Heathscene Great Place • Great Community • Great Future
Summer 2013
Community garden takes silver
Surrey Heath’s new mayor Meals at Home Recycling made easy
Fun Trampoline
&
Gymnastics
We promote fun and fitness in a range of classes taught by qualified BG Coaches. Classes held in a purpose built Facility with specialised gymnastics equipment to educate and bring out the best in every child 6 months to adults. New free Play pre-school class. Structured with and without pre-school classes. Fun fit and competitive classes 4 -18 years and Squads. Opportunities to display and compete annually. Holiday Courses - Running this August. Gym Parties.
Collingwood Gymnastics Centre Mitcham Road • Camberley • Surrey • GU15 4AJ
w: www.lg-acro.co.uk • e: linda@lg-acro.co.uk
mobile : 07919 091772
in this issue . . .
the Message from
ive Chief Execut
A Moveable Feast Surrey Heath’s garden wins silver.
page 5
Meals at Home Heathly snacks delivered to your door.
page 10
Recycling Expands More ways to recycle at home.
Local government is going through a period of radical change and nowhere is that more apparent than here in Surrey Heath. Central government funding is lower than it has ever been and council officers and members are working hard to deliver sustainable outcomes and secure investment into the borough despite these challenging times. Over the past three years we have found savings of over £1million without significantly impacting on services as well as continuing to work towards achieving our number one objective which is the redevelopment and regeneration of Camberley Town Centre. All of which will ensure that Surrey Heath continues to be a great place to live, work, shop and play. The need for additional housing in Surrey Heath has been a hot topic for many years and a few weeks ago I was involved in an "Extraordinary" meeting of the council to consider a planning application that could bring more than 1,200 new homes to the borough. On 17 July, Surrey Heath members considered the planning application for the redevelopment of Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut. After a lengthy and detailed debate the members eventually voted in favour of the application which saw the culmination of several years’ work by the council, residents and partners. Deepcut will deliver one third of the borough's total housing requirement in the period up to 2028 - although the details of the exact siting of buildings and landscaping will be a matter for future applications. Find out more on page 4.
page 20
Park Life Enjoy your open spaces this summer!
page 25
Staying on the property theme, as you are probably aware, the council owns a certain amount of land and buildings (or assets) across the borough which generates income but also requires regular maintenance and investment if they are to remain viable and of a good quality. Two of these assets are the Camberley Theatre and our multi-storey car parks. Both will soon be receiving investment with a view to improving user experience and reducing ongoing costs. See pages 6 and 9 for more information. Have a great summer!
plus many more articles of information and interest. Copywriting by: Ian Macey, Andy Edmeads and Daniel Harrison, Surrey Heath Borough Council Designed and printed by: Frontline, Ashdown House, Charlwoods Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 2HJ Published by: Surrey Heath Borough Council, Email heathscene@surreyheath.gov.uk Tel: 01276 707100 If you require this magazine in a different format, please call the media & marketing team on 01276 707312. Copyright © Surrey Heath Borough Council.
Karen Whelan Chief Executive Social Networking If you want all the latest news, information, alerts and updates, why not ‘like’ our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. www.facebook.com/surreyheath
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www.surreyheath.gov.uk I Heathscene I 3
council
Permission granted for new development at Deepcut A planning application for the redevelopment of the Princess Royal Barracks site in Deepcut has been approved by Surrey Heath Borough Council. This application is the result of several years of hard work by the council, residents and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). Details of the exact siting of residential units and other buildings together with design and landscaping will be a matter for future applications to be heard by the council's Planning Applications Committee. The area forms a central part of the council's strategy to deliver more housing in the borough. Deepcut will deliver one third of the borough's total housing requirement in the period up to 2028 and will bring more than 1,200 new homes, including an element of affordable housing. The planning application, submitted by the DIO, provides an indicative layout of how 1,200 homes would be accommodated on the 114.32ha (282 acre) site, which will see some 69ha (170 acres) of open space retained.
said: “It is understandable that residents will be concerned about the impact of large scale housing development in an area that has always enjoyed village life alongside a military barracks for a number of years. Once the current usage became surplus to requirement, it was inevitable the DIO would look to developing a significant number of houses on this site and the borough's Core Strategy and SPD has acknowledged the proposal for some time. “Major development proposals are never easy decisions for the councillors to make as they have to balance the requirements of government policy and housing supply demands against the views
The development will deliver market value and affordable homes, plus publically accessible space comprising a park, community and sports facilities, a supermarket and open spaces. It will also deliver a comprehensive package of highway measures to mitigate traffic generation. The decision to grant planning consent is subject to the completion of a legal agreement and the permission includes a number of planning conditions. The application meets the council's policies and planning guidelines for the area, known as The Deepcut Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which the council worked on with local people to develop as planning guidance, taking account of their views. Chief Executive of Surrey Heath Borough Council, Karen Whelan
4 I Heathscene I www.surreyheath.gov.uk
of residents who will naturally have concerns about how a development will impact the quality of life they currently enjoy. “The fact that all 'reserved matters' will be overseen by councillors shows they are wanting to get the best they can achieve for residents from a sensitive but inevitable major development. “As the outline plans move forward we hope we can continue working with residents and community groups such as the Deepcut Liaison Group when the various proposed details of the development emerge. The council will expect the developers to continue to involve residents in the proposals for the site.”
council
Community garden flourishes at Hampton Court Surrey Heath Borough Council was represented at the Hampton Court Flower show this summer thanks to the “Moveable Feast” garden designed by Kate Turner and the volunteer army wives from Deepcut which won silver in the summer garden category. The garden was designed, planned and grown at Flourish Community Garden located at Frimley Lodge Park and was warmly received at the world-famous flower show that ran from 9 to 14 July, receiving national coverage from BBC 2, The Mail on Sunday, Daily Telegraph and TV personalities Mike Read and Monty Don. The garden idea was born after the wives attended a “grow your own” workshop with Kate last year and were interested in finding out how they could grow cheap, edible crops that could be moved easily. Yellow calendulas were planted in army boots around the garden to
symbolise the “yellow ribbon of hope”. Children from the barracks were also involved in the design and wrote positive messages on yellow ribbons attached to the fencing of the garden. Kate Turner said: “We are over the moon to win silver at the world's biggest flower show with our first garden. Everything in our garden has been grown by us - it's been a real team effort.”
more people to “grow their own”.
The garden has been returned to Flourish, in Frimley Lodge where its contents will be distributed to community groups and schools to continue the legacy and encourage
If you didn't manage to see the garden at Hampton Court you can catch up online by visiting www.surreyheath.gov.uk/ hamptoncourt
Surrey Heath’s new mayor Councillor Beverley Harding was chosen as the 41st Mayor of Surrey Heath at the Surrey Heath Borough Council Annual Meeting on 15 May. Cllr Harding has lived in the borough for more than 28 years, with 22 years in Camberley and six in Bisley. She and husband Malcolm have run their own independent garage and MOT testing station for the past 34 years. Previously she has served on the External Partnerships Committee, Leisure and Environment Committee, Joint Staff Committee, Licensing Committee and Planning Committee, where she has been Vice Chairman. Beverley and Malcolm have three children; two girls and a boy and three young granddaughters. Malcolm
will be supporting Beverley as her Consort during her Mayoral year and will be using his vintage 1932 Riley Stelvio at some Mayoral occasions. The Mayor will be raising money for The Lisa May Foundation as her chosen charity. This charity was founded by fellow Councillor John May, whose daughter Lisa tragically lost her life in the Thailand Tsunami in 2004. The Lisa May Foundation began as a charity to help victims of natural disasters and has now extended to become an 'umbrella organisation' for local smaller charities. Cllr Beverley Harding said: "I feel
very honoured and privileged to be elected as the Mayor of Surrey Heath. I hope to be of service to the people of the borough, including community groups, voluntary services, schools and colleges and the business sector. My aim will be to contribute to the borough wherever I can and I will try my very best to be a good ambassador for Surrey Heath!" For more on The Mayor of Surrey Heath, call 01276 707331, or email sarah.ruddock@surreyheath.gov.uk
www.surreyheath.gov.uk I Heathscene I 5
camberley theatre
Meet, eat and drink at the Camberley Theatre and Conference Centre The Camberley Theatre is about to build on its current success as a convenient meeting place for businesses, community groups and voluntary organisations by creating a brand new events and conference space, cafĂŠ and bar. Already highly regarded as a quality venue for arts and entertainment, the popular town centre theatre has, over recent years, seen a greater demand for meeting space. To address this demand the current meeting rooms in the theatre will be transformed into a modern conference/events space which will be available to hire at affordable rates to businesses, organisations and for private parties. In addition, the public areas of the theatre which haven't been updated since the 1990s will undergo a refurbishment to create an attractive town centre cafĂŠ/bar.
The work will be carried out throughout August and September and will re-launch on September 27 with a performance by West End star, Lee Mead (go to www.camberleytheatre.biz or call 01276 707600 for ticket information). As well as creating a fantastic new facility for Camberley Town Centre, these changes will make the theatre more sustainable in the long term, allowing it to continue to present a high quality programme of entertainment and events for years to come.
6 I Heathscene I www.camberleytheatre.biz
camberley theatre
New season! Don't forget to pick up your new season brochure, it’s jam packed with some fantastic shows and some of the biggest names in showbiz! Musical fans will be thrilled to know that West End star and winner of TV's Any Dream Will Do, Lee Mead will be performing his solo show on Friday 27 September and BRIT Award winning Blake will take to the stage on Saturday 12 October. The one and only Joe Brown will be rocking out with his five piece band on Saturday 28 September and for something slightly different, a night of exhilarating and exuberant music will be performed by West African group Kakatsitsi on Thursday 17 October. There's also two new plays coming to Camberley Theatre; hard hitting drama Blonde Poison on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 October based on the true story of a Jewish woman during Wold War II and The Ripper Files inspired by Jack the Ripper's reign of terror in Whitechapel during the 1880s starring Mark Homer (EastEnders, Silent Witness) and Jennifer Biddall (Hollyoaks) on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 October.
to town on Saturday 12 October with Pontypandy Rocks, plus a host of farmyard fun from Marty MacDonald's Farm starring Martin Parsons (Playdays Live) and Kate Ashmead (Tweenies) taking to the stage on Sunday 20 October. A date for every young performer's diary is the Juvenile auditions for this year's pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk on Sunday 8 September. Camberley Theatre is looking for a Boys and Girls Chorus aged between 8 and 16, plus a Senior Girls Chorus aged 16 years and over.
Pick up your brochure today at The Camberley Theatre or visit www.camberleytheatre.biz to find out more.
There's plenty for children to look forward to as Fireman Sam comes
A GIANT of a pantomime! Jack and the Beanstalk will be at The Camberley Theatre this Christmas between Tuesday 10 December 2013 - Sunday 5 January 2014 bringing with it all the panto-land magic, music and mayhem that audiences have come to love from the theatre's sparkling pantomimes. popular demand as Jack's mother, Dame Trott who sends poor Jack off to market to sell their much loved cow Daisy. After swapping Daisy for a bag of magic beans, an adventure beyond Jack's wildest dreams begins! Camberley Theatre panto fans will be thrilled to know that the hilarious Mark Slowey returns this year by
Jack and the Beanstalk promises to be the perfect family treat this Christmas, set to thrill audiences of all ages, jam packed with
audience participation, laughs, songs and dancing. Tickets are on sale now and prime performance dates are already booking fast. Prices start at ÂŁ15.95 for concessions, plus group and family ticket deals are available. Call the Box Office on 01276 707600 or visit www.camberleytheatre.biz
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camberley town centre
Working collectively to create a better Camberley The Collectively Camberley Business Improvement District (BID) is a not for profit organisation which is funded by the 382 businesses and organisations within Camberley town centre. In 2011 the town's businesses voted in favour of funding the BID for five years until 2016. The role of the BID is to work with partner organisations such as Surrey Heath Borough Council, Surrey Police and other public bodies to deliver key improvements to the town centre for the benefit of the businesses. Collectively Camberley's vision is to ensure that our town centre is a destination of choice for shoppers and visitors and a vibrant location for businesses and residents alike. Collectively Camberley Team L to R Lucy Boazman, Zoe Griffiths, Amina Phakey
Zoe Griffiths, Managing Director of Collectively Camberley said: “The Camberley BID is a great platform for positively increasing the town centre's profile and making Camberley a destination of choice. I'm looking forward to working with the fantastic local businesses and really making an impact on the future of Camberley.” For further information on the BID please go to www.collectivelycamberley.co.uk/bid
A new website for everything Camberley Collectively Camberley is excited to announce the launch of its new website which is going to be the focal point for all things Camberley.
Whether you're looking for family fun, leisure pursuits, that certain shop, a new business opportunity or simply a great day or night out - the website has it all. You can check out the new site and sign up for the free e-newsletter here: www.collectivelycamberley.co.uk
Collectively Camberley Events Camberley Car Show: 31 August, 10-4pm, Park Street and High Street
Camberley Farmers’ Market: Every 3rd Saturday, next market 17 August, Park Street
Last year's classic car show was a fantastic success but the next one is going to be even bigger and better with more than 90 cars (including racing and supercars), motorbikes and other entertainment such as live music and free face painting for children. Definitely one not to be missed! All proceeds go to The South West Thames Kidney Fund.
From 10am until 3pm, Park Street in Camberley opens as a traditional Farmers’ Market. With a huge variety of fresh and local produce, it’s a great place to try before you buy and get to know exactly where your food comes from. With everything from freshly baked breads, fish caught that day and bacon farmed less than 20 miles from the town centre, the Camberley Farmers’ Market is a monthly event not to be missed.
8 I Heathscene I www.collectivelycamberley.co.uk
council
Car park upgrades This summer and autumn, Surrey Heath will be investing considerably in its Camberley town centre car parks at Main Square and Knoll Road. We will be installing a new payment system, upgrading the lifts and completing refurbishments to the stairwells. The current payment machines are now outdated. New state-of-the-art equipment will enable a range of payment options to be made. The refurbished lifts and stairwells will boost standards across the car parks and will be supported by new signs and line markings. There will
be some premium wider spaces created on the upper floors to allow for easy parking of larger vehicles and for those who like some extra space to get in and out. The council has recently embarked on a new five year agreement with Surrey County Council to deliver on street parking enforcement across the borough. As well as preventing illegal parking and keeping town centre traffic moving, this enables us to work with
residents to keep roads clear and allow people to park near their homes where appropriate. Overall we are pleased to be working towards delivering excellent parking services across the borough for the benefit of all residents and town centre business. We look forward to welcoming shoppers to Camberley and its rejuvenated car parks for the busy autumn and winter shopping time!
Council Tax Single Person Discount Review In the next few weeks Surrey Heath Borough Council will be carrying out a review of all Council Tax payers claiming a 25% Single Person Discount on their Council Tax. It is important that the application of discounts is fair and that all taxpayers are paying the correct amount. The council is keen to ensure that this discount is only claimed by taxpayers who are genuinely entitled. We therefore need to check periodically whether people's circumstances have changed, update our records and make any amendments as necessary.
We are working with an external agency to assist us with this review. We will be checking data from other sources and reviewing details of credit applications made to help ensure our council tax records are accurate and identify where people are claiming discounts they are not entitled to.
If you believe that you are no longer entitled to a Single Person Discount please contact the council. Failure to correctly claim a Single Person Discount will lead to further action being taken. Call 01276 707176 or email: revenues@surreyheath.gov.uk
www.surreyheath.gov.uk I Heathscene I 9
community
Meals at Home Hot meals and cold snacks delivered to your door!
The Warm Home Discount scheme For winter 2013 to 2014, if you're a pensioner you could get a £135 discount on your electricity bill through the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The discount won't affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment. Not everyone gets the discount - you have to qualify. Visit www.gov.uk/the-warmhome-discount-scheme for more info or contact your electricity supplier.
Meals at Home operates all year round, 365 days a year, and you can choose on which days you want to receive a delivery. The service is available for any resident who may find it difficult to prepare a meal each day. The Meals at Home service provided by Surrey Heath Borough Council has now expanded to provide cold snacks as well as hot food.
Using vans with built-in fridges, the service offers healthy snacks, sandwiches and drinks delivered at lunchtime.
Helping you make the right choices Knowing where to go for information and advice can be challenging, which makes it hard for people to access the right service or support they need. If you find you need help or support for yourself or someone close to you, who would you turn to for advice? A new leaflet is intended to provide you and your family members with information and key contact details for care and support services in Surrey.
services, as well as information, support and advice for all residents. The booklet ‘Do you know where to go for care and support services in Surrey?’ is available via www.surreyheath.gov.uk or you can pick up a copy from the council offices in Camberley.
It features details covering specialist support, carers and healthcare
10 I Heathscene I www.surreyheath.gov.uk/community
For more about Meals at Home, call Community Services on 01276 707660.
safer surrey heath partnership
Neighbourhood Commander welcomes crime figures drop During the last year, crime figures in Surrey Heath have reduced significantly. Of the 11 Surrey boroughs and districts, Surrey Heath has the second lowest recorded crime in the county, down to 3423 offences compared with 3900 last year, a reduction of more than 12%.
pedestrianisation of the high street and the use of taxi marshals.” Other headline figures include:
Surrey Heath Neighbourhood Commander Martin Goodwin said: “The latest figures are down to a combination of effective policing and joint working with partner agencies and volunteers who support our work. These groups include our extensive Neighbourhood Watch network and the Street Angels who are out and about in Camberley Town Centre on Friday and Saturday nights.
• Vehicle crime reduced by 20%
“Camberley town centre has seen a sharp drop in violent crime of 31.5% due to working with licensed premises, evening
• Anti-social incidents dropped by more than a quarter
• Criminal damage fell by 18.4% However, despite the drop in crime figures there has been a slight increase in the number of burglaries and Commander Goodwin added: “One of our priorities this year will be to reduce domestic burglary which increased by 29 offences last year to 171 burglaries. “What’s important is that everyone feels safe and if you are unfortunate enough to be a victim of crime you are given the quality of service you deserve.
“Please continue to help us achieve our ambitions by taking crime prevention precautions and reporting suspicious incidents.” For more information on how to reduce the risk of being a victim of property crime please visit www.surrey.police.uk/keepingsafe/protecting-your-property-orbusiness 101 is the number to call when you want to contact your local police when it’s less urgent than a 999 call.
Damping down the risk of Heathland fires Under the banner of the Safer Surrey Heath Partnership, the council is working with Surrey Fire and Rescue and Surrey Police in combating the risks of heathland fires. The borough has a considerable amount of vulnerable heathland and these areas are especially at risk during the warmer months.
pooling resources together with Surrey Police, whose officers are carrying out regular checks on the local heathland areas.”
Training exercises run by officers from Camberley Fire Station and involving Surrey Police have been held on local heathlands.
John Eldridge, Crime Reduction Officer said: “Heath fires can cause considerable community impact in terms of wildlife devastation, property damage and cost of response by the fire services.
Neil Owen, Fire Station Manager at Camberley, said: “Surrey Heath has a considerable amount of vulnerable heathland and these areas are at risk of wildfires especially during the summer. We are pleased to be
“Some are accidental through causes such as carelessly discarded smoking materials, barbecues and litter. We believe that some recent
fires in the borough have been maliciously ignited. “Surrey Heath Safer Neighbourhood Team together with Surrey Fire and Rescue are working together to tackle these issues, including raising awareness, education, joint enforcement patrols and training. “Police and community support officers regularly patrol vulnerable areas and we urge people to alert us to any incidents or suspicious activity as early as possible by calling 999.”
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leisure
Lightwater Country Park gets Moo residents Lightwater Country Park has recently welcomed four young Belted Galloway cows The cattle, all one year of age, will be at the country park until September as part of a new loan agreement with Surrey Wildlife Trust. This is the first year the cows have been residing in Lightwater under an agreement with the trust that will see them come back between May and September in future years. All this has been possible due to grant-aid funding from Natural England as part of their ten year Higher Level Stewardship scheme. The cows are helping Surrey Heath’s Greenspace Team to maintain the open heathland which is a prominent feature of the borough. They can assist the conservation work at Lightwater by their grazing, enabling Greenspace
Officers Peter Maynard and Gordon Voller to spend their time on other aspects of the site. Greenspace Officer Gordon Voller said: “The cattle through their grazing are helping to maintain the open heathland.
As well as doing a worthwhile job for us they have also been a big hit with the public. Many people, coming to Lightwater Country Park, have said that seeing the cows has added to the enjoyment of their visit.”
Lightwater Country Park is open seven days a week and entry is free. For more information on the park visit www.surreyheath.gov.uk/leisure or call 01276 707338
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leisure
Borough snapped in all its glory The winners of the first borough-wide photography competition were celebrated at a special exhibition evening on July 5. Entrants and winners were invited to attend the preview of the exhibition showing their work which will run at Surrey Heath Museum until 21 September. The My Surrey Heath Photo Competition was launched in March and was open to anyone living in the borough. There were two categories, under 18 and adult. The photo had to be from within Surrey Heath and couldn't be digitally enhanced. Entries were judged by representatives from the council and members of the Windlesham and Camberley Camera Club. The club donated the prize of a Winners Workshop and winners also received a canvas of their entry. The Under 18s category was won by Kara Hughes from Lightwater who impressed judges with her photo of a squirrel caught in the trees. Meanwhile 81 year old Peter Grover from Frimley won the adult category with his atmospheric shot of the Basingstoke Canal. Leigh Thornton, commercial services manager and one of the judges said: “We were all really impressed with the variety and quality of the entries and it was great to see Surrey Heath captured in such eye-catching ways.� In 2014, there will be a Smart Phone category added which will enable entrants to snap on their phones and use the many editing and enhancement tools available at their fingertips! Look out for more information in the New Year!
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community
Visit Surrey Heath Museum Music Makers From now until 21 September Surrey Heath has a population of just over 86,000 and has a vibrant and diverse community. This vibrancy has helped inspire many musically gifted individuals to follow their talent and make an impact on the music industry. They include names from past and present Queen guitarist Brian May, pop band Bros, composer Arthur Sullivan and international violinist Chloe Hanslip.
Find out about the venues and the well-known groups of the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s who have played in Surrey Heath!
Surrey Heath Museum’s summer exhibition features these names and many more alongside objects from its collection to illustrate this musical legacy. On display are musical instruments, albums, photographs, costumes, and even a 1964 Lambretta scooter!
Local history displays Focusing on Bagshot and Windlesham, featuring material from the museum archives. From September to December.
Chas McDevitt Thursday 6 September, 2 to 4pm Talk and performance by our home grown Skiffle star Chas McDevitt on his musical career from the 1950s onwards. Please book in advance, tickets £4. Local history Heritage Open Weekend Identification Session Saturday 14 September, noon to 2pm, free. Bring your treasures bought, dug up or found, for identification by local experts (natural history, social history, archaeology and furnishings).
Events Drop-in activities for under 5s 10.30am to 12pm, free Clay Model Motorbikes Tuesday 27 August Music Mayhem Saturday 21 September Painting Pictures Tuesday 8 October Halloween Masks Saturday 26 October Hibernating Animals Tuesday 19 November Frimley and Camberley Art Society 5 October to 21 December The museum warmly welcomes a selling exhibition featuring the work of local arts and crafts people. There’ll be regular demonstrations by featured artists. Contact the museum for more details. Surrey Heath Museum is located on Knoll Road, Camberley and is open Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm. Admission is free. Call 01276 707284 or email: museum@surreyheath.gov.uk
Tour of Britain cyclists to race through Surrey Heath Surrey will play host to the penultimate stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race on Saturday 21 September, which starts in Epsom and passes through Chobham, before finishing in Guildford. The event dates back to the first British stage races held just after the Second World War, and since then, due to various sponsorship deals it has had a number of names including the Milk Race, the Kellogg’s Tour of Britain and the PruTour. The current version of the Tour of Britain began in 2004 and is part of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Europe Tour. The 96 mile route steers through the county’s towns, villages and countryside, with some of the
world’s best cyclists taking part. The street-by-street route is available to view on www.gosurrey.info along with estimated race times, temporary road closures, spectator information and contact details. Although this will be the second year running Surrey has welcomed the Tour of Britain, it will be a first for Chobham. You can follow GoSurreyLive on Twitter.
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sports coaching
Sports medals for Surrey Heath youngsters The sporting legacy from last year's London Olympics was in full view at the P&G Surrey Youth Games on 15 and 16 June at the Surrey Sports Park as 200 young athletes from across Surrey Heath came together to compete against the county's 10 other boroughs and districts.
The Surrey Heath squad comprised 21 teams in 11 different sports, many of whom were taking part in a competitive environment for the first time. Overall Surrey Heath finished in joint third place which matched last year's excellent performance. Highlights were the Junior Boys and Senior Girls Judo teams who both picked up gold medals, whilst the Junior Girls Judo, Senior Boys
Judo, Swimming, Girls Cricket, Girls Football, Junior Badminton, Contact and Non-Contact Boxing teams all picked up Silver medals. Cllr Keith Bush who attended the games on behalf of The Mayor said: “The Surrey Youth Games is in its 17th year and it was good to see so many young people from Surrey Heath taking part in most of the sports. These are friendly and social sporting games which I know the young people enjoy. Our thanks must go to all the young people, the families and coaches who give their time and effort to represent the borough's youth in a positive and healthy way.� One of the main aims is to encourage young people to develop
their sporting skills and promote physical activity as well as encourage fair play in sport. Over 350 local young people have attended local coaching sessions over the past two months in preparation and it is hoped that many will make the step and join a local club to continue participating. Nominations are now being sought for the annual Surrey Heath Sports Awards. You can nominate a coach; athlete, club or volunteer in a variety of categories and more information can be found online at www.surreyheath.gov.uk/ sportsawards. The deadline is 15 September.
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council
Delivering savings Last year the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published a document entitled 50 Ways to Save, offering 50 ideas on how local councils can either reduce expenditure or increase income. Ideas ranged from sharing buildings with other public sector organisations to closing down staff canteens. When the DCLG published its document, Surrey Heath Borough Council was already well into a rolling programme of reductions delivering over £1 million in savings between 2010 - 2013, which will continue into 2014 and beyond. It soon became apparent that Surrey Heath had already implemented many of the DCLG suggestions, and those that hadn’t been implemented had either been considered unviable or were being explored in forthcoming work plans. Starting with the sharing of buildings example above; the council currently shares Surrey Heath House with the Police, Surrey County Council’s Adult Social Care Team and the Surrey Heath Clinical Commissioning Group, with further sharing proposals in the pipeline. Other examples include: • Closing staff canteens - this was done in 2005 • Closing cash offices - this was done in 2005 • Cutting senior officer salaries - a 2012 management review produced £100k savings • Cut printing costs - the council’s print room was closed in 2007 • Stop spending money on commercial lobbyists - not used by Surrey Heath Have the savings led to a dramatic reduction in services? This backdrop of on-going savings could lead you to assume that services must have been heavily impacted, but in Surrey Heath's case, due to the implementation of more efficient ways of working, council services have not been affected at all.
We don’t just empty your bins! The council is extremely proud of its award winning waste and recycling service but there are a lot of services that touch residents lives on a daily basis that have continued despite the savings being achieved. These include: • Delivering 32,000 meals on wheels (Meals at Home) • Providing two leisure centres, Camberley Theatre and the Surrey Heath Museum • Cleaning 1,413 miles of Surrey Heath’s streets • Providing more than 36,000 journeys by dial-a-ride bus annually • Inspecting 750 food premises in the borough and making 1,500 health and safety visits annually • Maintaining 252.5 hectares of parks and open spaces • Carrying out approximately 5,000 building inspections annually We also: • Monitor air quality • Deal with noise pollution • Re-house homeless people
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• Manage and coordinate all current and future building and development • Play an active role in the economic development of the borough • Provide parking across the borough and control illegal parking ...plus lots more All for around 50p a day!* Surrey Heath Borough Council receives about 12% of your council tax which pays for everything mentioned above. Go to www.surreyheath.gov.uk/ counciltax to find out more! *Based on a Band D Property
council
Council celebrates silver Investors in People Award Staff at Surrey Heath Borough Council celebrated after the authority gained a prestigious Investors in People silver award. Investors in People is a nationally recognised standard given to organisations demonstrating their commitment to staff development leading to improved business performance. Earlier this year, Investors in People assessors visited and interviewed employees across the council’s various services, such as housing, environmental health and green spaces, to name a few. Surrey Heath is in a small minority of organisations in the UK to attain the silver award. Chief Executive Karen Whelan said: “Gaining this status is an important achievement for us. It recognises we are committed to ensuring our workforce is well placed for providing the best services possible to meet the needs of our customers.”
Policing on agenda for Business Breakfast meeting Policing in the borough will be among the issues discussed at the next Surrey Heath Business Breakfast meeting. Businesses are invited to attend the event on Tuesday 22 October 2013 at The Camberley Theatre, where the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, Kevin Hurley, will be the main guest speaker.
make sure we are doing everything we can to provide the safety and order that is essential for business to prosper in the borough.”
Kevin was elected as Surrey’s first Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012.
Surrey Heath Borough Council organises the Business Breakfast meetings twice a year, which regularly attracts around 160 delegates and over a dozen exhibitors.
Mr Hurley said: “I’m delighted to have the chance to address the business community in Surrey Heath. I want to hear about the things that matter to local businesses and work together to
They provide opportunities for local business people to enjoy networking with other businesses, enabling them to acquire new information, contacts and ideas. Businesses interested in coming or
exhibiting should visit www.surreyheath.gov.uk/business
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environment
Recycling unwanted clothes and textiles made easy Households can now put old clothes and textiles alongside their grey bins on refuse collection day! The borough’s household recycling collection scheme has been expanded to include things like unwanted clothing, curtains, belts, sheets and towels. Residents can simply put their unwanted textiles in a separate carrier bag on refuse collection day. The carrier bag must be clearly labelled as TEXTILES and tied to keep the contents clean and dry. Bags are collected by Surrey Heath Borough Council’s collection crew and loaded into a separate compartment on refuse collection trucks for easy sorting. It’s expected that around 50 tonnes of textile materials will be collected for recycling each year which would otherwise be thrown away. Cllr Vivienne Chapman, community portfolio holder said: “Thanks to the commitment of residents, Surrey
Heath is already one of the top recycling boroughs in the country but we want to continue improving by developing our collection scheme in new ways. “Now that we’re collecting textiles we ask that everyone keeps up the good work. This is a great scheme which should result in thousands of items being reused or recycled, boosting the borough’s superb recycling rates.” Cllr Chapman added: “Residents are encouraged to continue
donating good quality clothing to charity shops as they would normally do.” For more info and to see a video guide on textile recycling visit: www.surreyheath.gov.uk/textiles
Garden waste collections from your home This time of the year means there’s lots to be done in the garden! Whether it’s mowing the lawn or clipping a hedge, you might have heaps of garden waste that needs clearing. A fortnightly, subscription-based garden waste club is available to Surrey Heath residents and is an easy way to recycle your garden waste from your home.
Subscriber and Bisley resident Jackie, said: “The Green Waste Club has been brilliant as it saves us petrol and avoids putting the garden waste in the car. I can wheel the bin round the garden, pruning as I go! It’s just so convenient!” Visit www.greenwasteclub.co.uk for more details or call 0800 0858 286.
Subscriptions start from as little as £3.33 per month.
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environment
How much food do you throw away? An alarming 75,000 tonnes of uneaten food is being thrown away in Surrey every year. And even though a third is collected and recycled, the cost of dealing with it adds up to a staggering £6 million a year. That’s the same amount of money it takes Surrey County Council to fund 630 primary school places, buy a million library books or fix 108,000 potholes. So to help you waste less, the Love Food Surrey campaign provides helpful tips on how to waste less food and save up to £50 a month. It pays to plan Before you do your next big shop, check what you have left, be creative and make a meal planner and shopping list for the week, so you only buy what you need. Perfect portions Weighing and measuring food is the best way to cook perfect portions. Use mugs, spoons, spaghetti measures or weighing scales to work out just the right amount of food to cook for your family. Lovely leftovers If you’ve cooked too much, cool your leftovers as soon as possible, store in the fridge and eat within two days. Store food properly Correct storage means your food could live for extra days, weeks or even months. Keep the fridge below 5°C and chilled food will stay fresh for longer. Freezing guidelines Food can be kept safely in the freezer for years as long as you keep it frozen the whole time. However the texture and taste may change over time, so try eating food within three months. Remember to label items as you freeze them. Use by These dates are for safety and must be followed correctly; don’t use any food after the ‘use by’ date, even if it looks and smells fine. Using it after this date could put your health
at risk. To extend the life of food, freeze it before the ‘use by’ date, defrost when needed and use within 24 hours.
Did you know?
Best before These dates refer to quality not to food safety; foods with a ‘best before’ date should be safe to eat after this date (except for eggs), but they may no longer be at their best.
Every week in Surrey we throw away enough strawberries to cover a tennis court.
So waste less...and caddy the rest.
Every day in Surrey we throw away two shed loads of bananas.
For more advice visit www.lovefoodsurrey.com
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council
Always do your bit to prevent fly-tips Residents are reminded of their duty to prevent the illegal fly-tipping of builders' rubble and garden waste that might come from their homes. The Household Waste Duty of Care Regulations (2005) state that residents are responsible for any waste leaving their property, including from builders or gardeners they employ to carry out work. People are required by law to ensure that the person or company handling the waste is authorised to take it, transport it and dispose of it safely. For these purposes, they must be registered as a licensed waste carrier. Environmental services manager John Foley said: “When selecting
any tradesperson, always check their credentials and ensure they have a carrier's licence to transport waste. “It's also up to householders who are having work done like double glazing, or new kitchens and bathrooms to ensure any contractor they employ has this licence. “By not using a licensed waste carrier, you could find that your waste is fly-tipped, making you party to a criminal offence for which you could be prosecuted and fined.”
You can check the list of registered waste carriers at: www.environmentagency.gov.uk Surrey Heath Borough Council offers a chargeable collection service for bulky household items, as well as a kerbside collection service for garden waste. For more details contact the council on 01276 707330 or visit www.surreyheath.gov.uk/ environment
Views gathered on sites for allocation Surrey Heath Borough Council has started the process of examining where new sites for housing, employment, retail, transport and green spaces could go in the area. Around 340 parcels of land across Surrey Heath have been suggested to the council as potential sites for allocation. A public consultation took place earlier this year with the council asking everyone to give feedback on the possible sites. Residents, businesses and other organisations were also invited to visit any of seven public exhibitions held around the borough in April and May. As well as being able to view maps and documents about the proposed sites, those visiting could speak to planning officers, ask questions and leave comments. Cllr Keith Bush, portfolio holder for regulatory, said: “The public exhibition events were an important
opportunity for people to have their say on the future of the area they live in. “Around 1200 people visited the exhibitions and many chose to make formal responses to the consultation. “Over the next few months we will prepare a statement setting out what people have said to us about the possible sites. We will then consider all the feedback received and select the preferred sites. Consultation on these will take place in 2014.”
22 I Heathscene I www.surreyheath.gov.uk
For more details visit www.surreyheath.gov.uk/ siteissuesoptions or contact planning.policy@surreyheath. gov.uk
council
Help with rent, council tax and household expenses There are a number of benefits you may be eligible for to meet all or part of your rent, council tax and household expenses. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Scheme This can help pay your rent and/ or council tax. You can check your eligibility to claim by using our on-line calculator at www.surreyheath.gov.uk. Just type “benefits calculator” in the search field and follow the instructions. If it shows that you may be eligible then you can contact us to make a formal application.
Working Tax Credit You may be eligible to claim Working Tax Credits if you are in employment but on a lower income. The amount you can claim may increase if you have a disability or dependent children. For more information visit gov.uk Child Tax Credit You could get Child Tax Credit for each child you're responsible for if they're: under 16 or under 20 and in approved education or training whether you're in work or not. For further information visit gov.uk
Other financial support available Surrey Local Assistance Scheme This provides a one off payment for immediate needs in an emergency such as to buy food, essential home repairs, replacement furniture and appliances. Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk and type “local assistance scheme” in the search field for more information on how to apply. Discretionary Housing Payments and Council Tax Reduction Exceptional Hardship Payments If you already get Housing Benefit, Local Housing Allowance or Council Tax Reduction and are struggling to pay your rent or council tax and you have unusual or extreme circumstances which are causing hardship, you may be eligible for additional one off financial support. Go to www.surreyheath.gov.uk and search for “Discretionary Housing Payments” for more details. Rent a room Whilst this option won't suit everyone, it can provide a sensible way to help you stay in your home if your housing benefit has been reduced because you have a spare room. Currently the first £20 of the weekly income received from a lodger is ignored for benefit purposes. Do check with your landlord before taking a lodger and don't forget to tell Surrey Heath's benefits team as well. You can find out more information at www.spareroom.co.uk
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leisure
Park life Get outdoors, get active and enjoy the summer in the open spaces of Surrey Heath. The borough has more than 30 parks and open spaces in all. Here’s a taste of just some of the events happening in the near future. Join us! Field Safari at Frimley Lodge Park Thursday 29 August Join in a safari session amongst the long grass and flower meadows of Frimley Lodge Park, to spot the mini-beasts that call it home. Peek and peer through the plants at shield bugs, damselflies and maybe even a stag beetle! Nets provided but places are limited, pre-booking essential. For more information call 01276 707323. Sorry, no dogs. Cost £2.50 per child. Family event. Water Beasts of Watchmoor! Sunday 8 September Join a Greenspace Officer for an afternoon of family pond-dipping at the Watchmoor Reserve. Discover some of the mysterious beasts that lurk in the murky depths – if you’re lucky you may catch a leech or even a water scorpion! Dipping nets provided. Meet in the car park behind Sainsbury’s petrol station, Watchmoor Park. Pre-booking essential; phone 01276 707166 for more information. Sorry, no dogs. Cost £2.50 per child. Family event.
Basingstoke Canal walk Sunday 29 September A peaceful, medium length walk beside the Basingstoke Canal. Starting and finishing at Frimley Lodge Park with a refreshment stop in Ash Vale. Meet outside Pistachio’s Café, Frimley Lodge Park at 10am. For more about our walks and events programme, call 01276 707338.
There are various activities and events at Flourish Community Garden throughout the year, for further information contact Kate Turner on 07500 87689, email cgp@live.co.uk alternatively you can visit www.surreyheath.gov.uk/communitygarden
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council
Superfast broadband comes to Surrey Heath
Dates for your diary
After a successful launch in May to bring high-speed superfast broadband to Surrey homes and businesses, more communities have now joined the roll-out with residents and businesses in Chobham and Deepcut next in line to receive the upgrade. Superfast broadband will change the way we all use the internet. For residents this will mean fast, reliable internet access so that the whole family can enjoy watching movies, catch-up TV, online gaming, video calls to friends and family and speedy downloading of photos and files. For businesses in Surrey it is estimated that trading online with superfast speeds will provide
an annual £30 million boost to the economy. So, if you want fast, reliable, consistent access to the internet for leisure or for your business, superfast broadband could be for you. To find out when your area is being upgraded and how to buy a superfast broadband service visit www.superfastsurrey.org.uk
Do you know that you can access a number of our services online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Contact us at a time to suit you.
Council Tax, fees for Land Charges and Building Control, Business Rates, Fixed Penalty Notices, Business Directory subscription and much more.
Report it Report concerns such as anti-social behaviour, abandoned vehicles, missed bin collection, dog fouling, and fly tipping.
Saturday 17 – Camberley Farmers' Market, 10am to 3pm, Park Street. Every 3rd Saturday of the month.
Saturday 31 – 10am to 4pm. Camberley Car Show, High Street and Park Street.
Do it online, Anytime! Pay it £
August
September Saturday 14 – Noon to 2pm. Heritage Open Weekend at Surrey Heath Museum.
Apply for it ✓ Apply for licences, replacement bins, Council Tax discounts, Building Control submissions and notify us that you're moving home.
Ask for it Ask about any of our services including Council Tax, Housing Benefit and Waste Collection. We're here to help.
Saturday 21 – Tour of Britain cycle race, Chobham.
Saturday 27 – An evening with Lee Mead at The Camberley Theatre.
Saturday 29 – Basingstoke Canal walk, at 10am.
Visit: www.surreyheath.gov.uk/events
Find out more at www.surreyheath.gov.uk/online
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