Yesterday I was privileged to be able to attend the first session of Surrey County Council’s Drive Smart campaign at Christ’s College. For the session I joined sixth form students to watch an excellent interactive presentation which took up the idea of a young woman trying to tell her boyfriend and his mate why she spent so much time nagging them to slow down, not use their mobile while driving and generally behave more responsibly while in control of a car.

Personally (even though I wasn’t the target audience) I found it an eye opener and I left realising that there are certain elements of my driving that I really need to tighten up on. Speaking to some of the students they too found the session interesting and there was a sense that seeing the presentation before they had started driving was useful as it made them think about what type of driver they want to be.

I’m glad that I was able to attend the session and would certainly recommend it to any college or school student who gets the opportunity to see it. I have to say that if the same type of presentation had been around when I was at college I wonder how many of the accidents (mainly minor thankfully) that happened to my friends, peers and I could have been avoided. Yes experience makes you wiser but something like this may have made us think in advance rather than relying on painful experiences.

Many of you will have seen a piece on Guildford City Football Club’s proposals regarding the Slyfield Area Regeneration project in the Surrey Advertiser on Friday (if not click here) and I thought that I would expand a little on my comments.

I and a number of other councillors have received detailed brochures on Guildford City’s proposal that a new football ground be built as part of the Slyfield Area Regeneration. The brochure explains that such a ground could be a permanent base for Guildford City and also potentially help Guildford Boxing and Table Tennis clubs. Reading through the Club’s proposals I felt they were very interesting and showed a potentially exciting opportunity to put Guildford football ‘back on the map’.However it is important to remember that the Slyfield Regeration is still in its very early stages.

At present the council is still at the stage of selecting master planners who will come in and after extensive consultation with local residents and community groups will draft a plan of how the development may look. It is during this process of consultation that ideas such as those from Guildford City FC will be looked at and considered as to whether they would fit the vision of the regeneration project.

I will of course keep you posted with any news as I know there are many local residents who are keen fans of the club.

Living in the ward I represent means that I’m out and about a lot and am able to see first hand many of the problems that local residents contact me about. However, I will say that I don’t notice everything and that’s why I really value people’s emails and the input of our Community Safety Warden Garry Jones.

I often see Garry at meetings but in November I made the decision to go out on a walk with him around a section of the ward every 4 to 6 weeks. Thursday this week was one of those walks.

I find that as we walk and chat it’s a great opportunity for us to catch up on any local concerns that I have missed and be updated on some of the behind the scenes work that he, the local police and other council departments are doing. On Thursday we walked around the bottom half of Bellields (our previous walk was around Weyfield) looking at the state of the roads, parking along the Stoughton Road and some other concerns that had been raised with each of us by residents. As part of it I took a number of photos which I will be using to show council officers some of the issues that need addressing.

With Friday being my day off with Reuben my two-year old son I’ll be getting on to following this walk up on Monday and hope that I’ll be able to update you soon on the issues that I raise.

…don’t forget if you’re out and about and spot something you think that needs action drop me an email to zoe@guildfordlibdems.org.uk or call 830157 and leave a message (I pick them up every day and aim to call back the next day).

Liberal Democrat councillors have voiced their deep concern over Guildford Borough Council’s proposal to divide up land and buildings at Burpham Court Farm with the view to letting the farm land and outbuildings, and selling off the farmhouse and cottages on the open market. The plans are part of a report to be given at the Council Executive meeting on 28^th January at Millmead.

Councillor Zöe Franklin said, “There is no question that the council should let the farm land and outbuildings as it will ensure that they are maintained and income continues to come in from the site. However we are concerned that selling the farmhouse and cottages on the open market is a short-sighted decision that will cause long-term  problems.

Land at Burpham Court Farm has a crucial role to play in the Slyfield Regeneration Project, whether as land for any potential new link to the A3 or as a means of fulfilling legal requirements for public green space. By selling off the properties at the site you introduce the problem that any tenants will views on such developments and may raise objections which would throw the Slyfield project into jeopardy, or at least significantly increase the councils costs.”

Councillor Victor Searle added “I am disappointed that there seems to have been little consideration to the fact that should the farm land and buildings be let to an organisation for use as a public farm or similar there may be a need for accommodation for the site manager, staff or even users. If the farmhouse and cottages have been sold off these would not be available for this use and it would be to difficult to secure planning permission for new buildings given the flood risks and the site’s designation as Green Belt . Public farms such as Burpham Court are rare and we should be taking a much broader approach which will provide maximum benefit to the community when making any decision regarding the site.”

You can read press coverage of this story at GetSurrey.co.uk

Following the problems the Royal Surrey had a few years ago and the passionate campaign by local people to save the hospital, I am really pleased the their bid for Foundation status is nearing completion.

Foundation status will be of real benefit to local people and all those who use the hospital for a number of reason.

1. Any financial surplus at the end of a year the Royal Surrey would be able to reinvest it in the work of the hospital - currently they are limited on how it can be spent by the Department of Health
2. Local people and patients will have more say in how the hospital is run through membership of the Foundation Trust.

I’ve just expressed my interest in joining and trust and would encourage anyone who lives locally or receives regular treatment at the hospital to consider doing so aswell. You can find out more information about the bid at www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/Foundation-Trust or you can go straight to the membership page at www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/Join-us.

I have to confess that I’ve been completely stunned by the snow this week. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much snow and I certainly haven’t seen snow that has stayed around for so long!

As well as being struck by the beauty of the snow I have also been surprised by the real sense of community care and spirit it has produced. On Monday my husband and I rung an elderly friend of ours from church who said to us “Thank you for ringing but I’ve been inundated with offers of help.” She continued to explain that amongst calls from other friends one of her neighbours children had knocked on her door, along with every other resident in her road which is made up predominately of elderly residents, to check that she was OK and whether she needed anything from Tescos.

That person didn’t have to knock on those 30-something doors but they did and they showed those residents that they are not invisible but are instead cared for. Some may accuse us of being an uncaring society but that story shows that there are still people who care and will the extra mile to help people.

As I write I have the BBC News coverage of Barack Obama’s inauguration on in the background. No one can deny that today is a historic day. The US has made a huge journey for us to be at the point that we can witness an African-American become the President of America.

Barack Obama is an inspiration. He has overcome huge obstacles, he is brilliant speaker, he has fantastic political vision and most of all he is real - he makes it clear that he and the American people face a difficult job bringing change to their country and to their interaction with the world. For that I respect him deeply, particularly because he is not afraid to say this despite knowing the weight of hope that rests on his shoulders.

 

Last year I found it really easy to get into the spirit of Christmas. Perhaps it was that my son, Reuben, was only two months old and the wonder of his birth hadn’t left me so it was easier to feel the wonder of the Christmas season? Perhaps it was because I wasn’t working and enjoyed leisurely walks up Guildford High Street looking in shop windows and seeing the Christmas displays being put up? Perhaps it was because I had time enjoy the shopping rather than trying to speed shop on the internet?

Actually, I think I know what it is this year - I am very aware that for many Christmas this year will be a time of wondering how they are going to make ends meet; how they are going to afford what their son or daughter (or partner!) has been asking for the last two months; or wondering what 2009 will bring. Christmas doesn’t have to be expensive but I admit it’s hard to hold back when you have children pestering you, friends that you ‘ought’ to by for and most of all the expectation sold to us in magazines and on TV that it’s is all about presents and spending. In fact my favourite thing about Christmas is not the presents but the fact I can spend time with my family chatting, laughing and generally having fun (there’s always the argument in there - it wouldn’t be Christmas without it!).

Anyway pondering this made me realise that I know that things are OK for my family financially and so amongst my Christmas shopping I’ll be buying a few extra gifts to take to Superdrug to pop into the Salvation Army’s Christmas Present Appeal box. Perhaps, if you can, you could consider doing the same. You can find out more information at www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/christmaspresent.

Whatever your situation I hope that you are able to enjoy the festive season and, as always, if you feel that I can help with something do get in touch.

Merry Christmas.

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for me in the by-election on September 11th. I am delighted that I am able to represent my fellow residents in the role of Borough Councillor for Stoke ward.

The by-election campaign was hard work but there is no doubt that going out and meeting people on the door-steps was a real highlight  for me. As well as giving me the opportunity to speak to old friends and meet new ones it also enabled me to hear direct from fellow residents the issues that are really of concern. Going into the campaign I knew that people were upset and frustrated by the ongoing issue of roads, anti-social behaviour, smells in the Slyfield/Weyfield area and refuse/recycling. Coming out of it I now have a clearer idea of people’s wider concerns which include parking across the ward, speeding, buses and the state of disrepair that some local pathways have fallen into.

Melanie Wilberforce (my fellow ward councillor) and I met at the weekend to discuss the issues raised during the campaign and how we could effectively work to improve them and the other key issues. We may not have all the answers right now but going forward we know that by asking the right questions we will be able to work towards finding resolutions to as many of them as possible.