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New Knaphill foot clinic to open

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I’m quite pleased to say there’s a new business opening in the village center! Sarah Johnson has sent this press release –Knaphill Foot Clinic

A brand new purpose built chiropody and podiatry clinic is opening in the heart of Knaphill in January 2014. Knaphill Foot Clinic will offer a comprehensive range of services to meet all your foot care needs, carried out by friendly fully qualified staff.

Situated above Valerie French hairdressers on Anchor Crescent, it benefits from being in a central location, next to the post office and public library and with good local transport links, free car parking and convenient bus stops. Knaphill Foot Clinic already have established links with local specialist children’s shoe shop ShuZu, as they recently ran an open morning giving customers an opportunity to speak to a podiatrist for free. Both businesses are hoping to organise more joint ventures in the future.

Knaphill Foot Clinic is owned and run by partners Sarah Johnson and Barbara Aitken, who together have over 12 years of experience, in both the NHS and private sectors and are currently working in many clinics in and around the local area. They both have BSc (Hons) degrees in Podiatry, are HCPC registered and members of The Society of Chiropodists & Podiatrists. The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) make sure professionals are fully regulated and meet high standards.

Knaphill Foot Clinic aim to offer a tailor made service to meet the clients individual requirements, these include treatments for corns and calluses, dry and cracked heels, fungal infections, thickened and ingrowing toenails, verrucas, plus simply toe nail cutting. In addition to general foot health care needs, more advanced treatment options are available, such as soft tissue manipulation and joint mobilisations.

Sarah and Barbara are pleased to be joined by Angela Masson, an experienced biomechanics specialist. She will be running a specialist clinic which provides assessment and treatment of conditions associated with lower limb function. Treatment can often involve exercises, footwear advice and orthoses, which are devices you wear inside your shoe to control and realign the foot.

Sarah Johnson of Knaphill Foot Clinic says “we are delighted to be launching this brand new clinic in the centre of Knaphill for the benefit of all people in the local and surrounding areas. We are opening in the New Year and look forward to welcoming you”.

For more information or to book an appointment please telephone 01483 651231 or email info@knaphill-foot-clinic.co.uk. Bring this article with you and get a #£5 reduction on your initial foot care assessment.

# Offer available from Monday 6th Jan to Monday 3rd March 2014

KRA Committee Minutes (Nov 2013)

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Agreed Minutes

 

KRA Committee Meeting

13 November 2013 – Garibaldi

Attendees: –    John Butler (chairman), Debbie Harlow, Susan Stocker, Rachel Carney,

Tony Hayes-Allen, Anthony Polak, Phil Stubbs.

 

Apologies: –     Ann Mason, Martin Dunham, Andy Hills

 

John introduced Susan who had attended our last meeting as a guest and had agreed to join the Committee as a full member.

 

  1. Minutes of the last meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 09 October were approved and agreed for publication.

 

  1. Editor Update

Although Andy was unable to attend tonight’s meeting he had written to members stating that he planned to step down as editor of magazine and web site. Andy would edit the December edition of the magazine but would then stand down.

 

Given that Andy had been unable to attend this evening John reported that he planned to meet with Andy to discuss his intentions and look ahead. John added that it was essential to have an editor if we planned to continue to produce a magazine.

 

Debbie felt that we were probably all guilty of not giving Andy sufficient support to allow him to continue.

 

  1. Projects

3.1  Christmas lights

Phil reported that all the businesses who participated in last year’s event had agreed to participate this year. We planned two additional brackets this year, the first would be a second outside RSM and the second outside the shoe shop.

 

3.2  Litter picking

Anthony updated the meeting on the planned litter pick. This is to be held on 23 November and volunteers should meet at 10.30 outside the library. Anthony would place posters in the appropriate positions.

 

Action points: Phil to contact Neighbourhood Officer for refuge sacks and tools. ALL pass the word around.

 

3.3  Alpha Hospital

The KRA have been contacted by Alpha Hospital who want to establish a stakeholders group who will act as a point of contact with the community. The plan is to involve Councillors, church leaders, local residents and KRA.  In raising it at this meeting John stated that we were looking for a volunteer. After the close of the formal meeting Susan offered to act as KRA’s representative on Alpha’s stakeholder group.

 

  1. Village Show

Debbie reported that the group who were interested in forming a new Village Show Committee had held an informal meeting and had the basis for the formation of a Committee. A number of general topics had been discussed including the possibility of holding a longer show, i.e. going into the evening. Debbie felt that there was an urgent requirement for a meeting with Mike Smith of Mizen’s to see if such an idea was open for consideration. The group were also looking at changes to the horticultural show and the involvement of local organisations such as the churches.

 

John reported that the group had been provided with copies of the accounts for last year’s show, the new web site for the village show was now up and running.

 

Anthony asked if the Village Show would have a theme. Debbie reported that they had not yet got into such detail.

 

Following the success of the scouts firework display on the recreation ground off Redding Way John suggested that this could be a good alternative venue for the Village Show if Mizen’s was not available.

 

Action points: – John to agree start up loan from KRA account.

 

  1. Village Meeting

The Committee agreed with the proposal to hold a village meeting in the spring 2014. John reported that Richard Sherlock had agreed to chair such a meeting. One option discussed was to combine a Village Meeting with our AGM and after a debate it was agreed that separate meetings would be best as the Village Meeting would hopefully attract a wider audience than those interested in the KRA.

 

The timing of a Village Meeting is critical, we must avoid Easter but given that some crucial reports are scheduled to be published by Woking Borough in the spring, including proposals for changes to the Green Belt boundaries, it would be useful if the village meeting could be timed to meet after the publication of these important documents.

 

Action points: – Date of Village Meeting to be agreed at next meeting. Phil to check the calendar of Council meetings.

 

  1. Planning Update

Phil had circulated his latest planning report earlier. This report is now made available to all residents via our web site.

 

  1. Chairman’s Report

John reported on the meeting that he and Phil had attended with Head of Planning and Head of Planning Policy at Woking Borough Council. This was the second such meeting where WBC invites representatives from the various Resident Associations in the Borough to meet and discuss general planning issues. The meeting opened with Head of Planning Policy giving an update on the various Supplementary Planning documents that he was working on. The meeting then opened up for a Q and A session. Phil asked if WBC had considered reviewing some of the larger developments to which permission had been given. He pointed out that the previous such a practice is recommended by LGA but when this had been suggested before the idea had been rejected. Mrs Jackson stated that she would like to introduce the practice of a joint group of Officers and Members visiting parts of the Borough to review developments that had been given the go ahead. This had been the practice that had been carried out in her previous Borough and she would be opening discussions with the Leader of the Council to see if our Councillors would be interested in such a scheme.

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report

John reported that the accounts for 2011/2012 were now with the auditor. John added that we were still subsidising the KRA magazine from our general funds and given the amount of money we have in the bank this was currently acceptable.

 

  1. Secretary’s Report

Phil reported that barriers had been erected on the pavement outside the old library, the take-aways and Lloyd’s Bank. This has been achieved by County Councillor Saj Hussain using the highways funds allocated for work in his Ward. Phil put forward an idea for asking the Council to lease 8 Anchor Crescent for community use. These are the premises that were used by Mackrell Turner &Garrett, solicitors. The owners of the property were currently seeking planning permission to convert the premises into a hot food take-away. Phil’s idea was that given the central location of these premises they were ideal for the multi-use of organisation/businesses with the community at the centre of their ethos. The central point would be the Council’s Neighbourhood Officer. There is Neighbourhood Officer responsible for Brookwood and Knaphil but she is currently based in central Woking. The police do not have a base in the village. Other bodies who could be interested are Surrey’s Credit Union and Citizens Advice. After a brief discussion the Committee agreed that the idea warranted further investigation and Phil agreed to raise the idea with Ward Councillors.

 

  1. AGM

Phil had left a message with the person who manages the hire of rooms in the Methodist Church to see if the hall is available for the AGM. The Committee have to decide what to include in the evenings events.

 

Action point: Phil to check to see if Methodist Church is available on 2 April.

 

  1. Date of next meeting

10th December             Garibaldi 6.30 pm (Note it was agreed to invite those volunteers who deliver the KRA magazine to join us for buffet and drink as a way of us saying thank you)

 

15 January 2014        Stephs Café (Open house from 7.00pm to 7.45)

 

Meeting closed

A bit of burglary prevention advice

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Prompted by news of burglaries not just locally but of friends or acquaintances, I thought a few tips might be useful to property owners. There’s a link to some very good advice from a local locksmith and a couple of videos (yes one if from the U.S. but the information is relevant and doesn’t have quite such annoying music!)

Quick Google search for a local locksmith: CLICK HERE

 

Practical advice & tips:

Surrey Police: Home & Garden Security

The Lock Whisperer: Security advice

 

Videos:

 

 

Planning update 13/1/14

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NEW PLANNING DECISIONS

PLAN/2013/0193 22A High Street

Proposed demolition of existing outbuilding and replacement with a detached 3 bedroom dwelling.

This is the site at the rear of the take-away and the old library.

The application was rejected by the Planning Officer, delegated responsibility, however the owners have appealed the decision and we must await the decision of a Planning Inspector.

The appeal has been rejected and therefore the decision of WBC stands. The Planning Inspectors report can be found on WBC’s Planning Portal under the applications reference number.

Appeal reference APP/A3655/A/13/2199725

 

NEW PLANNING APPLICATIONS & APPEALS

PLAN/2013/0350 48 Lower Guildford Road

Erection of a two bedroom detached house.

The original application was rejected under delegated powers. The grounds for the rejection were on the grounds that the proposed development would result in an incongruous overdevelopment of the site in breach of CS21 and CS24 policies.

 

The applicant submitted an appeal on 12/12/2013.

 

PLAN/2013/1229 58 Chobham Road

Erection of new dwelling.

This application is for the removal of conditions imposed with the decision to permit the building of a new house. The condition relates to windows on the side elevation.

 

PLAN/2013/1235 23 Sparvell Road

Erection of two storey rear extension

 

PLAN/2013/1256 92 High Street

Erection of a two storey side and rear extension

 

PLAN/2013/1222 35 Grindstone Crescent

Insertion of a second storey window

 

 

OUTSTANDING PLANNING APPLICATIONS

PLAN/2013/0856 – Brookwood Farm

Reserved matters application for the access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the erection of a primary school.

In December Woking Borough Council (WBC) Planning Committee deferred making a decision on the above application. One of the main reasons for deferment was due to the fact that Surrey County Council (SCC) had withdrawn a planning application for a new footpath and bridge connecting the two school buildings (more on this later in this report). There was also concern with regards general access to the school both on foot and for vehicle access. SCC had also failed to give any details on the materials to be used in the construction of the school and the Planning Officer stated in his report that if the materials are not carefully selected it could result in stark form of development within the landscape. Finally Councillors have issues with parking for parents dropping or collecting children.

 

PLAN/2013/1225 15 High Street

Application to relax condition 24 of planning permission 2010/0085 to require that only the first and second floor windows in the west elevation be obscure glazed in perpetuity except windows 1 and 3 on the approved plan.

This is yet another planning application from the developer of the old Clifton’s site. The condition in the original planning decision was added because the new building is very close to the houses in Fosters Lane and what then was HSBC bank. Woking Borough Council imposed a condition that the first and second floor windows in the east (facing the old HSBC bank) and west (facing Fosters Lane) shall be obscure glazed in perpetuity. The Council’s reason for this condition was to avoid overlooking into adjoining property.

 

PLAN/2013/0864 Brookwood Farm

New footpath and canal bridge.

This application is linked to the planning application, reported on above, for the building of a new school building on Green Belt land in Brookwood Farm. The footpath and bridge are to link the new school building to the school on Connaught Road. Surrey County Council plan for a new bridge to cross the canal, at the rear of the Connaught Road School and linked to a footpath that will go across the Country Park to the new school building on Brookwood Farm.

This application has been withdrawn by SCC. First, Natural England has raised a number of objections to the plan and secondly, local residents in Brookwood were opposed to the public footpath continuing through the school grounds and onto Connaught Road.

 

 

PLAN/2013/1081 Barnbrook Sinclair, 1 & 3 High Street, Knaphill

This is an application to gain outline planning permission to demolish the current building and build a four storey block of flats. There would be 10 flats four of which would be two bedroom flats but only 10 parking bays.

 

This building, as well as the old headquarters of Barnbrrok Sinclair, is also the home of the pet shop Pets Kingdom and PC repair A&E PC Repairs both of which will lose their premises if planning permission is granted.

 

If you go to Memory Lane, local history on the KRA web site you will be able to read some of the history of this old beautiful building.

 

PLAN/2013/0940 16 – 39 Chequer Tree Close

This application from the above residents is to change of use of open amenity land to become residential land by moving fence line.

 

PLAN/2013/1122 & 1124 Tesco’s 15 High Street

Installation of an ATM to the shop front.

The installation of 6 bollards in front of the proposed ATM and shop front.

The above two planning applications are linked. Local residents have asked if another ATM in the village is required. If Tesco’s feel that it is important for the store to have its own ATM then they have been asked to relocate it from the Fosters Lane end of the building.

 

PLAN/2013/0202 Total (now Esso) Garage, 23 High Street

Variation of condition 6 to PLAN/1985/0686

Currently the petrol station and associated shop have opening hours of 07.00 to 23.00 hrs. The application was to be allowed to open from 06.00 to midnight. In July the Planning Committee rejected this application but the owners have now lodged an appeal.

Appeal reference APP/A3655/A/13/2203626

 

PLAN/2013/0991 Alpha hospital, Rose Lodge, Barton Close

Alterations to PLAN/2012/0700

 

This application is to take account of the fact that the original plans that were approved had the construction traffic entering the site via Barton Close where after representation it was changed to direct entry from Redding Way.

 

Brookwood Farm Development

The new road, Brookwood Farm Drive is now open and is the only vehicle access to Raynes Close.

Cala Homes have taken over the old Post Office in Connaught Road and converted it into an Information Centre for the proposed housing estate at Brookwood Farm.

 

Note This report does not attempt to cover all planning issues in Knaphill. If you have any questions or points on the above please feel free to contact the KRA.

Phil Stubbs

18/12

Planning update 17/12/13

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NEW PLANNING DECISIONS

PLAN/2013/0856 – Brookwood Farm

Reserved matters application for the access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the erection of a primary school.

Woking Borough Council (WBC) Planning Committee deferred making a decision on the above application. One of the main reasons for deferment was due to the fact that Surrey County Council (SCC) had withdrawn a planning application for a new footpath and bridge connecting the two school buildings (more on this later in this report). There was also concern with regards general access to the school both on foot and for vehicle access. SCC had also failed to give any details on the materials to be used in the construction of the school and the Planning Officer stated in his report that if the materials are not carefully selected it could result in stark form of development within the landscape. Finally Councillors have issues with parking for parents dropping or collecting children.

 

PLAN/2013/1121, 1123 & 1125 Clifton’s, 15 High Street

This is the site of the proposed new Tesco’s and 12 apartments. A number of planning applications have been fast tracked by Woking’s Planning Authority and have been approved under delegated powers vested in Head of Planning:-

PLAN/2013/1121 Four large TESCO standard glazed shop front with aluminium powder coated frames.

PLAN/2013/1123 Planned permission for the installation of 3 NOAC units and one 2 fan condenser on the roof within the enclosed service yard.

PLAN/2013/1125 Advertisement consent for the installation of two internally illuminated signs and to internally illuminated projected sign.

 

PLAN/2013/0756 8 Anchor Crescent

Change of use from A1/A2 (retail or office) to A3 restaurant and café and A5 hot food takeaway including internal alterations and installation of new filtered extract system.

These are the premises last used by Garrett, solicitors.

This application has been rejected.

 

PLAN/2013/1094 38 Lane End Drive

Proposed extensions and alterations to existing bungalow to include raising of the ridgeline to accommodate the creation of additional storey at first floor level plus the erection of front porch canopy.

This application has been approved under delegated powers.

 

NEW PLANNING APPLICATIONS

 

PLAN/2013/1225 15 High Street

Application to relax condition 24 of planning permission 2010/0085 to require that only the first and second floor windows in the west elevation be obscure glazed in perpetuity except windows 1 and 3 on the approved plan.

This is yet another planning application from the developer of the old Clifton’s site. The condition in the original planning decision was added because the new building is very close to the houses in Fosters Lane and what then was HSBC bank. Woking Borough Council imposed a condition that the first and second floor windows in the east (facing the old HSBC bank) and west (facing Fosters Lane) shall be obscure glazed in perpetuity. The Council’s reason for this condition was to avoid overlooking into adjoining property.

 

OUTSTANDING PLANNING APPLICCATIONS

 

PLAN/2013/0864 Brookwood Farm

New footpath and canal bridge.

This application is linked to the planning application ,reported on above, for the building of a new school building on Green Belt land in Brookwood Farm. The footpath and bridge are to link the new school building to the school on Connaught Road. Surrey County Council plan for a new bridge to cross the canal, at the rear of the Connaught Road School and linked to a footpath that will go across the Country Park to the new school building on Brookwood Farm.

This application has been withdrawn by SCC. First, Natural England have raised a number of objections to the plan and secondly, local residents in Brookwood were opposed to the public footpath continuing through the school grounds and onto Connaught Road.

 

PLAN/2013/1018 Barnbrook Sinclair, 1 & 3 High Street, Knaphill

This is an application to gain outline planning permission to demolish the current building and build a four storey block of flats. There would be 10 flats four of which would be two bedroom flats but only 10 parking bays.

 

This building, as well as the old headquarters of Barnbrrok Sinclair, is also the home of the pet shop Pets Kingdom and PC repair A&E PC Repairs both of which will lose their premises if planning permission is granted.

 

If you go to Memory Lane, local history on the KRA web site you will be able to read some of the history of this old beautiful building.

 

PLAN/2013/0940 16 – 39 Chequer Tree Close

This application from the above residents is to change of use of open amenity land to become residential land by moving fence line.

 

 

PLAN/2013/1122 & 1124 Tesco’s 15 High Street

Installation of an ATM to the shop front.

The installation of 6 bollards in front of the proposed ATM and shop front.

The above two planning applications are linked. Local residents have asked if another ATM in the village is required. If Tesco’s feel that it is important for the store to have its own ATM then they have been asked to relocate it from the Fosters Lane end of the building.

 

PLAN/2013/0202 Total (now Esso) Garage, 23 High Street

Variation of condition 6 to PLAN/1985/0686

Currently the petrol station and associated shop have opening hours of 07.00 to 23.00 hrs. The application was to be allowed to open from 06.00 to midnight. In July the Planning Committee rejected this application but the owners have now lodged an appeal.

Appeal reference APP/A3655/A/13/2203626

PLAN/2013/0193 22A High Street

Proposed demolition of existing outbuilding and replacement with a detached 3 bedroom dwelling.

This is the site at the rear of the take-away and the old library.

The application was rejected by the Planning Officer, delegated responsibility, however the owners have appealed the decision and we must await the decision of a Planning Inspector.

Architects on behalf of the developer has pointed out to the Planning Inspector, in their final comments, that the Local Council did not refer to any parking or highways issues in the notice of rejection of the original application. Unfortunately that is a true statement, yet another example of the County’s Highway Authority ignore the actual facts on parking in Knaphill.

Appeal reference APP/A3655/A/13/2199725

 

PLAN/2013/0991 Alpha hospital, Rose Lodge, Barton Close

Alterations to PLAN/2012/0700

 

This application is to take account of the fact that the original plans that were approved had the construction traffic entering the site via Barton Close where after representation it was changed to direct entry from Redding Way.

 

Brookwood Farm Development

The new road, Brookwood Farm Drive is now open and is the only vehicle access to Raynes Close.

 

Note This report does not attempt to cover all planning issues in Knaphill. If you have any questions or points on the above please feel free to contact the KRA.

Phil Stubbs

Community Infrastructure Levy modifications

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From Woking Borough Council –

Dear Sir/Madam

CIL Draft Charging Schedule Proposed Modifications and Submission

You will recall that the Council published its Community Infrastructure Levy – Draft Charging Schedule for consultation between 22 July and 30 August 2013.  Representations that were received have been taken into account and the Council is proposing modifications to the Draft Charging Schedule.  This will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for Examination.  A copy of the proposed Statement of Modifications is attached for your information.  It can also be accessed via the following link: http://www.woking2027.info/infrastructure/cilproposedchanges

The Council is intending to submit the Draft Charging Schedule and its supporting evidence by early 2014.  If you wish to appear at the Examination as a result of the proposed modifications, a request must be submitted to the Council by Friday 17 January 2014.  Requests to be heard at the Examination should be submitted to:  The Planning Policy Team, Woking Borough Council, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking, GU21 6YL or by e-mail: planning.policy@woking.gov.uk.

A copy of the Draft Charging Schedule and the supporting evidence are on the Council’s website (www.woking.gov.uk).  If you have any queries about the Draft Charging Schedule, please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01483 743871.

Affordable Housing Interim Guidance

The Council is also preparing an Affordable Housing Delivery supplementary planning document (SPD).  This will provide detailed information regarding the implementation and delivery of Policy CS12 Affordable Housing of the Core Strategy.  Public consultation will take place on the draft SPD next year; we will notify you when this consultation begins.

The Council has recently adopted informal guidance to assist developers in the interim period, until the Affordable Housing Delivery SPD is adopted.  The interim guidance explains how the Council calculates affordable housing developer financial contributions.  It also clarifies when affordable housing planning policy applies, the planning process, how the Council considers viability issues, how it defines previously developed land and greenfield land when considering development proposed on garden land, and provides details of Registered Providers for affordable housing and other useful contacts.  You can access the guidance via this link: http://www.woking2027.info/supplementary/wwwwoking2027infoaffordablehousingdeliveryspd

For further information, please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01483 743871 or email planning.policy@woking.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,

Ernest Amoako

Planning Policy Manager

Parking black spots update

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A quick post (as submitted) to show how the parking black spots are mounting up! This will be updated periodically so keep them coming via the poll on the front page.

Trinity road
Top of Beechwood Road
A322 Bagshot Road, just past the BT building. Often cars parked on pavement
Broadway (Village End – Particularly the idiot with the blue MG)
next to the CO -OP
Englefield Road at it’s junction with High Street, Knaphill
Lower Guildford Road between Victoria Road and High Street
High Street, Knaphill junction of Highclere Road to junction of Anchor Hill
Broadway junction of High Street to The Vyne, Knaphill
Area of Barley Mow Lane, Waterers Rise and Barley Mow Close Knaphill
High Street and Highclere Road by Crown pub and Latham Court
Florence Way
chobham road
swallow rise
Redding way, frequently cars on pavement or half on road and pavement near the basketball court.
Waterers Rise
Shopping end of queens road!
HIGH STREET
Chobham Road between garibaldi and A322

Motorists advised of abnormal load travelling through Surrey

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Surrey Police is advising motorists to be aware of an abnormal load that will be travelling through part of the county on Saturday morning (December 7)

Two articulated lorries carrying a load of metal cylinders measuring 21m long will be escorted by two Surrey Police motorcycles on a route from Slyfield Industrial Estate in Guildford to Pease Pottage services in Crawley.

The journey is due to start at 8am and is going to take around four hours to complete. From Slyfield, the escort will travel on the A320 Woking Road, Clay Lane, A3, London Rd, Clandon Rd, A246, A24 and A264 through to its destination.

The load, which is too large to travel on the motorway, is eventually bound for Portslade Docks in Sussex. It will pass through Effingham, Bookham and Dorking and is expected to be slow moving.

Wherever possible disruption will be kept to a minimum however some congestion could be possible and motorists are asked to be patient if they do come across the convoy. Anyone travelling over this period to catch a flight or meet appointments are advised to allow sufficient additional time for their journeys.

Report drink-drivers by text this Christmas

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A note of caution to everyone driving this festive season – you have been warned! From Eagle Radio website, 30th November 2013 –

Sending a text message could save a life this Christmas.

Surrey Police is urging us to report drink-drivers via our mobiles.

The force says the Christmas and New Year period is when drink-driving offences peak.

A text messaging service has been set up to report someone you think may be drunk behind the wheel.

The idea is to make reporting easier – and it can be done in confidence.

Text ‘POLICE’ to ‘66644’ followed by details of who, what, where and when as well as the registration number of the vehicle.

The service will launch on 1 December and run until Wednesday 1 January.

Head of Roads Policing in Surrey, Inspector Richard Mallett: “With the festive party season about to begin please resist the temptation to drink and drive.

“Plan your evening ahead and have a designated driver – anyone tempted to get behind the wheel with alcohol in their system not only risks taking their own life but the lives of others.

“Motorists are warned that getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or taking drugs could lead them to being banned from driving, fined up to £5,000 or even facing a six-month prison sentence.

“Some people will have to get used to life without a relative as a result of drink drivers over Christmas and we want to reduce that if we can.”

“Texting remains popular and we’ve got to look at different ways of reducing casualties, and this is just one of them.

“But don’t drive and text!”.

Woking & Sam Beare Hospices (WSBH) and WBC agree loan facilty

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Woking & Sam Beare Hospices (WSBH) and Woking Borough Council are pleased to announce they have agreed a loan facility of up to £6 million from the Council which will go some way to enabling its development of a long term, sustainable presence in the local community.

WSBH services are currently working at full capacity serving over 1,000 patients annually both in the community and from their hospices in Woking and Weybridge. The Hospices are however coming under increasing pressure – a problem expected to heighten as people live longer, making increasing demands on the service and as they need the ever more complex End of Life Care Hospices offer.

Against this background the Hospices, led by Chief Executive Nigel Harding and with the full support of the Trustees conducted an extensive strategic review of future service provision needs. At the core of the review was the uncompromising determination to deliver excellence in everything the Hospices do including delivery through in-patient units, day units, at care and residential homes and within patients own homes.

The review produced many recommendations which now form a challenging Strategic Plan for the Hospices. The plan includes two recommendations fundamental to the future sustainability of the Hospices in the community:

  • to change the organisational infrastructure, moving to a single in-patient unit
  • to grow capacity in day care and community care services to meet future demand and align service care provision to national guidelines

The loan from Woking Borough Council has enabled the Hospices to act quickly on these recommendations which will help to transform End of Life Care in North West Surrey. The financing will help to create a new Hospice and centre of excellence with a 20 bed in-patient facility to be located in Denton Way, Goldsworth Park, Woking leading to:

  • a cutting edge, state-of-the-art hospice for the North West Surrey community
  • the re-location of beds from the Sam Beare unit to the new Hospice in Woking creating a focused centre of community care, day-care and counselling excellence in Weybridge improved delivery and quality of in-patient care and accommodation
  • better prioritisation of patients with greatest needs
  • expansion of day-care support, short-term therapeutic interventions and carer support provision
  • cost and efficiency savings to be re-invested in further service improvements

Underpinning this work, the Hospices will work even more closely with all its valued donor partners – large and small who together make such a massive contribution to sustaining the on-going work of the Hospices in the community.

WSBH Chairman, David Perry said: “Our Hospices in Woking and Weybridge provide excellent care and we continue to develop and improve the quality of support we offer both in the hospices and, just as important beyond them into the community. This will continue seamlessly over the next three years while the new facility is commissioned. Our challenge is to ensure a sustainable Hospice Care provision, ready to adapt to changing demands on services and to provide the kind of care that people deserve. This loan from Woking Borough Council is great news and allows us to take the first steps to address these challenges and to further enhance our End of Life Care.”

Cllr John Kingsbury, Leader of Woking Borough Council, said: “The Council considers the hospices a vital part of our community and I am delighted we are able to assist them in securing a sustainable future in the best interests of current and future residents. At the same time as supporting the Hospice, we will underpin our own financial strategy to enable us to protect Council services for local people.”

The Hospices will provide regular progress updates through the design and refurbishment phases of the project through to the opening of the facility which is anticipated during the second half of 2016.

To find out more about the project, public meetings have been arranged for Wednesday 4th December at 7pm, HG Wells Suite, Woking and on Thursday 5th December in Weybridge Hall at 6.30pm. Further information on the Hospice website www.wsbhospices.co.uk