NEWS ITEMS FROM ISSUES NO 73 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1998

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HARD WORK AND PERSISTENCE have resulted in Woodways in Abbotswood being listed. The work undertaken by residents was a key factor in this listing. It will inevitably lead to a change of position from the owners whose application was turned down by Guildford Council. One possibility is that there will be an application for listed building consent to demolish!

In planning matters elsewhere in the ward Andrew Hodges has been working with residents with mixed results. The revised planning application at the top of Aldersey Road was approved by the Planning Committee, but only after the planning officer had advised strongly that he believed a refusal would be overturned on appeal, in view of the existing permission. At 111/115 Epsom Road, the waiting continues as an appeal is to be heard by way of a public enquiry in October; and a new application, for four large houses on the site of two, has been submitted.

The next application of concern is on the site of Elmdon in London Road where 24 flats are proposed very close to residents in Avonmore Avenue and Buckingham Close. Andrew Hodges supports residents' objections.

THE NEW CARPARK AT SYDENHAM ROAD MEETS WITH DELAYS. These are twofold. Firstly finalising the arrangements with adjoining landowners is taking longer that anticipated and secondly there are as yet no interested takers for the restaurant. Guildford Conservatives have consistently opposed a restaurant on economic and need grounds, but for it to be replaced by more parking now would delay the project further.

THE NEW ON STREET PARKING ARRANGEMENTS. Phase four, which is the one which will have most direct effect on the ward, is about to come out for final consultation. Please send in your comments, a leaflet will be sent to those directly affected, and copy your letter to Andrew Hodges.

THE LIDO HAS RE-OPENED FOR ANOTHER SEASON. This was a scheme which Guildford Conservatives had high on their priorities for capital projects. Andrew Hodges is pleased that the refurbished, Olympic sized pool is now open for use.

THANK YOU FOR A FANTASTIC RESPONSE! With ISSUES No 72, we asked for your views, through a Residents' Survey, on what you thought were the most important issues in Guildford Borough.

As Guildford Conservatives' Group Leader Andrew Hodges says "we have been delighted by the response of our residents to this survey. By having your say on issues that you consider to be the most important for the borough you have contributed to the policies that Guildford Conservatives are currently working on. Thank you for a tremendous response."

WHAT YOU HAVE SAID IS IMPORTANT TO YOU

A SAFER BOROUGH

Borough residents are overwhelmingly in favour of extending Closed Circuit TV outside the town centre. This system has had an enormous benefit in improving town centre safety and over 80% of you wanted to see the scheme developed. As a consequence, Guildford Conservatives have already asked for the borough to look into extending the system into Ash, the largest conurbation outside Guildford. We hope to extend the scheme into other areas too, as resources permit.

In addition to CCTV, the Residents' Survey identified the broader issue of public safety as a high priority for the residents of Guildford Borough. As a result, we are launching A Safer Borough policy to reflect those concerns. With the CCTV proposal, we have already started to implement this policy. In addition, at the most recent Licensing Committee, Guildford Conservatives called for clearer disciplinary guidelines for taxi drivers, in order to ensure that the travelling public is better protected. We will also encourage Surrey Police to increase the number of police on the beat, another key priority identified from the Survey. Andrew Hodges says "People want to feel safe in our Borough. The measures that we are seeking to implement as part of our Safer Borough policy will do just that."

RECYCLING

An overwhelming number of residents want more recycling carried out efficiently. Although over 80% of residents already use the current service, over a third of residents surveyed also wanted a separate collection for recyclables. Guildford Conservatives are actively reviewing how we collect recyclables and we shall be announcing our policies in this area soon.

COUNCIL TAX

Many of you had mixed feelings about whether we should spend up to the maximum allowed by the Government. Some felt that there were so many high priority items that it was justified, whilst others felt that, as a matter of principle, we should spend according to need. Guildford Conservatives feel that the priority for the Borough Council is to spend its money as efficiently as possible, whilst, for the sake of the taxpayer, endeavouring to remain below the maximum taxation levels set by Government.

As a result, Guildford Conservatives are focusing their efforts on making the Borough Council more efficient, so that your money goes further. Already, we have called for an Audit Committee, in order to ensure that councillors have proper oversight of spending proposals, and, at the last budget round, we sought to cut the administrative costs of the council. Sadly, both these measures were rejected by the other political groups.

THE ARTS

We asked whether you wanted a visual arts centre in Guildford. For many years, the borough has been searching, currently unsuccessfully, for a suitable site. Our survey showed that, of those who expressed a view, an overwhelming 70% of the residents are not in favour of a new art gallery.

In contrast, great support was expressed for the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. The YAT has worked very hard to increase its income in order to try and reduce the support required by the borough and other contributors, so far without success. Guildford Conservatives believe that its success is essential to the prosperity and vitality of the borough and will continue to support it.

PARKING

A huge number of residents expressed the view that current parking in Guildford Town is inadequate and the on-street charges are too expensive. Guildford Conservatives' efforts to get the charges reduced have been blocked by the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups. We continue to seek actively locations for Park and Ride facilities. Only recently, Guildford Conservatives and the Conservative Surrey County Council proposed that the Artington Park and Ride site should operate six days a week instead of Saturdays only. This has been approved. However, we must find more sites if we are to relieve traffic congestion in Guildford Town Centre.

And there is more to come......

The subjects above are just a few of the important issues that we are considering as a result of the survey findings. Over the next few months, we shall be developing more policy initiatives and we want your feedback on them.

AID OUR ENVIRONMENT:

Mobile chipping service for hedge trimmings etc Tel: 444539

Litter hotline Tel: 444499

There are many collection points for recycling paper and bottles within Guildford.

Some recycling tips:

Try and avoid overpackaged goods. Where appropriate buy loose or in bulk -its better value. Don't use unnecessary carrier bags - use old ones as bin liners

Return leftover medicines to your pharmacy where they can be safely disposed of. Use a green cone or compost heap to reuse scraps, vegetable peelings etc for the garden.

Printed and published by P Chambers, GCA, 63 Woodbridge Road, Guildford, GU1 4RD