Horsley Wheel of Care Launches

Horsley Wheel of Care has now launched, incorporating West Horsley Wheel of Care and East Horsley Care.

Residents of all the Horsleys who are unable to drive can now get help to attend appointments by ringing 07788 552 767 Monday – Friday between 10am-12pm (excluding bank holidays).

Ockham Road South Update From Affinity Water

Affinity Water has notified the Parish Council that Ockham Road South will be closed throughout November, the first week in December and much of January to allow for the installation of a new water main.   Affinity Water is holding a ‘Community Drop in Event’ on Wednesday 11 October in the East Horsley Village Hall to listen to concerns from residents and local business owners.  The following is an explanation from Affinity Water as to why the work is necessary.

“The works are due to start on Ockham Road South are essential. With a growing population and a rise in developments across our region, combined with environmental challenges of hotter, dryer, longer summers, the stress on our water resources is significant. The purpose of the work is to improve our network infrastructure by building water resilience in the area by installing 600m of new water main. This in turn will allow us to continue supplying high quality drinking water to the local community long into the future. The pipe will be laid on Ockham Road South from the junction of Lynx Hill down to the junction of Guildford Road (A426). 

This specific section of Ockham Road South has been designed to act as a critical support system to push more water into the area. Affinity Water are regulated to provide a minimum pressure and flow volume to each and every consumer, we have seen a steady decline in this area, particularly during periods of high demand. During those periods there is a negative impact to the supplies in the area in the form of low pressure. With additional demand coming onto our network daily with the construction and development of housing projects, the need to support the area with more water is accelerated. 

Affinity Water have been in conversation with the local authority, Surrey County Council (HA) with the intention to secure the required road space for the construction of this project for well over a year. The co-ordination of any works between a Utility and a HA takes into account other works in the area, clashes with other diversion routes for example, community events, proximity to schools etc.  The window of opportunity on this occasion has been set by the local Highways Authority. They are responsible for co-ordinating the road network and we know there is a significant volume of other works being carried out in and around this area. The National Highways works and the Junc10 improvements for example where their planned closures impact our works and vice versa. It is not by any means an easy to try and co-ordinate everybody. Affinity Water have explored all available options to differ the work, to January for example, however we are informed there is not sufficient availability to complete these works at other times than the dates provided. This is due to clashes with the motorway works and other scheduled works being co-ordinated. 

Our permit of works has been granted for the dates of 31 October – 31 January. 

Planned works of this nature comes with a commitment, we are required to send out advanced communications two weeks prior to works starting, we are also required to place Advance Warning Boards out on site, again two weeks prior. As a wholesaler we have an obligation to inform the retailers of any business owners within the vicinity of our works. I can confirm this was done in early August. Our communications team have scheduled letters, emails and text messages to all those within the area of impact, to arrive over the coming days. 

Our intention of course is not to create major disruption, we always look to work with residents and business owners to mitigate impact as far as reasonably practicable. This may include, ‘Business Open As Usual’ signs being placed out, maintaining access where safe to do so. A road closure is always a last resort and one we will only ever undertake on the grounds of safety. Ockham Road South is narrow and one that comes with archaeological challenges alongside, with listed walls and structures along the route. We need to protect these, members of public and of course our own teams throughout. 

As the road is traffic sensitive, Surrey CC have instructed us to stop works in December, we are provisioning for our last day on site to be around 8 December, coming back on the 8 January to recommence. In that time the road will be re-opened and we will clear site completely. 

For businesses that are able to evidence there has been a negative financial impact as a direct result of our activities, a Loss of Business Claim can be submitted regarding compensation. However, this would only be considered on completion of the works to ensure an accurate financial assessment can be made on any loss presented.

Affinity Water Customer Letter

Twenty's Plenty

Led by the Twenty’s Plenty pressure group, the UK-wide campaign to reduce speed limits on residential roads to 20mph was given a boost at Monday’s East Horsley Parish Council (EHPC) meeting when members voted unanimously to add its own backing to the crusade.   

Cobham Downside has enjoyed the benefits of slower driving around its green for sometime now and more recently the A244 running through the heart of Oxshott has become subject to a 20mph limit.

Surrey Highways are aware of our ambition and the next step is to draw upon the support of East Horsley residents who for so long have been urging greater speed calming. This will be done by way of a petition which will be launched soon on this site.   

Delays Possible - Forest Road - Pavement Patching works - 9 September

Delays Possible - 9 September - For 1 day - 9:30am to 4pm - NO PARKING. 

Please see map for the extents of works.

Map 3

M25 J10 : Upcoming Closures : Week Commencing Monday 2 September

Planned closures for week commencing Monday 2 September.

On Monday 2 September 10pm to 5.30am the A3 south bound from the M25 Junction 10 to the A247 Send, will be closing for amendment to the white lining and barrier system.

The diversions for this closure will be:

  • Motorway traffic via the M25 J10 to the M25 Eastbound to the M25 J9 then the A24 towards Givens Grove to the A246 towards Guildford to the A247 Clandon and rejoin the A3 at the A247 Send. 
  • Non-motorway traffic would be via the Painshill Junction to the A245 to Between Streets to the A307 towards Esher to the A309 to the A3 Hook and then the A243 towards the M25 J9 then the A24 towards Givens Grove to the A246 towards Guildford to the A247 Clandon and rejoin the A3 at the A247 Send. 
  • Old Lane will be via Old Lane to Forest Road to Ockham Road South to the A246 and then right towards Guildford to the A247 Clandon and rejoin the A3 at the A247 Send. 

On Tuesday 3 September from 10pm to 5.30am the M25 J10 Gyratory will be closing in its entirety preventing anyone from leaving the M25 or the A3 to enter the J10 roundabout for carriageway construction works. 

The diversions for this closure will be:

  • M25 Travelling Eastbound (towards Gatwick), to continue North or South on the A3.

If you are travelling eastbound on the M25 and want to leave the M25 and join the A3 to travel either north or south, please leave the M25 at Junction 11, follow the A320 towards Woking, then pick up the A245 to Sheerwater, West Byfleet and Byfleet and access the A3 at the Painshill Junction. 

  • M25 Travelling Westbound (towards Heathrow), to continue North or South on A3

If you are travelling westbound on the M25 and want to leave the M25 and Join the A3 to travel either north or south, please leave at Junction 9 and follow the A243 towards Malden Rushett and Chessington. At Hook Junction move onto the A309 Kingston Bypass, then onto the A307 towards Esher. At the end of A307 Portsmouth Road pick up the A245 and head towards Painshill Junction and A3.

  • A3 Travelling Southbound (towards Guildford), to continue West on M25

If you are travelling southbound on the A3 and want to continue your journey west on the M25, leave the A3 at the Painshill junction and follow the A245 through Byfleet, West Byfleet and Sheerwater towards Woking, pick up the A320 in Woking which will take you to Junction 11 of the M25.  

  • A3 Travelling Southbound (towards Guildford), to continue East on M25

If you are travelling southbound on the A3 and want to continue your journey East on the M25, leave the A3 at the Painshill junction and follow the A245 towards Painshill, then pick up the A307 towards Esher and onto the A309 Kingston Bypass up to Hook Junction. At Hook Junction take the A243 towards Hook and Malden Rushett and Join the M25 at Junction 9.   

  • A3 Travelling North (towards London), to continue East on M25

If you are travelling northbound on the A3 and want to leave the A3 and join the M25 to travel east, please leave the A3 at Send onto the B2215, follow the A247 through West Clandon and pick up the A246. At Givons Grove roundabout take the A24 Leatherhead Bypass then onto the A243 to join the M25 at Junction 9. 

  • A3 Travelling Northbound (towards London), to continue West on M25

If you are travelling Northbound on the A3 and want to continue your journey west on the M25, leave the A3 at the Painshill junction and follow the A245 through Byfleet, West Byfleet and Sheerwater towards Woking, pick up the A320 in Woking which will take you to Junction 11 of the M25.  

B2039 Ockham Road North

Closures continue on the northbound B2039 Ockham Road North. These were reinstated earlier this week and will remain in place until Sunday 29 September for the completion of the utility and carriageway widening works on the approach to the Ockham roundabout. Ockham Road North will be closed in one direction between Guilleshill Lane and the Ockham roundabout 24 hours a day during this time. 

  • The diversion will be via Ockham Road North then left to Forest Road then left to Old Lane and then left to the A3 South and then back to Ockham roundabout. 

A3 Southbound Off Slip Lane Reconfiguration 

The lane configuration on the A3 Southbound where drivers exit for Junction 10 M25 was changed from two lanes to one to allow for the carriageway widening of the slip road. This work is expected to last for 8 weeks. Once complete, the slip road will revert back to two lanes.  The left lane will be dedicated to access the M25 anticlockwise towards Gatwick and the right lane will be dedicated to access the Junction 10 M25 Gyratory for all other destinations.

On the approach to this exit, drivers to be prepared to change lanes or allow other vehicles to merge to maintain traffic flows.

  • The diversion will be via the A245 towards Cobham and turning left to the A307 towards Esher, at the Scilly Isles roundabout turning right to the A309 Kingston Bypass towards the A3 Hook Junction. 
  • At the A3 Hook Roundabout take the 2nd exit to the A243 towards Chessington and Maldon Rushett. At the M25 J9 motorway traffic can join the M25 in either direction. Non-Motorway traffic will continue along the A24 to the Givons Grove Roundabout taking the 2nd exit to the A246 towards Guildford. At the Clandon Crossroads turning right to the A247 and rejoining the A3 South at Send. 

Roadworks on the A245 Continue 

To ease the congestion around works on the A245, the A3 northbound off slip at Painshill has been closed. This closure will remain in place until the end of November 2024 whilst we continue with our works in this area.

The closure of the A3 northbound off slip at Painshill helps to improve the eastbound traffic flow along the A245.  To also ease the traffic flow in the area changes have been made to the sequencing of the traffic signals on all sides of the Painshill roundabout to favour the flow eastbound on the A245. Further information on this including answers to your many questions can be found here.

M25 closures - update

National Highways have announced there will be no more full weekend closures of the M25/A3 this calendar year. The two remaining closures will be next spring. They will give a minimum of four weeks’ notice for these closures so you can plan ahead, and they will avoid busy holiday periods.

https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/south-east/m25-junction-10/

Photo: courtesy of National Highways

Speed Limit Reduced on The Drift

Hard on the heels of finally achieving a 20mph limit in Chalk Lane, your Parish Council’s long running quest to bring about a reduction in The Drift has also been successful. The previous 60 mph limit has now been lowered to 30mph.

A246 Road Death

For some years East Horsley Parish Council’s Road Safety Task Group has been pressing Surrey Highways (SH) to take steps to curb excessive speeding and dangerous overtaking on the downhill stretch of road from Outdowns to Green Dene. Drawing on local knowledge and data collected by the village Speedwatch team, it was pointed out that, if nothing was done, a serious accident was likely at some stage.

The Task Group’s urgings went unheeded and tragically the collision that was dreaded duly occurred on Sunday morning when a motor cyclist lost his life.

EHPC fervently hopes that measures will now be taken by SH to reduce the risk of such devastating circumstances happening again.   

Wisley update - The fight goes to a hearing at the High Court on 5 December

On 26 September 2024 Villages Against Wisley New Town (VAWNT) and Wisley Action Group (WAG) updated their supporters as follows:

“In early July, Ockham Parish Council (OPC) made an application to the High Court for permission to apply for a Planning Statutory Review of the decision of the Planning Inspector made on 24 May 2024.  OPC finally heard back from the High Court last week refusing that permission but the barrister advised that his position on the chance of ultimate success remains unchanged. 

After some discussion, it was agreed OPC would lodge a ‘notice of renewal’ of the application for permission to apply for a Review.  The papers were drafted and filed, were accepted, and VAWNT were told on 25 September by OPC that an Oral Hearing of that application would be heard on 5 December. This will be a short hearing of approximately two hours held at the Royal Courts of Justice/the Old Bailey.

The community are welcome to attend in person, although no one will be able to give evidence or speak. We are advised that, whilst the judge will not be swayed by a large showing of supporters, they are human and we believe that it's a good thing to show that people care.  Please advise OPC by 4 October if you would like to attend. 

Please note WAG are still fund raising for the final stage of the Judicial Review and donate generously if you can. All donations are received with grateful thanks.

Bank transfer to: Wisley Airfield Action Group 

Sort code 20 35 35

Account 10574287

With very many thanks to you all for your ongoing support.”

Judicial Review of Wisley Airfield development to be applied for

An Extraordinary meeting of Ockham Parish Council (OPC) was held on 1 July and was attended by members of VAWNT and WAG and local residents. The purpose was to confirm if a Judicial Review (JR) was viable. Thanks to the generosity of residents, the costs of the important first steps of that JR can now be met. OPC therefore decided they can proceed by instructing a specialist solicitor to apply to take the case to a JR in the High Court. 
 
If the court approves the case, within the next month, there will then be a hearing later in the year. The retained KC and expert witnesses are already lined up ready to take the case. Meanwhile, VAWNT and WAG will continue to fundraise for the next steps (see our previous updates for their bank account details if you still wish to donate).

Wisley – KC advises there is a case for a Judicial Review

Since the recent decision by the Planning Inspector to recommend the Wisley Airfield development by Taylor Wimpey, Villages Against Wisley New Town (VAWNT) and Wisley Action Group (WAG) have been busy. 

They have received formal advice from Richard Harwood KC about the grounds for a Judicial Review (JR).  They followed up with a lengthy discussion with him and their transport and ecology experts, in which the Inspector’s Decision was thoroughly reviewed. Together they have concluded there is a reasonable chance of successfully challenging this at a JR. 

The KC has advised that threequarters of challenges that are allowed to proceed to a JR have a positive outcome for the claimant. This is another compelling reason why plans to challenge the Decision are an investment in the future of our community.  The next step is to submit a case for approval and, if approved, it will be approximately six months before it gets to a court hearing. 

Fundraising is ongoing and critical as the JR application cannot go ahead without sufficient funding to take the case forward.  Time is of the essence so please donate asap as the case needs to be submitted by Friday 5 July. 

WAG have put their bank account details into the public domain, in order to accept donations:

Bank transfer to: Wisley Airfield Action Group 

Sort code: 20-35-35

Account: 10574287

Whilst they would prefer bank transfer, you can also donate through their Crowdfunding account (a fee is charged):  

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/vawnt-campaign-to-save-the-countryside?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZvB_wYCz1a5KVzC6xhUHpvEBOqdYeTr2e3JkjXqts-NxSWdWOtK_VSovU_aem_BtwtIyKOTFWMLgtLRg81WQ

Thank you for your continued support and to everyone who has already donated. This continues to be a mass community initiative against unsustainable development.  

Wisley Appeal Next Steps

A packed East Horsley village hall on Monday 10 June demonstrated the high level of local concern about the recent Planning Inspector’s decision to approve the Taylor Wimpey planning application for 1,730 houses on the former Wisley Airfield. Representatives from Villages Against Wisley New Town (VAWNT) and the Wisley Action Group (WAG) summarised the main points of the Inspector’s report and emphasised their surprise that such a decision could be made against all the evidence provided by their experts and the strong opposition of most of the local community. For example, evidence about the impacts of the development on traffic flow, wildlife and air quality were seemingly given little weight.

VAWNT and WAG are now considering whether there is a case for a Judicial Review of the legality of the decision and they are waiting to receive advice from their King’s Counsel – expected in the next few days. If there are strong enough grounds for a Judicial Review in the view of the King’s Counsel then an initial application would be made, which would be reviewed and a determination made whether the case should go to a final hearing.

The Inspector’s decision is final unless successfully challenged in the High Court on a point of law. Any challenge is not an opportunity to look at the merits of the case or to re-run the arguments. The Court’s role is to consider whether the decision was reached in a lawful manner.

Any application for a Judicial Review must be made by 5 July and needs substantial fundraising before then – estimated at £200,000. 

The fundraising is urgent and if individuals feel strongly that the development should continue to be opposed effectively, then VAWNT and WAG ask that you consider making even a small a donation.  They will send you their bank details if you email them at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Remember that the Taylor Wimpey development at Wisley is not the whole story. Two outline planning applications have also been submitted to build another 270 houses on the site, on behalf of two other developers (represented by Hallam Land and CBRE).

If WAG and VAWNT can’t raise the funds to pursue a Judicial Review then such a challenge will not be possible and may open the door to even more development.