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 Old Manor House is a grade II listed building in East Horsley It is on the market with a guide price of £1.5 million.  "We're keen to see this property back in residential use but the cost and resources required to refurbish the site are unaffordable for us "Selling Old Manor House on the open market will achieve best value in the interests of our residents." We've been advised that the property is generating interest from: These businesses will be best placed to return the property to residential use through: Cemetery Lodge is a second council property that has been listed for sale the detached house is in need of modernisation There is also scope to extend and improve the property subject to the necessary planning permission Both properties are listed with sales agent Register  Login The Surrey property has revamped its rooms and added a self-service shop to its reception This has involved refreshing the reception area restaurant and 51 of its bedrooms in contemporary hotel which sits alongside 19th-century mansion house who also designed the Houses of Parliament and Highclere Castle in Hampshire The reception now features a 24-hour self-service shop called De Vere Pantry while the Brasserie restaurant has undergone a rebrand and now features new artwork 79 of the estate’s 175 bedrooms have been fully renovated taking the total of academy double rooms to 45 deluxe doubles to 28 and superior rooms to 12 The property is also now home to five new Horsley Place suites Horsley Place features seven meeting spaces and a courtyard that can host outdoor lunches said: “We’re pleased to finish our latest phase of refurbishment at Horsley Place along with the upgraded reception and restaurant will really help to elevate our guests’ experience from the moment they arrive at De Vere Horsley Estate.” De Vere Horsley Estate features 175 bedrooms, 51 event spaces, an outdoor gym, a full-service leisure club and EV charging points. In 2019, the property unveiled a £2m makeover De Vere operates a collection of historic mansion house estates and hotels across London Sign Up Jacobs Media is a company registered in England and Wales A historic manor house in East Horsley is up for sale for £1.5 million after falling into a state of disrepair The “uninhabitable” Grade II listed property has been put on the private market as it is “too costly” for Guildford Borough Council (GBC) to modernise then rebuilt in 1868 by the Lovelace Estate detached house located in a conservation area GBC bought the property in March 1971 and then rented it out as eight individual flats for people of retirement age the 2018/19 book valuation of the property was £1.87 million But now GBC is asking for a guide price of £1.5m (minimum) for the decaying house fungus has spread across the entire ground floor walls Officers noted the house is a liability to the council with the threat of squatters Lead councillor for Finance and Property Richard Lucas said in a press statement: “We’re keen to see this property back in residential use Selling Old Manor House on the open market will achieve best value for our residents Our decision to sell will also prevent the condition of the building worsening and our council incurring future costs.” Councillors agreed it would not be cost effective for GBC to bring the historic building up to standard in an Executive meeting held on February 22 The property is in need of complete rewiring Getting rid of the house would also help GBC on its way to selling £50 million of its assets across the next three years for its financial recovery plan The council has already agreed to remove Send Hill disused Sand Pit and West Lodge GBC claims it is a “highly desirable property” due to its proximity to a local parade of shops whilst being nearby to Horsley railway station Cllr Lucas said: “We’ve been advised that the property is generating interest from builders These businesses will be best placed to undertake the necessary refurbishment and modernisation to return the property to residential use.” External consultants advised GBC there is a “strong possibility” the asset sale will create interest from builders Council documents said: “The competition created should force a premium price to be paid and will ensure the building is redeveloped and brought back into residential use.” Advertised on the Clarke Gammon estate agents’ website the description reads: “The property is in need of complete modernisation and improvement and allows scope for re-development subject to the gaining of satisfactory planning consent.” Both the manor house and the wall to the front of it is regarded as a listed building meaning the structure is considered to be of national importance for its architectural or historic interest Grade II listed building status means there are planning restrictions in place so the house can only be used for residential purposes See also: Council to Sell Grade II Listed Building Beyond Economic Repair There was no need for this property to become so badly affected Senior management was advised by the staff who were let go on September 12 last year that the building was in some disrepair This was based on an inspection after the last customers were moved out The senior managers were advised they needed to keep the building ventilated and heated through the winter period but ignoring that advice from the released specialist has again cost Guildford residents money The poor management at GBC will never change until those really responsible for the decaying council properties that tenants are forced to live in have been removed after the years of their poor performance The next secret that needs to be investigated is the serious lack of controls that were in place for years Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" See: Comment - We Need Change But Not the Kind Being Imposed By Labour’s ‘Devolution’ has today completed a £1.3million refurbishment to its reception restaurant and 51 of its bedrooms located in Horsley Place a distinctive contemporary hotel which sits alongside the historic mansion house Horsley Towers in over 75 acres of grounds The reception at Horsley Place has been transformed with new flooring contemporary furniture and artwork to reflect the estate's illustrious past The reception is now also home to the De Vere Pantry a self-service shop which sells sweet treats and local goodies available for guests to buy 24-hours a day The recent refurbishment work has seen a total of 79 rooms be fully renovated in the last year along with the creation of five new Horsley Place suites with some featuring private terraces The newly designed rooms offer a relaxed and contemporary design has been rebranded and refreshed with new tiled backdrops and serving areas The contemporary décor continues in the newly refurbished adjoining bar where guests can enjoy a selection of cocktails beer and soft drinks of their choice in a cosy and relaxing environment which comprises of seven meeting spaces for 6 to 100 people in groups - or all together to offer exclusive use Delegates can take advantage of The Hub's courtyard which can be used as an open-air breakout space which can also be booked exclusively for outdoor lunches The Hub can also be used in conjunction with The Horsley Suite which also offers direct access to the courtyard In the grounds of De Vere Horsley Estate is a 19th-century mansion house which has an intriguing history; it was re-designed by Sir Charles Barry who also designed the Houses of Parliament and Highclere Castle After being the marital home of Ada Lovelace the property was bought by Sir Thomas Sopwith the inventor of the Sopwith Camel aeroplane three meeting rooms and acres of beautiful grounds which can be hired out exclusively for events guaranteed to offer guests an unforgettable experience 51 flexible event spaces and a new outdoor gym full-service leisure club and EV charging points is located just 15 minutes from both Dorking and Guildford train stations with direct links to Central London in just 30 minutes Hotel website Brand OwnerDe Vere East Horsley’s historic Thatchers Hotel is undergoing a major refurbishment, with the first phase of renovations now complete. The charming Tudor-style property, owned by Surya Hotels and nestled on the edge of the Surrey Hills, has finished refurbishment work on its bar and dining areas, as well as its private dining/conference room (The Tudor Room) and reopened its doors for business in May. Jayne Nelson Interiors headed up the interior design for the project, with designer touches including, luxury Sanderson fabrics, bespoke lighting from Northern Lights, Jameson chairs, Mulberry fabrics, Muraspec wall coverings and stylish Formica laminates, alongside curtains, cushions and soft fabrics from Amor Interiors. The recently renovated interior includes a large open plan bar area, flooded with natural daylight from expansive floor to ceiling windows, complemented by ornate chandeliers, warm wood panelling and luxurious yet comfortable seating. Jayne Nelson, Owner of Jayne Nelson Interiors told PREMIER HOSPITALITY: “We kept the existing bar, as a lot of the panelling and timber had a really nice patina already. We kept a lot of it but made it more striking and contemporary using a unique laminate as back bar backing.” A partnership with high end audio brand Bang & Olufsen has also seen discrete and powerful designer sound systems blended throughout the interior offering seamless sound quality. As Thatcher’s is a period property, Jayne Nelson Interiors wanted to keep the charm of some of the property’s original features, whilst also modernising them to suit the hotel’s new look. Jayne explained: “Some areas had low dark ceilings which we wanted to change, and some places had really high ceilings, so we had to try and find a way to balance the spaces. We decided to paint out the timbers in the low ceilings and paint the high ceilings in a dark colour.” Looking back on the project Jayne said: “It was a fantastic project to work on, the client was great to work with and we’re really happy with the results.” From July, the restaurant will also be serving up brunch and afternoon tea – featuring an array of beautiful handmade and quirky cakes, fine artisan teas and a matching Prosecco, Champagne and cocktail list. The hotel’s main conference room has also been completely refurbished. Originally called Park Suite, the conference facility has been renamed the Horsley Suite, in an affectionate nod to the local area. The suite is now operational and open for hire for functions including weddings, meetings, conferences, private hire and has space for up to 160 covers. Work will now commence on the site’s 87 bedrooms, with an additional four bedrooms set to be created during the refurbishment, bringing the total rooms to 91. Forty-four of the existing guest rooms are currently available to book, while the first 43 bedrooms undergo complete renovation. The first phase of the bedroom renovations is due to complete by Autumn 2024, after which the remaining bedrooms will undergo refurbishment work, with the whole project due to wrap up by Summer 2025. A stunning gazebo and new garden furniture has also been added to the beautifully manicured lawns and gardens, which have been spruced up, ready for summer dining and wedding season. Credit: HSEA farming partnership in Surrey has been fined more than £30,000 after five hay bales crushed a young dad sustained four rib fractures when the bales fell on him at Polesden Lacey Farm in April 2022 Each bale was estimated to weigh 600 kg and Christopher lay trapped screaming for help until a nearby dog walker heard his cries and called for help He suffered fractures to his pelvis and ankle where he underwent emergency surgery before starting months of rehabilitation in order to regain his mobility to start walking again and caring for his then four-year-old son Chris who was 26 at the time of the incident has now returned to farming but is acutely aware that he was extremely lucky He said: "I was a stereotypical young man in agriculture I always thought I’d be fine – as long as I got to drive a quarter of a million pound tractor down the road with everyone looking at me I very much look at every piece of machinery in front of me and think how quickly can that thing kill me “I was lucky to come away with just a broken hip and leg fractures I was later told that if I had gone by road to the hospital I would have died." A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the poorly constructed stack of bales had not been stacked on firm they were on top of old pallets as the barn floor was uneven and prone to waterlogging The bales were placed in vertical columns and were not ‘tied in’ by alternating the layers so the bales overlap and stop the stack from splitting The company had also failed to identify safe working methods for unstacking bales keeping the face racked back as bales were removed pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 10 (4) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 The company was fined £36,000 and ordered to pay £4,986 in costs at Staines Magistrates’ Court on 15 May 2024 HSE inspector Sally Parkes said: “This accident would have been easily avoided if the farm had followed the guidance published by either HSE or the National Farmers Union on the safe stacking of bales Stacking bales requires skill and should be overseen directly by someone with knowledge of the industry guidance “Health and safety is a fundamental requirement of a sustainable farming business yet over the last 10 years almost one person a week is killed and many more are seriously injured as a result of agricultural work “Even with the considerable financial stain on UK farming prioritising health and safety not only ensures workers are kept safe but also improves well-being and health outcomes alongside supporting productivity and efficiency on farms.” Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know Do you know of beautiful and scenic village in the UK that looks like it is from a fairytale or a Disney movie picturesque village in Surrey Hills near Guildford A notable landmark in the village is Horsley Towers a 19th-century country house designed by architect Charles Barry for banker William Currie The estate was later expanded by William King-Noel Great Bookham and West Clandon is known for its scenic beauty making it look like something out of a Disney movie now a Grade II-listed hotel was constructed using local flint and brick Related: Discover HIDDEN island with pink beach where only one person lives the 1st Earl of Lovelace was particularly interested in tunnels and bridges Visitors can also explore the Lovelace Bridges in the Surrey Hills with a circular walking route available on AllTrails that takes walkers over nine of these historic bridges The 8km trail is pet-friendly and moderately challenging which is also home to The Duke of Wellington a popular local pub known for its delicious Sunday roasts East Horsley is great destination for a family day out which offer plenty of attractions nearby Popular sites to visit include Hatchlands Park Related: Discover hidden story behind construction of The Great Wall of China Residents and traders in East Horsley are furious at a proposed 12-day closure of Ockham Road North in East Horsley to make utility connections to one new house in the area They say it will hit vital Christmas trade and are calling for it to be delayed to January said: “The lack of joined-up thinking beggars belief.” The Ockham Road North Road is planned to be closed from November 29 to December 10. The suggested diversion is shown on the SCC website A petition, “Save Station Parade shops this Christmas” said to have been signed by over 1,600 people says shops will lose up to 50% of their trade as a result of the road closure and it questions whether developer’s interests are being put ahead of the needs of locals One resident said: “I am pee’d off It’s already causing disruption everywhere in the village There have been calls to delay the closure to January But there is no indication the closure from East Lane/Drift Junction up to the railway bridge The B2039 is planned to be closed for utility connections to be made to infill development behind existing properties adjacent to the road The diversion which is shown on the SCC website appears to be about 12 miles long SCC cabinet member for transport and infrastructure is quoted in the petition as saying: “We‘ve spoken to the developer and asked if they can re-plan these works to the new year but due to the residents financial and logistical issues The petition responds with “We ask why this is more important than the survival of our local shops Cllr Catherine Young said the plans “beggar belief” Clandon & Horsley) said she had corresponded with SCC leader Tim Oliver and Matt Furniss and understands “the road closure is because one family want to move into their new home before Christmas and their utilities have to be connected.” She stressed she was trying to find a practical solution to mitigate the impact on the retailers and residents and said: “The lack of joined-up thinking beggars belief and tensions are running high I have asked for some creative thinking to either move the date “I have asked that signs be put up which clearly state businesses are open as usual and I have challenged them (SCC) to compensate for the losses that will be reported Business liaison lead for East Horsley Parish Council said: “The first two weeks of December is a crucial part of the retail year They have had an awful time during COVID last Christmas and this is a great opportunity for them to try to catch up and make a little bit of money “We’re looking for a compromise that will allow the residents to get what they need and the shops to carry on trading freely.” Roshini and Rammeash Ratnasingam run the East Horsley Post Office “News of the road closure was a big shock” who runs the post office with her husband Rammeash said she received a notice about the road closure just over a week ago She said: “The post office is already struggling to survive on its own and it’s subsidised by the retail People come for help for almost everything “News of the road closure was a big shock for me It’s made me really sad and upset to see that our peak period of business is going to be shattered people will be reluctant to walk to the shops if the road is closed.” said the businesses had the support of the residents said she had organised the petition the day after they heard the news about the proposed closure She said: “Over 1,600 people out of a total population of just over 4,000 residents have signed I suspect that some of us will be at the proposed works early tomorrow [Monday] morning to talk to the engineers to ask them if they themselves can help with a better way of managing the traffic.” Cllr Furniss confirmed to me by email last week that the only reason the road was being closed now was so that buyers of a new house could occupy it before Christmas SCC leader Cllr Tim Oliver has not even bothered to reply to emails to SCC/Surrey Highways always putting other interests before those of the public I wonder if the lack of engagement or caring from SCC leadership has anything to do with Horsley daring to elect a non-Tory county councillor Thank you Dragon for bringing this matter to light We hope SCC will change their mind and listen to the shopkeepers’ cry.” It is a stupid disruption to allow the service connections for one house The road is forever being dug up for one reason or another It seems there is no coordination between the planners and the utility companies Quite apart from the chosen time of year and the excessively long diversion why on earth does it take so long to carry out the work Surely a sensible timescale for this kind of job would be: Day 1 – close the road and set up a traffic diversion dig the hole; Day 2 – connect the utilities; Day 3 – time to allow pipe etc connections to cure also a contingency over-run; Day 4 – fill in hole restore road surface and revert road use to normal The inaction of SCC councillors Oliver (leader) and Furniss (Transport & Infrastructure) is unbelievable and smacks of clear intent to place developers above residents and taxpayers and certainly not explained to the residents and businesses of East Horsley why they (SCC) put the interests of a small-time developer above the entire local business community the protests of 1,600+ local people and the appeals of two SCC councillors Cllr Young’s comment on this news “Beggars Belief” is truly and entirely appropriate The planning juggernaut at SCC is surely led by donkeys If you have the misfortune of driving through Woking Has anyone in SCC and its contractors heard of Chapter 8 of the Highways Manual Last week I followed the A324 from the A322 near Brookwood and I did not spot any advance warning signs nor any on the roundabouts until I reached the A320 that prevented me from turning right towards Guildford I was forced to turn left and drove to the roundabout and turned around only to find that past the Peacocks Centre junction I could not turn left in the Guildford direction I had to turn right and follow the road back on the A324 a couple of miles before I saw the diversion signs I had to drive to same route and avoided Woking road works mayhem completely by taking the B380 from the A322 to Old Woking via the A320 Over 50 roads in Surrey have roadworks at the moment Returning on Monday from choir along the A246 I encountered a “road-closed” notice not having observed such a warning on my way to Guildford It necessitated a 10-mile diversion to get home to the A246 end of West Horsley The same notice was still in place on Tuesday morning so some people were turning around and taking a different route to their destination Surely it was not necessary to close the whole road for work at one side There is no “joined-up” thinking regarding these endless road closures A plan view of the proposed development in East Horsley as shown on the Taylor Wimpey website A proposed new housing development for over 100 homes in East Horsley would be named Ada Gardens regarded as one of the first computer programmers and who lived at Ockham Park House in the 19th century But the announcement made in a press release issued by Taylor Wimpey has been labelled a “premature” “PR exercise” by local councillor Catherine Young (GGG Clandon & Horsley) and objections to the proposal have been raised by East and West Horsley Parish Councils Taylor Wimpey say the proposed development will provide 110 new high-quality homes to the local community According to the press release: “Ada Gardens will offer two four and five-bedroom houses as well as one and two-bedroom apartments ideal for families and those stepping onto the property ladder it will also provide five self-build plots play areas for families to enjoy and new habitats for wildlife wildflower meadows and green links permeating through the development.” Land and Planning Director at Taylor Wimpey South Thames said: “We have worked closely with local residents the council and other key stakeholders to develop plans for this exciting new community The site benefits from outline planning permission and we hope to have reserved matters approval in the summer.” Cllr Young said: “I find this PR exercise from Taylor Wimpey a little premature although the sentiment behind the suggested name of the site is appreciated “They may have ‘outline’ permission but there remains much to be done in my view to ensure that the detailed matters actually respond to the concerns and suggestions raised by those with whom they have consulted “It is my understanding that objections raised by both East and West Horsley Parish Councils together with detailed objections from West Horsley Place and a significant number of residents who live next to the site “The key issues remain with regard to extensive flooding on to the site (part of the site is in Flood Zone 3 and 80 per cent of the site is underwater for up to six months of the year) the impact on the bordering Ancient Woodland (an irreplaceable habitat) and the lack of biodiversity measures to replace the existing wildlife corridor that runs across the site given that Taylor Wimpey are one of the largest and deemed ‘responsible’ housebuilders is the lack of consideration to address and mitigate against climate change I personally have raised this with them on a number of occasions and their response has been ‘We only have to deliver what your policy requires and what we are conditioned to deliver at the outline stage,’ a somewhat narrow-minded response “Time is moving on and building regulations have changed – let’s hope they will have a rethink.” No cars at the station parade of shops at East Horsley Normally motorists are lucky to find a parking space “The village is dead,” said one shopkeeper Fears that a planned road closure by Surrey County Council would dramatically affect trade for local shops appear to have been borne out The road closure of the Ockham Road North in East Horsley for utility connections to one private new house remained in place today despite pleas for it to be delayed until after the Christmas trading period “Everybody is incensed,” said ward borough councillor Catherine Young Local traders in East Horsley had estimated their losses would be around £140,000 Businesses and the public in West Horsley will also be affected according to a local businessman It’s a similar story on the other side of the road where the post office/convenience store In a letter to The Dragon owner of the Glassblowing Studio next door to Squires Garden Centre said it would impact on his business and others as well as the parents and teachers at Cranmore School He said: “It will undoubtedly mean that many people won’t get their deliveries on time.” Cllr Young (R4GV) said she had spoken to the SCC cabinet member responsible for transport issues to seek assurance the utility work being carried out would not need to be repeated for the other three adjacent new properties being built She said: “The shops are really quiet The Post Office shop was empty when I visited today and there were no queues outside the butchers as would be expected at this time of year.” She said Cllr Furniss had indicated the road was too narrow to have traffic lights allowing traffic to use the road in a one-way system but she added: “Traffic lights have been used on this road before” County councillor for the area Colin Cross (R4GV Horsleys) accused SCC leader Tim Oliver and Matt Furniss of being “incapable of good judgement and looking at such problems in the round” He said: “The hard-pressed retailers in East Horsley are being crushed by their own county council “SCC remain silent on any compensation or an offer of an alternative plan to shorten the road closure time There has been no justifiable explanation or apology for this massive misjudgement and its dire impacts.” a spokesperson for SCC said: “It has been necessary to put this closure in place to connect supplies to properties at the new development site so that people can move into their homes before Christmas “Dates for the works have had to be coordinated around other works in the vicinity and the volume of works across Surrey’s entire road network means it is not always possible to simply defer to a later date as this may result in clashes The 12-mile diversion route shown on the SCC website “We will ensure that an officer is regularly monitoring progress on-site to ensure that the closure does not stay in place for any longer than required the closure will be lifted immediately and if it is possible to lift the closure and continue works under temporary signals when some phases of work have been completed we’ll also ensure that any possible changes are made at the earliest opportunity We are also arranging for “businesses open as usual” signage to be installed ASAP this week.” See East Horsley Road Closure During Christmas Trading “Beggars Belief” I thought lessons had been learnt from the sudden road closure of Clay Lane to enable the but connection of water supply to Burpham Court Farm But I guess you can’t teach some people Why are those in charge not more aware of consequences and “what if” scenarios Mostly overcast skies and mild conditions remained with us as we passed through the Winter Solstice around the southern counties of the UK A few days of settled weather and the optimism that daylight hours would soon be increasing continued to inspire me to get out and about locally with my camera during the remaining weeks of 2023 This one recently seen at Staines Reservoir At Tice’s Meadow near Farnham two black-necked grebes continued to be viewed Although too distant to photo on the days I visited during the last weeks of the month At least one green sandpiper could still often be viewed from the waterside hide While common snipe could sometimes still be picked out in spite of their cryptic camouflage On a few occasions as many as 120 lapwings could now be counted when spooked into the air by a passing bird of prey Although my dismal attempts to capture some colour in my photos as overcast weather conditions continued I was at least able to get a few record shots of some of my sightings a few teal continued to be seen wintering close to the boardwalk While on the ‘scrape’ near Stoke Lock a couple of pairs of shoveler ducks could be viewed Across the river on the flooded area by Burpham Court Farm this one pictured at the Riverside Nature Reserve On Whitmoor Common a firecrest and a goldcrest could be viewed appearing to be contending their territories in a large expanse of holly bushes While redwings continued to be seen and heard making their ‘seeping’ sounds about the local countryside A few visits to St Mary’s Church at Perry Hill on the days leading up to Christmas allowed me to capture a few photos of these small wintering thrushes the mild spell of weather continued to encourage local friendly anglers to partake in their fishing while I observed what might be seen in regards of wildlife The lesser black-backed gull seen on numerous recent visits continued to make the pond its winter home One of two little grebes seen on Britten’s Pond While two little grebes (dabchicks) continued to be seen As were groups of long-tailed tits who continued to circuit trees about the pond While also managing a few photos of one of two nuthatches among the trees Another sighting of the resident kingfisher was Having enjoyed the festive delights of Christmas Day by the time Boxing Day had arrived I was once again ‘kicking my heels’ for the opportunity of an escape back out in to the countryside for a few hours and much hoped for in the writing of my previous report was a belated Christmas gift I had spent 10 years awaiting News had come through of a small group of waxwings that had been sighted in East Horsley A decade ago I featured waxwings in my reports for the Dragon: https://guildford-dragon.com/birdwatchers-diary-no-30/ I have desired to see them again nearer to home The seduction of remembering the ‘trilling’ sounds they make still haunts me Perhaps I was just ‘waxwing lyrical’ after such a long absence of viewing them But there was just something about their confiding nature and delightful plumage that one just has to appreciate Arriving here to winter from their breeding grounds in the most northerly parts of Scandinavia and Russia seems to quail waxwings’ concerns about us humans having irrupted such great distances from their homelands and having to compete with our regular wintering thrushes made them less choosy as where to feed we decided to investigate the waxwings in East Horsley close to the village’s medical centre Although full of orange berries there were no waxwings to be seen But it wasn’t long before they were sighted perched high up in some of the taller surrounding trees An observation I had never noted before about these birds having not seen these beauties during such mild conditions They still had a keen eye on the berries and then edged their way nearer In some of the other ivy-clad trees much movement could be seen as both wood pigeons and a redwing plucked the hanging ivy berries two blackbirds were first on the scene plucking their share of the spoils on the sorbs tree While a song thrush soon appeared and joined in having previously been seen feeding on ivy berries Eventually the waxwings could resist no longer At one stage all eight had descended to ‘fill their boots’ before ascending While even a usually timid redwing briefly joined in the feast I found the waxwings had now reduced their number to just six and had relocated from the red sorbus berries to a group of closely related mountain ash trees in the nearby cul-de-sac area of Kingston Avenue Having spent a while preening high up in the surrounding trees they would swoop down to gouge the berries allowing decent views to the gathering observers A small cavitate to their feasting on this occasion was a mistle thrush which clearly had a great destain at the thought of the waxwings taking their share of his winter stock An interesting sight while there was an overwintering male blackcap that could be picked out Having not visited East or West Horsley on a regular basis it was of noted surprise the amount of ring-necked parakeets that now reside in the area I counted three flocks heading northward to roost soon after 3pm Spending so much time in the East Horsley area during the penultimate days of the year we only just found time to visit Dick Fock’s Common with a walk around the Lovelace Estate at Effingham Forest Allowing us to add to our sightings a marsh tit Once again concluding another productive year of adventures Although once again I exceeded my aim of seeing and photographing more than 40 species of butterflies and around 200 species of birds I hope I have kept my readers informed and entertained along the way The Mandarin’s Dilemma was staged at The Nomad Theatre or Made Knaves by Duty was reviewed at The Nomad Theatre The sixth full-length stage work by composer and lyricist Joe St presents the story of an audacious plan to bring down the UK government coupled to an imminent nuclear threat posed by the dictator of the fictitious country Gondwana it encompasses the machinations of various leading politicians and civil servants including the vampish Deputy Leader of the Opposition the senior mandarins Sir Tristram Seville and Sir Norman Persimmon Its premiere production at The Nomad Theatre East Horsley benefited from excellent leads in Helen Semple as Besty and Anna Loveday as Haaridan both of whom were highly convincing in their execution of their characters Other principals delivered similarly assured performances notably Peter Hart and Andrew Hamel-Cooke as two convivial mandarins and Danilo Antonelli as the heavy-handed Prime Minister Director Nathan Farrell successfully originated a robust vision of a challenging work the only discernible indications of uncertainty being a slight sense of hesitancy in some of the chorus numbers individual cast members shone in many commendable supporting roles not least Nick Gee’s authoritative turn as the army commander-in-chief and Rachael Ball’s as his spirited aide The score of The Mandarin’s Dilemma creatively employs the constituent members of the nine-piece classical ensemble in an endless number of different combinations with its frequent intermezzi Much of the music was conceived in terms of individual lines while the opening of Act II particularly exemplified the minimalist influences the composer acknowledges he had absorbed from Michael Nyman Joanna Bywater admirably navigated its inherent complexity and the relative dearth of obvious points of formal articulation or clear refrains beyond the ensemble numbers and for the most part provided an effective yet unobtrusive underscore The cast were evidently undeterred by the intricacy of the plot even notwithstanding a few moments at which it felt contrived or unbalanced One scene sees Besty take to the catwalk at a fashion show because this is supposedly the only way she can have a private conversation with Haaridan Another involved an elaborate song and dance number performed by a TV crew by way of introduction to a hard-hitting political interview that was strikingly brief in comparison The plan set in motion during Act II is the brainchild of Besty’s boyfriend but it was a pity given the strength of Mark Bassett’s performance in the role of Haplesser this production represented a musical stage work on a quest to establish its own identity The comedic aspects could have been brought out much more strongly had the interpretation of the piece been less serious – after all the collapse of the British government and the threat of nuclear war are not matters over which an audience would necessarily wish to laugh the precise nature of the titular mandarin’s dilemma did not come across as clearly as it might possibly because the crucial exposition was presented as a trio in which the two older civil servants repeated the heroine’s words in a routine that became rhetorical after a while Johanser asks where The Mandarin’s Dilemma may be positioned in terms of genre Leaving aside the classical influences of the music and the manner of its scoring the interpretation taken by this production perceptibly leaned towards the operatic with several principals evidently drawing on a blend of classical music college training and previous opera credits The result was a performance that suggested more the profundity of a chamber opera than the light-heartedness of operetta or the easy listening of musical theatre Perhaps this is unsurprising given that the composer already has five operas to his name The Mandarin’s Dilemma may be recognisably the latest addition to an impressively long line of works but that should not detract from the scale of the remarkable achievement of this production for St www.joestjohanser.co.uk The silver Audi Q5 still at the crash scene yesterday evening Police are seeking witnesses after two cars collided just after 3pm yesterday (November 1) on Ockham Road at the Forest Road junction is in St George’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries His next of kin have been informed  The driver of a Volkswagen Caravelle suffered minor injuries and was treated by paramedics “There were two alarming accidents here last June It’s all a 30mph limit but if you don’t know the road this particular junction can suddenly be on you but if you’re not totally concentrating it’s an accident waiting to happen Road closures are likely to last several hours while officers investigate Oakwood Drive to Oakham Road South is closed Anyone with any information or relevant dash-camera footage is asked to call 101 The independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 Sadly it is the norm for drivers to travel far too fast through the length of the village I don’t know the cause of this accident but it is all to easy to be caught unawares by an approaching speeding car at this junction I believe the highest recorded speed on Ockham Road North is 82 mph I think the only way to effectively control speed through both East and West Horsley is by average speed cameras I don’t want to see increasing urbanisation of this kind but it is locals as well as visitors who drive over the speed limit and this seems the only solution warning signs and reduced use of centre lines haven’t worked although the latter has seen some good effect What more can be done other than average speed cameras I wish the highway authority would buy some more paint and put the white lines back Inconsiderate drivers now imagine they have the whole carriageway at their command and take the opportunity to hurtle round bends in the middle of the road I’ve had to veer right into the kerb on several occasions to avoid being hit by speeding oncoming cars It might be that absence of lines calm traffic in some locations I’ve been told repeatedly that it’s “too dangerous” to have a speed check along the Ockham Road North between Waterloo Farm (where you need to cross to reach a footpath) and Green Lane (where the Howard bus stops) and yet it’s apparently safe enough for the Howard of Effingham children to cross to get/get off the school bus Average speed cameras would go some way to preventing excessive speed along this stretch then tearing up to the dangerous bend in the middle of the road One day there will be a fatality with cars coming down the blind bend The white lines at the edges just push the cars further into the centre I have been told the road is too narrow to allow for a white line The Dragon NEWS was told “she passed away peacefully yesterday morning Her son and daughter were with her.” Jenny Powell was a Conservative borough councillor for many years representing Clandon & Horsley and serving on the Executive as the lead councillor for Culture She was also chair of the Friends of Guildford Museum leader of the Conservative Group at GBC said: “[Our group is] deeply saddened at the passing of the wonderful Freeman and former councillor Jen Powell sport and the arts of Guildford was very special and she made a big difference to the community over very many years Our thoughts are for her family at this time “Jen was recognised for her achievements through unanimous cross-party support when she was nominated and awarded her Freeman status and the loss of two great Conservative Freemen over recent months is very sad See also: Honorary Freeman Andrew Hodges Dies Suddenly Jen was a big reason why I became involved in Guildford in Bloom and I am proud to follow in her footsteps in that organisation.” Jenny Powell after the 2015 ceremony to make her a Freeman of the Borough accompanied by those made Hon Aldermen at the same ceremony From left: Nick Sutcliffe; Sarah Creedy; Jen Powell; the Mayor of Guildford the MP for Mole Valley (the Clandon & Horsley ward sat within the Mole Valley Parliamentary constituency) told The Dragon: “The loss of Jen Powell is deeply sad She was a very effective GBC Councillor but one with a warm heart “There are many people that she helped over the years who will also be very saddened.” “Jen” Powell was first elected to the GBC in 1987 representing the Clandon and Horsley ward and was elected Mayor of Guildford in 2001-2002 said: “I was deeply saddened to hear that Honorary Freeman Jennifer Powell had passed away peacefully this morning including six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren “Jen served Guildford Borough Council for 28 years and was a busy and very popular Mayor during her year of office in 2001/2002 As an Honorary Freeman of the Borough Jen continued to support council and community events with her usual good humour and enthusiasm for all things ‘Guildford’ “She was much loved amongst council colleagues and will be greatly missed.”  The Hon Freeman served on the Executive for nine years with the following portfolio responsibilities:   People and Partnership: 2003-2009;Culture and Heritage: 2010-11; Culture and Leisure: 2011-12; and Sport Ms Powell served on many Council committees including: Arts & Recreation Committee in 1994-95; Arts & Recreation Committee from 1991 to 1994; Policy Panel (Leisure) in 2003-04; and was one of the designated Licensing Sub-Committee chairmen in 2006-07 and 2010-11 She also served on a myriad of external bodies and organisations as the council’s representative Age Concern (Surrey) 2005-2011; Area Museums Service for South East England Executive Council (Surrey District Councils Association Rep) 1990-1994; Ash Manor School Joint Committee (Dual use of Sports Facilities) 1991-1995; SCC Guildford Local Committee 2002-03; South East Arts General Advisory Council 1998-2000; South East England Tourist Board Executive Committee 1990-1995; Surrey Museums Consultative Committee 1991-2001 2003-2015; Tourism South East 2005-2015; and the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Trust 2006-2015  Jen was made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough This was in recognition of her long and distinguished service to the Borough of Guildford Details of arrangements for Jen’s memorial will be announced shortly of Guildford Labour said: “Our party says goodbye to Jenny Powell with respect and thanks for her years of service in the borough representing the Labour Party in Clandon and Horsley ‘Friends and colleagues across the political spectrum will recognise Jenny as an important figure in village politics and celebrate what she achieved as our councillor.’” dutifully served this borough for many years and was widely respected “She was an intelligent and articulate councillor with a good sense of humour who would sometimes tease me for my poor pronunciation of Welsh place names and for “stealing” the Welsh national emblem for the title of our online newspaper a very lovely lady liked by all that knew her She was always happy to help and share her many interests she never forgot her Welsh heritage and would always fly the Welsh flag at every opportunity Jen was a very special person that will certainly be missed I was saddened to hear today that Jen Powell had died I knew that her health hadn’t been good but I remember her as a constant champion of the Arts and Culture in Guildford But the constant with Jen was the twinkle in her eye and a readiness to laugh Caroline Reeves is a former Lib Dem leader of Guildford Borough Council Jen was a loyal supporter and friend to me especially to my charity the British Heart Foundation and to my Castle Green Bowls Club I feel blessed that I was with her last year at the cricket and she was still laughing and we were reminiscing abut when she was Mayor of Guildford RIP my dear friend and condolences to your family Jen was first and foremost a “Taff” Her birthday even fell on St David’s Day she was the most committed borough councillor one could wish for she was devoted to all things West Horsley she was an active member of the West Horsley in Bloom Committee where she not only took an active part in the judging but also in the formal presentation evenings Her twinkling humour was always a joy to share When I became a borough councillor for Clandon & Horsley I heard nothing but the highest praise for Jen’s commitment and involvement with our community in West and East Horsley Although I didn’t know her personally I met her at last year’s West Horsley In Bloom presentation and I was amazed how brave and determined she was to join in and support this event When she retired from local politics a fabulous article was written about her in one of East Horsley’s newsletters describing her as the ‘Grandmother’ of our council Her presence in West Horsley will be sorely missed Catherine Young is a Guildford Greenbelt Group borough councillor for Clandon & Horsley As the GBC director responsible for Leisure and Cultural Services (1996 – 2012) Jen Powell was always extremely supportive – especially on arts and museum matters we persuaded the council to contribute to was £50,000 towards the major development work at Watts gallery which was a key element in unlocking £4.3 million of Lottery funding for the scheme Jen was one of the three Councillors in my time who gave critical support to the arts during my time – the other two being Auriol Earle and Lynda Strudwick The arts in Guildford will be much diminished by her passing My wife and I were deeply saddened to hear that Jenny passed away this week Her ever generous contribution to the local community was made in so many different ways and we always enjoyed our warm conversations with her either at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre or on other cultural occasions We send our condolences to her family and close friends Jenny was the first chair of the Surrey Museums Consultative Committee in 1991 and I was the first countywide museums officer at the same time She served on SMCC for over 20 years I think I was thinking about her on Tuesday last week and wondering if she was still a councillor That thought prompted me to Google her name and that’s how I found out that she had died She really loved the museums in the county and was such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic advocate for all things culture and heritage hugely able and with a fabulous sense of humour She is now at peace after a very stressful year or more battling health issues By 2023-11-02T12:05:00+00:00 Sainsbury’s has made a ‘step change’ in its value perception following a series of prices cuts and its Aldi Price Match Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts hailed the impact of the supermarket’s Food First strategy, which he claims has left it with the “strongest value position” it’s ever had against its competitors, despite the challenges presented by the cost of living crisis.  Grocery sales grew 10.1% during the first half of the year to 16 September, pushing retail operating profit up to 2% to £485m, according to the results, which were published on Thursday.  The performance had helped Sainsbury’s win market share from its traditional big four competitors, but also “for the first time”, from discounters Aldi and Lidl It is the result of its efforts over the last three years following the launch of the growth strategy in 2020 “We promised to invest significantly in value what we’re seeing is we’re gaining market share,” Roberts said we’ve grown both grocery volumes and volume market share We’re selling more food to more customers and with bigger trolleys and baskets.” Sainsbury’s had made a “step change” in its value perception, Roberts said. It includes the expansion of its Aldi Price Match to more than 400 products and the relaunch of its lowest tiered own-labels under the single Stamford Street banner At the same time, a ramping up of investment into innovation was another reason customers were increasingly choosing Sainsbury’s, Roberts said. The retailer will launch almost 300 new products ahead of Christmas with more than 170 of these being its Premium Taste The Difference lines The supermarket has seen an increase of shoppers in stores on Saturday afternoons as they favour ‘big nights in’ during the cost of living crisis Sainsbury’s had increasingly been focusing its food innovation on more premium lines as a result Roberts said that a decline in grocery sales between the first and second quarter was a reflection of inflation coming down “This is a story of growing food volume,” he added.  Sainsbury’s is set to host an update on 7 February 2024 during which Roberts will outline the next stage of his strategy.  “We’re in really strong shape operationally and really ready to give our customers outstanding service,” Roberts said “We think we’ve got the strongest value position we’ve ever had against our competitors.” when loyalty schemes were taken into account they’re coming to Sainsbury’s and we’re winning share,” Roberts said Sainsbury’s has started to see the rate of food inflation fall across some categories, particularly on fresh lines. Some ambient products had fallen at a slower rate. As such Sainsbury’s said it was focusing its Nectar Prices offers on “big brands” like Cathedral City Cheese and Persil washing up liquid to counter this Sainsbury’s had invested a further £118m in lower prices during the first half of the financial year, with the majority of the focus being on “centre of the plate products” that customers buy most often, for example pasta and fishfingers Roberts said that Sainsbury’s would continue to pass any falls in inflation on to customers “as quickly as we can”, however warned that inflationary pressures remained in the industry, including labour and energy costs, and not all commodities were coming down Sign in to comment on this article Site powered by Webvision Cloud Learn moreExplore related questionsDiscover more about the topics that matter most Browse our suggested questions or ask your own to find out more This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page 20 Sep 2022 By Already registered? please Log in to continue Try Property Week For Free to finish this article To access this article TRY FOR FREE NOW Don't want full access? REGISTER NOW for limited access and to subscribe to our newsletters Already registered or subscribed? SIGN IN here to continue Property Week’s 2025 Power of Proptech survey seeks to explore the robustness of this digital infrastructure and how prepared businesses are to meet the technological challenges facing the property sector who lived a life of luxury as a result of a multi-million pound drugs ring Christopher Monaghan was jailed for 16 years at Guildford Crown Court on February 11th having earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine conspiracy to supply drugs and three counts of money laundering His wife Karen was found guilty after trial of two counts of money laundering and appeared at the same court on Friday February 20th where she was given an 18-month sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work Examination of their personal accounts also uncovered large sums of cash being transferred in and out while it showed spending on high value items including the Porsche at a cost of £26,000 and holidays costing £9,900 was arrested on suspicion of money laundering on February 15 2013 The pair were charged in September 2013 with Mr Monaghan pleading guilty in September last year and Mrs Monaghan being found guilty after trial in November last year Newly announced investment and construction of a new business park in Horsley Cross The upcoming Centurion Park is currently the only such development along the A120 between Colchester and Harwich International Port with planning permission in place a fund managed by Tristan Capital Partners has acquired the port development site located between Colchester and Harwich marking a significant achievement for the region This signals increased investment in development opportunities aiming to address the high demand for new industrial spaces The site has received planning approval and Tungsten Properties will act as EPISO 5’s operating partner and development/asset manager McLaren Construction has been appointed as the construction partner Centurion Park will feature 11 medium-sized units ranging from 11,000 to 70,500 square feet with construction expected to complete in October 2024 Freeport East will continue supporting Tungsten Properties in fostering partnerships and communication with future tenants of Centurion Park which is planned to also offer specialised freeport customs site status “The A120 area has historically lacked industrial space options meaning local communities in Harwich and Tendring have not fully benefitted from economic activity flowing through the port itself “Centurion Park presents valuable opportunities for a number of industries from international transport operators near Harwich to manufacturers trading globally or domestically and will help support greener logistics options It also indicates the increasing interest amongst investors and businesses in Freeport East and adds to the diversity of accommodation options available “Freeport East will continue to work closely with Tungsten and its future tenants to capitalise on the benefits of the freeport customs model innovation connections and delivering a greener transport system for the region We also welcome commitments to the highest ESG standards and look forward to working with the developers to deliver a scheme that achieves the levels of sustainability our local communities want to see” Tendring District Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth welcomed the news that works would start soon on the Horsley Cross site “Horsley Cross has long been identified as a site with huge potential for investment and development drawing upon the excellent transport links to Harwich International Port and the rest of the country so it is pleasing to see this scheme come forward.” Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood's former home at Ruxley Tower in Claygate, Surrey, U.K., went on the market last year for around $2.9 million The house's current owner has instead decided to rent the property That's a princely sum to pay for a rental home but the owner's real-estate agent has posted several pictures of the house's interior so that potential tenants can see what they're in for You can view several photos of the home below There are some particulars one should be aware of which means a lot of up-and-down on the spiral staircase It was built in the 1800s by Henry Thomas Foley and has been said to have welcomed many guests including Queen Victoria and Cliff Richard (though not simultaneously) The tallest of the terraces actually served as a watchtower during World War II Wood lived there for a time with his then-girlfriend but sold the place after he wed Sally Humphreys in 2012 Current owner Penny Rainbow is said to have made extensive renovations to the place because, as Homes & Property put it "Let’s just say [Wood's] party lifestyle had taken its toll." You can sleep where a Stone slept, for only $8,500 a month!\nRead More Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood's former home at Ruxley Tower in Claygate, Surrey, U.K., went on the market last year for around $2.9 million There are some particulars one should be aware of Current owner Penny Rainbow is said to have made extensive renovations to the place because, as Homes & Property put it Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Amazon Australia has extended its footprint across the country with the development of two new super-scale robotics-led centres amid strong growth in online purchases of bulky goods such as furniture and flat screen TVs the tech giant has unveiled plans for a $490 million investment in two new fulfilment centres on land owned by industrial property giant Goodman at the Oakdale East Industrial Estate in Horsley Park Renders of the planned Amazon fulfilment centre in western Sydney These follow the development of Craigieburn Logistics Estate announced in August last year on the AustralianSuper-owned site which is managed and developed by LOGOS Property That fulfilment centre will span around 209,000 square metres across four levels equivalent to 11 Melbourne Cricket Grounds or five times the size of Federation Square making it the largest warehouse ever built in Australia NSW Premier Chris Minns officially launched the construction of the purpose-built Sydney site which is targeting completion in early 2026 The site will be around four and a half times the size of the Sydney Opera House or Barangaroo Reserve Amazon Australia’s country manager Janet Menzies said that once completed the new Sydney site has capacity to hold up to 1.6 million large items from garden equipment Construction of the site will generate an additional 3000 jobs Menzies said the western Sydney sites can reach most of the country within 12 hours when the new airport at Badgerys Creek opens nearby “These new centres will position Amazon for the future to cater for customers who are now ordering larger items online and the bigger sites will allow us to offer speed of delivery and a wider range of goods at our competitive prices,” Menzies said which will have the capacity to hold up to 600,000 larger items is set to open later this year Amazon Australia operations manager Sandra McNeil said the company’s investment in two new facilities in western Sydney “will expand our operational footprint in this area which will provide customers with wider selection and faster delivery” An artist’s render of the Amazon Robotics fulfilment centre in Melbourne’s north Goodman Australia chief executive Jason Little said the group has invested significantly in the area and that this development extended “Goodman’s infrastructure spend in the western Sydney employment area to more than $500 million” with the essential infrastructure it needs to expand and help meet growing consumer needs in western Sydney and beyond,” Little said Both of the new fulfilment centres will be equipped with advanced technology to assist Amazon’s team as they pick and pack items serving Australian shoppers on Amazon.com.au – contributing to the company’s efforts to deliver a smarter faster and more consistent experience for customers in Sydney around Australia Since opening its first Sydney fulfilment centre in Moorebank in 2018 Amazon has invested more than $1.5 billion in western Sydney additionally opening a robotics fulfilment centre in Kemps Creek in 2022 and a logistics site in Regents Park the first dual-level logistics industrial development in Sydney’s central west is targeted for completion by the first quarter of next year Central by LaSalle and Hale Capital Partners at 42 Boorea Street in Lidcombe provides 40,000 square metres of warehousing and office accommodation across flexible tenancy sizes starting at 6000 square metres The development has been designed to meet the diverse needs of occupiers accommodating both B-Doubles and semi-trailer access Shaun Timbrell and Rajal Chaudhary of CBRE are marketing the leasing campaign It comes as 14 of 22 key industrial precincts are in supply deficit nationally with four broadly balanced and only a few showing signs of oversupply according to JLL’s Australian Logistics & Industrial Investment Review and Outlook 2024 Report JLL’s head of strategic research Australia and Brisbane’s south are in a supply deficit – the latter despite a record amount of space being delivered across Brisbane in 2023 She said that while there was some risk of oversupply in south Sydney and Melbourne’s north precincts demand in those areas had accelerated with sites under construction carrying healthy levels of pre-commitment which would keep the risk of vacancy in check The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning Amazon Australia\\u2019s country manager Janet Menzies said that once completed \\u201CThese new centres will position Amazon for the future to cater for customers who are now ordering larger items online and the bigger sites will allow us to offer speed of delivery and a wider range of goods at our competitive prices,\\u201D Menzies said Amazon Australia operations manager Sandra McNeil said the company\\u2019s investment in two new facilities in western Sydney \\u201Cwill expand our operational footprint in this area which will provide customers with wider selection and faster delivery\\u201D and that this development extended \\u201CGoodman\\u2019s infrastructure spend in the western Sydney employment area to more than $500 million\\u201D with the essential infrastructure it needs to expand and help meet growing consumer needs in western Sydney and beyond,\\u201D Little said Both of the new fulfilment centres will be equipped with advanced technology to assist Amazon\\u2019s team as they pick and pack items serving Australian shoppers on Amazon.com.au \\u2013 contributing to the company\\u2019s efforts to deliver a smarter the first dual-level logistics industrial development in Sydney\\u2019s central west is targeted for completion by the first quarter of next year according to JLL\\u2019s Australian Logistics & Industrial Investment Review and Outlook 2024 Report JLL\\u2019s head of strategic research Australia Sydney\\u2019s outer south-west and inner west and Brisbane\\u2019s south are in a supply deficit \\u2013 the latter despite a record amount of space being delivered across Brisbane in 2023 She said that while there was some risk of oversupply in south Sydney and Melbourne\\u2019s north precincts The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories