News From Millmead – Latest Council Round-up

Published on: 7 Nov, 2017
Updated on: 8 Nov, 2017

Improved weekly collections aim to make recycling even easier

Guildford Borough Council’s refuse teams are now collecting recyclable textiles, small electrical items and batteries every week, rather than in separate, fortnightly collections.

GBC wheelie bins.

Residents should place their unwanted textiles and small electrical items in a plastic carrier bag and leave them next to their refuse or recycling bin on collection day. Batteries should be placed in a clear sandwich bag and left on top of their bin.

The council asks people to ensure that all items are able to fit into a carrier bag, as anything larger cannot be taken. Whenever possible, bigger items should be donated to charity shops.

New recycling calendars detailing collection dates, are now being distributed to households across the borough.

The deputy Leader of the council, Matt Furniss, said: “Thanks to the great efforts of our residents we have recently increased our recycling rate again to a fantastic 60%.

“Our service teams also work tirelessly to maximise recycling across the borough and I hope these changes will lead to another increase in how much we collect. This goal will bring environmental benefits as well improving the lives of people in our local communities. So I encourage everyone to help us achieve it by recycling as much as you can!”

For more information on waste and recycling visit: www.guildford.gov.uk/recycling

Have your say on plans for a new play space at Westnye Gardens off Millmead

Proposals for a new children’s play garden are being introduced to transform Westnye Gardens, off Millmead.

Image shows the plans for the design of Westnye Garden.

Local residents have been involved in developing ideas on how the area can be revived and transformed into a walled park and inspiring play space for children.

The concept for the garden has been designed by Davies White Ltd, a RHS Gold Medal winning landscape architects.

The focus is to create a garden of wonder, fun and learning for younger children, where they can experience adventure in a natural garden setting.

New seating and planting will provide a welcoming atmosphere for everyone, improving the garden as a place to visit and enjoy a break.

People can comment on the plans. Go to: www.guildford.gov.uk/

Then send an email with your comments to: westnyegardensconsultation parks@guildford.gov.uk

Festive fun at The Village

Fun starts at The Village on Thursday, November 16, as its joins the rest of the town centre to celebrate the switching on of the Christmas lights.

The Village, between Woodbridge Road and Commercial Road, near the Friary shopping centre, will feature free events and activities with a Christmas market, seasonal shops and street food.

Live entertainment will be provided on the Andertons stage under a covered, heated patio area.

At an ice rink that has been installed, the first 200 skaters will receive a free goody bag.

The ice rink, presented by the Blue Martini Group and supported by TG2 Surrey, will open for its first public skate on Thursday, November 16 from noon with sessions through until Christmas Eve.

You can guarantee a skating session by booking in advance, or buy tickets in person (subject to demand) on the day from the council’s on-site box office.

For more information about all events and activities and to book ice skating sessions go to: www.guildford.gov.uk/thevillage/christmas

The village is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 8pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 10pm, and on Sundays from 11am to 6pm.

Responses to News From Millmead – Latest Council Round-up

John Perkins Reply

November 8, 2017 at 10:44 am

“Whenever possible, bigger items should be donated to charity shops.”

The council ought to be aware that most charity shops cannot accept electrical items as the cost of testing them exceeds their value.

On the other hand, the council have been paid in advance to take away household waste.
Sue Warner Reply

November 8, 2017 at 3:59 pm

The only charity shop that accepts electrical items is Debra in Merrow and it has to have a sealed plug with no screws and have the electrical standards mark on it.

If it doesn’t conform to these two items they cannot accept it and as much older stuff doesn’t – I’m afraid you have to take it to Slyfield.

I tried so hard recently to pass on some perfectly good electrical items but found it impossible. It broke my heart to put them in the skip.
- C Barker Reply
  
  November 8, 2017 at 7:51 pm
  
  You can give electric goods away for free by advertising them free of charge on Gumtree
Brian Holt Reply

November 8, 2017 at 9:36 pm

I often see lovely furniture being thrown in the skips wasted when it could be kept and put to good use.

I would like to suggest perhaps hard up Surrey County Council could save it at sites and sell it on to various furniture projects, it may make enough to keep the tips open seven-days-a-week.
Dave Middleton Reply

November 27, 2017 at 3:27 pm

Westnye Gardens is one of the very few quiet public spaces in Guildford town centre.

It is a place where I would regularly go, free of charge, when I lived in the town centre, in a flat which had no open space attached to it.

I still visit it on a regular basis, when I have cause to go into the town centre.

It is a peaceful oasis of calm, away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre and should be left as such, without screaming children and invariably expensive and under-used play facilities spoiling it.

I note from the plans shown on the consultation document, that the proposed play facilities are spread throughout the garden, leaving no area that will be child free, for adults seeking peaceful relaxation or solitary contemplation.

I am also concerned that some existing mature and semi-mature trees are not shown on the plans, leading me to believe that they are to be felled to facilitate these changes.

There are plans to strip out areas of mature shrubbery which, together with the trees form valuable urban wildlife habitat for birds, small creatures and insects. This is wholly unacceptable.

Looking at aerial photographs of the housing in the local area, it appears that the vast majority of local dwellings have their own garden space, where the occupier’s children can play outdoors.

There is ample space nearby in the area of the River Wey, opposite Guildford Rowing Club, for children to run about and play, as with the playing fields of Shalford Park.

There is a children’s playground located where Artillery Terrace meets Drummond Road, which has children’s play structures.

There is the recreation ground on Recreation Road and of course, all of Stoke Park for children to run about and play on, in addition to the children’s playground located therein.

Westnye Gardens should be kept as it is; as probably the only peaceful, adult friendly place, in the town centre area.