By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter Plans for 234 homes that would have “sprawled into the essential boundary between Godalming, Milford and Eashing” have been rejected despite warnings Guildford Borough Council lose a costly appeal. Developers Ashill Land had hoped to build the new project, that would…

Questions Raised About Successful West Surrey Candidate’s Eligibility

By Martin Giles Questions have been raised about the eligibility of a Liberal Democrat councillor who successfully stood in Guildford in the recent West Surrey Shadow Council elections. The candidate in question, Joanne Shaw, was elected to the new shadow authority as a member representing Guildford East.…

New Heathland Bridge Officially Opened at A3/M25 Junction 10

By Chris Dick The A3 “Cockcrow Bridge” was officially opened yesterday (May 25). The green bridge, planted with heathland flora, cost £3.7 million to built – just over one per cent of the overall £317 million cost of the M25, Junction 10, expansion. Measuring 68 metres in…

Woman And Child Face Abuse During Incident At Supermarket Car Park

Surrey police are appealing for witnesses following an altercation in a supermarket car park during which a woman and her child were verbally abused. The woman was also spat at during the incident at Morrisons in East Hill, Oxted. The altercation, which took place towards the front…

Police Condemn Menace Of Rural Crime After Farm Animal Is Stolen And Killed

Surrey police are appealing for witnesses following an incident where a lamb is suspected to have been stolen and killed in a field off Pirbright Road, Normandy. The police said in a statement this week: “Rural crime has a significant impact on local livelihoods and animal welfare,…

Guildford Cathedral Invites Girls to Experience the Joy of Singing

Guildford Cathedral will be welcoming girls aged 9–18 to a special open night for girl choristers in June. The event will offer them the chance to step inside the world of Cathedral music and experience what it’s like to be part of one of the region’s leading…

Witness Appeal Following Serious Collision

A motorcyclist, a man in his 40s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries this evening (May 23) following a “single vehicle collision”. Police officers were called to Old Epsom Road in East Clandon shortly before 5.15pm following a report of a road accident. Road closures were…

Insights: The Gathering Storm – Part 2

By Bernard Quoroll In Part 1 (click here to view), I tried to paint the bigger picture of a system of government which is losing its connection with people at every level,  irrespective of individual party politics.   In Part 2 I explore what this might mean…

Conservatives Want Stronger Cross-party Scrutiny at New West Surrey Shadow Council

West Surrey Conservatives  have pledged to provide “constructive but robust opposition” following the inaugural meeting of the new West Surrey Shadow Authority held on Thursday (May 21) at Millmead Council Offices in Guildford. At the meeting, Conservative councillors supported the adoption of the interim constitution required to…

Plans To Build a Further 65 Homes in West Horsley Have Been Deferred

By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter Applicants Charles Church Developments had hoped to receive planning permission for its project after the…

Insights: The Gathering Storm – Part 3

By Bernard Quoroll Former local authority CEO I ended my last Insights commentary by mentioning the announcement by the new West…

Couple Behind Bars After Causing Death by Dangerous Driving

A couple have been jailed for causing the death of a motorcyclist near Guildford. Justin Whelan, 33, and Kayleigh Grant, 37,…

Rogue Builders Brought to Justice

By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter Crooks from a £331,000 rogue builder network that “profited from the exploitation of elderly and…

The Blockheads at the Boileroom: More Ian Dury than Ian Dury

Dragon Review by Charles Whiting Ozzy Osbourne once famously quipped of a tribute band: “They sound more Black Sabbath than us”.…