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E-BULLETINS FROM HINCHLEY WOOD RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Keep informed about local issues, including significant planning applications and forthcoming events, by registering for our free e-mail bulletin service.  See contact page for further details.


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PLANNING APPLICATION FOR NURSERY BUILDING AT HINCHLEY WOOD SCHOOL

An application, which has been expected for some time, has now been lodged for outline planning permission for a nursery development at the school, including educational facilities and caretaker accommodation.

Residents have  expressed a number of concerns about these proposals, including:

*    over-development, with a large building taking up the whole of the hard play area to the left of the school with no added capacity at the school being gained

*   additional pressure on parking and traffic in Claygate Lane

*   potential negative effect on existing nurseries and associated organisations.

The 'Save Hinchley Wood' group is organising opposition to the proposals, and can be contacted by telephone (020 83398 6278), e-mail to don.beardshall@dbtechserv.co.uk.

Details of the application, reference number 2010/0063, can be accessed on the Elmbridge Borough Council website, which also gives details of how to lodge objections if residents wish to do so.  Please note that although the consultation period is shown as having already ended, objections will still be considered if they are received before the hearing of the application, which will not be until March.  Objections will carry more weight if they focus on relevant planning considerations and avoid emotive statements.

To help HWRA gauge local opinion on this proposal, comments can also be made on the Hinchley Wood Forum (but please note that this is not a substitute for direct representations to the Council for those who wish to object to the proposal).


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ELMBRIDGE CORE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

The 'Elmbridge Core Strategy - Proposed Submission' is now available to view online at www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning/policy
 
Hard copies can be viewed at each library in Elmbridge and at the planning reception in the Elmbridge Civic Centre.
 
The period during which representations must be made started on 11 January and closes at 4pm on 22 February 2010.
 
This document will guide planning and development in Elmbridge and will eventually replace the local plan. It sets out key elements of the future development of the Borough up to 2026. Comments are very welcome on the 'soundness' of the Elmbridge Core Strategy. Visit the link given above for more information, to download the document and for details on how to respond.


The formulation of a strategy is a requirement imposed by central government, which has set a target of 5620 new dwellings to be provided in Elmbridge in the planning period.  1550 of these are to be affordable homes, and the draft strategy envisages that 500 of the new dwellings will be in the Dittons, Hinchley Wood and Weston Green area.  These figures do however include a number dwellings which have already been built, or for which planning permission has already been obtained.

The draft strategy presented at a public meeting last year envisaged that the Green Belt would not be encroached on, but existing residential sites would, as the planning officer put it, have to ‘work harder’.  In practice this means greater density, in some cases through back garden developments and replacing detached houses on large plots with groups of semi-detached.  Preserving the character of the neighbourhood is interpreted as referring to the quality and design of developments rather than their density.

More positively, the required growth in the number of dwellings is not out of of line with the trend over the last 10-15 years, and the Borough is on schedule to meet the target with dwellings already built or currently in the pipeline.  ‘Brownfield’ developments like the A309 government offices site will also contribute.

An important part of the process is making sure that everyone has an opportunity to get involved. The Statement of Community Involvement sets out how this will be achieved and you can register your details on Elmbridge town planning database.

HWRA's comments on the strategy have been submitted by the Chairman, and you can read his letter here.

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TAYLOR WIMPEY DEVELOPMENT AT FORMER GOVERNMENT OFFICES SITE, A309 KINGSTON BY PASS 

Despite agreeing a proposal acceptable to Elmbridge, whilst simultaneously entering - and subsequently loosing - an appeal against refusal of planning permission for a scheme including habitable roof space, Taylor Wimpey are preparing to submit yet another planning application which envisages increasing the usable floor area offered by making the roof space of many of the proposed properties habitable. HWRA representatives made it clear to Taylor Wimpey that a majority of residents have no interest in supporting any revisions to the approved plans, and that HWRA would oppose any scheme other that to which the company has agreed previously.  

The Chairman of HWRA has now written to the Planning Inspector to state HWRA's objections to Taylor Wimpey's latest appeal against the planning authority's refusal of their amended scheme. A copy of the letter can be viewed here.

Meanwhile residents will have noticed that Taylor Wimpey have erected hoardings and flagpoles (for which planning permission was refused), and that a show house on the site has been built with a conservatory (for which planning permission has been sought only retrospectively), which seems indicative of a general move to devote part of the already undersized gardens to the addition of conservatories.

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Newsletter No.4 of 2009 is now out, with news about the autumn general meeting, the A309 site, 2 Avondale Avenue and the forthcoming Christmas Carols. If any residents have not received a copy though their letterbox by 30th November, please let the subscriptions secretary know.

Newsletter No.3 of 2009 is still available to view, with news and information about the Fun Day, Neighbourhood Watch, cutting of grass verges, the Local Development Framework, new bin collections, planning issues, dog fouling and subscriptions.  

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HINCHLEY WOOD POLICE PANEL & COMMUNITY SAFETY

The panel meets regularly (noramlly in conjunction with an HWRA road representatives meeting) and attendance is open to all residents. It's your opportunity to meet the local police team and have your say about policing priorities in the local area. Discussion at the panel really does make a difference to local police activity, so it's well worth coming along if you can.

For the timing of meetings, please see the news & events page or check the local police page on the Surrey Police website.

At the most recent meeting on 4th February, PCSO Platt reported that the last quarter had been very quiet, with few reported instances of crime or disorder.  Particular issues mentioned were:

*  a small number of burgaries, which included the theft of bicycles from sheds.  This seems to be a general problem in the local area and residents are advised to ensure that bicycles, particularly high-value machines, are well secured and marked so that the owner can be identified.  A cycle marking event is being organised by the police team for 6th March - details to follow

* suspicious activity in the service road behind the shops in Manor Road North.  There have been break-ins to shops in the parade, and evidence of drug dealing.  It was agreed that tis would be the police team's priority in the coming period.

Card fraud following transactions at Shell Hinchley Wood filling station

Over a two week period in January 2009 criminals are believed to have gained access to electronic records held at the station containing the details, including PIN numbers, of every card used at the station in that period.  This represents several thousand cards.  The criminals have gradually been working their way through these carrying out fraudulent transactions, and it is this which gives the impression that the fraud is ongoing.

As a result of security measures taken by Shell, the card compromises are believed to have ceased, but it is still possible that people will experience fraudulent transactions if they used their cards at the Shell station during or before January 2009, so credit card statements should continue to be carefully checked and suspicious transactions reported to the card issuer and the police.  If residents become aware of fraudulent transactions which cannot be explained by card use during or before January 2009, and which might indicate renewed fraudulent activity at the Shell station, they should likewise report the matter to the card issuer and the police.

Anyone who has experienced any problems with illegal transactions on their credit or debit cards or who has information relating to the Shell filling station should contact Detective Constable Clive Muspratt at Staines CID on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference EL/09/2548.   Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Community safety survey

Last year the Elmbridge Community Safety Partnership introduced a new ‘3 minute’ Community Safety survey to gauge residents concerns on crime and anti social behaviour. A total of 271 surveys have been completed to date, showing that whilst the majority feel safe during the day, that level dropped significantly after dark. It was also noted that the level of participants who had been a victim of crime or anti-social behaviour had also risen compared to previous years, but the confidence they had that the police and other local public services were dealing with these issues was now higher at 52% compared to 32% in 2008. The Partnership would like to increase the numbers taking part in the survey to verify these findings and have made the survey available on line through the Elmbridge Borough Council web site at:   http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/snap/ccs2009.htm.

Peter Kipps the Community Safety Partnership Manager says: “I hope both residents and businesses will log on and take part, it is important that we obtain the views of the public on how they perceive Elmbridge, we also want to look at the levels of unreported crime and antisocial behaviour against what is actually being reported to see if there are any large gaps. The surveys will also inform us on the public knowledge of the police panel meetings and membership of neighbourhood watch as well as the profile of the Partnership itself to ensure that we are reaching all sections of our community. We want to hear from as many people as possible and are keen to get the views of younger residents who are traditionally an under represented voice in safety issues”.

The survey can be completed anonymously (unless residents wish to receive further information on the police panels or wish to join a neighbourhood watch scheme) and takes only three or four minutes to complete.

If you have any community safety issues or would like any further general information or a paper copy of the survey form please contact the Community Safety Team in confidence, by telephone on 01372 47 4399 / 4393 / 4398 or email communitysafety@elmbridge.gov.uk 

People with information about criminal activity who do not want to go to the police can call Crimestoppers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to pass on what they know anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Distraction burglary: The police are continuing to warn about bogus callers attempting to gain entry to premises by posing as officials, builders offering services, or people looking for a lost ball or pet etc. In a recent incident in Thames Ditton, the offender asked for a bottle of water for a broken down car, gained access to the property, asked the victim to borrow a pound and then stole the victim's wallet.  The people concerned can be very convincing and persuasive.

Please be alert for crimes of this nature, particularly if you have elderly or vulnerable relatives or neighbours, and report any suspicious callers to the police immediately on 999, if possible with a description of the person concerned.

And remember to follow these basic steps:

Keep your front and back doors locked at all times, even when at home.
Ensure that you have a door chain or bar fitted and keep the bar or chain on when you open your front door.
Always ask for identification from callers who claim to be officials from utility companies, the council or the police etc., and CHECK it by telephone.  If they are genuine, they won't object

 Remember if you are unsure - never let anyone in to your home.

A sure sign of a bogus caller: there is no longer any such thing as the 'Water Board'.

For further information about doorstep safety,  you can contact our local PCSO (Grapsas3421@surrey.pnn.police.uk) for an information card, or the Crime Reduction Advisor, PC Mark Howells at Esher Police Station, telephone 0845 125 2222, can come and give security advice.

Other crime matters: please be alert for markers used by burglars to identify target properties.  Examples are shown on the notice board page.  Also please try to ensure that tools in outbuildings are secured, as these have been used to force entry to properties.

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More volunteers are still needed to help with Hinchley Wood Care.  For more information please see clubs, societies and voluntary organisations.

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This is the website of Hinchley Wood Residents Association. In conjunction with the weblog at hinchleywood.blogspot.com, it is intended as an interactive resource for the local community, where you can find information about local services, activities and events, and have your say on issues of current concern.

The site is regularly updated with local news, information and features, and we welcome comments on the site and suggestions for improvements and new features. Please send us your feedback here.

Local traders, services, clubs and groups are listed free of charge on the website. If your organisation has not been listed please let us know the details and we will add it to the site. Local organisations can use the site free of charge to advertise forthcoming events, such as jumble sales, fetes etc.

Please contact us here to arrange for your organisation or event to be listed on the site.

Our Residents Association Councillors hold regular surgeries at which you can discuss problems directly with them. Please check the News & Events page for details.

Site last updated 8th February 2010

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Did you know that the LWT series 'The Charmer' (1986), set in the 1930s and starring Nigel Havers, Rosemary Leach and Bernard Hepton, was partly filmed in Hinchley Wood? You can see some pictures of the filming here. It is also available on DVD from Amazon, but note that you will need a multi-region player.
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