which poses serious problems for people with mobility issues The Government has confirmed that a feasibility study for Ash Vale Station is well underway looking at whether to introduce changes that will make the station accessible for passengers facing mobility problems The confirmation has been made in response to a question in the House of Commons from Jeremy Hunt The station is situated on a high embankment which can only be accessed by flights of stairs Last summer the Dragon reported that nearly 2,700 people had signed a petition to grant step-free access at the station Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport said in response to Mr Hunt’s question about what progress had been made: “The feasibility work for Ash Vale Station is underway and we expect all 50 of the feasibility studies announced last year to be complete in the spring We expect to be able to confirm which stations will move forward over the summer.” But he added that the improvement programme – “Access for All” – continued to be heavily oversubscribed Mr Hunt said afterwards: “I will be pushing the Department for Transport and other interested parties to ensure this vital investment is confirmed so that we can ensure Ash Vale is accessible to all who live We’re making progress but more still to do.” the Dragon reported that the six-year campaign for accessibility improvements to the station had passed a major hurdle That was when it was announced that Ash Vale had been included in the list of 50 stations nationwide that had been put forward as part of the Government’s Access for All (AfA) programme AfA was launched in 2006 to address the issues faced by disabled passengers and those facing mobility restraints Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" See: Comment - We Need Change But Not the Kind Being Imposed By Labour’s ‘Devolution’ A long-standing Ash Vale resident has written to her MP urging him to support her campaign for safety measures at the zebra crossing outside Ash Vale Station Mrs Heather Johnson said she feared that pedestrians faced a serious risk at the crossing and she has asked other people in the area to give their support She said: “I am so worried about the crossing but since a man was killed there in May 2020 I’ve got quite obsessed about the danger it poses Why on earth hasn’t it been made into a pelican crossing with lights the lighting needs to be improved as the natural light there is poor.” who has lived in Ash Vale for more than 50 years passengers run down the stairs from the station straight into the crossing I feel some railings or something else suitable needs to be done so that passengers have at least to walk round to prevent this It’s another accident waiting to happen.” The fatality that Mrs Johnson referred to in 2020 was where an elderly couple were hit by a car Report updated with a comment from Surrey County Council the County Council reviewed the zebra crossing and subsequently upgraded the Belisha beacons to LED lights so that they are brighter and more conspicuous There is already street lighting on both sides of the road directly over the zebra crossing “The Divisional Councillor can propose additional measures if they wish and fund them through their local Highways Allocation.” After Mrs Johnson announced her fears on social media there were dozens of comments most of them agreeing the crossing was dangerous One person said: “They should scrap the roundabout and make it a traffic light junction and build a pedestrian crossing into that.” Another said: “One would have thought a fatality would have been enough to look at the safety aspect of the crossing.” And another: “I’ve said for ages that this is very dangerous It is too close to the roundabout and also needs proper traffic lights…or preferably doing away with altogether.” Hard to believe that it is five years since a neighbour was killed on this dangerous pedestrian crossing I am amazed that there have not been more fatalities I use this crossing most days and on numerous occasions I have witnessed traffic coming to a halt on one side but cars driving in the opposite direction failing to stop Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as the MyGuildford Account login The site will not function properly without these cookies and they can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences We'd like to set Google Analytics cookies to help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone For more information on how these cookies work please see the list of cookies used on this website Getting the community involved is an important part of our Ash Road Bridge project During July community groups and students from Ash Manor School were invited on site to find out how the bridge is progressing These engagement events contribute to the social value for the project Social value is about giving something back to the community The visits are the latest in a range of activities that our contractor VolkerFitzpatrick Limited (VFL) have organised in Ash Cubs and Beavers visited the Ash Road Bridge site at the beginning of July The children also had the opportunity to walk up the south embankment to see the new bridge They also walked along the newly completed section of Foreman Road Malcolm Simpson of the 1st Ash Vale Scouts group thanked VFL and said:"It was a great visit for all our young members The accompanying adults were also very pleased to get the chance to see the project up close!" Four students from Ash Manor School spent four days on site for work experience between 15 and 18 July On the first day they were given an induction including risk assessment scope of the project and met the whole site team They were then kitted out in their PPE and had a tour of the site Over the next two days they each spent a day with the construction and engineering teams The students were able to choose which area they preferred They then spent more time getting involved in their chosen discipline said:"I was pleased we could offer this opportunity to the students from Ash Manor School It was great to see them getting involved with the project out of the four students who came along for work experience three of them showed an interested in following careers in the construction industry." said:"Not only are these visits brilliant opportunities for young people in Ash to get a glimpse of what the new bridge is going to look like but it also gives them a chance to consider careers in the engineering and construction industries Thanks to VolkerFitzpatrick for setting aside time and resources for these activities." More information about the Ash Road Bridge project Following changes to the boundary of the Surrey Heath Parliamentary Constituency at the upcoming General Election on 4 July 2024 the constituency no longer includes Ash but has gained Normandy and Pirbright.   These changes are a result of the 2023 Review conducted by the Boundary Commission for England Electors will receive poll cards with their polling details and the necessary contact details for any enquiries prior to polling day.  Upcoming deadlines for the General Election ahead of polling day on 4 July 2024 include:   Completed postal votes need to be returned to the Acting Returning Officer by 10pm on 4 July 2024 so please put them in the post as soon as possible You can also hand your completed postal vote into the council offices at Surrey Heath House Camberley GU15 3HD or at any polling station in the constituency on polling day but you must complete the form that staff will provide at these locations Please do not leave postal votes in the council letter box as unfortunately they will not be accepted.  If you vote at a polling station you will need to present photo ID – you can find a list of accepted documents on the Electoral Commission website.  Throughout the run up to the General Election, special editions of our regular e-newsletter, Surrey Heath News, will include all the latest information you need about voting on 4 July 2024. Sign up today to receive everything you need to know about application deadlines and photo ID Find out more about elections and voting Evening Standard analysis of key seats to watch in London and beyond for the July 4 General Election News | Politics Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice Millions of voters will go to the polls this week to elect the new Government. The Standard is looking at key battlegrounds in London and beyond, and has published an interactive map for races in the capital. Here we turn the spotlight further afield in Surrey on: Candidates for main parties (in alphabetical order): Summary: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is battling to avoid becoming one of the “Portillo moments” of the 2024 election if he is deposed in the new seat of Godalming and Ash which is a top target for the Liberal Democrats Mr Hunt had represented South West Surrey since 2005 but that constituency was scrapped in the latest boundary changes He admits to facing a “knife edge” battle to win the new seat in the face of a Liberal Democrat push to claim one or more high-profile scalps on July 4 In a reference to then-cabinet minister Michael Portillo’s shock election loss in 1997 Mr Hunt told The Sun on Sunday: “If I want to avoid a Portillo moment we have to win the argument with people not just in this constituency but up and down the country.” is urging supporters and Tory waverers: “Let’s turn the ‘Portillo moment’ into the ‘Hunt Moment’!” Cranleigh Rural and Ellens Green; Ash South and Tongham; Ash Vale; Ash Wharf; Blackheath and Wonersh; Bramley Busbridge and Hascombe; Chiddingfold and Dunsfold; Cranleigh East; Cranleigh West; Elstead and Thursley; Godalming Binscombe; Godalming Central and Ockford; Godalming Charterhouse; Godalming Farncombe and Catteshall; Godalming Holloway; Milford; Pilgrims; Shalford; Shamley Green and Cranleigh North; Tillingbourne; Witley and Hambledon I’m not sure if I’m in this constituency: Here’s how you can check But any local boy advantage is outweighed by his prominence as Rishi Sunak’s right-hand-man in the outgoing Cabinet and the Lib Dems are also playing the local card in putting up Godalming-area councillor Mr Follows YouGov MRP poll prediction: Liberal Democrat gain Evening Standard view: Mr Hunt has ploughed £100,000 of his considerable business fortune into his constituency party to try to ensure he doesn’t become one of the most high-profile victims of the 2024 election Deaths of three children in Staines being investigated as murder Investment bosses praise Labour’s potential scrapping of British ISA Tens of thousands of drivers to be affected by closure of key motorway Save £20 per person on autumn and Christmas days out by steam but YouGov now sees a Lib Dem gain as more likely since its first MRP poll early in the campaign Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has been particularly active around Surrey and insists: “People like Jeremy Hunt are very much to blame for the mess of our economy.” Click below to see more key seats across London: VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin David Beckham extends olive branch to son Brooklyn amid 'family feud' Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital The Ash site earmarked for a medical facility A consortium of GPs has expressed an interest in building and running a general practice surgery on the site set aside by Bewley Homes for healthcare purposes in Ash Such a project would aim at meeting the additional need for primary care services created by the large number of homes that have been built – and are still being built – in the Ash and Tongham area But NHS Frimley has insisted once again that the best way to meet the area’s housing boom will be to invest in the existing GP services rather than by building a new surgery A statement said this is being achieved by expanding the number of consulting rooms at the two practices serving the area – the Bartlett Group with surgeries in Ash Vale and Frimley Green and the Border Practice across the county border in Rushmoor Both practices “are seeking to increase their workforce” NHS Frimley said the money for the expansion would come from Section 106 contributions from housing developers Asked to quantify the amount being handed over Guildford Borough Council said: “We’re expecting to shortly receive a request from Frimley ICB (the NHS organisation that manages health services) for the release of S106 funds totalling £178,449.” The news that the NHS is unsupportive of the consortium’s proposals has left the two borough councillors for Ash South disappointed and bewildered Cllr Sue Wyeth-Price (R4GV) said: “Cllr David Shaw and I have been meeting with a group of GPs from a very highly-rated and innovative practice currently based in east London who are looking to expand here They are willing to build and run a new GP practice on the site which would provide considerable benefits to the local community at no capital cost to the NHS NHS Frimley are unwilling to support any new practice apparently based on the consultations they had with the two existing surgeries which cover the local area from the meetings we have had with NHS Frimley it is now apparent that GBC did not consult NHS Frimley before promising the residents A further point that may be controversial is where the healthcare funding is actually being spent Some is being directed at the Border practice The two local councillors say that whilst the larger proportion has gone to Bartlett most of it is being directed at their Frimley Green surgery So it would appear that funds from developers intended to benefit the people of Ash and Tongham are being spent much wider has acknowledged that availability of GP appointments is a top concern for the public in his constituency Mr Hunt was asked by The Guildford Dragon whether he agreed that primary healthcare in Ash was facing a crisis in the light of the large number of homes that have been built in the area He replied: “Knocking on doors during the general election availability of GP appointments was a top concern and so I am acutely aware of constituents’ concerns in Ash regarding local provision of GP services Now is the time for us to look to expand provision especially given the additional homes under construction in the area including Ash Lodge Park I am happy to support and facilitate exploration of all the options available to us he did not answer our specific question on whether a practical solution to healthcare concerns in Ash would be to build a new primary healthcare surgery on the site set aside by Bewley Homes for such a purpose The latest NHS Frimley statement says: “Based on our understanding of the planned population growth in Ash and the subsequent impact on multiple local GP practices we believe the most viable way to provide for the healthcare needs of the people of Ash is through investment in the existing healthcare estate and services we have successfully accessed section 106 contributions from developers to expand the number of consulting rooms in our existing estate and we intend to make further expansions in forthcoming months These expansions will adequately provide estate capacity for the planned population growth “Alongside this we are continuing to work with local GP practices in their adoption of new technology that makes it easier for patients to contact their practice to diversify the workforce – making best use of an expanded skillset and providing alternative services for patients who do not need to see their GP to access the care they need.” A further statement from the NHS said: “The Bartlett Group Practice and The Border Practice both register patients from this area and have been supported to expand the number of consulting rooms in their premises Both GP practices are seeking to increase their workforce due to the actual and planned population growth in this area.” Meanwhile the land set aside by Bewley for healthcare purposes stands empty Back in September 2023 GBC said it was “actively exploring” the use of the land “for community purposes,” but has seemed reticent about providing updates This week a 21-word statement said: “We have no update to provide at this time The Council is continuing to work with the developer on this matter.” Cllr Wyeth-Price is worried that the rising population is putting huge pressure on the Bartlett Practice She said: “The GP Patient Survey results for Bartlett Group show only 30 per cent of patients found it easy to contact the surgery by phone We will continue to press for the promised new healthcare facility and David Shaw and I will continue to work with the surgery to help improve services in the future.” The Bartlett Group Practice has just announced that it is  upgrading its online consultation tool to Rapid Health This new system has been designed to offer faster Once again NHS bean counters fail the public Let’s cut them and other unnecessary individuals within the NHS out and use the money to support those who actually provide the public with the service the NHS is supposed to give all of us It is becoming increasingly difficult for residents to get a doctor’s appointment in Ash Vale I believe the process is changing soon but currently you have to call at 8am and are usually way down the numbered waiting list It has improved slightly since they launched the call back feature when you reach the top of the list but it can still take a lot of time and effort which is hard to do when you’re feeling ill We urgently need extra doctors whether at the existing health centre or at an additional facility Th high embankment at Ash Vale Station has meant that passengers have always faced several flights of stairs to reach platform level A six-year campaign for improvements to Ash Vale Station to make the station accessible for passengers facing mobility problems looks like being successful at last Ash Vale has been included in a list of 50 stations nation-wide that have been put forward as part of the Government’s Access for All (AfA) programme launched in 2006 to address the issues faced by disabled passengers and those facing mobility restraints Nearly 2,700 people had signed a petition to grant step-free access at the station Petition organiser Daniel McHugh said: “We were given false hopes in 2021 when we thought we had won the battle but now it looks likely that the developments that people want will really go ahead.” I used the station every day and often saw people struggling to get on to the platform: some  with mobility problems ‘this is crazy’ and realised something had to be done.” A Government statement says: “Ministers have approved a list of 50 additional stations selected for initial feasibility work and if that is successful they will be taken forward as part of the AfA programme.” The £350 million funding was confirmed when HS2 funding was reallocated chair of Ash Parish Council and a Lib Dem councillor for the borough and county She believed Ash Vale Railway Station to be one of the worst on the network for people with mobility issues The campaign has the support of Jeremy Hunt Conservative candidate for the newly formed constituency of Godalming and Ash in the forthcoming General Election – although his statement on social media has been labelled “misleading” by one rival candidate Mr Hunt said in his post: “I am thrilled to see Ash Vale Station was awarded funding via the government’s AfA funding scheme We need to now pull all the funding  and stakeholders together to make sure this happens I would love to do this as your MP – brilliant news.” said: “It appears that Mr Hunt is being a little selective with his choice of words His comment that ‘Ash Vale Station was awarded funding via the government’s AfA funding scheme’ is misleading “It appears that Ash Vale Station has only been ‘selected for initial feasibility work’ and the funding won’t be agreed until after the election Since my hope and intention is to replace Mr Hunt let me make it clear that this important initiative would also have my full support.” Labour candidate James Walsh said: “I do question the timing of the announcement of this funding coming as it does just before a General Election but the important thing is that funding is now available to enable everyone to use the station unimpeded “Access to public space should be a right for everyone and we’ve known that the lack of access for the disabled at Ash Vale station has been an issue for a long time.” Parish chair Fiona White said: “I would like to place on record my thanks to Dan McHugh for starting the campaign on behalf of our whole community His campaign started in 2018 and I am delighted that it may at last be successful The government announcement says that there will be a feasibility study I hope that there is a good outcome and that the work will be fully funded and carried out without delay A total of 310 nominations were received from Network Rail train operating companies and other strategic transport organisations such as combined authorities The nominations were assessed against the following criteria: Godalming & Ash General Election Candidates as at May 30 (Wikipedia) I wouldn’t think too many of the 310 stations mentioned have access as physically challenging for those with mobility problems as Ash Vale That begs the question of where Ash station stands in any priority listing lottery and whether the railway authority has the funding to provide the footbridge promised in the Local Plan by GBC Can any of our constituency candidates – Messrs Hunt throw any light on providing a footbridge at Ash station (and a time scale) Or will it remain an empty promise to be kicked into the long grass for the next decade A 51-year-old man from Ash has been jailed for ten years for a stabbing outside a pub in which his victim suffered slash wounds to the face John Jones was found guilty of one count of causing grievous bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed weapon Police were called to The Admiral pub in Ash on the evening of May 1 after receiving reports of a man being stabbed See also: Armed Police Deployed After Fight at Ash Vale Pub – Four Arrested When they arrived outside the pub they found the man had sustained slash wounds to his face Due to a large amount of eyewitnesses and CCTV footage Although he initially tried to evade police by fleeing the scene after the stabbing armed officers and the police helicopter quickly located him hiding in a nearby garden Jones repeatedly denied being at the pub or stabbing anyone Investigating officer DC Arthur Hyatt said: “Jones and his victim were known to each other and after a previous disagreement he escalated to serious and unnecessary violence The injuries the victim sustained could easily have been significantly worse or even fatal and he will now spend ten years in prison where he won’t be able to cause harm.” An animal lover whose adored beagle Maxi was killed after he strayed onto the railway line at Ash Vale has built a 500-metre fence to prevent fatal or serious injuries to other dogs Mark Gould and his four-month-old daughter were walking their dog Maxi near the railway track between Ash Ranges and Ash Vale Station in June when the accident happened Mark heard Maxi yelping and discovered him trapped on the railway line five-year-old Maxi was electrocuted before Mark could rescue him found that the fence separating the path and the railway was insecure allowing Maxi to get onto the track The total length of the fence in need of repair was about 500 metres Mark launched a campaign on social media – raising £5,000 from the local community and obtaining a £1,535 discount from Manchester-based mesh supply company Wire Fence Around 50 local community volunteers stepped forward to help install the fence Mark and his team carrying the fencing into position who owns a children’s sports business He got me through some dark times during Covid and taught me how to be a father “I was racked with guilt when he died in the way he did and my wife and I felt that we had to do something in his memory “The best option we had was to make sure no other dog’s life would be taken in this way The community were unbelievable and we managed to fit 500 metres of fencing in just four hours due to the number and work ethic of the superb volunteers “We visit Maxi’s memorial plaque on a daily basis and the fence helps us make peace with this tragedy and remember our boy.” Installing the fence to prevent other accidents The plaque was donated by Ash Vale company Magic Signs but recently the family have taken on a beagle puppy called Toby Mark and those who supported him showed that we are still a nation of animal lovers and care and support when tragedy happens Maxi lives on in the hearts not just of Mark and his family but all who heard this story Shouldn’t Network rail maintain the fence Ash Vale Station – Photo Google street View See also subsequent article: Access, For the Moment, Denied to Government Funding Puts Ash Vale Station Project On Hold Ash Vale railway station will finally be made accessible to people with disabilities Nearly 2,700 people signed a petition to grant step-free access at the station Petition organiser Daniel McHugh said wheelchair users were forced to use alternative stations which could add half an hour onto their journey to London One Ash Vale resident said: “I cannot believe the station doesn’t have a lift I have been using the station for over 35 years “Many years ago as a Mum I had a very difficult job of carrying a pushchair baby and toddler with no help up and down the stairs Now I offer help to parents with pushchairs Surrey Heath MP Michael Gove even backed the access campaign in a letter to South Western Railway Network Rail has committed £5 million to deliver a fully accessible station with a further £300,000 contributed by Surrey County Council The Equality Act 2010 requires all station operators to take reasonable steps to ensure they do not discriminate against disabled people Network Rail said previously Ash Vale was not eligible for the Department for Transport’s Access for All funding Ash Vale station is one of seven infrastructure projects chosen by the council and its partners to get a share of over £30 million announced at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting (October 26) Carla Morson who was elected as the Lib Dem county councillor for Ash in May said: “I’m absolutely delighted that at long last Ash Vale Station will be accessible to all Dan McHugh has worked tirelessly to bring this to fruition despite numerous difficulties and delays along the way “This step-free access will mean so much to local residents who will now The station is on the London Waterloo to Alton and Ascot to Aldershot lines It handled over 400,000 passengers in 2020/2021 The original Victorian station building had to be demolished due to subsidence. A booking clerk, Geoffrey Dean, was murdered at the station in 1952 The current building was constructed in the 1970s/80s now all we need is the taxi rank turned around at Guildford main station and we could be on the way to a usable public transport system for all Whilst this would be excellent news for the community if it was true I have waited for a few days to see this story corrected But perhaps because the Lib Dems (as usual) as the “jump on a bandwagon party” released a PR on this prematurely The Dragon has chosen not to correct the story who have worked hard on supporting step-free access at Ash Vale Station along with Dan McHugh who has led a none political campaign in a very honourable way supported by residents across the political spectrum were expecting National Rail to be able to confirm DfT support to enable Ash Vale Station Surrey County Council had agreed funding of £300k towards the Ash Vale project and Ash Parish Council had also agreed funding just a few days prior to the announcement DfT decided to put funding on hold and that remains the position today Therefore the article is misleading at best and plainly wrong at worst I trust the bandwagon party will apologise for misleading the electorate once again and let’s hope that does happen sooner rather than later but it won’t be the Lib Dems making that happen Paul Spooner is a Conservative borough councillor for South Ash & Tongham Editor’s response: Julie Armstrong’s story was based on a report presented at the Surrey County Council Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (October 26) It was subsequently published (as part of the minutes) There was no apparent indication of any provisional status of the DfT funding and her report was written in good faith we are unaware of any subsequent correction or update issued by SCC Ms Armstrong has now heard from DfT that their contribution has not been confirmed No PR [press release] on this subject was issued by the Liberal Democrats The Dragon sought a comment from Cllr Carla Morson as the county councillor for Ash She was unaware that the DfT funding was unconfirmed Field area flooded with Gareth Archard’s house in the background A group of Ash Vale residents whose gardens suffer from flooding after heavy rain are involved in a longstanding battle with Guildford Borough Council There have been three floods in the gardens at Wellington Place in four years caused by water running out of storm pipes installed at a nearby GBC development said the installation of these storm pipes when Sopwith Close was built in 2015 went against the terms of the approved planning permission the council acknowledged that elements of the drainage system for Sopwith Close were “installed incorrectly” A statement said: “We are now working towards developing a design solution so we can submit a planning application that will align the scheme with the original planning consent.” But Mr Archard says he is baffled by the length of time this issue has remained unresolved the Sopwith Close development is still in breach of GBC’s own planning permission there have been three floods and the increased flood risk remains Floodwater coming out of the field area and flooding the front of Mr Achard’s house Mr Archard has described a story of frustration in which said the flooding – and the risk of further flooding – has caused him to suffer extreme anxiety requiring counselling and medication And he says he has spent around £27,000 to keep the floodwater at bay and prevent it from getting into his and his neighbours’ houses The latest flooding incident was in January this year Mr Archard said that under the original plan for Sopwith Close the floodwater was intended to be contained in a network of surface swale channels that would hold the water during flooding and channel it back to the river when the flood river level dropped It was after the Sopwith development was completed in March 2015 that Mr Archard noticed the  storm pipes in the field next to his property His technical background alarmed him to the risk they posed He  made complaints to GBC but says he was told there was no flood risk from them Mr Archard said: “The flooding prevention scheme at Sopwith Close is completely different to what was approved resulting in a substantially increased flooding risk of both the sites Parts of Sopwith Close get flooded after almost every storm and Wellington Place suffered three floods in four years Mr Archard said the flood water was predominantly river flood water containing sewage from the River Blackwater over 500 metres away He understands the water runs under Sopwith Close and is channelled by the storm pipes to the low field next to his property Gareth Archard by the storm pipes installed when Sopwith Close was built Water runs out of these pipes into the field next to his property he put up a concrete panelled base to his fence line a permeable brick drive and special Acer drainage After the first flood in February 2020 he purchased floodgates for each of his door exits for the sum of £7,000 Mr Archard complained formally to GBC planning in February 2020 saying that the Sopwith Close development did not meet the design that was approved in the planning application in April 2013 The complaint was rejected by late February 2020 based on little technical justification but did not get a reply to his appeal for 25 months while Mr Archard was ill with anxiety symptoms two fellow residents organised a petition to support their case This gathered 48 signatures from the 44 houses on estate He said it was in the same year that the then chief engineer of GBC raised the possibility of installing mounds to protect properties – a solution the residents are in favour of Mr Archard said this has been discussed in almost all meetings in the last two years “I have exhausted myself trying to get GBC to address the issues,” Mr Archard said “For two years now we have had bimonthly meetings that appear no more than ‘kicking the can down the road’ – with no  solutions “I have made several FOI requests for information and decision documents to understand the reason why the flood prevention scheme was changed from that approved and why a drainage system not used in developments close to rivers was used But there appears to be no audit trail on the decision “I cannot understand how a public body has no information and documents on the decision Questioning why the council appears to be slow to act he believes the main fear among some at GBC is potential damage to the council’s reputation “It’s difficult to understand GBC approach to the situation,” he said  “It appears more about ‘face saving’ than a true desire to correct errors of the past.” Asked by The Guildford Dragon NEWS for a comment the council acknowledged an error was made with regard to the Sopwith close development saying: “Elements of the Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) drainage for the Sopwith Close development were installed incorrectly This is something that we have acknowledged and are seeking to rectify “We appointed an independent civil and structural engineering consultancy to undertake an initial piece of work They have completed a review of the drainage design for the site and the actual as-built solution We are now working towards developing a design solution so we can submit a planning application that will align the scheme with the original planning consent such as a temporary bund or a new sandbag wall we will need the approval of the Environment Agency and Surrey County Council Any solution would need to demonstrate that the flooding issue will not be pushed elsewhere.” The council says it is planning a drop-in session in April for residents to outline what work is ongoing “We will let residents know as soon as the date for this is agreed,” the statement said Is it the GBC officers’ and staff’s intentions that all complaints are delayed hoping the complainants will die first Car park floods are really bad out side my house and in the gardens My washing machine broke and toilets have been blocked so many times due to this This is such an important and real life issue for local residents where the council action is beyond slow this will happen again and again until some remedial work is completed we are aware of straightforward and cost effective solutions that can be implemented before this happens again – saving the council money in the long term for sure My home wasn’t flooded on this occasion but we were unable to use baths/showers/toilets for days on end last time so it makes us fearful of what could happen next time I would welcome an update from our local councillors on progress rather than only silence I write this comment after just receiving yet another flood Alert from the Environmental Agency The flooding is already occuring again in the car park today and it’s only just started raining This is a street full of young families who Our house hasn’t flooded but the water in the toilets and shower rise and become unusable It is totally unacceptable when there are solutions Guildford Borough Council have a lot to answer to I’m pleased the council have acknowledged the error however I lack faith in the council to rectify in a timely manner since there has been such slow progress to date I would like GBC to agree a date to have the situation rectified in its entirety rather than stalling though each stage of the process The flooding in the estate happens all too frequently and a real issue to the residents This flooding was an awful thing to experiencing with young kids We were unable to use our toilets or showers The sewage was flooding out of my downstairs bathroom which was awful I was here to experience the floods that happened in 2020 but it’s a shame that it has happened again and it’s been four years between both floods – still the local councillors couldn’t sort it out But when it comes to votes they make all these promises The flooding is absolutely causing disruption to lives and a financial cost to the tenants Due to the floods I lost invaluable personal items from my military career that was part of history no amount of compensation would replace this It essential for these problems to be fixed There is river contamination all over our gardens it’s a major health and safety issue Ignoring the problem isn’t an option It is surreal – awful for residents and the officers at GBC are obviously under a lot of pressure but why don’t the Lib Dems They are way more interested in the general election rather than Guildford Gina Redpath was a R4GV candidate at the GBC election in 2023 If I’m reading this correctly the Council already has a permission in place In the statement they haven’t really explained why they can’t just build that system which presumably wouldn’t need to go back in for consultations and consents I remember my pals coming to life at the mention of McDonald’s during our pre-school and pre-teen years It was as if they’d been doused in rocket fuel or eaten the contents of the kitchen’s sugar tin The golden arches and plastic Happy Meal toys (that provided entertainment for no longer than a few minutes I’d beam from ear to ear when a visit to The Ashvale was on the cards The award-winning business – which was founded almost 40 years ago in 1985 – boasts locations in Aberdeen (on Great Western Road and Jesmond Drive) with it being the closest to our family home that would make my nose screw up was the imminent sentence “you have to order off the kids menu It wasn’t down to the quality of the dishes by any means but (I won’t beat around the bush) I was greedy and had no concept of portion control You could say that my latest work outing allowed me to fulfil a childhood fantasy I’d wanted to try finish The Ashvale Whale for years After failing miserably at my first food challenge attempt back in September, hosted by Elgin’s Humble Burger and Foggie’s Bar I had a point to prove – not just to myself I’d been messaging operations director at The Ashvale about arranging a time for me to stop by before we landed on 12.30pm yesterday then came the aroma of fresh foods frying away in the kitchen The Ashvale Whale is a well-known north-east dish created by the team at The Ashvale It’s been on the go for roughly 35 years and was introduced to the menu as a way to attract more customers with it being seen as ‘a challenge’ to many Stuart told me The Ashvale Whale has been ordered “thousands and thousands of times.” It comprises a one-pound haddock fillet – which you can request battered or breaded – a hefty serving of chips you can eat a second one on the house or enjoy a free dessert of your choice You also receive a certificate and can take home a £2.50 ‘I’ve tackled The Ashvale Whale – and won’ mug as P&J photographer Kath was only going to be with me to document the journey for roughly 45 minutes I don’t know if fasting beforehand was the best idea I immediately cut the fish into sections to allow it to cool down as I wanted to tackle it first One thing I refused to do was burn my mouth off the bat and not be able to enjoy my lunch It was delicious, which I expected given that the business is known for its fresh fish (among other things) You can have as much sauce as you like with it The fish was juicy and flavourful enough to go down on its own I don’t know whether Kath was impressed or disgusted at how quickly I devoured the haddock who saw my plate roughly 10 minutes in and gave me some words of encouragement including a table of five at the far rear corner of the restaurant Three of them had also ordered The Ashvale Whale you’re doing well!” said one of them Knowing that they’d tanned the lot ignited the fire in my belly even more The mushy peas were a superb choice as they were soft and creamy in texture Another thing I loved about the food was that it wasn’t salty The chips and peas were going down a treat and I lost track of the number of times I said how great the food was to Kath This turned out to be a mistake because the chips had cooled down But I was far too close to the finish line I previously wondered if Kath was impressed or disgusted When I saw her face as I cleaned the plate with the last remaining chip “I can’t believe you’ve eaten all that,” she laughed Feeling a bit too big for my boots (literally) I ordered a free dessert – millionaire’s cheesecake served with heavy cream despite the fact I’d already eaten around 2,000 calories Kath announcing that she had to shoot off and realising I had to drive home with a one-pound haddock in my stomach Because Stuart had to set off to one of the Aberdeen Ashvale branches when I was about halfway through my plate I said I’d pop him a message later to let him know how I got on happily answering my long list of questions about The Ashvale Whale and chatting away with customers and my trip yesterday reminded me why I was such a big fan of the business when I was little P&J Features Team Leader Kieran Beattie joked that I should get the certificate framed I can’t see myself being enticed by any foods for the foreseeable I’d highly recommend trying to tackle The Ashvale Whale if you haven’t already And maybe one day Stuart will try it out for himself… Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments By David Reading I was reminded of the large number of pubs that once existed in the village All pictures either taken by the late Mark Sturley Click to enlarge all pictures in a new window you had the Nightingale on the right hand side The pub closed around eight years ago following the landlord’s retirement and the building soon became derelict It was demolished in 2012 and today it is used for parking as an extension to the nearby car showroom Opposite the King’s Head there was the Cannon In 1999 planning permission was granted to convert the pub into two cottages A planning application was approved in 2010 for the demolition of the pub and the building of new houses was also demolished and replaced with homes Finally we have the Standard of England building in Ash Vale – still standing but vacant since 2012 the supermarket chain Morrison’s was granted planning permission by Guildford Borough Council to develop the site and open a convenience store But I understand the land has been acquired by Vale Furnishers and it’s not yet clear what will happen to it So what’s the story behind the huge number of pub closures not only locally but throughout the country Working for a licensed trade newspaper back in 1980 I picked up an early hint that pub landlords were desperately worried for the future The big story then was the threat from supermarkets which were able to sell alcoholic drink much cheaper than the pubs could and this was making it tempting for people to stay at home and have a drink The pub I used to visit in Guildford in the 1960s was packed shoulder to shoulder every Saturday night with people my age But a night out at the pub is no longer quite so attractive for many young people and this has had a huge impact on trade Other factors have exacerbated the decline Many landlords have found it increasingly hard to keep trading They have also had to live with legislative changes that occurred in the 1990s Campaigners tell me this altered the structure of the beer industry which had no brewing operations but continued to maintain a tie on the pubs viewed their estates as a property company would Consequently pubs were more highly valued for their land and the value of the property – which saw many of them sold off for housing or other purposes It’s all part of the commercial world we live in A friend of mine tells me that when he was a lot younger going to the pub acted as a kind of therapy He regarded his local landlord as a confidant He certainly came home feeling a lot better for an evening down the pub or am I viewing the past through rose-tinted glasses the era of the pub as the centre of our social lives seems to have gone forever Local pubs once were a source of community and local togetherness It is a great shame they became financially unviable Gone are the days when directions were down to the ‘New Inn’ across the junction left at ‘the Swan’ it’s three houses past the ‘Royal Oak’ I guess many old timers had different versions of these directions Now the few that are left have ‘modern names’ with ‘modern themes’ and make no real sense at all For example the ‘Slug and Lettuce’ ‘the village Inn’ (in where?) simply don’t sound the same if you include lost pubs in Ash Vale there were two more I remember along Vale Road and Frimley Road I used to go to firework displays there in the 1980s and then further down on the left the George Anyone interested in our lost pubs around the Guildford area might like to peruse this page and its associated links http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/surrey.html Some of them are probably before our readers’ memories A road in Ash Vale could be closed for up to two days after a huge fire at an industrial building owned by a specialist manufacturer of batteries for the military. The fire at the Lincad factory unit in Lysons Avenue broke out just before 5pm on Wednesday, January 31, and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service crews were still dousing the flames on Thursday morning. Five pumps and one aerial ladder platform were present at the scene as of 9.30am Thursday. The fire service is urging members of the public to avoid the immediate area if possible, and nearby residents are advised to keep windows and doors tightly shut. Lysons Avenue is the road connecting North Camp and Ash Vale stations, and is currently shut in both directions. Crews have warned the road could remain closed for 48 hours. According to the company's website, Lincad has an "established history of specialising in military batteries and chargers offering rugged, reliable and practical solutions across land, sea and air". Its military grade batteries and chargers are "ruggedised" and "capable of withstanding extreme pressures and temperatures". Eye-witness Clive Marchant, from Farnham, was collecting his car from the neighbouring BMW Service Centre in Ash Vale. Thanks to the "excellent help" from the BMW staff, Clive said he just managed to get away as the evacuation and road closure began.  "The fumes were overpowering downwind from the blaze," he added. A fire service spokesperson said: “We received a call yesterday afternoon around 16:55pm to a report of a fire on Lysons Avenue, Ash Vale.  “Six fire engines were sent within the first hour, alongside an aerial appliance, with the first arriving on scene around 17:05pm. Further appliances have been sent throughout the incident. Ambulance and police services also attended.  “A building within an industrial park had caught fire. Crews tackled the fire overnight and remain at the scene now, with the fire currently limited to hotspots.” Comments Tel: 01483 802700[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Twenty years after first setting foot in Europe the European subsidiary of the Srixon group has opened a new UK headquarters located in Ash Vale in Surrey The new offices, which are located just outside Guildford, 35 miles south west of central London, will enable Srixon Sports Europe to meet its ambitions in golf by pursuing the growth of its three brands – Srixon Located about ten miles away from the company’s former office in Alton the new building offers more than 2.200 square metres of office space and will accommodate about 30 employees divided across sales and the workshop where the Japanese-crafted clubs are assembled including the Srixon ZX Mk II collection of woods and irons launched in March “This is a very important milestone for Srixon Sports Europe Ltd,” said Sean Hanafusa chairman and CEO of Srixon Sports Europe and Dunlop Sports America “Europe is a growing market and we needed to equip ourselves with structures better able to meet this demand and anticipate it for the coming years.” the Srixon club assembly workshop will double in size The teams have been strengthened and trained and are therefore ready to honour the rising orders in this sector Srixon Sports Europe also recruited a new workshop manager and a new IT manager to take a step forward in terms of digitalization and customer services.  Lionel Caron and Shoya Yata have been respectively promoted to Chief Operating Officer and Business Operation Officer respectively “The quality of our products is the key to our success but we also place our retailers at the centre of our concerns,” said Caron the day-to-day manager of Srixon Sports Europe Ltd while Sean Hanafusa is now based in California “Our new HQ in the UK will be equipped with new digital tools a storage warehouse and a showroom where we will be happy to welcome our customers from all over Europe With Ash Vale and the talents we have welcomed we are excited to be able to considerably improve and accelerate our customer support.” Srixon already has offices in France to support retailers in Continental Europe and relies on several warehouses in the UK and Germany for the storage and delivery of clubs Stewart Golf has expanded its range of golf bags with the launch of the all-new NEXAS Hybrid bag and an upgraded version of its popular NERO Cart bag La Reserva Club in Sotogrande has completed significant upgrades to its sports facilities further enhancing the range and quality of recreational experiences available for members and guests Golf Ireland and Bridgestone are to continue their commercial partnership with the leading tyre company extending its sponsorship of the Bridgestone Tours which have recently begun their 2025 schedule of events for men and women GolfBusinessNews.com (GBN) is for the many thousands of people who work in the golf business all around the world We cover the full range of topics both on and off the course We aim to supply essential information both quickly and accurately in a format which is easy to use We are independent of all special interest groups Click here to sign up for our free twice weekly golf industry news summary View the latest newsletter here 5/7 High StreetDorchester-on-ThamesOxfordshire OX10 7HHUnited Kingdom publisher@golfbusinessnews.com © 1999-2025 e.GolfBusiness.com Limited | All Rights Reserved. | GBN Privacy Policy A man from Ash Vale has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after he spent nearly ten years paying to watch children Ash Vale was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court today (30 June) having pleaded guilty in March this year to: 12 counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence; five counts of making indecent images of children Brown was charged with the offences in 2015 and what followed was a long and complex investigation to uncover over 600,000 lines of chat communications ordering the sexual abuse of children in the Philippines The 63-year-old would develop online relationships with women in the Philippines who were seeking money He would have regular and lengthy chats with these women in which he would graphically describe how we would want children present in the chats to be abused and abuse each other Detective Inspector Jon Vogel from Surrey Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team said of Brown: “Nicholas Brown not only sought out those who were willing to abuse their own children on webcam but also pursued individuals who were willing to get children ‘off the street’ whilst he was on webcam and then sexually abuse them “The total amount of money that he had sent to the Philippines for this abuse has been calculated at over £260,000.” He went on to say: “The sentencing today reflects the depravity violence and cruelty this dangerous paedophile inflicted on his victims This should serve as a warning to those who abuse children that Surrey Police take all allegations seriously and has the expertise to fully investigate and prosecute these offences.” Brown will serve nine years of his sentence in prison and the remainder on extended license He was also classed as dangerous and serious threat to the public by the judge Are we heading for a primary healthcare crisis here in Ash and Tongham In light of the present house-building boom and soaring population People’s present experiences are largely anecdotal Ask ten people about the quality of service they receive from their local surgery and you probably get ten varied replies I have nothing but praise for the Bartlett Group Practice in Ash Vale – in fact their attention to detail in 2017 probably saved my life But some people you meet are less complimentary complaining of communication problems and long wait times Whatever your experience you may feel justified in believing that the situation cannot possibly improve The approval of plans for more than 1,200 new homes over the past few years – many already occupied – means many more hundreds of people needing primary healthcare A solution seemed possible when Bewley Homes – the development company that was granted permission to build 481 homes at Ash Lodge Park – set aside a plot of land on the site for a new surgery This land was earmarked under a Section 106 legal agreement with Guildford Borough Council a system that requires developers to secure benefits for the area where they are building Guildford Borough Council and Bewley Homes both gave assurances that land was still being safeguarded for a new healthcare centre to meet the rise in the local population But in June 2022 the NHS’s Frimley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said it had no plans for a new primary care health centre in Ash despite the fact that Bewley had set aside land for this purpose which is responsible for health services in the local area it was working to expand and improve existing primary healthcare sites in the area A statement said this would provide the capacity needed to meet the extra demand from the large increase in population The Frimley CCG area includes parts of Hampshire But no one – neither at the CCG or Guildford Borough Council – has been able to give us details of what the expansion and improvements involve a CCG spokesperson said: “We’re working with the local group of GP practices (the Primary Care Network) to ensure there is enough capacity to meet the growing demand While we are working on some improvements and expansions the solution will not lie in individual changes to practices but to a network-wide approach involving the whole primary care community.” Earlier this month we asked the CCG to elaborate GBC said in June that some sort of healthcare facility could still go ahead on the land set aside by Bewley said: “We are currently in discussions with Bewley Homes about the possibility of providing a healthcare facility on the Ash Lodge Drive development “If the provision of a healthcare facility is not possible which was signed between us and Bewley Homes allows for the option of using the land for a community facility instead in accordance with the S106 legal agreement.” Asked for a progress report four months later a GBC statement said: “We have nothing to add to this at the moment.” And a statement from the developers said: “Bewley Homes is continuing to pursue alternative uses after the NHS ruled itself out The company is having on-going meetings with private health providers to find a suitable option.” and asked if he could shed any light on the matter His office told us in early October: “Michael raised the provision of health services in Ash with Fiona Edwards (chief executive of the CCG) at a meeting during the summer and he has asked me to let you know that he has just written to her to follow-up on that conversation requesting detailed information about meeting the increasing demand for services in the Ash area.” We have since asked Mr Gove’s office if there has been any progress Nor have we received a reply from Frimley CCG you have to turn to social media for information There is some evidence of progress on the Bartlett Group Practice Facebook page “Building Work at Frimley Green: We’d like to update your on how our current building works are commencing We’re now starting to now see the building go up and are looking forward to seeing the continued progress This building work is to help us gain more capacity and space for consulting rooms Will that be enough to meet the huge rise in population Recently I caught a glimpse of the present predicament when I telephoned my surgery in Ash Vale to ask for a routine appointment A recorded voice told me there were more than 30 other patients waiting and I was in the queue Isn’t that a sign that the local primary healthcare service is already under intense pressure These things should be set in stone before any applications are given the green light Exactly the problem at the proposed unsustainable “Wisley New Town” Yet Ash residents voted for the architect of their present misery in the most blatant attempt at parochialism make a show of trying to confer new green belt status on Ash but he should have known the inspector would never allow that he robbed the eastern villages of their green belt Let the Ash experience inform the planning committee for the Wisley application Taylor Wimpey can make promises about health The people of Ash and Tongham have been given fresh assurances that moves are in hand to ensure that the large rise in the area’s population will not overwhelm the local infrastructure Two issues in particular – primary healthcare and schools – are among those that have taken centre stage ever since the Ash Lodge Park housing estate was given the go-ahead in 2017  This is the largest of many developments that have either been built or are at present going ahead in Ash and Tongham Healthcare The NHS strategy is to increase capacity at the existing GP practices rather than build a new primary healthcare centre even though land has been set aside for this purpose But an NHS statement on this matter has raised questions about this strategy We pointed out in October that the approval for many hundreds of new homes in the area over the past few years – many already occupied – means there is a real possibility of a primary healthcare crisis in Ash and Tongham Bewley Homes – the development company that was granted permission to build 481 homes at Ash Lodge Park – had earmarked a plot of land on the site for a new purpose-built GPs’ surgery says this option is not being pursued for a number of reasons including the following: the Local Plan provides for 1,870 new homes in the area making the figure of 2,000 new patients a gross under-estimate assuming the normal occupancy rate of two to three people per home Bewley has confirmed that the land set aside on its new development actually covers an area of 2,700 square metres – not 1,200 Those discrepancies would seem to undermine the whole strategy NHS Frimley’s statement came in a letter to Surrey Heath MP Michael Gove after we approached the MP’s office for information Ms Edwards said works have been taking place at both the Bartlett Group Practice in Ash Vale and the Border Practice in order to boost capacity at both surgeries and investment has been made in digital technology to improve patient access to services The two GP practices had concluded that developing existing services offered the best solution rather than building a new health centre This was achievable and represented better use of public funds Ms Edwards’ statement cited a further reason why the option for a new healthcare centre was not being taken up The proposal included no financial contribution towards the actual construction The creation of new healthcare developments elsewhere in the broader Frimley Health and Care ICS had been made possible through financial contributions towards construction she said the Ash Vale centre had been reconfigured internally to create an extra three clinical rooms with some costs covered by the developer contributions (under section 106 legal agreements) The works were complete and already enabling the practice to accommodate more appointments The Border Practice was also being developed with an internal reconfiguration to create two new consulting rooms work was underway to ensure more capacity in Bartlett’s Frimley Green Medical Centre The work to this building would include an extension housing three more consulting rooms This work was scheduled to be completed by the spring Guildford Borough Council has given The Dragon details of funding for schools and nurseries in the area collected from developers as part of the planning approval process GBC’s statement on funding for schools came from Cllr Tom Hunt He said the council currently held the following funds for schools and nurseries in the Ash and Tongham areas: All this has been collected from developers in line with section 106 legal obligations Cllr Hunt said: “There are very strict rules governing the use of section 106 contributions The money is used to fund projects that lessen the impact of new development on the existing infrastructure and services in the area The aim is to ensure it serves the needs arising from the development and this determines where the money is spent we have passed £1,437,024 to Surrey County Council for a project at Ash Manor School we have secured a further £2,696,962 by signed section 106 agreements This will be spent on education serving Ash and Tongham.” Cllr Hunt added: “There are also a number more education projects pending However the details have not yet been confirmed by Surrey County Council We will only release the money when we are confident that the proposals meet the legal requirements of the section 106 obligation.” I have emailed Mr Bearman to confirm his email is valid It has come to my attention that Bellway Homes currently developing the site opposite the Hog’s Back Brewery are going to demolish one of the listed walls adjoining the “Manor House flats” on the pretext that the wall that has been there for hundreds of years is “unsafe” The wall is listed and a good example of Farnham Seale Iron stone and flint wall It appears the building company is planning to do this without the input of councillors or the local community The wall is listed in ” Guildford borough Historic Environment information” 2016 They plan to replace it with a cheap fence Councillors have been informed but not yet responded Surrey Police want to speak to Lewis Hood as part of their investigation into the attempted robbery at Pinewood Stores on Guildford Road in Ash on Sunday If you have any information on his whereabouts please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 The Rev’d Neil Lambert with campaign spokesman James Morgan-Yates A mass protest outside the main gates of the Ash Ranges has been hailed an unqualified success by the organisers turned up to voice their opposition after the Ministry of Defence closed a large part of the ranges used for public recreation for nearly 170 years The highlight of the peaceful demonstration was a service of prayer conducted by the Rev’d Neil Lambert saying they had serious concerns about public safety and vandalism The residents have been battling to overturn that decision Surrey Heath MP Michael Gove and Ash Parish Council A post on the campaigners’ website says: “Our MP has sat on the fence rather than help the constituents who voted for him to have a seat in parliament and our local councillors continue to operate in a shroud of secrecy and promise attendance at meetings Close grouping was discouraged and face masks were compulsory The number of people who turned out on a cold Saturday afternoon far exceeded what I was expecting We had more than 100 people showing their support for the campaign “The Rev’d Lambert’s service was great To top it off we had an MoD policeman hiding behind the gatehouse My experience of the police has always been that they want to interact with the public I guess he was acting in accordance with MoD policy was tied to the gates of the ranges to express the campaigners’ frustration with the council “Three members of Guildford Borough Council Protesters were invited to express their feelings by tying photographs depicting people’s enjoyment of the ranges on the main gate the vicar spoke passionately and with good humour he said: “Ash Ranges have long been a place not just for physical recreation and emotional rest and it is for them in particular that I want to defend this important local space “Often I speak with people who are spiritually lost but they pray in their own way when they are in nature and appreciate creation for the glorious thing that it is Protestors listening to the Rev’d Neil Lambert “There are places here that have been families’ favourite walks for generations spaces that lend themselves to prayerful walks exceptionally beautiful places that are accessible to those with disabilities who can’t otherwise get out He added: “The Church has long been called to be a voice for the voiceless and to stand up for those who are being unfairly treated I hope that by standing with the people of Ash Vale and the surrounding areas our local church can help the people to be heard and make a real difference.” A statement from Surrey Area Ramblers read: “The people who lose out most are local leisure walkers People living in Ash Vale who just want a short walk either through reasons of fitness or of time Children made it clear what the closure means to them “The action by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (of the MoD) is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut We will be lobbying MPs in Surrey and beyond for an outcome that better balances the concerns of the MoD with the enormous amenity value of this part of the ranges.” Walkers and cyclists defy closure of Ash Ranges they say is illegal under 1876 grant to armed forces Rod Johnson has walked around Ash Ranges all his life. On a few days each month, the ancient woodland is closed to the public so soldiers from Aldershot barracks can practise at the firing ranges. Read moreBut for half a century Johnson has been able to walk the ranges when the red flags are down That changed last year when the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation decided to permanently close the ranges to the public for the first time since the commons were granted to the armed forces in 1876 on the proviso that they remained open to the public when not in military use Now Johnson and other campaigners say the MoD has become increasingly heavy-handed in enforcing what they call an illegal closure two MoD police officers turned up on the 76-year-old’s doorstep with a letter asking him to come to a police interview to discuss allegations of criminal damage to fencing around the ranges “I think they’re trying to scare us,” Johnson said Other dog walkers and cyclists continue to use the closed-off area in defiance of the closure, and Peter Corns of the Save Our Spaces campaign says several have been approached by MoD marshals telling people they could be arrested for trespassing “I still walk my dogs on the ranges every day,” Johnson said My girls cycled on the range road to school The allegation of criminal damage is galling for Johnson since he has reported vandalism and fires he spotted while walking on the ranges The campaigners say they are baffled as to why the ranges have been shut Two other firing ranges in the 1,400 hectare reserve but they are further away and inaccessible for older and disabled people “I asked them if they could put a disabled gate in the fence for her to get through,” Johnson said we could make it along the roads for miles View image in fullscreenSigns put by the MoD to deter people from using the firing range near Aldershot Photograph: Andy Hall/The ObserverThe DIO built a path around the perimeter of the barbed wire fence but it often floods and is too narrow for Heather to use The MoD has told the campaigners it is concerned about vandalism on the ranges “Vandalism has actually gone up since they closed the ranges,” Corns said The Ash Ranges reserve is just about visible from the top of Caesar’s Camp The iron age hill fort looms over Training Area B6 an area of bucolic beauty covered with gorse heather and sundews that thrive in the sandy soil the number of people coming here shot up,” said Simon Brown who runs the Trail Action Group – mountain bikers who ride through the woods and heathland “I can ride for about 50km without leaving the area.” When the Parachute Regiment was based in Aldershot soldiers would do lung-busting training runs in full kit and carrying a bergen Veterans still visit the place and often bring a stone for a cairn of remembrance for their comrades We do a lot of education for riders – if you see soldiers But the DIO seems to want nobody else here at all.” Mountain bikers are occasionally given yellow warning notices that state they are breaching bylaws applying to Aldershot and could be arrested and fined but Brown believes they are being wrongly applied “In 2019 we came to an agreement with the DIO about where we could ride,” he said “But they have started trying to get rid of us again.” The MoD has promised to review the bylaws for more than a decade He fears a review will lead to closure of the whole training area It’s a place you can come to shed the baggage of life.” This article was amended on 21 July 2021 because an earlier version referred to “military police officers” whereas the officers were from the MoD police force This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media known for its high living costs and idyllic location is home to a town that's actually nearly £300k cheaper than its namesake in Kent You'd have thought that Surrey's proximity to London and abundant greenery adds a few pennies to its house prices But Kent rivals Surrey with its coastal allure and natural beauty the two counties share several village names Cobham in Surrey is a luxurious spot known as a celebrity haven while its Kent counterpart (near Gravesham) is significantly cheaper but also offers nearby lush woodland and a vineyard But the two we are comparing today - are Ash village in Kent and Ash in Surrey it is located just east of Aldershot in Hampshire The village was established on an army camp is surrounded by nature reserves including Hollybush Lakes One of Ash's main attractions is its infrastructure situated on the Ascot to Guildford line and the North Downs Line a quaint village in Kent with no train stations is situated 70 miles away from the capital in the Dover district The village's period properties and rural charm set it apart from its Surrey namesake the idyllic town is only about a 25-minute drive to the nearest city or slightly longer by bus due to the winding roads a train ride to London would take approximately 1 hour and 43 minutes boasts a vibrant community and beautiful timber-framed houses overlooking the River Stour One of Sandwich's main attractions is its stunning bay with a pebble beach where a trip to the coast would require an hour's travel here it's just a quick nine-minute drive There are only a few eateries within each place It's dog-friendly in certain areas and boasts heated outdoor seating Other dining options include The Greyhound and Curzon The Chequer Inn stands as a beautiful pub steeped in history It's highly regarded for its use of local produce and Sunday roasts Juliet's Farm Shop and Cafe in Ash is well-rated on Google for its quality food and drink offerings the most striking difference between the two towns lies in their respective property prices detached properties have fetched an average price of £903,333 Surrey averaged at £576,680 over the past year the postcode area that Ash falls under was named the cheapest in all of Surrey according to land registry data Ash Vale and Aldershot (which is just over the border in Hampshire) When SurreyLive spoke to estate agents about this they noted that the villages of Ash and Ash Vale in the GU12 postcode have become attractive to families who have lived in the area for decades as well as newcomers drawn in by new builds and regeneration Ash in Kent saw an average property price of £411,578 over the past year Kent over the last year were 4% higher than the previous year and 4% higher than the 2021 peak of £394,490 properties had an overall average price of £400,448 over the last year Surrey during the last year were semi-detached properties Surrey over the last year were 12% lower than the previous year and 7% lower than the 2021 peak of £431,793 Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right Care Home Professional Surrey County Council has said it will close eight ‘dated’ care homes built in the early 70s and early 80s which support almost 150 elderly residents and employ around 500 staff Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health said: “Our focus as a council is on supporting older people to live as independently as possible with specialist accommodation and the latest technology For people who need more intensive support we’re working with partners to provide a wider choice of care which is geared towards meeting complex and high needs our dated care homes were built in the 70s and early 80s and lack the facilities many people now need and expect – with rooms often too small or lacking en-suite bathrooms The homes are at the end of their natural life span – instead of propping up these buildings we need to invest in the right mix of provision to meet the needs and aspirations of our population “We’ll work closely with residents and their families to ensure all moves are arranged sensitively and carefully – nothing about the process will be rushed as our priority is to make sure that residents get the very best care We want to retain as many of our skilled and dedicated staff as possible so staff will be redeployed within other areas of our service or the wider council and if this isn’t possible we’ll offer to help them find work elsewhere.” and website in this browser for the next time I comment Surrey Police is appealing for witnesses following a burglary at the Co-op in Ash Vale late on Sunday Officers were called to the store on Wharf Road after receiving reports of a burglary which resulted in a large amount of cash being stolen The burglary took place at around 11.10pm and is believed to have involved three men A police spokesperson said: “If you were in the area at this time and saw anything suspicious “If you have any information which may assist with our investigation please contact us quoting PR/45220060913 via: “If you do not wish to leave your name please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” Cllr Nigel Manning the new Mayor of Guildford The new Mayor of Guildford for 2017-18 is Cllr Nigel Manning His appointment was confirmed at the traditional mayor-making ceremony today in Guildford’s Guildhall the former cabinet minister and MP for the Surrey Heath constituency which includes Ash Vale Cllr Manning’s home village which he represents at Guildford Borough Council (GBC) Cllr Matt Furniss said that his colleague had become “Mr Ash” and listed his public appointments as parish councillor and then as a Conservative borough councillor from 2000 at GBC where he was quickly promoted to a position on the Executive his financial management skills helping achieve for the council an AA1 rating Departing form the normally uncontroversial nature of speeches during a mayor-making and causing the current leader Paul Spooner to smile wryly Cllr Furniss referred to the controversial period of leadership under Stephen Mansbridge: “From 2003 he [Manning] has held nearly every finance role possible and even I think our current leader’s job is safe as he was only in the job for three months but he was certainly much better than the one that left.” Cllr Manning’s theme for his mayoral year is: “It’s our community embrace it!” and with this theme the new mayor wants to encourage residents businesses and the local community to acknowledge and recognise individuals and groups who quietly give up their time and energy to help others After the mayor-making the mayor said: “My theme is all about making a positive difference to our local community and this is so important Our local groups and individuals who do this add so much compassion and diversity to our borough My aim is to visit as many people and organisations as possible to see the work they do within our community and to personally thank the volunteers on behalf of all our residents.” The mayor’s chosen charity is the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and also the Mayor’s Local Distress Fund Cllr Manning will be supporting events and activities to raise awareness for the two charities The new Deputy Mayor of Guildford Cllr Mike Parsons Manning has been a resident of the borough since 1990 In 2000 he became an Ash Parish councillor He has been ward councillor for Ash Vale since 2001 The new mayor has been a lead councillor on the council’s Executive since 2003 a member of Guildford Local Committee since 2002 and a member of the council’s Policy Panels and Audit He was also chairman of the Corporate Governance and Standards Committee Nigel Manning retired after a 41 year career working for HMRC The deputy mayor for 2016-17 is Cllr Mike Parsons (Shalford) Jamie Fuller sentenced to six years for GBH and ABH to a baby was sentenced to six years imprisonment and a further four years on licence for causing grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm to a baby under the age of one appeared at Guildford Crown Court yesterday (Monday 5 November) for sentencing after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and three counts of actual bodily harm to a seven-month- Detective Sergeant Paddy Mayers of the Surrey Police Public Protection Investigation Unit said: “The sentence reflects the severity of this crime and the disgraceful injuries inflicted on such a young defenceless infant The offences have had a massive impact on the mother and the extended family all of whom have had to live with the pressures of a long intensive investigation alongside coping with the traumas of the crimes The family is to be praised for supporting the investigation and working closely with Surrey Police to bring this dangerous offender to justice “I would urge anyone who has any concerns about the safety and protection of any vulnerable members of our communities to contact Surrey Police on 101 or in case of an emergency 999.” Community heroes of the Covid pandemic have been recognised by the Guildford Branch of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Pictured clockwise from top left: Ali Khan; the leader of Guildford Borough Council Cllr Joss Bigmore; Naseer Shams; Ibrahim Ikhlaf; Khalid Bhatti; Dr Aziz Hafiz; the Town Mayor of Godalming The organisation held The BIG Mercy for Mankind Thank You awards event on Friday The winner of the Individual Award was Jenny Cole along with her husband Bill bought 9km of elastic and made 2,800 masks by hand to donate to vulnerable local residents and raised £3,000 which was donated to Ash Football Club Jenny will be donating the £100 prize to Christopher’s Children’s Hospice in Guildford Her award was presented by the Town Mayor of Godalming She said: “There have been many acts of kindness and it is right to acknowledge these acts of dedication and service to others We are in this together and we will get through this together Ash Vale and Ash Green Coronavirus Support Group set up and run by volunteers to collect and deliver shopping and prescriptions and providing telephone support for those in need during the pandemic and is having a truly positive impact on its local community presented the award to Carla Morson on behalf of the support group Carla announced that the award would be on display in St Mary’s Church in Ash Vale and the prize money would be donated to the food parcel project run in partnership with St Mary’s Church which feeds more than 30 families a week Cllr Bigmore added: ““I am honoured to be able to support these awards and I thank the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association for everything they have done and for recognising the fantastic work that we have seen in our borough in the last 12 months by organising this event “We have seen so many examples of people embracing their communities and selflessly giving their time to help one another and those qualities accurately describe the winner of our organisation award.” The evening began with a short video about the efforts and activities of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the name of humanity This was followed by a brief history of the community in the UK and a summary of the local community efforts during the pandemic by the president of the Guildford branch He said these efforts included making and distributing hot meals to frontline workers delivering PPE on behalf of the government and delivering food and medicines to vulnerable groups The event neared its conclusion with a short talk delivered by the UK director of outreach and public relations for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community He spoke about how Islam teaches that true happiness and peace of mind is not just achieved through fulfilling the rights of God but also by fulfilling the rights of God’s creation Mr Ikhlaf concluded: “the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK is at the forefront of helping anyone that needs our help as we consider bringing relief to others by alleviating physical and mental suffering of mankind as our mission a closing vote of thanks by Cllr Joss Bigmore who said: “One of the qualities that has shone through in our two award winners has been their humility and surprise at being honoured they see it as just doing their bit for their community They are starting organisations and movements from nothing and in doing so saving lives and having a lasting effect on their towns and villages.” The evening concluded with a silent prayer led by Ibrahim Ikhlaf a special request of prayers was also mentioned for the Mayor of Guildford who was unfortunately unable to join the event due to ill health The full video of the live event is now available on YouTube and can viewed at https://youtu.be/V1IJ4TE2uQE are determined to fight for justice after being refused service at their local pub when they were told that “Travellers are bad for business” Lindy Brazil and Ruby Brazil went to their local Pub – the Napier - to see what was going on after hearing rumours that the owner had banned all of the local Romany Gypsy community The women went to the pub and were refused service by a pub employee – who they recorded on their mobile phones - and were told that the owner had ordered his staff to refuse to serve all “Travellers” saying that “Travellers are bad for business” an Ash Romany Gypsy who works as a pupil counsellor at her local school explains that the Ash Romany Gypsy community have been regulars at the pub for decades and are part of the fabric of the local community “The Brazils have been going to the Napier for 80 years,” says Billy Jo we have helped with their sponsorship events and we go to the bingo night We are not ‘bad for business’ – we are half his business and it’s not right It seems that they let dogs in but not us.” who consider themselves to be part of the fabric of the local community in the phone recording of the incident – heard by The Travellers’ Times – local non-Gypsy regulars can be heard in the background saying “that’s not right” and “that’s not fair” “I felt discriminated against,” says Ruby Brazil Refusing service, whether it is in a pub or a restaurant or a shop, breaks the Equalities law and the women are now in touch with Howe & Co, the law firm that has won several discrimination cases for Travellers – including against the pub giant Wetherspoons. “It’s about getting a little bit of justice What happened was wrong and we have decided to take a stand.” said that his firm would look into the matter and has been sent the recordings clubs and pubs must realise that treating Gypsies and Travellers as second-class citizens is an affront to their dignity that is no longer tolerated,” he said The restoration of any run-down English country mansion is likely to involve extensive re-roofing is likely to uncover microphone wires hidden deep within walls by MI6 three-storey oak staircase over which Hitler’s top henchman tried to throw himself (failing when he got his leg stuck in the balustrade) Mytchett Place, between Ash Vale and Frimley Green in Surrey, is a sprawling 23,000 sq ft Victorian house that has just hit the sales market for £15 million In recent years used as commercial premises but comes with all the trappings of a trophy home: a sweeping driveway it’s the house’s fascinating role in one of the second world war’s most bizarre episodes that’s likely to enthral potential purchasers first Already a subscriber? Log in Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3 Already a subscriber? Log in the man behind the Ashvale fish and chip empire he ran a string of bookmakers in the north-east and turned out as a goalkeeper for the Dons in a cup tie He bought his first chip shop in 1979 in Bridge of Don and expanded the Ashvale brand to 14 outlets at one point One of his firm’s most famous creations was The Whale which sells by the hundred across his shops was born in Inverurie to John and Kathy Low His father was a maintenance engineer at Aberdeen University and John was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School When he left school he went to work as an accountant at a fish processing firm It was during a spell working at accountancy firm Flockhert and Grant that he met his future wife The couple married in 1956 and went on to have two children John made the move from accountancy to betting shops and opened a number of outlets in the Aberdeen area He had branches of John Low betting shops in Stonehaven John junior who used to transport betting slips between the shops as a young man said his father sold the business to Ladbrokes in around 1980 He also had an interest in hotels in Stonehaven and Aberdeen and owned a seafood cold storage facility at Tullos before developing the Ashvale Fish ‘n’ Things in Scotstown Road that the Ashvale brand was born and expansion got under way John said: “My father bought a fish and chip shop in Great Western Road in Aberdeen By coincidence there was a fish and chip shop nearby called the Ashvale which had a great reputation a Mrs Stuart retired and the new owners changed its name to the Continental my father approached Mrs Stuart to ask if he could use the Ashvale name “She agreed and that is how the name came about other shops were added and we had 14 at one point including three in Dundee Today the Ashvale has eight branches including in Inverurie John Low was a goalkeeper and played 485 consecutive games in the Highland League with Elgin City He won Aberdeen and District table tennis Division One title three times and represented Aberdeen  in inter-league tournaments In August 1959 when Aberdeen FC’s two goalkeepers were out of action John turned out for the Dons in a League Cup tie at Pittodrie He played in front of a crowd of 8,500 but Aberdeen lost 2-4 to visitors Kilmarnock that day John was also an accomplished golfer who played at Brechin the Ashvale employed 300 staff and today it has a payroll of around 180 was slow to take off when it was first introduced but now it is a favourite said Ashvale operations director Stuart Devine “At first it was American visitors who asked for The Whale “We used to use cod but haddock suited local tastes better we were selling about 100 a week and that is starting to build up again,” Across John’s Low’s eight outlets around 10,000 fish suppers are sold a week on top of other chip shop staples such as pies and puddings You can read the family’s announcement here.