By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter Billions of pounds in crushing debt could force Surrey and its boroughs and districts to become a single mega council – potentially merged with a neighbour, following government feedback on its devolution and reorganisation plans. Two plans were submitted in March…

Website Maintenance

The Guildford Dragon NEWS website has been migrated to a new server. Unfortunately, some reader comments have been erased in the move. We apologies for any inconvenience. We thank Delivered Social for carrying out the maintenance and providing hosting pro bono.…

Updated: Honesty Questioned as Waverley Scraps Ground Maintenance Deal

By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter This article has been updated with amendments provided by the LDRS A million-pound agreement is being torn up just weeks after Waverley Borough Council approved it following “significant concerns” over the “honesty” of the deal. In March, the council signed off…

Events to Commemorate 80th Anniversary of VE Day

There will be two civic events in Guildford on Thursday, May 8, marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), when the Second World War in Europe ended with the defeat of the Nazis. At 9am the Town Crier will mark the official start…

Caught: Prisoners Running Drug Supply Network from Inside Local Jail

Two prisoners who smuggled mobile phones into jail to run an illegal drug supply network have been caught and will now serve even more time behind bars. Jack Payne and William (Billy) Stewart were serving time in HMP Coldingley in Bisley when suspicions were raised about whether…

180th Anniversary of the Railway Coming to Guildford Exhibition Will Be the Best You’ve Ever Seen!

To celebrate the 180th anniversary of the railway coming to Guildford, you must not miss the exhibition at Guildford railway station next weekend, Friday to Sunday, May 2 to 4. Geoff Burch and David Rose have selected hundreds of vintage photos of the station and trains down…

‘Appalling Increase’ in Thames Water Sewage Dumping, Says Guildford’s MP

By Esme Campbell Despite widespread criticism, the amount of sewage Thames Water released into local waterways more than tripled from 2023 to 2024, latest testing reveals. Last year, the company discarded sewage into local water bodies on 94 separate occasions, totalling over 944 hours – the equivalent…

27 Special Needs Families Reimbursed By Surrey County Council

By Chris Caulfield Local Democracy Reporting Service Parents of children with special educational needs who were left with little choice but to use private educational psychologists may be due money back from Surrey County Council. So far 27 families have been reimbursed for having to go private…

I Will Not Be Voting in the County Council Election Today

Bernard Quoroll, former CEO of several local authorities and official observer of foreign elections, considers today’s non-election… Who would I have…

Home-to-School Transport Refused

By Emily Dalton local democracy reporter Two Surrey parents have been refused help to take their daughter to sixth form or…

Final Steam Train Signalled by Farncombe, Petersfield and Haslemere Signal Boxes

Saturday (April 26) marked a moment of railway history as the final steam train was signalled through the railway by three…

New Toucan Crossing on Woking Road to Facilitate Weyside Urban Village Project

Work to install a new toucan crossing on Woking Road will begin on Tuesday, May 6. This light-controlled crossing will replace…