Tune In to Hook Heath, Mayford, Mount Hermon, St Johns and Sutton Green

Hook Heath, Mayford, Mount Hermon, St Johns and Sutton Green

Monday 31 March 2008

We would like to thank residents for attending the Neighbourhood Improvement Workshop held at Freemantles School, Mayford on Monday 31 March 2008. We hope you will find this update informative.

So, down to business! The event itself was hailed a success, as over 130 residents attended and took the opportunity to meet various voluntary groups, including residents' associations.

Also on hand to speak to residents and local people were representatives from Surrey Police, Woking Borough Council, Surrey County Council, Surrey Fire and Rescue and the local Primary Care Trust - the main partners behind the Neighbourhood Management Group who planned the workshop.

On the evening everyone was asked to write down the main three issues that they would like to discuss. These were then used to determine the three main topics for the evening's workshops:

• improving the local environment

• recycling

• community policing.

Since the event

Surrey Police, Neighbourhood Officers (from Woking Borough Council), officers from Surrey County Council, local councillors and local residents groups have been investigating how community groups, relevant agencies and local residents can get involved in addressing these issues.

Litter and street cleaning

Woking Borough Council is to capitalise on the good work of residents in St Johns, by emulating their successful community clean-up day, where residents are encouraged to clear up their local area. It is anticipated residents in other areas of the Borough will get involved in similar events in their area.

As part of a general campaign to keep the Borough clean, Neighbourhood Officers have been working alongside police colleagues to patrol the streets looking for anyone dropping litter. Both have the power to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to anyone caught littering.

If you would like to get involved in a community clean up-day in your area, please contact Tony Tweedie on 01483 743806 or email tony.tweedie@woking.gov.uk

Overgrown hedges

Concerns were raised that on some pavements, overgrown hedges were obstructing pedestrians. Since the meeting, Council Officers have been in contact with Surrey County Council to issues Hedge Notices, instructing resident to prune their hedges. However, we would ask all residents to check their hedges to ensure a safe passage for all pedestrians.

Dog fouling

The Council's Dog Warden has been made aware of local hotspots in the area and has added them to his patrol. We would ask all dog owners to respect their area and to clean up after their pets.

Work on the Commons

Some residents were concerned about the felling of trees on Smarts Heath and Prey Heath Commons. Both heathlands are internationally important Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and are managed by Woking Borough Council in partnership with Surrey Heathland Project, in order to conserve and enhance their ecological value. Selective removal of trees and invading scrub is an essential part of this management, which is overseen by Natural England in order to prevent loss of heathland habitat. For more information, visit www.surreyheathlandproject.org.uk

Young people

Earlier this year, goalposts were installed on St Johns Lye in response to requests from local young people. Since then, they have been a great success. Due to the popularity of the posts, the Council repeated the initiative in other parts of the Borough, including the play area in Mayford.

Recycling

Residents raised concerns over the increased cost of garden waste sacks. The rise was due to a number of external factors, including the continuing rise in manufacturing, fuel and labour costs.

As requested at the meeting, enclosed with this newsletter is the Council's latest information regarding recycling and waste collections. The Council is committed to seeking and introducing new recycling options to assist Woking residents to recycling more.

The Council has also provided all schools with recycling bins and crates for their classrooms. Neighbourhood Officers continue to play a part in the Junior Citizen programme, which aims to develop children into responsible citizens, delivering workshops to over 1,000 children each year.

Community volunteers

Woking Borough Council is looking for committed residents who are prepared to be contacted to help at any future community events, such as the community clean-up days.

If anyone would like to become a community volunteer, please contact Woking Borough Council's Neighbourhood Officer Tony Tweedie on 01483 743806 or email tony.tweedie@woking.gov.uk

Neighbourhood policing

Speeding was highlighted as a particular concern for residents. Inspector Lynette Shanks explained a number initiatives aimed at reducing speed on our highways, one being Surrey Police's Speed Watch scheme, where local residents can get involved. If you would like to volunteer to help solve problems in the area by becoming a member of the scheme, please contact one of the Safer Neighbourhood Team below:

PC Clare Leggatt, email: 1884@surrey.pnn.police.uk

PCSO Kevin Miller, email: 13304@surrey.pnn.police.uk

PCSO Rachel Bayliss, email: 11474@surrey.pnn.police.uk

You can speak to one of the team by phoning 0845 125 2222.

The team hold regular panel meetings, where priorities for the policing team are set by the residents who attend. The team also hold regular police surgeries, which is your opportunity to speak to a member of the team on a one-on-one basis. To find out more about the dates of panel meetings and surgeries, please contact the Safer Neighbourhood Team, or visit www.surrey.police.uk

Evaluation - what have we learnt from the event?

The event and your neighbourhood

We can see that, overall, those who attended are proud to tell people where they live and feel they can turn to neighbours to ask for help. The majority feel that people in their neighbourhood care about their neighbours and over half of those who completed the evaluation showed that they get involved in community activities and regularly give up time to volunteer in their neighbourhood.

The workshops

Over 80% of those who completed the evaluation said they found the workshops a worthwhile use of their time. Also, 69% stated that they now know where to find information about public services, and 60% said they are satisfied with the level of service they receive from local agencies.

Your feedback

Below are some comments that you fed back to us on the evaluation forms.

"Thanks - a useful evening."

"Well run workshop."

"Very good."

What's happening now?

For results of the workshops, issues raised from the registration forms and evaluation of the event, please visit this page regularly, as all dedicated officers and organisations are continually adding information when it becomes available.

For further information, please contact:

Tony Tweedie, Neighbourhood Officer

Email: tony.tweedie@woking.gov.uk

Phone: 01483 743806