For much of June the main task for me has been continuing cutting back the rapidly growing vegetation. The first task was to re-cut the fishing swims ready for the start of the fishing season, along with gaps in the bankside vegetation for visiting boats to moor up. After this it was the hard slog of hedge trimming the back edge of the towpath all the way along my length, can you imagine having a hedge to cut in your garden that’s more than three miles long? Of course this is all done in between keeping on top of the grass mowing on the locksides and towpath, so never a quiet moment on the river.
Other jobs have involved sweeping and weeding the alleys and steps that lead onto the towpath in Guildford town centre to make them more inviting, replacing a broke signpost at Stoke Lock and dealing with more than one fallen tree in the river. None of which compared to some of my call-outs this month which included trying to hunt down an unlicensed boat at 9pm, re-uniting a family of Swans separated by the Lock at Millmead, and searching for a man who had apparently fallen in the river but had actually decided to go for a swim fully clothed!!! Finally, I’m not sure how many of you went to Armed Forces Day in Guildford on 27 June, but I did go with my family and thoroughly enjoyed myself. What you may not have realised though is that Armed Forces week started with the Ceremonial Flag being delivered to Dapdune Wharf by the Army and then raced up the Navigation to the town centre by the Royal Marines. A great spectacle, so well done to everyone who organised the event, and a big thank you for all the hard work of our Service men and women. Richard Cant
0 Comments
As part of the AGM, the BCA has published the accounts for the association for the year 2014-2015.
You can read the PDF of the report here. The BCA attended to the Burpham Primary School fair today, helping support our local community. Despite the threat of inclement weather, it was mostly dry, warm and featured fantastic contributions from the children, lots of stalls and a lovely day all round. Thanks to everyone who said hello, and hopefully we will have some new members joining us after today! Guildford Borough Council have released their Leader's Annual Report for 2014-2015.
Stephen Mansbridge, Leader of the Council, introduces it: "Welcome to my Leaders Annual Report, which looks back at how we have performed in 2014- 15, and the projects we have planned over the coming year". You can read the full report at http://www2.guildford.gov.uk/councilmeetings/documents/s2087/Item%204%20-%20Corporate%20Plan%20Leaders%20Annual%20Report.pdf The past year has been an extremely busy one for the BCA - most of the limited time the few committee members have is tied up with planning. The largest single issue has been the Draft Local Plan which was put out for consultation last autumn. The BCA arranged a public meeting to allow for debate, prepared briefing documents for residents and made our own response. As a result of many protests, the DLP was withdrawn and a revised Plan is expected soon.
One of the major areas of concern for Burpham in the DLP was the prospect of a development of 2,000 houses at Gosden Hill. Another was the proposal to build the Clay Lane Link Road. Our response to this has been robust and pro-active. The BCA presented GBC with alternative detailed and much cheaper proposals drawn up by one of our committee members who is a well qualified civil engineer. Despite cursory acknowledgment, no recognition of the effort involved has been forthcoming. We have responded to the CLLR consultation, prepared comprehensive information for members and will present a very thorough response when the planning application is lodged. Another major concern has been the aftermath of the 2013/2014 winter flooding which damaged several homes, one very badly. There have been many meetings and discussions with various agencies, culminating in the formation of the Burpham Flood Forum. This will meet quarterly under the chairmanship of Anne Milton and with representatives of GBC, SCC, the Environment Agency and Thames Water. The inaugural meeting was in February this year; the next will be in July. The new Aldi supermarket is now taking shape and there has been much concern about the new layout being constructed and especially the mixed pedestrian and cyclist footpath. The narrowing of the north bound carriage way is already causing even more congestion. We are in correspondence with SCC about this, and the parking along Burpham Lane by workers on the Aldi site. We have also been in contact with Aldi in relation to the proposed artwork on the 6 by 3 metre external panel at the northern end of the building. It was agreed that the upper half would have some artistic link to the Green Man and the lower half would be a series of panels depicting a timeline for Burpham. Members were asked for ideas and their suggestions were used to prepare a plan for Aldi. The result is artist 1, BCA nil and the panel will simply consist of his interpretation of Green Man. GBC commissioned a parking review in Burpham last year. Many residents came forward with comments and a comprehensive report was submitted by the BCA in December last year.In September last year, we drew your attention to the new gate and track across the common land on Merrow Lane. This was done to give Network Rail access to their substation. We had been assured that the woodland would be restored but recent information from GBC suggests there may be a problem as some legal issues have arisen. A recent email from GBC stated: “We have asked for the gates to be removed and the area restored. We are expecting this to be challenged.” Any connection between this and the proposal to build 2,000 houses on Gosden Hill is pure supposition. An extract from the Chairman’s Report May 2014: We are also working with our County Councillor to get some road improvements, notably repair of the appalling potholes along the London Road and Clay Lane, as well as the Woodruff Avenue/Coltsfoot Drive/Charlock Way area. The committee has asked for the timings of Burpham traffic lights to be altered to try and ease traffic congestion and has made some other proposals for traffic flow improvements and the relief of congestion. The only action that SCC has taken is to deal with the London Road potholes and resurface Clay Lane, presumably in preparation for the CLLR about which we are being consulted. Correspondence is ongoing. The public consultation period on the Neighbourhood Plan prepared by the Forum has just completed and the Plan now goes for Examination. There will eventually be a Ward Referendum – the time scale is decided by GBC – and we hope that everyone will take the opportunity to vote on the Plan. Both the web site and the BCA news in the Burpham Pages have been redesigned to make them more eye catching and accessible so that the community can more readily engage in our activities. We hope to add regular news and contributions from local groups such as schools, sports clubs and other organisations. In conclusion the BCA helped initiate the Keith Crossman Memorial Fund to honour the memory of our late Chairman who died last October. This has caught the imagination of many sections of the community and a full update will be given later in the proceedings. The results have been announced for the 2015 Guildford Borough Council Elections, and in the Burpham Ward Christian Holliday and Mike Piper, both Conservatives, have been elected to represent our community.
You can read the full results on the Get Surrey website at http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/guildford-borough-council-local-election-9141856 In the UK National Elections, Anne Milton (Conservative) was returned as MP for Guildford. NEWS FROM THE STOKE LENGTHSMAN – March 2015 The recent weeks have been exceptionally busy and thankfully the weather has been kind enough to let me and my volunteers crack on. We started off with the last of the winter tree work, which had to be done as soon as possible so as not to disturb birds during nesting season. This included winching a Willow tree out from the river’s edge which had started rooting, removing a large branch that had snapped off and wedged itself high up in a tree, and felling a dead Alder so that it landed gently on one of our work boats (we were deliberately aiming for the boat to make cutting it up easier). Of course on a “normal” National Trust property we could just drive up to the tree, cut it up with a chainsaw and go onto the next job. Working on a river however means that access is via boat and most of our tree work doesn’t fit neatly into any of the standard ways of doing things. This is where experience, ingenuity and plenty of elbow grease are key to getting the job done safely and efficiently. The Wey Navigation Conservation Volunteers had a work day at Dapdune Wharf, before the Wharf opened to visitors for the season. The tasks set for us were finishing a weaved Hazel fence using previously coppiced material, removing gorse bushes, and having a bonfire with all the waste material. It was a great day with plenty of interesting work for the large group of volunteers to be getting on with. The workload grew significantly after lunch when we realised that we also had a long section of fence to repair after we removed the brambles that were covering the gap! Thankfully everyone worked together and with a late finish the fence was secured, the site was tidy and the fire burnt to embers.
Just before Easter, I concentrated on getting both Stoke and Bowers Lock looking pristine before what is traditionally the start of the boating season. With plenty of help from my volunteers we have not only cut the grass but also painted both locks, scraped the vegetation from the lock gates and cleaned all the signage. Thank you so much to my volunteers for all their hard work and I hope that whether you’re walking, cycling, boating or canoeing you will agree that the Stoke length is looking great for all their effort. Richard Cant Stoke Lengthsman As many Burpham residents will no doubt be aware GBC are proposing a new link road between Clay Lane and the Slyfield Industrial Estate. They have arranged an exhibition to update local people on their plans. For Burpham this will be held on Wednesday 11 March 2015 at Burchatts Farm Barn, London Road, Guildford between 1400 – 1930 hours. GBC are asking for comments on their proposals to be returned by 25 March 2015. The feedback period commences on Tuesday 10 March 2015 with details provided on their website www.guildford.gov.uk/Clay-Lane-Link. Please find below links to sheets that the BCA committee have put together to provide local residents with information as to the impact such a development could have on our community. We are circulating this to assist you in formulating your own opinions as to the consequences and outcomes should this venture be approved. We would encourage you to take advantage of the exhibition to speak directly to the project team and respond accordingly. Letters can be sent to the following address: Clay Lane Link Consultation 6-8 Greencoat Place London SW1P 1PL or via email to [email protected] Please find below the document links:
There was an interesting article in a recent Surrey Advertiser regarding the history of the postbox in Kingpost Parade at the heart of Burpham, especially after the recent accident which caused it to be damaged.
Keith Crossman, our Chairman, died on 15th October after being ill for several months. Keith was held in great affection by the vast majority of people in both Burpham and beyond. He was a natural leader and over many decades ensured that our community pulled together and moved resolutely forward to better itself. Keith led by example and it is largely because of his endeavours and tireless energy that the village has acquired and retained much of the distinctive character and facilities that we take for granted today. Think of any major local event or activity and Keith Crossman’s hand will be writ large across it. He founded the Sutherland Memorial Hall Amenities Club. In 1990, Keith was one of the founding members of the Burpham Bowling Club and after a spate of burglaries in 1994, he helped establish the Meadway Neighbourhood Watch. Many of you will recall the Burpham Millennium Fete held at the Sutherland Memorial Park on 24 June to celebrate the year 2000. Keith was its Chairman, main organiser, fundraiser and general factotum.
Then there is the BCA where he served on the committee from 1990 in every capacity known to man. He never retired from it - with a twinkle in his eye and a wry smile, he was elected Chairman again in 2014, absolutely committed to its continuation and wanting to ensure it represented everyone living and working in Burpham. Keith liked to refer to his home at the corner of Merrow Lane with the London Road and overlooking Sutton Place as Number One, Guildford. He was certainly Burpham’s No.1 resident and representative. His courtesy, humour and concern for our community will be sorely missed - he epitomised all that is encompassed by the accolade “an officer and a gentleman.” A Keith Crossman Memorial Committee has been set up, with the first meeting on 11th November 2014 with the purpose of securing a permanent memorial to this truly remarkable man. It includes representatives from the BCA, Meadway Neighbourhood Watch and the Burpham Bowling Club. Invitations to join have been sent to Burpham Church, Sutherland Hall Amenities Club and the Papercourt Sailing Club where Keith was Commodore from 1990 - 1992. This is very much a retrospective action. Earlier this year a group of people decided that Keith’s selfless voluntary service to the Burpham Community deserved national recognition such as an MBE and a submission was put forward in June to the Government’s Cabinet Office. Sadly this coincided with the onset of Keith’s illness. Later when the seriousness of his condition became apparent, he was told about it in confidence, with the objective of raising his spirits at a very difficult time – a forgivable breach of protocol. He expressed complete surprise – “Really?” He was touched to know how highly he was regarded. Sadly, awards cannot be given posthumously. We feel that it behoves us to honour at a local level, a man whose overall impact on the Burpham community far exceeds the sum of his many individual contributions. Many aspire to make a difference; Keith Crossman quite simply has done so in a superlative and unpretentious fashion. We hope you will both approve of and support our endeavours to achieve something that truly honours the memory of this exceptional man. The BCA has endeavoured to be extremely proactive during the last six months, covering issues of flooding, the Slyfield –Clay Lane link road, the Local Plan, new planning applications and of course the recent parking survey. We do hope that you will want to continue to support our endeavours in the future. With this in mind, the BCA would like to announce that the new subscription year for 2015 starts on the 1st January. The revised rates as agreed at the last A.G.M are £8 per household or £4 per single occupancy.
Please help us to work on the community’s behalf as the prospects for the coming year seem to be even more demanding than we have encountered to-date. The BCA is delighted that Sutherland Memorial Park has been awarded a Green Flag, as an outstanding green space. Congratulations to everyone involved - here's the official announcement by Guildford Borough Council.
Seven Guildford green spaces are among the best in the country. Green Flags have been awarded to Allen House Grounds, the Castle Grounds, Riverside Nature Reserve, Stoke Park and Sutherland Memorial Park. Guildford Crematorium and Stoke Cemetery were also recognised for their well-kept grounds by Keep Britain Tidy. Cllr Matt Furniss, Lead Cllr for Environment says: "Once again our parks have been recognised as among the best in the country. We work very hard to keep up such a high standard so that local people and visitors can enjoy our beautiful parks all year-round." The award recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to the public that the space meets the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities. Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd adds: “We are delighted to announce yet another record-breaking year for Green Flag Award parks and green spaces. “A Green Flag Award provides national recognition for all the parks managers, staff and volunteers who, through their dedication and hard work, have helped to create these fantastic places for everyone to enjoy. “Quality green spaces are a vital resource for communities and that is why it is so significant that we have given out more awards than ever before.” On a pleasant summer evening in July, members of the BCA were invited to enjoy a walk through the Nature Reserve. They were led by lengthsman Richard Cant who was able to show the extent of last year’s flooding and outline some of the developments the National Trust are undertaking.
Members walked along to the lake, over the new board walk and on to Stoke Lock. The return journey along the towpath through beautiful and tranquil countryside provided a sharp reminder of the devastating effect the proposed Clay Lane link road would have on this peaceful haven. For those who didn’t attempt to visit the wet bits of Burpham over the holiday period. We calculated 700 million litres of water an hour passed over our Flood Plain at Xmas and New Year. We were within 15% of max highest ever flooding - and that was for some 20 plus days, more or less continuously !
Merrow Lane (actually the blocked Merrow Common Stream!) over spilled into homes and The Wey over topped at Bowers & Stoke Locks. - The BCA has responded to the Halcro Report on Flooding in Guildford over the holiday period. Comments can still be made by visiting the using www.guildford.gov.uk/surfacewaterfeedback by email: [email protected] THE PROPOSED SARP DEVELOPMENT Although the Slyfield Area Regeneration Project is outside Burpham, it would have an adverse impact on our village. The plan below shows the nature and location of the development. This is what is proposed: 1. A new link road between the Slyfield Industrial estate and Clay Lane (1 and 2 on the plan). 2. Moving the existing sewage works from its present site (17) and rebuilding it much closer to Burpham. 3. Building 1,200 houses on the present sewage works site. 4. Building additional industrial and business amenities. 5. Building new facilities for Merrow Highways Department (SCC) and the relocated Guildford and Stoke Park premises (GBC). This plan has been on the drawing board for about 10 years. Progress has been slow, due mainly to the high cost of relocating the sewage works. The BCA has two main concerns:
The BCA has written to GBC expressing these concerns. Do please come to the meeting on 17th March and take advantage of the opportunity to make your views known.
|
AuthorsAll news is submitted by members of the BCA - get in touch here to contribute! Archives
May 2022
Categories |