News

Tadworth and Walton Residents Association

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on

31st May 2007

 

Introduction by the Chairman, Clive Elcome

 

Welcome to Janet Hill, Reigate and Banstead Council, Jens Birkenheim, Pfizer,

PC Alan Hornet and John Potts from Swans and Friends Bird Rescue

 

Apologies from Councillors Richard Bennett and Rachel Turner for the first part of the meeting, David Coates and Joyce Heywood          

 

Minutes of Last Year – formally approved and seconded by Dr Douglas Smith.

 

Matters Arising From Minutes

Mr Dodd raised the failure to align junction of Epsom Lane South , resolution in 2005 mentioned but not minuted at last year’s AGM .  No other matters arising.

 

Chairman’ Report

We need new members due to the nature of the work expanding, either on the Committee or to assist in other ways.  Thanks were given to the Councillors. 

Olga Lawson has retired and now moved from the area.  Before Olga moved away, we had an evening with the road stewards to thank them for all their efforts and this will be built on in future years.  In conjunction with STAG we have fought the Cross Road development proposal including organising a public meeting.  We anticipate a further application or appeal to be dealt with shortly. 

Parking came out of the LCAP.  More yellow lines are being introduced.  Your Committee commented at the consultation stage and some have been cut back.

We will also speak at the Clocktower Stables appeal and given evidence at the Linden Lea appeal where successful.

Coral Bazaar has been bought by TC Cleaning and carried out unauthorised works.  Enforcement action is now in hand.

We need better publicity for the residents and the Newsletter is now available in certain shops. A website has now been started – www.twra.org.uk which will gradually expand.  One of the roles needed is a Publicity Officer, so we need a volunteer.

 

Guest Speakers

 

John Potts – Swan and Friends Bird Rescue

John works in conjunction with the Swan Sanctuary and can arrive at Walton in 10 minutes.  There have been attacks in Leatherhead, Capel and Bookham as well as the Walton swan.  A post mortem was carried out on the swan to decide the cause of death.  The cob was removed for safety and monitored and now has a new lady and so has been reintroduced to the pond.  Police investigation is ongoing Tel No 07712 753919 (24 hours). There are some names being mentioned but evidence is needed.  PC Hornet will update the Association.  Councillor Buttery is to pursue having a CCTV camera fitted by the pond.

Mr Potts’ organisation, The Swan and Friends Bird Sanctuary, is self-funded by donations and also a members scheme for £5 per annum.  TWRA is considering making a donation.

 

 

Jens Birkenheim, Pfizer

Plans are in hand to extend the parking.  Pfizer’s have recently laid off 10% of the global workforce.  The main customer in UK is NHS and therefore flexibility is needed along with costs.  Restructuring means more employee flexibility and more parking is needed to satisfy the global operating flexibility.  300 more spaces are required but not more office space.

There will be another lane added to the Dorking Road roundabout to fast track the green transport buses that cause more hold-ups.

Any trees removed will be replaced with mature trees.  If staff are seen parking in the village please inform Pfizer and they will talk to the staff, if car registration numbers have been provided.

 

Village Design Statements and Local Community Action Plan

Janet Hill – LCAP

The LCAP is now available for Walton.  Its preparation involved all parts of the community and all age groups, shareholders and businesses.  It lists the priorities and issues, and is being used as a basis for improvements.  It includes representations to the Highways Agency regarding motorway noise.

There will be signage regarding HGVs. 

Additional parking spaces are being looked at with Mike Buttery.

Traffic assessment on roads around the village regarding volume, speed and vehicle weight.

New village notice boards and new bins to be provided. 

Transport for young people. 

Copies of the full plan is available on request from Janet.  Tadworth is on the list possibly for March 2008.

 

Gillian Hein – Village Design Statement

The local Development Framework for Reigate and Banstead will have a Core Strategy. This will not be available for consultation until late 2008.  A more detailed local plan for Tadworth and Walton is, therefore, far away.

 

We need to prepare our own Village Design Statement for Tadworth, as has been done, for several other Surrey communities such as Lingfield. 

 

Councillor Buttery stated that the new Local Development Framework will guide development to where there are good rail and bus links which means it is less likely to be in Tadworth and Walton.

 

PC Alan Hornet

Alan Hornet covers as far as Horley. 

The LCAP has identified areas of concern.  Speed checks are ongoing in Walton and Tadworth.  Parking obstructions can be dealt with. 

Local problems of crime in Tadworth and Walton are generally low.  Police will try and attend neighbourhood watch meetings once a year.

There have been lots of thefts from gardens and from cars. 

Contact details were given out at the meeting.

The Police need volunteers to monitor speeds through the villages.

Banstead Police Station is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. 

Ashurst Road/Shelvers Way roundabout is being monitored and Tadworth Tyres will be affected by new yellow lines.

The Police resources are thinly spread and are prioritised between speeding and real crime, e.g. the swan attack.

 

Votes of thanks given to Gillian Hein, Arthur Morton and John Chiles.

 

Councillors’ Reports

Mike Buttery

There has been a change of leadership at the Council, Llyn Hack has replaced Joan Spiers as leader of the Council.  Mike is on the Executive Committee and Rachel Turner is the Deputy Mayor.  Congratulations were given.

Low cost housing is needed in the area.

1-3 Tadworth Street is now resolved after 7 applications in two years.

Publication of South East Plan is awaited and probably even more houses will be built.  Housing will be focused around Guildford , Woking and Redhill as there are good transportation links.

Parking – ideas in hand but these will take time due to legal and green belt issues.

Locally recycling is about 34% now but will remain weekly.  However, we must improve to meet Government targets.

Leisure Centres – Banstead will be maintained between now and 2012.  Preston redevelopment is not yet firmed up so further plans for Banstead are not possible.

Spaghetti Tree is now under legal action for breech of conditions.  The Councillors are unable to comment on licensing applications unless asked to appear by groups of residents. 

The Fox and Hounds Pub is now causing concern. 

The local Police Authority is now promoting Neighbourhood Panels run by the local officer(s) but unfortunately we haven’t one here.  As this does not look satisfactory the Police are being asked to attend the Council Scrutiny Committee to explain how things are going to move forward.

Rachel is very active in respect of Epsom Hospital and the Trust is now without a Chairman. A new Chief Executive is about to begin.  Costs of £40 million needs to be made.  Since last September 999 calls are going to St Helier .

In response to a question on why there isn’t a sign indicating the 15 space public car park in the corner of Farm Close and imposition of 2 hour restrictive parking to stop commuter use, Councillor Buttery agreed to investigate.     

 

Mike Gosling – Surrey County Council

It is possible that there could be a meeting on a Saturday morning to take further questions and discuss issues.  Most of Mike’s Councillors‘ available allocation is being spent this year on calming the A217.

Surrey CC revenue budget has about £550 million to do the roads, etc.

Rate support grant has been increased from £100 million to £102.3 million this year.

Inflation pressures up from 4 to 7%.

Demographics mean that more people are requiring care.

Procurement has been improved and several millions saved.

Social care – there is an underperformance on adult care and this will get worse due to demographics and children with disabilities surviving to adulthood.  All these mean ongoing increasing costs which impact the County Council budget.

Highways and Transport are now separate.  6 Posts have been added to Highways to get better value for the money spent.  Looking for an incremental improvement over the next 90 days.  Contact Mike with any Highway  problems.

There is £594 million to spend on all the required/desired road improvements but Epsom Lane South doesn’t qualify this year to be done.

All the parking changes in the Northern Villages have been carried out at the same time (5^th July) in order not to move a problem from A to B.

Enforcement is local and not Surrey . 

Mike is the Chairman of Walton Primary School.  New School Governors are needed.

 

Treasurers Report

Approval of the Accounts

Roger Dring presented accounts on the back of the Agenda and there is a report in the Newsletter.  These were approved -

Ken Chivers Proposed David Blythe as Auditor, seconded by Gillian Hein.

 

Election of the Committee

New Committee members are:

Ann Liddle and Max Dodd.  Proposed by Paul Price and seconded by Arthur Morton.

Proposal to re-elect the existing committee by Peter Dodd and seconded by Jan Allan.

 

Any Other Business

Nothing to report.

 

Conclusion by Chairman

The Minutes of the AGM will be posted on the internet.  The audience was thanked for attending.  The meeting closed at 9.45pm .