Tag Archives: Weybridge

Shape the future of Weybridge

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Our Home

Weybridge is undeniably an attractive place to live. Our easy access to London and Heathrow, our vibrant town centre, rivers, woodlands and green spaces, all ensure that many find it hard to imagine living anywhere else and would like our children to be able to live here too.

More houses

We recognise that, as people live longer and households are smaller, we need to build more and different places to live in Weybridge.  Even with no interference from outside, our council would encourage the building of homes with fewer rooms.  Ideally almost all of them would be social and affordable housing for rent, with some for purchase.  Thus moving the emphasis from mansions to high quality, smaller, environmentally sustainable homes.  This would mean about 200 new homes a year across Elmbridge.

Unfortunately, the regime in Westminster has stated we must make provision for 600 new homes to be built in Elmbridge, each year, for the next fifteen years.  Three times as high as our current build.

Elmbridge versus national government

Elmbridge has no power in this debate.  If we do not do what the national government says we risk having all our planning powers taken away from us and developers might run amok.  The only way this will change is if there is a change of national government – and it looks as if the new Johnson administration is set on having a national election in the next few months.  Of the four national parties, three are pushing for more housing to be built (the Brexit “party” does not yet have any policies except to leave Europe), but they differ in their views on what sort of housing we need and where it should be built.

But we do not give in – Elmbridge will make the best case within the rules that are laid down.  We aim to adopt a new Local Plan for “sustainable” development in Elmbridge.  The borough’s staff have been working with other local governments, national agencies and utility providers to assemble the evidence required to make robust decisions. Laying the foundations for a Local Plan is a very complex affair and is often iterative.

Elmbridge Borough has listened to the concerns of Elmbridge residents, and has been working hard to progress a new Local Plan. This long-term plan aims to marry our national obligations to build more homes in Elmbridge with our desire to protect the character of Elmbridge.

The next stage is a public consultation running from 19 August through to 30 September. It is important that all residents from all parts of Elmbridge get involved by making a response to the consultation. You can sign up to alerts on the Local Plan through the EBC website and at consult.elmbridge.gov.uk

Councillor Karen Randolph, Portfolio Holder for Planning, has said:

“It is vital for the future of our borough that our residents contribute to the development of the Elmbridge Local Plan. We are determined to do what is best for Elmbridge and we want to hear from you.

“When the consultation opens on 19 August there will be information available in libraries, at the Civic Centre in Esher, online on the Council’s website and we will also host public meetings, all to provide our residents with as much information as possible on the Local Plan options.

“We want to shape Elmbridge for the benefit of all; will you help us?”

Dorchester Road

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The Surrey proposal for Dorchester Road is as follows:

The households which now will have access to Area F is here in purple.  The light blue area is currently Area F:

If you want details of other proposals see here.

If you want to have a look at the current restrictions look here.

If you want to offer your comments then do so here before 5 July 2019

If you want further information by all means contact weybridge@elmbridgelibdems.org.uk.

 

Weybridge On-Street Parking Review

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In general Surrey proposed:

The Weybridge CPZ and the Permit Area F will have their hours extended in the evening from 6pm to 7pm to match the new off-street parking chargeable hours but it is not proposed to introduce the change from 9am to 8am to match the new off-street parking chargeable hours.

Anderson Road, Cross Road, Vale Court
Allow residents of properties known as ‘Flat 2, The Hall, Vale Road’, and ‘Allendale, Vale Road’ to be eligible to apply for permits within the existing permit parking area covering these roads.

Baker Street
Evening hours moved from 6pm to 7pm as part of the Weybridge CPZ (confirmation required)

Beales Lane
Introduce section of DYL ‘No Waiting At Any Time’ on the south side of Beales Lane, near the junction with Thames Street, to prevent parking which causes obstruction to the carriageway and/or footway.  See also Thames Street.

Broomfield Court
Introduce a permit parking area (PPA) operating ‘Monday-Friday 10am-11am permit holders N only’, covering Broomfield Court.  This is in order to provide greater opportunity for local residents to park near their homes, where currently they face competition from non-residents, such as commuters for Weybridge rail station. Key permit eligibility details (full details are listed in the draft TRO):
* Residents eligible to apply for all permit types are those occupying any residential address in Broomfield Court.
* The cost for a resident permit is £50pa for the first permit, and £75pa for any subsequent permits issued.
* The maximum number of resident permits issuable per place of abode is calculated by the number of vehicles registered to the property minus the number of off street spaces at the property.
* The maximum number of resident visitor permits issuable per place of abode per year is 120, at a cost of £2 per permit. Each permit lasts all day and is specific to the registration number of a visitor’s vehicle.
* Permit types available within this scheme are residents, visitors, carers and operational. There are no business permits. It is also proposed to introduce some sections of DYL ‘No waiting at any time’ in order to keep junctions and accesses clear and improve safety and access.

Church Street
Evening hours moved from 6pm to 7pm as part of the Weybridge CPZ (confirmation required)

Cross Road
Introduce DYLs ‘No Waiting At Any Time’ opposite the access to numbers 8 and 10 Cross Road, as vehicle parked here make it impossible for residents to gain access egress to their properties.   See also Anderson Road.

Devonshire Road
Make existing advisory disabled parking bay into a mandatory bay ‘At any time Blue Badge holders only, No time limit’. To improve compliance with existing bay

Dorchester Road, Elmgrove Road, Gascoigne Road
Introduce a range of permit holders only parking bays (Monday-Saturday 9am-7pm permit holders F only), and shared use parking bays (Monday-Saturday 9am-7pm permit holders F or two hours no return within 2 hours) in these roads. This is in order to provide greater opportunity for local residents to park near their homes, where currently they face competition from non-residents.  A number of ‘shared use’ parking bays are suggested in order to allow some free time-limited parking for visitors to local residents and the local area. The scheme has been designed to operate with high occupancy levels and therefore minimise the potential for displacement parking. It is anticipated that the scheme will simply re-arrange parking rather than increase or decrease capacity. The permit scheme will operate with the same conditions as the existing ‘area F’ parking bays. Key permit eligibility details (full details are listed in the draft TRO):
* Additional residents eligible to apply for all permit types are those occupying any residential address on Gascoigne Road, Dorchester Road, 1-21 Monument Green, 42-70 (even numbers only) High Street, 1-19 (odd numbers only) Thames Street.
* The cost for a resident permit is £50pa for the first permit, and £75pa for any subsequent permits issued.
* The maximum number of resident permits issuable per place of abode is calculated by the number of vehicles registered to the property minus the number of off street spaces at the property.
* The maximum number of resident visitor permits issuable per place of abode per year is 120, at a cost of £2 per permit. Each permit lasts all day and is specific to the registration number of a visitor’s vehicle.
* Permit types available within this scheme are residents, visitors, carers and operational. There are no business permits. It is also proposed to introduce some sections of DYL ‘No waiting at any time’ in order to keep junctions and accesses clear and improve safety and sightlines (also includes St Albans Avenue and Mount Pleasant).

Elmgrove Road, Holstein Avenue, Oakdale Road
Extend the hours of operation of the permit holders only parking bays (Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm permit holders F only), and shared use parking bays (Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm permit holders F or two hours no return within 2 hours) in these roads so that they finish at 7pm instead of 6pm. This is proposed in order to offer additional protection to residents’ parking space and is designed to tie in with the borough council’s off street car parks’ chargeable hours. Note – there is no drawing provided for this as the extents of restrictions are unchanged from the current layout.  (See also Dorchester Road).

Fortescue Road
Introduce DYLs ‘No Waiting At Any Time’ at the junction. To prevent parking which obstructs sightlines. To improve sightlines and safety at the junction.

Gascoigne Road
See Dorchester Road

Goodacre Close
Introduce DYLs ‘No Waiting At Any Time’ at the access. To prevent parking which obstructs sightlines. To improve sightlines and safety at the access.

Grenside Road
Introduce and extend existing DYLs ‘No Waiting At Any Time’ at the junction. To prevent parking which obstructs sightlines. To improve sightlines and safety at the junction.

Grotto Road
See Grenside Road

Grove Place
Extend the DYLs ‘No Waiting At Any Time’ at the junction with York Road. To prevent parking which obstructs the footway at this point.

High Street
Modify existing loading bay on the High Street to allow all vehicles to load/unload here, not just goods vehicles as at present.

Hillcrest
Evening hours moved from 6pm to 7pm as part of the Weybridge CPZ (confirmation required)

Holstein Avenue
See Elmgrove Road

Limes Road and Minorca Road
Extend the hours of operation of the permit holders only parking bays (Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm permit holders Weybridge CPZ only), and shared use parking bays (Monday Saturday 9am-6pm permit holders Weybridge CPZ or 1 hour no return within 2 hours) in these roads so that they finish at 7pm instead of 6pm. This is proposed in order to offer additional protection to residents’ parking space and is designed to tie in with the borough council’s off street car parks’ chargeable hours. Note – there is no drawing provided for this as the extents of restrictions are unchanged from the current layout.

Manor Court
Introduce DYLs ‘No Waiting At Any Time’ around the inside of the ‘island’ (access to the flats). To prohibit parking which prevents access to the flats. To improve safety.

Mayfield Road
see Fortescue Road

Minorca Road
See Limes Road

Monument Green
See Dorchester Road

Monument Hill
Evening hours moved from 6pm to 7pm as part of the Weybridge CPZ (confirmation required)

Mount Pleasant
see Dorchester Road

Oakdale Road
See Elmgrove Road

Oatlands Chase
Introduce section of SYL ‘No Waiting Mon-Fri 10am-2pm’ near the new access to the school, in order to provide somewhere for people to ‘pick-up and drop-off’ near the school. Introduce section of DYL ‘No Waiting At Any Time’ outside Yew Place to Larchfield Place, to prevent parking which obstructs sightlines. To improve safety.

Springfield Lane and Springfield Meadows
Evening hours moved from 6pm to 7pm as part of the Weybridge CPZ (confirmation required)

St Albans Avenue
See Dorchester Road

St George’s Avenue
See Goodacre Close

Thames Street
Introduce section of DYL ‘No Waiting At Any Time’ in between existing restrictions outside number 45 to 3 Portmore Pillars, to prevent parking on this part of Thames Street which causes obstruction to traffic on the carriageway and poses a safety hazard to anyone wishing to use the footway at this location. Introduce ‘No Stopping Mon-Fri 8am-5pm School Keep Clear’ on the opposite side of the road, starting from the end of the existing school keep clear to the buildout opposite the access to Portmore Park Road. Amend the hours of operation of the two existing ‘School Keep Clear’ markings to the north from ‘Mon-Fri 8:15-9:15am and 2:30-4pm’ to ‘Mon-Fri 8am-5pm’. To improve traffic flow and safety during school ‘pick up and drop off times’.  See also Beales Lane and Dorchester Road

Vale Court
See Anderson Road

Weybridge CPZ
The hours in the evening are being extended from 6pm to 7pm to align with the new off-street chargeable hours – this should affect: Baker Street, Church Street, Hillcrest, Limes Road, Manor Court, Minorca Road, Monument Green, Monument Hill, Springfield Lane, Springfield Meadows.

If you want greater details and maps see here.

If you want to have a look at the current restrictions look here.

If you want to offer your comments then do so herebefore 5 July 2019

If you want further information by all means contact weybridge@elmbridgelibdems.org.uk.

Council News

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At Wednesday’s council meeting, it was confirmed that a coalition of the Liberal Democrat Group and the Residents Association (RA) Group will take on the administration of the council for the coming year. The Liberal Democrats number 10 and the RAs number 17, so together we have 27 seats compared to the Conservatives 21. This is a significant change from last year when the council was in no overall control at 24 each. In the elections on May 2nd, not only did we gain Ashley Tilling as our new Lib Dem councillor for Weybridge Riverside, but there were gains for Residents’ candidates in the St George’s Hill and Esher wards.

We have taken the decision to form a coalition administration because we believe that we are elected in order to effect change as well as safeguard what we cherish in our communities. These are far better achieved by being in control of both the agenda and the decision-making processes.

Whilst the Leader of the council will be from the RA group, our long-standing Weybridge Riverside councillor Andrew Davis will be the Deputy Leader. Lib Dem councillors will hold cabinet seats and so be responsible for portfolios on Highways, Community and Corporate Affairs, and Environment. It has also been agreed that we will provide the Chairmen of some of the most important committees.

Your Lib Dem group deliberated the move towards a coalition through a number of long meetings and we have not entered into it lightly. We presented a number of policies to the Residents which they have agreed to support as priorities for the coming year. These include, for example, our strong green agenda relating to the climate emergency. We are also mindful of the dynamic nature of government – events can, and do, appear out of nowhere; so we have processes in place to give an agreed approach to tackling such developments. We therefore feel that we are in a strong position to make a success of our time in administration.

High Street Streetscape

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Weybridge CIL board has received bids for £413,000 and has a fund of £510,000 derived from CIL.

High Street Streetscape Project – £128,000 (Not match funded) – score 70%

This application is to deliver the standard required for materials, electrical and water requirement for the project.  These upgrades will be delivered during construction and installation of the various components.  The project will deliver an improved town centre space for the community and businesses.

The borough had a successful application to the Weybridge Local Spending Board in 2017 receiving £329,038.56 for this project.

For the agenda and papers for tomorrow click here

Churchfield Allotments – May 2018

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In May 2018, allotment holders and residents in roads adjacent to the Churchfield Allotments were informed by the Weybridge Charity, who own the allotments, that the charity is proposing to sell some 5% of the allotment land for development.

Reasons given for this by the charity are: that it is under increasing pressure to meet the needs of Weybridge residents who face hardship. Additionally, the charity is seeking to invest some of the monies raised in improving the amenities for the remaining 4 hectares of allotments so that the site “may be used more effectively and attract new, long-term tenants”  The proposed improvements to the allotments include:

  • Bringing new areas under cultivation
  • Allowing a proper toilet to be built
  • Creating a communal area

The charity is proposing to assign new allotments and to compensate those allotment holders who will be directly affected.

About the Weybridge Charity

The Weybridge Charity’s sole charitable objective is ‘the relief of persons resident in the area of benefit (Weybridge KT13 postal district) who are in need, hardship or distress.’

The charity has nine trustees, six of whom must be appointed by Elmbridge Borough Council, with the remaining three being appointed by the borough appointed trustees.

The background to these arrangements and the history of the Charity can be found at http://weybridgecharity.org.uk/about-us

 

Merry Christmas Weybridge

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This Saturday afternoon, Weybridge annual Christmas market and the lighting of the Christmas tree, organised by the Weybridge Town Business Group.

Market – 1pm to 6pm
The artisan, food and craft market will be held in Baker Street.  Many popular stallholders from previous market events are returning with their unique Christmas food & gift Ideas.  There are new stalls and entertainment.

Visit Father Christmas – 1pm to 6pm
Grotto and Sleigh

Carols 1:15pm
with Oatlands School ChoirCarols 3pm
with St James’s Church Choir

Children’s Parade – 4pm
Children from all five primary schools in Weybridge will take part in the lantern parade –  Manby Lodge, Oatlands, St Charles Borromeo, St James, and St Georges Junior.

Lighting Up – 4:45pm
This year the Christmas tree lights will be switched on by Miss Surrey
Carols – 5pm
For everyone to join in – carols around the tree

Brooklands Radio will be providing great music & entertainment.

Stalls
April’s Table, BBQ by Stoneleigh’s, Bee Product Gifts – Weybridge Beekeeping Society, Born to Build, Brooklands College, Brooklands Radio, Cook Weybridge, Cellar One Weybridge, Darcey B’s – Candles & More!, Father Christmas & Sleigh – Rotary Club Woking, Flipping Amazing, Forever Living, Geminera, George Bakes, Grape Outdoors, Hook A Duck Stall, In Love With Macarons, Lesley Blackburn, Love Print Unique, Mark Horner, St James’s Church, Weybridge – Dementia Care, Silent Pool Gin, Simon’s Pies, Stella and Dot, Stoked Pizza, Thru the Eye of a Needle, Tombola by Weybridge Day Centre, Village Maid Cheese, Waffles On A Stick, Willow Bakery, Wendy Foreman

Conservation wins the day

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On Tuesday, 27th November, Elmbridge Borough Council Full Planning Committee overturned the decision of the sub-committee which deals with planning decisions in Weybridge, and refused permission to build ten flats at the junction of Balfour and Devonshire Roads.

The position of the proposed building, in Weybridge Town Centre Conservation area, is just beyond the junction of Church Street and Balfour Road, opposite St James’s Church. This is a significant view for those entering the town centre from Heath Road.

The Full Planning Committee found that:

“The proposal by virtue of its bulk and mass, emphasised by the fact it would be raised from ground level on a podium, would be out of character and would harm the streetscene. The proposal would therefore have an adverse impact on the conservation area and not preserve its character.”

Representations against the development had been submitted by the Weybridge Society and the Vicar of St James’s Parish Church along with many local residents.

The the application details are here and actual decision is here.

Weybridge Car Parking Charges

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See also:

Car park charges are set to increase in January along with the hours that the car parks charging operates.  An an increase each day of two hours and a possible extension into Sunday charging.

The Conservative cabinet in Elmbridge has recommended car park charging increases averaging 6% a year over the next over the next three years.  In some cases the increase is 24%.

Extending hours

The report contains a proposal to extend the charging time one hour earlier and one hour later.  Therefore the full charging day for town centre car parks will be 8:00 to 19:00. Charging later into the evening can work in the very few car parks that are nearly full late into the evening, but only if the nearby streets are protected by evening parking controls.

Yearly Season Tickets

Under these proposals, in year two the cost of whole year parking increases by 24% in main car parks, 20% in station car parks and 23% in local car parks. This is because the annual permit will be withdrawn and the monthly permits are more expensive.

Variation in charging rates

The municipal car parks across Elmbridge are divided into three categories:  “Town”; “Village”; and, “Station”.  Each category has its own set of parking charges.  Unfortunately the usage of each car park does not reflect its designation.  For example, York Road is designated as a “Village” car park but acts like a “Town” car park.  The five “Station” car parks all charge the same rate but have quite different usage pattern.  Walton Park (Hersham Station) car park has low occupancy and Heath north (Weybridge Station) has extremely high occupancy (full early in the day).  The Conservative proposals do not offer a sensible approach to the needs of each town.

We would have preferred the introduction of variable pricing during the day.  Many car parks are near full at certain times and half empty at others.  Our recommendation is that when car parks are less full the charges should be lower.  A simple system of different rates would nudge people into considering using the car park at off peak times.

Monthly permits

Good to see that the Conservative are continuing with the monthly permits that we introduced.  As most people are paid monthly it is good to charge people monthly.  There is also the option of coming out and re-entering the scheme at will.

Matching on-street with off-street charges

We believe that any change to car park charges or charge times should take into consideration how this would affect local residents.  In unregulated streets surrounding a car park, for example around York Road car park, residents could be greatly affected if the charges are increased or new charges are introduced.  However, some car parks, for example Berguette in Esher, are totally surrounded by streets with regulated parking. In this case residents would be largely unaffected by the any changes in car park charges.

Revenue surplus

No-one relishes paying parking charges especially if the surplus varies between towns in Elmbridge.  Of the nine towns in Elmbridge, Weybridge provides the greatest parking revenue surplus.  This all goes into the general fund.  The Liberal Democrats support the idea that at least some surplus revenue generated in a town is used for transport improvements in the town concerned.

Pay on leaving

It was a pity that the Conservatives ended the introduction of pay on leaving in Churchfields car park and plan to introduce it into Cobham first instead.  The reason given is that there might be a new development on the car park site, in conjunction with the Library site. However fast any development is progressed it would probably mean that Churchfields car park would be untouched for three to four years.  This would be plenty of time for Weybridge to benefit from the flexibility of only paying for the time used.  In fact, many people would have paid automatically on-line.  It would have been very convenient.  Dispensation could have been made for those travelling to the church car park.

Sunday Charging

When we were in administration we looked at car parking on Sundays and found that no car park would benefit from having charging introduced on a Sunday.  It is simply a money raising exercise.   However, should a car park reach a  higher occupancy rate on Sunday than other car parks do in the week, then we should consider it.  But this has not happened significantly in any car park.

More Charging Details

Overall the revenue will increase by 6% a year – over twice the rate of inflation.

  • In year two the cost of a permit per year increases by 24% in main car parks, 20% in station car parks and 23% in local car parks.
  • Charging in station car parks whether full or not will increase by 3% a year.
  • Charging in local car parks 4% a year (for 30mins), 18% a year (for four hours) and 9% a year (for all day).
  • Charges in main car parks increasing 6% a year (for 30mins), 6% a year (for four hours). All day car parking in long stay 14% a year. Season ticket a year will increase by 10% a year.

This is not the coordinated approach from the two levels of local government that we were promised.  As Surrey county refuses to extend parking controls into the evening for Minorca and Limes Roads, Elmbridge borough proposes to push charges into the evening thus making matters worse.

Weybridge On-street Parking Changes 2018

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This post deals with the parking schemes that Surrey proposes to implement, subject to the agreement of the Surrey Local Committee meeting at 4pm, Monday, 26 November, 2018 in the Civic Centre.  These scheme will be formally ‘advertised’ as they stand. This is the first stage of public consultation on these schemes.

Streets to have changes – mainly additional double yellow lines for safety reasons:

  • Beales Lane
  • Devonshire Road
  • Fortescue Road
  • Grenside Road
  • Grotto Road
  • High Street
  • Manor Court
  • Mayfield Road
  • Thames Street

DYL = double yellow line, in other words no waiting at any time.

Devonshire Road

In Devonshire Road make the existing advisory disabled parking bay into a mandatory bay at any time, Blue Badge holders only, No time limit’. To improve compliance with existing bay.

High Street

Modify existing loading bay on the High Street to allow all vehicles to load/unload
here, not just goods vehicles as at present.

Manor Court

Manor court to introduce a DYL around the inside of the ‘island’ (access
to the flats). To prohibit parking which prevents access to the flats. To improve
safety.

Fortescue and Mayfield Junction

At the junction of Fortescue and Mayfield introduce DYLs to prevent parking
which obstructs sightlines to improve safety at the junction.

Roads around St George’s Junior School

In Beales Lane the addition of a DYL to prevent parking which causes obstruction to the carriageway and/or footway.

Grenside Road introducing an DYL  at the junction on the west side to prevent parking which obstructs sightlines. To improve safety at the junction.

Grotto Road extend existing DYLs  at the junction with Grenside Road to improve sightlines and safety at the junction.

In Thames Street the addition of a DYL in between existing restrictions near Montrose Walk and Portmore Park Road because it causes obstruction to traffic on the carriageway and poses a safety hazard to anyone wishing to use the footway at this location. Introduce ‘No Stopping Mon-Fri 8:15-9:15am and 2:30-4pm School Keep Clear’ on the opposite side of the road from the end of the existing school keep clear to the buildout opposite the access to Portmore Park Road. To improve traffic flow and safety during school ‘pick up and drop off times’.