News

 A walk planned at Thursley Common on 21st June

The plan is to meet up at 10.00 am at “The Moat Pond” car park at Thursley Common (Post Code GU8 6LW) which is to be found on the Thursley Road heading south from Elstead. The walk is a circular walk, level and easy going, taking in the heathland, some pine woods and some old hammer ponds and then back over the sandy heathland to join the famous boardwalks over the wetlands before returning to the car park. Apparently, it is a fantastic place for bird watching. The walk is about four miles long and lasts about one and a half hours. After the walk the plan is to have lunch at the Elstead Mill (Post Code GU8 6LE) on the Farnham Road heading west from Elstead which a Fullers Pub and serves a good range of ales and where you can enjoy a nice lunch by the river www.millelstead.co.uk.

14th June 2025

The walk to Leith Hill Tower

The walk took us up the hill past an ancient stone wall and along part of the Greensand Way up to the Tower, which is an amazing viewpoint. There we climbed the tower where, looking North you can see the tower blocks in the City of London and looking South you can clearly see Chanctonbury Ring on the South Downs. We then enjoyed some hot pasties for lunch, despite the best effots of a springer spaniel, before descending down some very steep steps and returning on a circular woodland walk back to Leith Hill Place. Leith Hill Place was the home of Richard Hull who built the tower at Leith Hill in 1765. It was also the home of the famous Josiah Wedgwood and the childhood home of the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, who was the grandson of Josiah Wedgewood. For some time, the house was a music school for the nearby Hurtwood House College, and it was interesting to hear that Hans Zimmer, the celebrated composer of film scores, once studied here. Finally, we returned to the Rhododendron Car Park via a walk with delightful views over a Capability Brown style landscape and through the rhododendron garden where we came upon some vast rhododendron trees and one very late flowering pink rhododendron. Next year we must do this walk a bit earlier.

11th June 2025

Abbotswood Residents Association AGM

Our County Councillor Fiona Davidson explained about localisation and the move to subdivide Surrey into new Unitary Authorities. She explained that while Surrey County Council favoured a move to dividing Surrey into two unitary authorities, some of the local authorities favoured a move to three. Surrey County Council argues that two unitary councils would create a simpler, more efficient system, reducing administrative costs and improving service delivery, and claims that two authorities would be more financially secure, avoiding the risks of smaller councils struggling with debt. However, many borough and district councils argue that three authorities would provide better local accountability, ensuring decisions reflect the needs of smaller communities and claim that dividing Surrey into three would spread financial burdens more evenly, preventing areas with high debt from negatively impacting others. One of the major issues is Woking Council’s massive unsecured debt reaching approximately £2.1 billion. The council may struggle to generate enough income to repay debts without severe budget cuts and residents could end up facing council tax increases or service reductions. Peter suggested sending in the National Guard. Make America Great Again. Could it happen here? Now where were we with Greenland? On a more parochial note, some of the residents have been banging on about the condition of the pavements. The residents decided not to employ contractors to tidy up the verges but instead, the committee agreed to identify all the areas which could do with tidying up and then recruit a task force of volunteers to deal with it– the usual suspects no doubt.

28th May 2025

Update on the North Street Development

St Edwards, the developer for North Street, officially broke ground on the 9th May 2025. The are currently at the piling stage drilling the foundations for the two blocks fronting onto North Street with this work set to continue throughout the summer. Woodbridge Road has now been permanently closed with diversions expected to remain in place until June 2026 when Leapale Road will be converted to a two-way system. As part of their commitment to preserving local history, St Edwards have been working with the Brooking Trust, home to the largest collection of British architectural details. Their experts have identified several significant pieces from the Guildford site which will be preserved and housed at their museum in Cranleigh. Among the saved artifacts is an iconic sign from the Old Post Office which will be donated to the Guildford Museum. The North Street Development is due for completion in the Spring of 2027 and will include a new bus station, a new Health Centre and the pedestrianisation of North Street along with new shopping precincts and some hospitality outlets and restaurants. The development will provide 477 new homes of which 10% will be affordable. St Edwards will be presenting an update on the scheme at St Saviours Church in Woodbridge Road on Wednesday 4th June at 6.30.

10th May 2025

Five prominent sites in Guildford town centre earmarked for redevelopment

Five prominent town centre sites, including the former Royal Mail offices, the police HQ in Woodbridge Road and the former Casino nightclub building, could be redeveloped for housing and leisure as part of a major council project. Guildford Borough Council has said they are preparing planning briefs for four major sites in the town centre area ahead of their proposed regeneration with the ultimate goal of shaping Guildford’s future. The first of these sites earmarked for regeneration is the Millmead Council Offices which the council staff partly vacated in 2022 and is now earmarked for housing and offices. The second site for which the Council are preparing planning briefs is the Woodbridge Meadows area which is based on the banks of the River Wey on the edge of the town centre and currently consists Guildford's Royal Mail offices as well as a variety of other retailers. The third of the four sites is the Guildford Police Station and nearby Mary Road surface car park as Surrey Police plan to relocate to their new site at Mount Browne. The fourth site earmarked for regeneration is the former Casino Nightclub site (as pictured) and nearby Bedford Road surface site car park. The building is currently up for sale and buyers have been invited to imagine as an office, hotel or residential block. The fifth site is the redevelopment of the Riverside Business Park in Walnut Tree Close. The proposals are mainly for student accommodation, flats for young professiomals and some business space.

3rd May 2025

A walk at the Chantries

As part of the series of walks planned by the Burpham Community Association, we enjoyed a walk at the Chantries this Saturday. It was a circular walk to enjoy what was left of the bluebells. The walk set off in a westerly direction on the northern slopes of the Chantries through some delightful beech woods with views over Pewley Down. We then turned to cross over to the southern slopes which presented some lovely views looking south towards Blackheath and Chinthurst Hill. The return journey took us through some of the bluebell woods which the area is renowned for. Unfortunately, as the bluebells had been fairly early this year, they were past their peak (OK - I took the pictures of the bluebells a couple of weeks ago). The group learnt that the Chantry Woods gained their name because, centuries ago, in 1486, a local man called Henry Norbridge, who had been mayor of Guildford on seven separate occasions, bought these woods to provide an income for the church to say mass for his soul to ensure that he made it safely to heaven (maybe he had a guilty conscience). These sorts of endowments were referred to as Chantries – and these woods are still called the Chantries to this day. If you fancy joining us on future walks, just scroll down till you find the programme for other walks planned for this summer.

19th April 2025

Visit to Dunsborough Park

As part of the summer series of walks organised by the Burpham Community Association, ten of us enjoyed a visit to the beautiful gardens at Dunsborough House. Although the day was slightly overcast, the tulips were in full bloom as was the blossom on the apple and cherry trees. I’ve lived in Guildford for 43 years and had never heard about Dunsborough Park so I was blown away. Dunsborough House, now known as Dunsborough Park, dates back to the dissolution of the monasteries when lands from Newark Abbey were granted by Henry VIII to a local nobleman. Originally a farmhouse built around a central brick chimney, it has since evolved into the grand estate it is today. The main house has its origins in the 17th century. Over the centuries, it has been expanded and modified, particularly during the 19th century when it was owned by the Onslow family. The gardens of Dunsborough Park are particularly notable and it was not until the 18th century that the gardens were first professionally laid out. They have since been restored and redesigned by garden experts Penelope Hobhouse and Rupert Golby. The estate features lush herbaceous borders, a 70ft ginkgo hedge, a potager, and a 300-year-old mulberry tree. Visitors can explore the Rose Walk, Italian Garden, and Water Garden with a folly bridge. A big thank you to Sue for organising the trip. The gardens are open at various times throughout the year. Details can be found here https://dunsboroughpark.com

14th April 2025

AMEN visit to Brooklands Museum

On Monday 14th April a party of twelve blokes from Abbotswood enjoyed a visit to the Brooklands Museum in Weybridge. Brooklands was the birthplace of aviation in the UK and the location of the first ever purpose-built racing car circuit with its legendary banked corners. The Brooklands Museum houses a fascinating collection of historic aircraft and racing cars dating back to the early 1900’s including the famous Napier-Railton, a monster racing car from the 1930s which set the all-time lap record of 143.44 mph for the outer circuit – that’s an average speed if you can believe that with no safety belts – just goggles, a flying helmet, a scarf and a cigar firmly clenched between gritted teeth - Terry Thomas style. Other highlights included seeing a full-scale replica of the first aeroplane to cross the Atlantic, a Vickers Vimy, flown by the British aviators Alcock and Brown in 1919, and a full-scale replica of the monoplane flown by Bleriot which crossed the channel back in 1909. It was also interesting to see a model of the bouncing bomb used by the dam busters which turned out to be cylindrical, and not spherical as it appeared in the film. Apparently, this was because the design of the bomb was still classified at the time they made the film. It was also interesting to learn that the Sopwith Camel, the famous first world war biplane (see the one with the red nose below), was very hard to fly due to the gyroscopic effect caused by the rotary engine which made it difficult to change direction - a bit of a handicap in a fighter plane. A big thank you to Mike Wratten for laying on coffee and cakes on our arrival (warm Danish pastries for heaven's sake). A nice treat.

5th April 2025

Burpham Court Farm to become a new Nature Reserve.

Work on a nature reserve near Guildford is set to begin this month that will see 45 hectares of former farmland converted into an ecologically rich green space with a stunning landscape that will make it an ideal walking spot for families. Burpham Court Farm, a large area of green space on the River Wey, is set to receive a major transformation to become a thriving wildlife haven open to the public with an expansive network of pathways including a 3.6-kilometre circular walking trail. The farmland sits in between the Slyfield Industrial Estate, Jacobs Well, and the Clay Lane Road. It also adjoins the nearby Riverside Nature Reserve. Located within walking distance of the Weyside Urban Village, this new green space will serve as a valuable community resource for relaxation and outdoor enjoyment. Key features included in the plans are four new pedestrian entrances, a free car park for visitors, new picnic areas, and a 3.6-kilometre circular walking trail. We are also lobbying to have the old iron bridge at the end of Bowers Lane restored and re-opened to provide a direct link to this new nature reserve from the carpark in Bowers Lane and Burpham. The picture shows the old footbridge we are trying to re-commission. No - it’s not another April Fool prank.

1st April 2025

Amazon Black Box “Pick Up Point” considered for Abbotswood

The Burpham Community Association has been approached by Amazon for potential sites for Black Box “Pick Up Points” in Burpham. They have already identified a number of potential sites around Burpham, and one of them is the Post Box Island on Abbotswood. Apparently, these Black Box “Pick Up Points” are almost imperceptible and can be sunk into the ground. The idea is that people who have ordered goods from Amazon are notified when the item is ready for collection and then they simply go to the black box “Pick Up Point”, use a special code sent to them on their Amazon Prime App and, low and behold, their delivery pops out of the black box - voilá. The picture shows a Black Box “Pick Up Point” in its raised position. I understand Amazon are prepared to paint them a National Trust Dark Green in Conservation Areas. If you have any questions about Amazon Black Box “Pick Up Points” - or indeed about life in general – or maybe you have just lost the will to live and simply forgot that it was April Fool’s Day - you are asked to contact the secretary at the Burphan Community Association at  secretary@burphamca.org.uk. By the way, the NASA rover has spotted hundreds of 'spider eggs' (OK stuff that looks like spiders eggs) on Mars and scientists have no idea how they got there. Honestly. 

20th March 2025

Update on Guildford's former Debenhams site

Native Land, the developers behind the 185 home St Mary's Wharf project, said the demolition is progressing well. This week teams from John F Hunt have been stripping out redundant electrical services and have begun readying the site for a full demolition. Works to prepare the former Debenhams site for full demolition began in February, with the building being scaffolded and wrapped in polythene sheeting. Works this year have mostly revolved around gutting the building's interior as well as demolishing the third floor, which Native Land has said is advancing sufficiently. The full demolition of the building is expected to be completed in August 2025. The wharf is set to feature 185 private homes, more than 20,000 square feet of restaurant and business spaces, as well as potentially a new cinema. Additionally, on the banks of the River Wey, an acre of new public walkways and gardens is planned. This is expected to provide direct walking access to the High Street for the first time in many years. Plans for St Mary's Wharf were approved by Guildford Borough Council in November 2022 with construction on the site officially beginning two years later in April 2024. The initial planning stages of the development were a controversial topic for residents in 2022, with 189 letters of objection and 149 in favour sent in to Guildford Borough Council.The St Mary's Wharf development in Guildford is expected to be completed by 2027

28th February 2025

Summer walks organised by the Burpham Community Association

Why not join us for a series of free walks and visits organised by the Burpham Community Association. Dogs are welcome. If you are interested in a particular walk, you are advised to  sign up at secretary@burphamca.org.uk to get details of the final directions / arrangements and a notice about likely weather conditions on the day.

19th April        Dunsborough House near Ripley– a visit to Dunsborough House near Ripley to enjoy                                    the tulips. £9 entrance fee. Directions and lunch arrangements to be published later.

3rd May           Walk at the Chantries near Guildford – this is a circular walk at the Chantries to enjoy the                            bluebells at their very peak followed by lunch at the Horse & Groom.

14th June        Walk to Leith Hill – a walk to the top of Leith Hill to enjoy the view and the rhododendrons at                          their peak and a visit to Leith Hill Place. Tea and cakes at the Tower.

21st June        Walk at Thursley Common – this circular walk takes in the wetlands, some pine woods, an                              ancient hammer pond and sandy heathland. Lunch at “The Mill at Elstead”.

5th July           Walk at Whitemoor Common – this circular walk takes in sandy heathland and a board walk.                          Lunch at the “Jolly Farmer”.

19th July         Walk at Compton – this walk takes in a visit to St Nicholas Church with its unique two storey                            sanctuary; Eastbury Manor; the Watts Gallery, and Limnerslease, with lunch at Watts Gallery.

9th August      Visit to Loseley Park – this will include a guided tour of the wonderful Elizabethan Loseley                                Park and the gardens. The tour costs about £20 each. Lunch at the “Withies” near Compton.

13th Sept        Visit to Waverley Abbey – a visit to the ruined Waverley Abbey near Farnham to be organised                          by Sue. Details later.

Sept/Oct         Guided tour of West Horsley Place – depending on numbers, we will try to organise a                                    guided tour of this wonderful old building dating back to the Elizabethan period.

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  two or possibly three Unitary Authorities. This means that there will be two or possibly three overarching councils responsible for all local services. The debate has caused a split between Surrey County Council which favours a 2 Unitary Authority solution, and the 11 District/Borough Councils that favour a 3 Unitary Structure. 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.

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 beating the hell out of 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.

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 above 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.

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.