Cllr George Curry Ward Update Tadworth & Walton January 2018 Page 1 of 14
Table of Contents Items Arising... 3 Items Ongoing... 4 Tadworth Business Network (TBN)... 5 Cllr Annual Community Award... 6 20 is Plenty & Parking... 9 Green Spaces... 10 Community Defib & Gun Corner... 11 Meade Court Car-Park Walton... 12 Howard Close Playground... 13 Council Meeting Attendance Record... 14 Contact... 14 Page 2 of 14
Items Arising 20 is plenty Following a discussion with Surrey Officers in Walton regarding changes to bollards, yellow lines and parking restrictions (currently on advert with the Surrey Mirror and petitions distributed to traders) outside Walton Primary School, the possibility of having a speed test for the section of highstreet between Walton Pond chicane and Gun Corner was raised. If this test is actioned and the average speed is found to be 24 mph or lower, it may be possible to have a 20 mph limit for this section of Walton Street. The cost of the test is 180, but as the Surrey testing allocation has been spent for this financial year it was suggested that the Walton Forum would pay should finance be a sticking point. I will pursue this line of enquiry and assist Cllr Harris in this regard. Walton Pond A tree has fallen in to Walton Pond from the banks, this has been reported to the arboricultural team and is on a list to be removed but as it is not a danger to the public it is not currently a priority. A number of complaints regarding dog mess have been received, I shall be raising this matter with the BCC to see what can be done in the way of Poo Bins on, or near, the commons and an awareness scheme that bagged dog mess can be put in normal rubbish bins, possibly with stickers on existing bins at prime locations. The pathway between Breech lane and Meadow Walk is in need of clearing, this should be remedied by the community payback team. Post Office - Walton News had its official opening ceremony on January 12 th presided over by the Mayor of Reigate an Banstead. Page 3 of 14
Items Ongoing Meade Court Carpark - The Carpark overgrown shrubbery has been successfully cut back. Future stages are envisaged to reconfigure the Carpark adding additional spaces, subject to planning and funding. I will work with fellow Cllrs to move this forward. Tadworth Business Network New users and subscribers are being added to the TBN however additional contributions from residents, traders and businesses are required to keep the site up to date. Withybed Corner - A Resident has approached me with regard to an impasse between the Council, the Commons Conservators and the Residents regarding cost and responsibility for marinating the road/track/path linking properties to Walton Street. I shall work with Cllr V Broad and the BCC to see if we can move this forward. Walton Pond Following a site visit with Cllr V Broad and Officers form the Council Green Spaces team it is clear that the pond is in urgent need of attention. It is proposed that a number of community action days are planned (hopefully with the assistance of the TWRA and Walton Forum) to remove invasive species of weed and clear gullies which feed the pond. A management plan is underway along with various studies to be undertaken prior to work commencing. Howard Close Playground Residents have approached me to discuss the condition of the playground at Howards Close. I have made enquiries as to the position of this playground on the Councils upgrade schedule and it would seem this is some way off. There is an appetite amongst Residents to raise funds, bring works forward and improve the facility. I will assist Residents in this regard and work with my fellow Cllrs to see what can be done. Page 4 of 14
Tadworth Business Network (TBN) The TBN Facebook page is now live and ready to be updated and added to by TBN shops and businesses. https://www.facebook.com/tadworth-business-network-221127495067907/ The aims of the TBN Facebook page are: To increase footfall to the shops To be a directory of all local businesses To act as an open communication channel between businesses and customers To act as a private communication channel between businesses Current Statistics: 193 subscribers and 60 businesses listed in the directory Page 5 of 14
Cllr Annual Community Award This year I have split my 500 between the following three projects: https://dyscover.org.uk/ Dyscover is a charity providing long-term support and opportunities to people with aphasia and their families. Daily sessions are led by professional speech and language therapists and are designed to help people to adjust to living with aphasia. I Joined the Dyscover team for a morning and joined in with one of their sessions. They will receive a small cash payment of 125 and social media promotion with future visits and activities planned for 2018. Page 6 of 14
Tadworth Primary speed awareness posters and banners Following a successful children s poster competition a limited run of lamppost correx boards were produced but as there are procedures at Surrey CC to complete before they can be erected, I have supplied banners for the school site as an interim measure and allocated a further 120 for additional material. Page 7 of 14
Howard Close Barrier and FlyTip The barrier at Howard Close has been damaged for some time. I have made arrangements that 255 will be set aside to fix this and Farm Fencing have provided a quote to upgrade and repair it. Additionally I have worked with the Council Jet Team and Raven Housing trust to ensure the aggregate and pallet have been removed from this prominent village location. Page 8 of 14 Email : Cllr.curry@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
20 is Plenty & Parking Bollards & Yellow Lines - Following a meeting with the Walton Primary Headmaster and Cllr J Harris and number of issues were discussed. It has been agreed that the Local Committee (Surrey + R&B) re-instating additional bollards to prevent cars mounting the kerb a key locations and the yellow school warning lines be re-painted. The Walton & Tadworth schools to consider Community & Junior Speed watch & Junior Parking Wardens. 20 is plenty speed awareness posters designed by pupils and laminated are to be displayed outside Walton Primary at the start of the new School Term. // Currently on hold pending Surrey agreement. Large banners deployed as an interim measure. Having successfully moved through the local committee process and gone out to advert in the Surrey Mirror further petitions have been circulated to trader to show local support for the changes. Todds Barbers, Four You & Kays wish to change some of our all-day bays to timed bays to stop persistent all day parking. Our businesses owners state that this is preventing them from benefiting from passing trade, especially at peak times in the morning and afternoons. Page 9 of 14
Green Spaces A Toad Patrol warning triangle road sign has been requested for two lampposts near Walton Pond, it may be possible to fund this via the Walton Forum. Village Clear up, October 14 th. Litter was successfully collected from areas throughout Walton and Tadworth. Future Clean-ups are planned for Spring and Autumn 2018. Page 10 of 14
Community Defib & Gun Corner Two replacement heritage grit bins were ordered with funds raised by the Walton Forum. I have obtained appropriate licences from Surrey CC and installed and filled them with help from our neighbours. One is located opposite Gun Corner and a second is on The Green. Red Telephone Kiosk for Gun Corner. BT have advised that they will remove the existing box in February 2018 to allow the project to move forward. Community Defibrillators. One defib will be located in a newly refurbished original 1952 red telephone box on Gun Corner. The Chequers and Blue Ball public houses have agreed in principle, pending further discussions, to house two additional defibs. Money for this extensive project was raised via the Walton Forum, R&B Council s Community Improvement Fund and support from Pfizer. A wooden finger post road sign on Gun Corner (a copy of the original 1950 s sign) has been proposed to replace the modern metal sign. This has now been agreed in principle by Surrey Highways dept. and we await final confirmation of details. Page 11 of 14
Meade Court Car-Park Walton Following a meeting with R&B Council on site in Walton the following actions have been agreed : o The overgrown shrubbery on the front wall along Walton Street and overgrown internal carpark shrubbery has been significantly reduced. o Plans and costing are being drawn up to increase the car parking spaces from 14 to 17 and to include at least one disabled bay. Ideally the plans should include bicycle and or motorcycle bays. It may be that the cost of these works will be prohibitive for the council to do on their own and in this case local fundraising, community action / contribution would be required to get this project underway. Page 12 of 14
Howard Close Playground The Howard Close residents association (Headed by Sam Fountain), Walton Forum and Local Cllrs intend to form a working group to rejuvenate the Council playground and surrounding area at this location. Following conversations with the Council it is likely that we will be able to bring forward the Councils own renovation program to 2019/20 and with local fundraising make the most of this community facility. It is noted that a similar project, supported by the Council, Local Residents and businesses was undertaken in Mickleham with great success. Page 13 of 14
Council Attendance Record As well as Full Council meetings I am a member of the overview and Scrutiny Committee, my attendance record is publically available on the Council website and it currently shows 100% attendance for both. http://www.reigatebanstead.gov.uk/info/20319/borough_councillors/337/councillor_attendance_at_meetings Contact Please feel free to contact me with regard to any of the above mentioned issues and bring any matters arising to my attention: Cllr George Curry Address: c/o Town Hall, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Castlefield Road, REIGATE RH2 0SH Email: Cllr.Curry@reigate-banstead.gov.uk Telephone : 07538 518406 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grcurry/ Twitter: @george_curry Page 14 of 14