Unitary authorities manage local roads, public transport services, and traffic management.
  4. Education: They oversee local education services, including the management of schools and educational facilities.
  5. Social Services: Unitary authorities provide social care services, including support for vulnerable individuals and families.
  6. Housing: They are responsible for housing services, including the allocation of social housing and homelessness prevention.
  7. Environmental Health: Unitary authorities handle environmental health services, such as food safety, noise control, and pollution management.
  8. Economic Development: They promote local economic growth and development, including business support and job creation initiatives.

2nd January 2025

"Life is beautiful - don't watch the news" - Street Art from Montague Street, Worthing

16th December 2024

The Unofficial AMEN Christmas Bash

 

Last year the conversation was all about “The Yellow Brick Road” and the Wicked Wizard of Surrey's dastardly plans for the London Road in Burpham. Twelve months on, and all that seems to have evaporated into thin air. Now it’s all about the “Magic Roundabout” planned for Boxgrove and what more we can expect from Matt and our friends down at County Hall. Will it be a scaled down Dutch Style roundabout designed to flummox even the savviest driver? or perhaps something even Zebedee couldn’t have dreamt up while completely off his face on goodness knows what (while the ever calm voice of Eric Thompson provides order and reason to an otherwise bonkers spaced out world). Anyway, I digress. At home we’ve decided to have Christmas Lite this year. No – that’s not Christmas with loads of extra fairy lights, but a slimmed down version of Christmas. This year our Christmas will be turkey free (what bliss) with no presents at all except for the grandchildren, and they, if they are very lucky, will each get a small tinsel covered sachet of powdered gruel and maybe a cup of boiling water to dip it into. I’ve also invented a new version of “Pinata” where we can all have fun rubbing our noses at an orange Donald shaped thing with a quiff – very cathartic. You will be pleased to hear that the Unofficial AMEN Christmas Bash at the Anchor & Horseshoes was fine. We all survived. We may even do it again next year if I’m still on my feet.

26th November 2024

SCC Cabinet Meeting 26th November 2024

London Road Active Travel Scheme

 

At the Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Meeting on 26th November, Tim Oliver, Leader of the Council, explained that, following discussions, the Select Committee for Communities, Environment and Highways had decided to refer the decision on the London Road back to the Cabinet for reconsideration. Tim Oliver then referred to the Select Committee’s report. He explained that the decision taken by the Cabinet on the 29th October had been taken following very lengthy discussions which included full consideration of Arup’s Report on Safety, and a number of other representations from members of the public and various public bodies. In his view, the Select Committee had not introduced or raised any significant new issues nor provided any new evidence. He was well aware of the controversy surrounding the Active Travel Scheme planned for the London Road, but the decision taken by the Cabinet will still stand and Section 1 of the London Road will not proceed. 

19th November 2024

London Road Active Travel Scheme

 

Following the decision by the Surrey County Council Cabinet not to proceed with Section 1 of the ATS planned for the London Road, the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee decided to “call in” their decision and decide whether the matter should be referred back to the cabinet for reconsideration. At a meeting on 19th November, and after considerable debate, those in favour of referral believed that the cabinet should have taken into consideration that Arup’s Report believed the scheme to be safe; that the proposed scheme would be safer than the situation as it exists and that Active Travel England had signed off the scheme. Those opposed to referral claimed that the scheme would be unsafe for all road users due to the physical restrictions of the road; that the scheme would not support higher volumes of traffic and that there was overwhelming public opposition to the scheme. In the event, the Select Committee voted 7 - 4 in favour of referring the matter back to the cabinet. I understand that the Cabinet are now due to reconsider the matter on the 26th November. It should be noted that, following the meeting, evidence has emerged that Active Travel England had not been consulted on the current design and have not signed off, or approved the scheme.

14th November 2024

"Ran out of paint" - graffiti courtesy of Leshi and Urch.

29th October 2024

London Road Active Travel Scheme

 

At the Surrey County Council Cabinet Meeting on 29th October, the cabinet voted 6 votes to 3 against proceeding with Section 1 (New Inn Lane to Boxgrove) of the Active Travel Scheme planned for the London Road. Of the five councillors who spoke, four were opposed to the scheme mainly on grounds of safety – stating that the proposed 6500 carriageway would be too narrow for HGV’s and busses and that the extent of, and the width of, the shared pavements proposed would be too narrow to safely accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists. Yasmin Broome of the Surrey Coalition for Disabled People also spoke against the scheme stating that evidence from other areas showed that floating bus stops and shared pavements would not be safe for visually impaired and disabled people. Although I am relieved that this scheme has been cancelled, personally, I believe that more should be done to encourage people to cycle and I hope that Surrey County Council now explores the option of enhancing alternative routes (see below) like the existing cycle path at the back of Weylea Farm; the cycle track through Riverside Park (which is already a national cycle path); and the potential cycle route beside the railway line which would have the added benefit of linking up with the existing underpass and with George Abbot School. These routes could be enhanced without causing any disruption to traffic during the construction phase, while presenting safe alternative routes into town well away from heavily trafficked routes like London Road.

14th October 2024

The Annual AMEN Curry Night Bash

 

It may have been a wet Monday night in October, but nevertheless, it was still the Annual AMEN Curry Night Bash Thingy at the Rajdoot in Burpham. The turnout was reasonable and included the usual suspects, although there were some notable absentees who will be named and shamed - Graham, Chris, Mike and Patrick - listen - having a birthday party in San Sebastian is no excuse - we know where you live. Nick reminisced about his time as the sound engineer on test cricket in the West Indies - although he was fairly vague about what happened in the evenings. Chris reminisced about his time in special effects in the film industry, life in Mexico City, Mexican food, Mexican girls - and then it trailed off a bit. Niels reminisced about his childhood in Worthing, swimming in the sea, running over the wet sand, diving off the pier – and seaweed – lots and lots of seaweed – not exactly Tequila Sunrise I know – but there you have it. This time the wives will be pleased to hear that we managed to steer clear of the “Flaming Sambucas” so getting home was not quite as complex or problematic as last time. Anyway, everyone agreed to reassemble at the Anchor and Horseshoes in December for the Unofficial AMEN Christmas Bash, sprigs of holly and silly hats included.

5th October 2024

Walk at Newlands Corner

 

Our walk followed the North Downs Way from Newlands Corner travelling east. After about a quarter of a mile we stopped to admire the “Optohedron”, an interesting piece of sculpture by the artist Will Nash, which sits very nicely in the landscape at a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the surrounding countryside. We then travelled on for about another mile before descending towards the Silent Pool. On the way we passed a pillbox from the Second World War. These pillboxes were part of a series of fortifications built along the North Downs to protect against a possible German invasion. We then arrived at the Silent Pool where legend has it that a woodcutter's daughter was surprised by a nobleman on a horse as she bathed in the pool. Having failed to lure her to the bank, the nobleman rode his horse into the water and caused the girl to move out to deeper water where she drowned. When the woodcutter returned and found her body, he also found the nobleman's hat floating on the water. It bore the crest of none other than Prince John. A sad little tale. The walk took us back towards Newlands Corner via the sandpits at Weston Woods where apparently extensive excavations in the 1960’s uncovered significant prehistoric remains including evidence of post built structures and pottery - I knew you'd like that. The ascent back to Newlands Corner was – put it this way – I’m not as young as I was.

28th September 2024

The walk at Blackdown

 

Black Down is an area of the high weald just south of Haslemere. It is the highest point in the South Downs National Park, standing at over 1000 feet avove sea level and offers beautiful views over the countryside. The walk was fine, but Niels (OK that’s me) kept banging on about how Blackdown was once a major source of iron ore, and I suppose it was fascinating to think that the cannons on Sir Francis Drake’s fleet might well have been made just down the road at Fernhurst Forge from iron smelted from iron ore mined at Blackdown. And to think that the North Weald was, at that time, the very centre of the iron industry in England churning out weapons, armour and cannons for England’s Navy. It was also interesting to be walking in the footsteps of Alfred Lord Tennyson, the famous Victorian poet who built a house on Blackdown, and who apparently, like Kipling, could not abide his celebrity and carried a whistle to ward off his devotees. The view from the “Temple of the Winds” was truly stunning and it was quite extraordinary to see the sun sparkling on the sea through a gap in the South Downs near Shoreham some thirty-five miles away. I also loved the sense of history – to be standing where people lived over 3000 years ago - probably looking after their sheep and weaving all sorts of woollen stuff to keep warm - while the blokes were furiously digging iron ore out of the countryside to make daggers and axe heads – no change there then. At the end of the walk, Oliver’s in West Street, Haslemere, proved to be a very pleasant place to enjoy lunch on a sunny day after a walk at Blackdown.

12th September 2024

Active Travel Scheme for London Road

 

Following the Stakeholder Meeting held on Wednesday 11th September, the significant news is that the decision on whether to go ahead with the Active Travel Scheme planned for the London Road is not going to be made by Tim Oliver, Leader of the Council, but will now go to Cabinet at the meeting on October 29th. The Head of George Abbot spoke firmly in favour of the scheme, as it would be of great benefit to pupils, staff and parents if pupils could cycle safely to school. Those in favour of the scheme were persuaded that Arup's report confirmed the scheme was safe, and George Potter dismissed concerns of shared pavements by saying that a large extent of pavements are already shared with cyclists. The Surrey Coalition for the Disabled spoke vigorously against shared space at bus stops. They said they had not appreciated how much of the proposed footpath/cycleway would be shared (currently estimated at 45%). Roger Williams, Project Manager SCC, confirmed that only the existing highway space was used to create 6.5m width, but would not be drawn on how much this meant that segregated tracks would have to modified to shared tracks. The crux of the argument remains on safety – those against argue that what is planned is likely to be less safe for all road users. Both the London Road Action Group and the London Road Survey Group (who were responsible for the alternative survey) have submitted their own reports to Tim Oliver setting out their reservations about both the scope, and the conclusions, in the report prepared by Arup Professional Services.

19th August 2024

Walk to the Anchor & Horseshoes

 

If it’s Monday evening it must be another AMEN outing. This time it was Graham’s turn to entertain us by taking us on an expedition via the Riverside Park to the Anchor & Horseshoes in Burpham. The Anchor never felt so remote. No sign of any bullocks in the park (I said bullocks). They must have seen us coming and hidden in the undergrowth. Anyway, I’m pleased to report that the pub is still there although it has grown another appendage – it must be global warming. As an opening gambit, someone suggested we each confess to something awful we did in our childhood. Bernard immediately owned up to a passion for developing pipe bombs in his youth and to dismantling various parts of the farmyard in the process. Presumably this must have had something to do with all the fertiliser he could lay his hands on. Anyway, the trick with anecdotes is usually to try and "top that". But, on this occasion, I’m afraid we all sat there in shocked silence. A great evening with lots of bonhomie – thank you Graham.

5th August 2024

Houseboats at Shoreham-by-Sea

 

You may well ask - what on earth has any of this got to do with Abbotswood.

27th July 2024

Walk along the Wey Navigation

 

The walk, attended by the usual suspects, started at Bowers Lock and travelled along “Stoke Length” all the way to Stoke Mill. This short length of canal had apparently been constructed in 1618 by Sir Richard Weston, who lived at Sutton Place, to irrigate his crops. He was very interested in agriculture and the irrigation techniques he learnt in the Netherlands and wrote books on the subject. Following his experiences of canal building that he had also learnt in the Netherlands, Sir Richard decided to make the Wey River navigable as far as the Thames at Weybridge and by 1653 he had constructed 20 miles of navigable canals, complete with locks and weirs to manage changes in levels, more than 100 years before the development of the canal system in the Midlands. The Wey Navigation was designed for horse drawn barges capable of carrying up to 30 tons of cargo - a massive improvement over horse drawn wagons which were capable of carrying only two tons at that time - and added much to the prosperity of Guildford. However, the arrival of the railways to Guildford in 1845 inevitably took trade away from the canal and by the turn of the century the navigation was already in decline. The Wey Navigation was finally gifted to the National Trust in 1964. The walk was followed by a very tasty cream tea at the Village Hall provided by Sue. 

20th July 2024

Walk at Whitmoor Common

 

The walk at Whitmoor Common took us across the common via the boardwalk past Yew Tree Cottage, once owned by the Prime Minister Lloyd George, and on to St Mary the Virgin, the parish church of Worplesdon, which dates back to the Norman period. There we were given a guided tour of the church which included some wonderful examples of stained glass including the marital coat of arms of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII – although why it is there is apparently a complete mystery. We then travelled on to the Sime Gallery where we were able to see a number of original oil paintings by the famous Victorian artist and illustrator Sydney Sime who lived in Worplesdon for many years and was clearly heavily influenced by William Blake. The next walk will take us along the Wey Navigation and includes a cream tea at the Village Hall.

6th July 2024

Summer Barbeque at the Cordingley's

 

Mercifully the rain held off for the annual AMEN/AWIT Summer BBQ at the Cordingleys. Some of us watched England limp through to the next round on penalties – so frustrating when we seem to have such an abundance of talented players. Winning is important I know - but we want to win in style. Anyway, it was amusing to watch the male population gather around the coals taking charge of the barbeque.  What is it about men and barbeques? – maybe it’s an opportunity to waggle your tongs a bit and wear a funny apron? Having said that the food was very tasty indeed so maybe they knew what they were doing. For me, what is really nice about these occasions is meeting up with new neighbours who have cast up on the shores of Abbotswood and hearing their stories – and also just relaxing with old friends and chewing the cud – or maybe I’m just getting old. As usual, Nick and Sarah put on a fantastic evening – so a big thankyou to the Cordingleys for putting up with us all and a special thank you to their lovely poodle doggy thingy for keeping us all entertained.

6th July 2024

Walk at Painshill Park

 

As part of the series of this year’s Summer Walks, a group of local residents visited Painshill Park on Saturday. Painshill Park near Cobham is a very fine example of an 18th Century landscape garden in the picturesque style featuring an impressive array of lakes and follies including the Temple of Bacchus, the Turkish Tent and the Crystal Grotto. It was created by Charles Hamilton in the early part of the 18th century following a trip to Italy on the Grand Tour. His creation was among the earliest to reflect the changing fashion in garden design prompted by the Landscape Movement which started in England in about 1730. Many of the trees and shrubs planted by Hamilton were sent to him from Philadelphia by the naturalist John Bartram. The garden was visited by many well-known figures including William Gilpin, pioneer of the Picturesque Movement; Thomas Jefferson and John Adams future presidents of America; and Prince Albert and Queen Victoria when they were staying at nearby Clermont in the1840’s. Then as now, there was a particular route to be taken around the park, designed to bring the visitor upon the successive views with best effect.

29th June 2024

Walk at Frensham Little Pond

 

A group of local residents enjoyed a walk at Frensham Little Pond on Saturday in the sunshine. Few were aware that Frensham Common was originally owned by the church and that the two ponds were created in the 13th century to provide fish for the Bishop of Winchester when he visited Farnham Castle. After the dissolution of the monasteries, Frensham Common fell into private hands and was eventually given to the National Trust in 1919 by the Robertson family in memory of two of their sons who were killed in the First World War. An obelisk built in memory of the two brothers still stands overlooking the great pond. In the Second World War the ponds were drained fearing they might serve as a navigational aid to the bombers. Over time, these ponds have become a sanctuary for wildlife and a place for recreation and today they are a popular spot for activities such as walking, sailing, bird watching and angling.