Godstone Village Appraisal Project (GVAP)

Background

Action Plan

The Future

Latest
    1.      Surrey Waste Consultation
    2.     
White Hart Barn Tea Towels
    3.     
Help Control Speeding Vehicles in our Village
    4.     
Village Forum 10th May
    5.     
Bulb Planting 23rd September
    6.     
Music Hall in November
    7.      Diary Dates

 

1. Surrey Waste Consultation
Surrey County Council are preparing their Plan for future Waste Related Activities to meet the local demand and have been looking for sites within the County.  There is consultation process and over a year ago some sites were identified within this area which should be 'safeguarded' for future use including the Godstone Brickworks, Taylors Hill Depot & Whytegate Farm; no indications were given as to whether the sites would be used for landfill, incineration or composting. GVAP submitted on objection to the above sites as well as to the Copyhold site Redhill and land south of Duckpit Wood Oxted on the grounds of an unacceptable increase in heavy goods vehicle traffic through the village. 

Now SCC have issued a consultation about a number of possible additional suitable sites one of which is the Godstone Depot in Oxted Road Godstone, currently used by SCC Highways, which is considered suitable because of its good road links; it is recognised that there are a number of dwellings close to it and also the site is close to and uphill of the Bay Pond Site of Scientific Interest. For details see www.surreycc.gov.uk/waste plan - site assessment 2E.

At a recent Parish Council Meeting, which was due to consider its response to these additional sites, Felicity Gresser on behalf of GVAP asked the Parish Council to object to the inclusion of the Godstone Depot as a safeguarded site in the Waste Plan, however Surrey County Councillor Marian Myland, who was also present, informed the Parish Council that the site was likely to be considered for a waste recycling collection centre, although no decisions by SCC have been made as yet. 

If residents are concerned about such proposals, now is the time to object to the inclusion of the Godstone Depot in the Waste Plan proposals. The date by which objections should be lodged with SCC at County Hall Kingston upon Thames is the 10th April 2006. There is provision for an on-line response. 

2. White Hart Barn Tea Towels

The White Hart Barn can now offer you a limited edition tea towel to send to far off lands, put on the wall or even just to dry up with! They are reasonably priced at £4 and available from Godstone Village Crafts in the High Street. Shipping orders can also be placed with Di Grose by contacting her on 01883 742983

3. Help Control Speeding in our Village
One of the many recommendations made in the Three Villages Report was to control speeding throughout the Parish. To this end the Parish Council, with financial support from South Godstone Resident’s Association, has agreed to purchase a “speed gun kit”. This consists of a radar type gun, reflective jackets etc and training for volunteers. This is where you come in! Terry Tomlinson is organising training for willing volunteers to carry out this work. The time commitment, once trained, will only be a couple of hours a month. This will suit residents who can be available during the day and want to make a difference to our village. If you would like to find out more about what is involved please e mail Terry terence.tomlinson@ntlworld.com or contact the Parish office Tel. 01883 744209. This will only be a success if real people get involved. It’s no use leaving it to someone else – they think you are doing something!
 

4.Godstone Village Forum 10th May, the Endeavour Godstone Green

The last Forum in February was a great success. Very informative reports were given across a range of village issues. Some even got answered on the night. Please book the date for the next Forum now so you can come along and have your say as to how GVAP can assist the Forum going forward. There will be an article in the April edition of Godstone Parish Magazine which asks a number of questions – here’s a taster:

 How can we encourage more of our 2600+ residents to become more involved in our village?
 
What’s important that can be tackled? For example, is it speeding? If so, why not volunteer to become a trained Speed Gun operator?
 Or is it parking? Too many cars and too few spaces?
Could your organisation benefit from a joint fundraiser? Or at least be aware of what other groups are doing.
Could your group use the talents of others? If so, in what ways?
Should the Forum be used to ask for volunteers for specific things such as pond clearance or leaflet drops?
 Would your committee/organisation benefit from being more closely allied to the Forum and its resources?

Please give these questions some thought and talk to fellow residents so that on the 10th May we can have an informed discussion about the key issues facing our village.

5. Bulb Planting North of the Village

This autumn we will once again be inviting residents to come along and help brighten up the village. This time we will be planting bulbs at the top of the village near the entrance to Tylers Close and northwards towards the motorway. Saturday 23rd September 2006 is the date to put in your diary, which is also the same day as Godstone Fire Station will be holding their open day. The Gardeners Club are already advising Jane Innes (our Project Manager!) and offers of donations and practical assistance are most welcome, even at this early stage. For any new residents, there is a memorial book held in the Parish Office giving details of donations given in 2003. The bulbs planted on Green View, in memory of loved ones, will hopefully be up soon! More details in future updates.


6.
Music Hall 17th and 18th November 2006
Once again Dai and Brenda Davis have agreed to mastermind this extravaganza for GVAP. More offers of help to take part or assist back stage are needed. Rehearsals will take place in October / November – more details to follow. Please make contact direct on 742393.

7. Diary Dates

Friday 24th March 1st Godstone Scout Group Top of the Village Quiz.7.30pm White Hart Barn. For more details contact John Mackintosh 742700
Saturday 25th March
COG Lions Barn Dance St Catherine’s School Bletchingley. There are a few tickets left. (e mail recipients please see attached poster.) If you are interested please contact me and obtain tickets for you.
Saturday 22nd
April “A Celebration of Flanders and Swann”, St Catherine’s School Bletchingley from 7 for 8pm. This stars Gordon Peters (of Dad’s Army, One Foot in the Grave and Little Britain fame) accompanied by David Carter (from Caterham) at the piano. Tickets are £10 from me and transport can be provided for anyone who is unable to get to Bletchingley under their own steam. This promises to be a great evening. All money raised will go to assist those less fortunate than ourselves in the Tandridge area. (poster attached for e mail users.
10th May Village Forum
7.15pm the Endeavour Godstone Green

If you know of anyone that would like to receive GVAP updates please let me know and conversely if you do not wish to receive these updates in future, likewise let me know.