Ripley Round-up: Residents Mindful of Wisley Planning Enquiry

Published on: 25 Oct, 2017
Updated on: 23 Jul, 2020

By Chris Dick

Since the previous edition of the Ripley Round -up the Wisley Appeal Hearing at Guildford has been at the forefront of many residents’ minds.

At last the five-week hearing is over and the long wait has now begun for Secretary of State Sajid Javid, at the Department for Communities and Local Government to reach his conclusion. The outcome is unlikely to be known before the new year.

Over 35 people attended the site visit to the former Wisley Airfield with Planning Inspector Clive Hughes who presided at the hearing.

Most of those attending were local residents including local parish and borough councillor, Colin Cross and Tim Harrold from CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England). The visit took place on Tuesday, October 24, 2017.

The public planning enquiry visits the proposed site for a major housing development at the former Wisley Airfield.

Village Hall fundraising

Over £1,000 has been raised for a village project. The Ripley Hall Village fundraising committee hosted another successful social evening in their drive to raise enough money to rebuild the 45-year-old hall.

Ripley Village Hall

The evening event was well attended with the hall packed with local residents clearly having a good time.(shown below). Apart from the roast hog, there was a quiz and plenty to drink from the well-stocked bar.

Ripley residents enjoy an evening of food and entertainment.

Nigel Bruder worked tirelessly to cook and serve the hog roast, which had been kindly donated by A H Conisbee & Co Ltd, Ripley. As expected the roast sold out on the night and raised £1,577.

Nigel Bruder carving the hog roast.

The committee appears to run an event at least once a month and the next one, a wine tasting event, will take place on November 3, 2017. This one is being hosted by Cellar Wines at the ‘Old Cellar’ in Ripley High Street.

They will be presenting six wines, starting with something fizzy and then move onto two whites, two reds and finish off with a dessert wine. They will be matching the wines with small tasters of cheese or charcuterie. There will, of course, be a raffle. The entry price per person is £35. So a good evening is anticipated.

Ripley Village Hall Fundraising Wine Tasting Evening. Friday 3rd November 2017 – 7.30pm – £35pp.

Papercourt Sailability

Congratulations to Papercourt Sailability for winning the Mayor’s Award for Access to Sport for all they do at Papercourt Sailing Club. Deputy Mayor of Guildford Mike Parsons presented John Beynon (pictured below), one of the sailing instructors, with the award.

John Beynon pictured in the clubhouse with the mayor’s award certificate.

After the award ceremony, that took place on October 17 (2017) John Beynon said: “I became a volunteer for Sailability at Papercourt about two years ago to help introduce people of all abilities to the pleasures of sailing. It’s one of the few sports where competitors can compete together no matter what their disability. I’ve been sailing since my school days 30 years ago. Our clients do not have to pay to sail as we are all unpaid volunteers.

“The boats we use are purpose built so that they can be sailed by a person with limited movements and the boats are weighted to prevent capsizing. The lakes are not well known but are in truth the jewel in the crown for this area and fishermen are always hoping to catch one a 42-pound carp said to inhabit these waters.

“The Mayor’s Award means so much to the club as it helps us to advertise our presence and recognizes the time and effort our team of volunteers give. Many local residents don’t know we are here even though we can have up to 80 dinghy’s on the water at weekends!”

Papercourt Lake Ripley looking out from the clubhouse.

It was good to see that the Fireworks Committee was well on the way to providing another massive bonfire with their firework display on Saturday, October 28, (2017). Click here for program details.