SCC Leader Seeking Postponement of County Council Elections to Focus on Devolution
By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter The leader of Surrey County Council is set to write to the Government calling for the 2025 elections to be postponed in order to allow authorities to focus on merging under devolution plans. In December the Government announced its vision to…
Mole Valley Best Place to Live in the South East
By Emily Dalton local democracy reporter A new data-led survey has named neighbouring Mole Valley as the South East’s best place to live (not including London). Crunching numbers and statistics instead of the views of expert judges and reviews, The Times ranked the district as 13th in…
Guildford to Gatwick Line to Close for Two Weeks to Allow Critical Upgrades
Critical upgrades to the Guildford to Gatwick railway line are necessitating the planned closure of the line for the first two weeks of February. The line will close from Saturday, February 1, to Sunday, February 16, with a bus replacement service operating. Network Rail engineers will be…
Opinion: Why Are Five-storey Blocks Allowed in An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty?
Local resident, John Harrison, a member of the St Catherine’s Village Association, was one of two objectors allowed to address GBC’s Planning Committee on the proposal to redevelop the former University of Law site in St Catherine’s, Guildford. Here he gives his personal view on the way…
Football Pitches Approved as Part of Secretts Redevelopment
By Emily Dalton local democracy reporter Two new mini sports pitches have been approved as part of a 216 home development in a Surrey village, but neighbours claim it will make the “ancient country lane” more dangerous and damage its “rural character”. The new addition forms part…
Witness Appeal Following Serious Collision
Surrey Police are continuing to investigate following a serious collision in Elstead last night (December 29). Police were called when a car collided with a tree on the B3001 Farnham Road near The Elstead Mill, around 11.30pm. One of the passengers in the car was taken to…
Council and Guildford High School Join Forces to Help Local Families over Christmas
A total of 175 local families had Christmas gifts under their tree thanks to Guildford Borough Council’s Community Wellbeing Team and Guildford High School. Students at Guildford High School donated over 400 presents to families who are supported by the council at the community hub, The Hive.…
Insights: The Band on the Titanic Strikes Up ‘Devolution!’ – Part 3
By Bernard Quoroll Bernard Quoroll served as chief executive or a senior officer in six local authorities. He says that the radical proposed changes in the English Devolution White Paper are akin to rearranging the deckchairs on the sinking Titanic and will leave England as one of…
GBC to Receive No Additional Money from Announced Settlement
By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter Surrey councils have received mixed news from central Government after learning their financial settlements, including that for Guildford, will largely remain as before – and on short-term one-year deals. The Government, which wants to “fix the foundations of local government in…
School Head Says There Should Be VAT Exemptions for SEN Kids
By Emily Dalton local democracy reporter Private schools are “not a lifestyle choice but a necessity” for children with special…
Column: Guildford’s MP Writes – Greener, Fairer, Thriving
Guildford’s Lib Dem MP, Zoe Franklin, writes to inform Dragon readers of her activity… By Zoe Franklin During my election campaign…
Deepcut To Become the First New Parish in Surrey This Century
The former St Barbara’s Garrison Church is set to become the heart of a newly-created parish in Deepcut. The Church of…
‘Truly Inspiring’ Musical Event Brings Generations Together
A Guildford Hub musical event, held in the lead up to Christmas on December 13, was described as “truly inspiring” by…
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