AGM Report
AGM 2008 - Chairman's Report
Planning
This has been the main area where the Society keeps a watch and makes comments in favour or against proposals, with a view to improvinq the outcome. We meet as a single pane!, but with separate chairmen for the wards of Oatlands (Geoff Banks), St Georges Hill (Peter White), and the onerous Weybridge North and South wards, which we would like to subdivide (Raymond Spary). We gave a qualified endorsement to the new Walton Bridge proposal. Many of the significant comments we have made on building proposals were reported in 92 summary reports included in the four Newsletters of 2007. An innovation on which we have commented, on the whole favourably, is the new Council charge on developers' proposals, known as `PLANNING OBLIGATIONS, which will set in place a tariff to collect funds for repair and improvement of infrastructure, whether roads, drains, education, etc. How this is used will require further attention. As regards the town centre, we are conscious of the possible competition to Weybridge's shops from Walton's new centre, but think we may be best served with Weybridge High Street's character unchanged, provided there is better maintenance.
Transport
This is a subject for which we have a panel of 7 with a wide brief to seek remedies for obvious problems in traffic, roads, foot and cycle paths and in public transport. Joe Hall chairs this, with Tony Palmer and Louis Solway also very active members. Our main purpose is to engage with Surrey County Council on road and path improvements, mainly in the interest of safety and reduction of speeding. Congestion is also critical at busy times, and, though its cure is a reduced dependency on cars, public transport does not yet provide much adequate alternative, apart from a reasonable train service. We are meeting the Freight Partnership about the HGV traffic through the town.
Thames Riverside
The towpath at Weybridge has already been tidied up by the Council. The 'Thames Gate-Wey project which we promoted, now provides the car park/open space by the Elmbridge Canoe Club with a vista of the river, D'Oyly Carte Island and Desborough Cut, in place of scrub. We have been asked to invite suggestions and support for either a piece of public art or a 'heritage marker' to show that this is Weybridge riverside. Weybridge need not be famous just for St George's Hill, and is a town of many and varied parts. Combined with the large fields on Desborough Island, there is already something approaching a riverside country park of a modest kind in this part of the Thames Landscape Area to be added to by a path along the North bank of the Broadwater in due course.
Education
We maintain contact with the schools which took part in the suggestion programme for making Weybridge a better and safer place. We hope the Assistant Principal at Heathside will bring some pupils to our AGM. We have protested that the Churchfields Adult Education Centre, now closed, should be re-opened for an education purpose.
Health
We have helped raise funds for the Sam Beare Hospice at our Summer Party, which was again held at Anne Lindsay's by the Wey, with Michael Aspel, our patron, enthusiastically drawing the raffle.
Events
In January, Barry Hylton Davies, Ambassador Speaker for Painshill Park gave an erudite and entertaining illustrated talk entitled "Five Fine Surrey Gardens"; The AGM in April took the form of an Open Forum, discussing the Society's aim "To Keep Weybridge a Pleasant Place to Live"; in June we had our Summer Riverside Party; and in October we had an excellent illustrated talk by Brian Roberts on Weybridge's Place in Britain's Waterways, particularly the historic Wey Navigation. Our last meeting was about the Surrey Air Ambulance.
The Committee
The Committee is looking to rejuvenate itself with some younger members. Having been its Chairman far nearly three years now, I am hoping to be replaced quite soon, though it has been an enjoyable experience for me, with many new contacts. The team of people who keep things going is an exceptionally harmonious and congenial group, covering a range of activities, but there is scope for a fresh introduction of new blood, new skills (e.g. the website) and new interests. I hope the AGM will produce some people and ideas.
Richard Marshall
