By David Reading  The newly-elected member of Ash Parish Council, Sue Wyeth-Price, said today (May 30) that one of the major challenges ahead will be to ensure that section 106 funds collected from housing developers are appropriately spent for the benefit of the Ash community. Wyeth-Price, who…

Dragon Interview: MP Hopes Thames Water Fine Will Be ‘Final Nail in Its Coffin’

Guildford’s MP tells Dragon editor Martin Giles that she was pleased to see the £122 million fine imposed on Thames Water for its continued poor performance and would welcome the company coming under public control. Lib Dem Zöe Franklin was campaigning on the issue of Thames Water’s…

Conservative Claims on Use of CIL Payments ‘Political Theatre’ Say Lib Dems

By Martin Giles Conservative councillors at Waverley Borough Council (WBC) are demanding answers from the council’s Liberal Democrat-led Executive over the use of the estimated £2.9 million of interest income generated from unspent Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 (s106) funds over the past five years.…

Thames Water Faces £122 Million Penalty Following Ofwat Inquiry

By David Reading and Martin Giles Thames Water has been fined more than £122 million by regulator Ofwat following an investigation into its operations. The water industry regulator imposed the penalty – the largest it has ever issued – for breaking rules over sewage spills and shareholder…

New Knife Crime Strategy for Surrey Announced

By Esme Campbell A new strategy to tackle Surrey knife crime was unveiled last week by the Police and Crime Commissioner which focuses on working with communities to prevent offences and bring knife crime numbers down in the county. The strategy, which is the work of the…

Public Asked for Views on SCC’s Proposal for Reduced Speed Limits

By Martin Giles Speed limits on some of Guildford and Waverley’s rural roads are being reviewed. Currently, unless specific speed restrictions have been imposed, they are all subject to the national speed limit of 60mph. But the aim of Surrey County Council’s Rural Speed Limit Project is…

Guildford Healthcare Staff Celebrated for Transformative Mental Health Support

Two staff members from Farnham Road Hospital have received top honours at the annual Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Staff Awards, recognising their creative and compassionate work in mental health care. Deepika Vijayaraj, an Assistant Psychologist on Victoria Ward, was named Employee of the Year…

Will the Government Help Save Community Pubs? Asks Surrey MP

By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter An “amazing” not-for-profit community pub has topped a poll of best watering holes – and even got a shout out in the House of Commons for “the special place that it is”. The Garibaldi Community Pub in Redhill received hundreds of…

Major Disruption on the Railway During Hot Day in 1900

By Mark Coxhead with David Rose On July 16, 1900, a derailed engine caused a significant disruption on the London &…

Tests at Paddling Pool Showed Water Was Too Alkaline, Says GBC

By David Reading The contamination problem that delayed the opening of the Stoke Park paddling pool is still being investigated, Guildford…

Charity’s New Programme Meets Needs of SEND Children Without School Places

By David Reading Challengers, the Guildford-based charity, is expanding the help it offers to parents of children with special educational needs…

Pasta Evangelists to Open First Restaurant Outside London – Right Here in Guildford

By Stella Kuchanny Guildford High Street is about to welcome a new arrival. Pasta Evangelists is bringing its first-ever restaurant outside…