HeathsceneGreat Place • Great Community • Great Future Summer 2013

Surrey Heath’s new mayor

Meals at Home

Recycling made easy

Community gardentakes silver

We promote fun and fitness ina range of classes taught byqualified BG Coaches.

Classes held in a purpose builtFacility with specialisedgymnastics equipment toeducate and bring out the best in every child 6 months to adults.

New free Play pre-school class.Structured with and without pre-school classes. Fun fit andcompetitive classes 4 -18 yearsand Squads.

Opportunities to display and compete annually. Holiday Courses - Running this August. Gym Parties.

Collingwood Gymnastics CentreMitcham Road • Camberley • Surrey • GU15 4AJ

Fun Trampoline & Gymnastics

w: www.lg-acro.co.uk • e: linda@lg-acro.co.ukmobile : 07919 091772

www.surreyheath.gov.uk I Heathscene I 3

Copywriting by: Ian Macey, Andy Edmeads and Daniel Harrison, Surrey Heath Borough CouncilDesigned and printed by: Frontline, Ashdown House, Charlwoods Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 2HJPublished by: Surrey Heath Borough Council, Email heathscene@surreyheath.gov.uk Tel: 01276 707100If you require this magazine in a different format, please call the media & marketing team on 01276 707312.Copyright © Surrey Heath Borough Council.

Promote your business with Surrey Heath Borough CouncilWould you like the opportunity to promote your business to 36,000 households in Surrey Heath?Surrey Heath Borough Council is now offering advertising space at competitive rates in Heathscenemagazine, distributed to every household in the borough.

For further information contact Frontline on 01342 312570 or email frontline@frontlinedesigners.co.uk

Local government isgoing through a periodof radical change andnowhere is that moreapparent than here inSurrey Heath. Centralgovernment funding islower than it has everbeen and councilofficers and membersare working hard to deliversustainable outcomes and secure investmentinto the borough despite these challengingtimes. Over the past three years we have foundsavings of over £1million without significantlyimpacting on services as well as continuing towork towards achieving our number oneobjective which is the redevelopment andregeneration of Camberley Town Centre. All ofwhich will ensure that Surrey Heath continuesto be a great place to live, work, shop and play.

The need for additional housing in SurreyHeath has been a hot topic for many years anda few weeks ago I was involved in an"Extraordinary" meeting of the council toconsider a planning application that could bringmore than 1,200 new homes to the borough.On 17 July, Surrey Heath members consideredthe planning application for the redevelopmentof Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut. After alengthy and detailed debate the memberseventually voted in favour of the applicationwhich saw the culmination of several years’work by the council, residents and partners.

Deepcut will deliver one third of the borough'stotal housing requirement in the period up to2028 - although the details of the exact siting ofbuildings and landscaping will be a matter forfuture applications. Find out more on page 4.

Staying on the property theme, as you areprobably aware, the council owns a certainamount of land and buildings (or assets) acrossthe borough which generates income but alsorequires regular maintenance and investment ifthey are to remain viable and of a good quality.Two of these assets are the Camberley Theatreand our multi-storey car parks. Both will soon bereceiving investment with a view to improvinguser experience and reducing ongoing costs.See pages 6 and 9 for more information.

Have a great summer!

Karen WhelanChief Executive

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Meals at HomeHeathly snacks deliveredto your door.

page 10

Recycling ExpandsMore ways to recycleat home.

page 20

Park LifeEnjoy your open spacesthis summer!

page 25

A Moveable FeastSurrey Heath’s garden wins silver.

page 5

plus many more articles of information and interest.

council

4 I Heathscene I www.surreyheath.gov.uk

A planning application for the redevelopment of the Princess Royal Barracks site in Deepcuthas been approved by Surrey Heath Borough Council. This application is the result of severalyears of hard work by the council, residents and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

Permission granted for newdevelopment at Deepcut

Details of the exact siting ofresidential units and other buildingstogether with design and landscapingwill be a matter for future applicationsto be heard by the council's PlanningApplications Committee.

The area forms a central part ofthe council's strategy to delivermore housing in the borough.Deepcut will deliver one third ofthe borough's total housingrequirement in the period up to2028 and will bring more than 1,200 new homes, including anelement of affordable housing.

The planning application, submittedby the DIO, provides an indicativelayout of how 1,200 homes wouldbe accommodated on the 114.32ha(282 acre) site, which will see some 69ha (170 acres) of openspace retained.

The development will deliver market value and affordable homes, plus publically accessiblespace comprising a park,community and sports facilities, asupermarket and open spaces. Itwill also deliver a comprehensivepackage of highway measures tomitigate traffic generation.

The decision to grant planningconsent is subject to the completionof a legal agreement and thepermission includes a number ofplanning conditions.

The application meets the council'spolicies and planning guidelines forthe area, known as The DeepcutSupplementary Planning Document(SPD) which the council worked onwith local people to develop asplanning guidance, taking accountof their views.

Chief Executive of Surrey HeathBorough Council, Karen Whelan

of residents who will naturally haveconcerns about how a developmentwill impact the quality of life theycurrently enjoy.

“The fact that all 'reserved matters'will be overseen by councillorsshows they are wanting to get thebest they can achieve for residentsfrom a sensitive but inevitable majordevelopment.

“As the outline plans move forwardwe hope we can continue workingwith residents and community groupssuch as the Deepcut Liaison Groupwhen the various proposed details ofthe development emerge. Thecouncil will expect the developers tocontinue to involve residents in theproposals for the site.”

said: “It is understandable thatresidents will be concerned aboutthe impact of large scale housingdevelopment in an area that hasalways enjoyed village life alongsidea military barracks for a number ofyears. Once the current usagebecame surplus to requirement, itwas inevitable the DIO would lookto developing a significant numberof houses on this site and theborough's Core Strategy and SPDhas acknowledged the proposal forsome time.

“Major development proposals arenever easy decisions for thecouncillors to make as they have tobalance the requirements ofgovernment policy and housingsupply demands against the views

www.surreyheath.gov.uk I Heathscene I 5

council

Cllr Harding has lived in theborough for more than 28 years,with 22 years in Camberley and sixin Bisley. She and husband Malcolmhave run their own independentgarage and MOT testing station forthe past 34 years.

Previously she has served on theExternal Partnerships Committee,Leisure and EnvironmentCommittee, Joint Staff Committee,Licensing Committee and PlanningCommittee, where she has beenVice Chairman.

Beverley and Malcolm have threechildren; two girls and a boy andthree young granddaughters. Malcolm

will be supporting Beverley as herConsort during her Mayoral year andwill be using his vintage 1932 RileyStelvio at some Mayoral occasions.

The Mayor will be raising moneyfor The Lisa May Foundation asher chosen charity. This charitywas founded by fellow CouncillorJohn May, whose daughter Lisatragically lost her life in the ThailandTsunami in 2004. The Lisa MayFoundation began as a charity tohelp victims of natural disasters andhas now extended to become an'umbrella organisation' for localsmaller charities.

Cllr Beverley Harding said: "I feel

Councillor Beverley Harding was chosen as the 41st Mayorof Surrey Heath at the Surrey Heath Borough Council AnnualMeeting on 15 May.

Surrey Heath’snew mayor

very honoured and privileged to beelected as the Mayor of SurreyHeath. I hope to be of service to thepeople of the borough, includingcommunity groups, voluntaryservices, schools and colleges andthe business sector. My aim will beto contribute to the boroughwherever I can and I will try my verybest to be a good ambassador forSurrey Heath!"

For more on The Mayor of SurreyHeath, call 01276 707331, or emailsarah.ruddock@surreyheath.gov.uk

The garden was designed, plannedand grown at Flourish CommunityGarden located at Frimley LodgePark and was warmly received atthe world-famous flower show thatran from 9 to 14 July, receivingnational coverage from BBC 2, TheMail on Sunday, Daily Telegraphand TV personalities Mike Readand Monty Don.

The garden idea was born after thewives attended a “grow your own”workshop with Kate last year andwere interested in finding out howthey could grow cheap, edible cropsthat could be moved easily. Yellowcalendulas were planted in armyboots around the garden to

symbolise the “yellow ribbon ofhope”. Children from the barrackswere also involved in the designand wrote positive messages onyellow ribbons attached to thefencing of the garden.

Kate Turner said: “We are over themoon to win silver at the world'sbiggest flower show with our firstgarden. Everything in our gardenhas been grown by us - it's been areal team effort.”

The garden has been returned toFlourish, in Frimley Lodge where itscontents will be distributed tocommunity groups and schools tocontinue the legacy and encourage

Surrey Heath Borough Council was represented at the Hampton Court Flower show thissummer thanks to the “Moveable Feast” garden designed by Kate Turner and the volunteerarmy wives from Deepcut which won silver in the summer garden category.

Community garden flourishes atHampton Court

more people to “grow their own”.

If you didn't manage to see thegarden at Hampton Court you cancatch up online by visitingwww.surreyheath.gov.uk/hamptoncourt

camberley theatre

6 I Heathscene I www.camberleytheatre.biz

The Camberley Theatre is about to build on its currentsuccess as a convenient meeting place for businesses,community groups and voluntary organisations by creatinga brand new events and conference space, café and bar.

Meet, eat and drink at theCamberley Theatre and Conference Centre

Already highly regarded as a qualityvenue for arts and entertainment, thepopular town centre theatre has, overrecent years, seen a greater demandfor meeting space. To address thisdemand the current meeting rooms inthe theatre will be transformed into amodern conference/events spacewhich will be available to hire ataffordable rates to businesses,organisations and for private parties.In addition, the public areas of thetheatre which haven't been updatedsince the 1990s will undergo arefurbishment to create an attractivetown centre café/bar.

The work will be carried outthroughout August and Septemberand will re-launch on September 27 with a performance by WestEnd star, Lee Mead (go towww.camberleytheatre.biz or call01276 707600 for ticket information).

As well as creating a fantastic newfacility for Camberley Town Centre,these changes will make the theatremore sustainable in the long term,allowing it to continue to present a high quality programme ofentertainment and events for yearsto come.

www.camberleytheatre.biz I Heathscene I 7

camberley theatre

Camberley Theatre panto fans willbe thrilled to know that the hilariousMark Slowey returns this year by

Musical fans will be thrilled to knowthat West End star and winner ofTV's Any Dream Will Do, Lee Meadwill be performing his solo show onFriday 27 September and BRITAward winning Blake will take to thestage on Saturday 12 October. Theone and only Joe Brown will berocking out with his five piece bandon Saturday 28 September and forsomething slightly different, a night ofexhilarating and exuberant music willbe performed by West African groupKakatsitsi on Thursday 17 October.

There's also two new plays coming toCamberley Theatre; hard hittingdrama Blonde Poison on Wednesday9 and Thursday 10 October based onthe true story of a Jewish womanduring Wold War II and The RipperFiles inspired by Jack the Ripper'sreign of terror in Whitechapel duringthe 1880s starring Mark Homer(EastEnders, Silent Witness) andJennifer Biddall (Hollyoaks) onMonday 28 and Tuesday 29 October.

There's plenty for children to lookforward to as Fireman Sam comes

Newseason!Don't forget to pick up your new season brochure, it’s jampacked with some fantastic shows and some of the biggestnames in showbiz!

to town on Saturday 12 Octoberwith Pontypandy Rocks, plus a host of farmyard fun from MartyMacDonald's Farm starring MartinParsons (Playdays Live) and KateAshmead (Tweenies) taking to thestage on Sunday 20 October.

A date for every young performer'sdiary is the Juvenile auditions forthis year's pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk on Sunday 8September. Camberley Theatre is looking for a Boys and GirlsChorus aged between 8 and 16,plus a Senior Girls Chorus aged 16years and over.

A GIANT of a pantomime!Jack and the Beanstalk will be at The Camberley Theatre this Christmas between Tuesday 10December 2013 - Sunday 5 January 2014 bringing with it all the panto-land magic, music andmayhem that audiences have come to love from the theatre's sparkling pantomimes.

popular demand as Jack's mother,Dame Trott who sends poor Jack off to market to sell their muchloved cow Daisy. After swappingDaisy for a bag of magic beans, anadventure beyond Jack's wildestdreams begins!

Jack and the Beanstalk promisesto be the perfect family treat thisChristmas, set to thrill audiences of all ages, jam packed with

audience participation, laughs,songs and dancing.

Tickets are on sale now and primeperformance dates are alreadybooking fast. Prices start at £15.95for concessions, plus group andfamily ticket deals are available.

Call the Box Office on 01276 707600 or visitwww.camberleytheatre.biz

Pick up your brochure today at The Camberley Theatre or visitwww.camberleytheatre.biz to findout more.

camberley town centre

8 I Heathscene I www.collectivelycamberley.co.uk

Working collectivelyto create a better Camberley

In 2011 the town's businesses votedin favour of funding the BID for fiveyears until 2016. The role of theBID is to work with partnerorganisations such as Surrey HeathBorough Council, Surrey Police andother public bodies to deliver keyimprovements to the town centre forthe benefit of the businesses.

Collectively Camberley's vision is toensure that our town centre is adestination of choice for shoppersand visitors and a vibrant locationfor businesses and residents alike.

Zoe Griffiths, Managing Director of Collectively Camberley said:“The Camberley BID is a greatplatform for positively increasingthe town centre's profile and making Camberley a destination ofchoice. I'm looking forward toworking with the fantastic localbusinesses and really making animpact on the future of Camberley.”

For further information on theBID please go towww.collectivelycamberley.co.uk/bid

The Collectively Camberley Business Improvement District (BID) is a not for profitorganisation which is funded by the 382 businesses and organisations within Camberleytown centre.

Collectively Camberley Team L to R Lucy Boazman, Zoe Griffiths, Amina Phakey

Camberley Farmers’ Market:Every 3rd Saturday, nextmarket 17 August, Park Street

From 10am until 3pm, Park Street inCamberley opens as a traditionalFarmers’ Market. With a huge varietyof fresh and local produce, it’s a greatplace to try before you buy and get toknow exactly where your food comesfrom. With everything from freshlybaked breads, fish caught that dayand bacon farmed less than 20 milesfrom the town centre, the CamberleyFarmers’ Market is a monthly eventnot to be missed.

Collectively Camberley Events Camberley Car Show:31 August, 10-4pm, ParkStreet and High Street

Last year's classic car show was afantastic success but the next one isgoing to be even bigger and betterwith more than 90 cars (includingracing and supercars), motorbikesand other entertainment such as livemusic and free face painting forchildren. Definitely one not to bemissed! All proceeds go to TheSouth West Thames Kidney Fund.

A new website for everything Camberley

Collectively Camberley is excitedto announce the launch of its new

websitewhich isgoing to bethe focalpoint for allthingsCamberley.

Whether you're looking for family fun, leisure pursuits, that certain shop, a new business opportunity or simply agreat day or night out - thewebsite has it all. You can checkout the new site and sign up for the free e-newsletter here:www.collectivelycamberley.co.uk

www.surreyheath.gov.uk I Heathscene I 9

council

We are working with an externalagency to assist us with this review.We will be checking data from othersources and reviewing details ofcredit applications made to helpensure our council tax records areaccurate and identify where peopleare claiming discounts they are notentitled to.

Car park upgrades

We will be installing a new payment system, upgrading the lifts and completing refurbishmentsto the stairwells.

The current payment machines arenow outdated. New state-of-the-artequipment will enable a range ofpayment options to be made.

The refurbished lifts and stairwellswill boost standards across the carparks and will be supported by newsigns and line markings. There will

This summer and autumn, Surrey Heath will be investing considerably in its Camberley towncentre car parks at Main Square and Knoll Road.

Council Tax Single PersonDiscount Review

It is important that the application ofdiscounts is fair and that all taxpayersare paying the correct amount. Thecouncil is keen to ensure that thisdiscount is only claimed by taxpayerswho are genuinely entitled. Wetherefore need to check periodicallywhether people's circumstances havechanged, update our records andmake any amendments as necessary.

In the next few weeks Surrey Heath Borough Council will be carrying out a review of allCouncil Tax payers claiming a 25% Single Person Discount on their Council Tax.

be some premium wider spacescreated on the upper floors to allowfor easy parking of larger vehiclesand for those who like some extraspace to get in and out.

The council has recently embarkedon a new five year agreement withSurrey County Council to deliver on street parking enforcementacross the borough. As well aspreventing illegal parking andkeeping town centre traffic moving,this enables us to work with

residents to keep roads clear andallow people to park near theirhomes where appropriate.

Overall we are pleased to beworking towards delivering excellentparking services across the boroughfor the benefit of all residents andtown centre business. We lookforward to welcoming shoppers toCamberley and its rejuvenated carparks for the busy autumn andwinter shopping time!

If you believe that you are no longer entitled to a Single PersonDiscount please contact the council.Failure to correctly claim a SinglePerson Discount will lead to further action being taken.

Call 01276 707176 or email:revenues@surreyheath.gov.uk

community

10 I Heathscene I www.surreyheath.gov.uk/community

If you find you need help or supportfor yourself or someone close to you,who would you turn to for advice?

A new leaflet is intended to provideyou and your family members with information and key contactdetails for care and supportservices in Surrey.

It features details covering specialistsupport, carers and healthcare

Knowing where to go for information and advice can bechallenging, which makes it hard for people to access theright service or support they need.

Helping you makethe right choices

The Meals at Home service providedby Surrey Heath Borough Councilhas now expanded to provide coldsnacks as well as hot food.

Hot meals and cold snacks delivered to your door!

Meals at Home The Warm HomeDiscount scheme

For winter 2013 to 2014, ifyou're a pensioner you could get a £135 discount on yourelectricity bill through the WarmHome Discount Scheme.

The discount won't affect yourCold Weather Payment orWinter Fuel Payment.

Not everyone gets the discount - you have to qualify.

Visit www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-schemefor more info or contact yourelectricity supplier.

Using vans with built-in fridges, theservice offers healthy snacks,sandwiches and drinks delivered at lunchtime.

services, as well as information,support and advice for all residents.

The booklet ‘Do you know whereto go for care and support servicesin Surrey?’ is available viawww.surreyheath.gov.uk or you can pick up a copy from thecouncil offices in Camberley.

Meals at Home operates all yearround, 365 days a year, and youcan choose on which days you wantto receive a delivery.

The service is available for anyresident who may find it difficult toprepare a meal each day.

For more about Meals at Home, call Community Services on 01276 707660.

safer surrey heath partnership

www.surreyheath.gov.uk/community I Heathscene I 11

The borough has a considerableamount of vulnerable heathland andthese areas are especially at riskduring the warmer months.

Training exercises run by officersfrom Camberley Fire Station andinvolving Surrey Police have beenheld on local heathlands.

Neil Owen, Fire Station Manager atCamberley, said: “Surrey Heath hasa considerable amount of vulnerableheathland and these areas are atrisk of wildfires especially during thesummer. We are pleased to be

pooling resources together withSurrey Police, whose officers arecarrying out regular checks on thelocal heathland areas.”

John Eldridge, Crime ReductionOfficer said: “Heath fires can causeconsiderable community impact interms of wildlife devastation,property damage and cost ofresponse by the fire services.

“Some are accidental throughcauses such as carelessly discardedsmoking materials, barbecues andlitter. We believe that some recent

fires in the borough have beenmaliciously ignited.

“Surrey Heath Safer NeighbourhoodTeam together with Surrey Fire andRescue are working together totackle these issues, including raisingawareness, education, jointenforcement patrols and training.

“Police and community supportofficers regularly patrol vulnerableareas and we urge people to alertus to any incidents or suspiciousactivity as early as possible bycalling 999.”

Of the 11 Surrey boroughs anddistricts, Surrey Heath has thesecond lowest recorded crime inthe county, down to 3423 offencescompared with 3900 last year, areduction of more than 12%.

Surrey Heath NeighbourhoodCommander Martin Goodwin said: “The latest figures are downto a combination of effectivepolicing and joint working withpartner agencies and volunteerswho support our work. Thesegroups include our extensiveNeighbourhood Watch network and the Street Angels who are out and about in Camberley Town Centre on Friday andSaturday nights.

“Camberley town centre has seen a sharp drop in violent crime of 31.5% due to working with licensed premises, evening

pedestrianisation of the high streetand the use of taxi marshals.”Other headline figures include:

• Anti-social incidents dropped bymore than a quarter

• Vehicle crime reduced by 20%

• Criminal damage fell by 18.4%

However, despite the drop in crimefigures there has been a slightincrease in the number of burglariesand Commander Goodwin added:“One of our priorities this year willbe to reduce domestic burglarywhich increased by 29 offences lastyear to 171 burglaries.

“What’s important is that everyonefeels safe and if you areunfortunate enough to be a victimof crime you are given the qualityof service you deserve.

Under the banner of the Safer Surrey Heath Partnership, the council is working with SurreyFire and Rescue and Surrey Police in combating the risks of heathland fires.

Damping down the risk ofHeathland fires

During the last year, crime figures in Surrey Heath have reduced significantly.

Neighbourhood Commander welcomes crime figures drop

“Please continue to help us achieveour ambitions by taking crimeprevention precautions and reporting suspicious incidents.”

For more information on how toreduce the risk of being a victim ofproperty crime please visitwww.surrey.police.uk/keeping-safe/protecting-your-property-or-business

101 is the number to call when youwant to contact your local police -when it’s less urgent than a 999 call.

12 I Heathscene I www.surreyheath.gov.uk/leisure

leisure

Lightwater Country Park is open seven days a week and entry is free. For more information on the parkvisit www.surreyheath.gov.uk/leisure or call 01276 707338

Lightwater Country Park has recently welcomed fouryoung Belted Galloway cows

Lightwater Country Park gets Mooresidents

The cattle, all one year of age, will be at the country park untilSeptember as part of a new loanagreement with Surrey Wildlife Trust.

This is the first year the cows havebeen residing in Lightwater underan agreement with the trust that willsee them come back between Mayand September in future years.

All this has been possible due togrant-aid funding from NaturalEngland as part of their ten yearHigher Level Stewardship scheme.

The cows are helping SurreyHeath’s Greenspace Team to maintain the open heathland whichis a prominent feature of theborough. They can assist theconservation work at Lightwater bytheir grazing, enabling Greenspace

As well as doing a worthwhile jobfor us they have also been a bighit with the public. Many people,coming to Lightwater CountryPark, have said that seeing thecows has added to the enjoymentof their visit.”

Officers Peter Maynard and GordonVoller to spend their time on otheraspects of the site.

Greenspace Officer Gordon Vollersaid: “The cattle through theirgrazing are helping to maintain theopen heathland.

Entrants and winners were invitedto attend the preview of theexhibition showing their work whichwill run at Surrey Heath Museumuntil 21 September.

The My Surrey Heath PhotoCompetition was launched in March and was open to anyoneliving in the borough. There weretwo categories, under 18 and adult.The photo had to be from withinSurrey Heath and couldn't bedigitally enhanced.

Entries were judged byrepresentatives from the counciland members of the Windleshamand Camberley Camera Club. Theclub donated the prize of a WinnersWorkshop and winners alsoreceived a canvas of their entry.

leisure

www.surreyheath.gov.uk/leisure I Heathscene I 13

The winners of the first borough-widephotography competition were celebratedat a special exhibition evening on July 5.

Boroughsnapped inall its glory

The Under 18s category was wonby Kara Hughes from Lightwaterwho impressed judges with herphoto of a squirrel caught in thetrees. Meanwhile 81 year old PeterGrover from Frimley won the adultcategory with his atmospheric shotof the Basingstoke Canal.

Leigh Thornton, commercialservices manager and one of thejudges said: “We were all reallyimpressed with the variety andquality of the entries and it wasgreat to see Surrey Heath capturedin such eye-catching ways.”

In 2014, there will be a SmartPhone category added which willenable entrants to snap on theirphones and use the many editingand enhancement tools available attheir fingertips! Look out for moreinformation in the New Year!

Music Makers From now until 21 SeptemberSurrey Heath has a population

of just over86,000 andhas a vibrantand diversecommunity. Thisvibrancyhas helpedinspiremanymusicallygiftedindividualsto follow

their talent and make an impact onthe music industry. They includenames from past and present -Queen guitarist Brian May, pop bandBros, composer Arthur Sullivan andinternational violinist Chloe Hanslip.

Surrey Heath Museum’s summerexhibition features these names andmany more alongside objects fromits collection to illustrate thismusical legacy. On display aremusical instruments, albums,photographs, costumes, and even a 1964 Lambretta scooter!

Find out about the venues and thewell-known groups of the 50s, 60s,70s and 80s who have played inSurrey Heath!

Chas McDevitt Thursday 6 September, 2 to 4pmTalk and performance by our homegrown Skiffle star Chas McDevitt onhis musical career from the 1950sonwards. Please book in advance,tickets £4.

Local historyHeritage Open WeekendIdentification Session Saturday 14 September, noon to2pm, free. Bring your treasures -bought, dug up or found, foridentification by local experts (natural history, social history,archaeology and furnishings).

Local history displaysFocusing on Bagshot andWindlesham, featuring materialfrom the museum archives. From Septemberto December.

14 I Heathscene I www.surreyheath.gov.uk/community

community

Visit Surrey Heath Museum

Surrey will play host to the penultimate stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race on Saturday 21September, which starts in Epsom and passes through Chobham, before finishing in Guildford.

The event dates back to the firstBritish stage races held just afterthe Second World War, and sincethen, due to various sponsorshipdeals it has had a number of namesincluding the Milk Race, theKellogg’s Tour of Britain and thePruTour. The current version of theTour of Britain began in 2004 and ispart of the UCI (Union CyclisteInternationale) Europe Tour.

The 96 mile route steers throughthe county’s towns, villages andcountryside, with some of the

world’s best cyclists taking part. The street-by-street route isavailable to view onwww.gosurrey.info along withestimated race times, temporaryroad closures, spectator informationand contact details.

Although this will be the secondyear running Surrey has welcomedthe Tour of Britain, it will be a first for Chobham. You can followGoSurreyLive on Twitter.

EventsDrop-in activities for under 5s10.30am to 12pm, freeClay Model Motorbikes -Tuesday 27 August Music Mayhem - Saturday 21 September Painting Pictures - Tuesday 8 OctoberHalloween Masks - Saturday 26 OctoberHibernating Animals - Tuesday 19 November

Frimley and CamberleyArt Society5 October to 21 December The museum warmly welcomes aselling exhibition featuring the workof local arts and crafts people.There’ll be regular demonstrationsby featured artists. Contact themuseum for more details.

Surrey Heath Museum is locatedon Knoll Road, Camberley and isopen Wednesday to Saturday,11am to 5pm. Admission is free.Call 01276 707284 or email:museum@surreyheath.gov.uk

Tour of Britain cyclists to racethrough Surrey Heath

www.surreyheath.gov.uk I Heathscene I 15

sports coaching

Sports medals for Surrey Heath youngstersThe sporting legacy from last year's London Olympics was in full view at the P&G Surrey YouthGames on 15 and 16 June at the Surrey Sports Park as 200 young athletes from across Surrey Heathcame together to compete against the county's 10other boroughs and districts.

The Surrey Heath squadcomprised 21 teams in 11 differentsports, many of whom were takingpart in a competitive environmentfor the first time.

Overall Surrey Heath finished injoint third place which matched lastyear's excellent performance.Highlights were the Junior Boys andSenior Girls Judo teams who bothpicked up gold medals, whilst theJunior Girls Judo, Senior Boys

Judo,Swimming, GirlsCricket, GirlsFootball, JuniorBadminton, Contact andNon-Contact Boxing teamsall picked up Silver medals.

Cllr Keith Bush whoattended the games onbehalf of The Mayor said:“The Surrey YouthGames is in its 17th yearand it was good to see somany young people fromSurrey Heath taking part inmost of the sports. These arefriendly and social sportinggames which I know the youngpeople enjoy. Our thanks must go toall the young people, the familiesand coaches who give their timeand effort to represent the borough'syouth in a positive and healthy way.”

One of the main aims is toencourage young people to develop

their sportingskills andpromotephysical activityas well asencourage fair

play in sport.Over 350 local

young people have attended localcoaching sessions

over the past twomonths in preparation

and it is hoped thatmany will make the step and joina local club to continueparticipating.

Nominations are now being soughtfor the annual Surrey Heath SportsAwards. You can nominate a coach;athlete, club or volunteer in avariety of categories and moreinformation can be found online at www.surreyheath.gov.uk/sportsawards. The deadline is 15 September.

16 I Heathscene I www.surreyheath.gov.uk

council

When the DCLG published itsdocument, Surrey Heath BoroughCouncil was already well into arolling programme of reductionsdelivering over £1 million in savingsbetween 2010 - 2013, which willcontinue into 2014 and beyond. Itsoon became apparent that SurreyHeath had already implementedmany of the DCLG suggestions, and those that hadn’t beenimplemented had either beenconsidered unviable or were beingexplored in forthcoming work plans.

Starting with the sharing of buildingsexample above; the council currentlyshares Surrey Heath House with thePolice, Surrey County Council’sAdult Social Care Team and theSurrey Heath ClinicalCommissioning Group, with furthersharing proposals in the pipeline.Other examples include:

• Closing staff canteens - this wasdone in 2005

• Closing cash offices - this wasdone in 2005

• Cutting senior officer salaries - a2012 management reviewproduced £100k savings

• Cut printing costs - the council’sprint room was closed in 2007

• Stop spending money oncommercial lobbyists - not used bySurrey Heath

Have the savings led to adramatic reduction in services?

This backdrop of on-going savingscould lead you to assume thatservices must have been heavilyimpacted, but in Surrey Heath'scase, due to the implementation ofmore efficient ways of working,council services have not beenaffected at all.

We don’t justempty your bins!

The council isextremely proud ofits award winningwaste andrecycling servicebut there are a lotof services thattouch residentslives on a dailybasis that havecontinued despitethe savings beingachieved. Theseinclude:

• Delivering32,000 mealson wheels(Meals atHome)

• Providing twoleisurecentres,CamberleyTheatre andthe SurreyHeath Museum

• Cleaning 1,413 miles of SurreyHeath’s streets

• Providing more than 36,000journeys by dial-a-ride busannually

• Inspecting 750 food premises inthe borough and making 1,500health and safety visits annually

• Maintaining 252.5 hectares ofparks and open spaces

• Carrying out approximately 5,000building inspections annually

We also:

• Monitor air quality

• Deal with noise pollution

• Re-house homeless people

Delivering savingsLast year the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published adocument entitled 50 Ways to Save, offering 50 ideas on how local councils can either reduceexpenditure or increase income. Ideas ranged from sharing buildings with other public sectororganisations to closing down staff canteens.

• Manage and coordinate all currentand future building anddevelopment

• Play an active role in theeconomic development of theborough

• Provide parking across theborough and control illegal parking

...plus lots more

All for around 50p a day!*

Surrey Heath Borough Councilreceives about 12% of your counciltax which pays for everythingmentioned above. Go towww.surreyheath.gov.uk/counciltax to find out more!

*Based on a Band D Property

council

www.surreyheath.gov.uk/ I Heathscene I 19

Policing on agenda forBusiness Breakfast meeting

Staff at Surrey Heath Borough Council celebrated after the authority gained a prestigiousInvestors in People silver award.

Policing in the borough will be among the issues discussedat the next Surrey Heath Business Breakfast meeting.

Council celebrates silver Investors in People Award

Investors in People is a nationallyrecognised standard given toorganisations demonstrating their commitment to staffdevelopment leading to improvedbusiness performance.

Earlier this year, Investors in Peopleassessors visited and interviewedemployees across the council’svarious services, such as housing,environmental health and greenspaces, to name a few.

Surrey Heath is in a small minorityof organisations in the UK to attainthe silver award. Chief ExecutiveKaren Whelan said: “Gaining thisstatus is an important achievementfor us. It recognises we arecommitted to ensuring our workforceis well placed for providing the bestservices possible to meet the needsof our customers.”

Businesses are invited to attend theevent on Tuesday 22 October 2013at The Camberley Theatre, wherethe Police and Crime Commissionerfor Surrey, Kevin Hurley, will be themain guest speaker.

Kevin was elected as Surrey’s firstPolice and Crime Commissioner inNovember 2012.

Mr Hurley said: “I’m delighted tohave the chance to address thebusiness community in SurreyHeath. I want to hear about thethings that matter to localbusinesses and work together to

make sure we are doing everythingwe can to provide the safety andorder that is essential for businessto prosper in the borough.”

Surrey Heath Borough Councilorganises the Business Breakfastmeetings twice a year, which regularlyattracts around 160 delegates andover a dozen exhibitors.

They provide opportunities for localbusiness people to enjoynetworking with other businesses,enabling them to acquire newinformation, contacts and ideas. Businesses interested in coming or

exhibiting should visitwww.surreyheath.gov.uk/business

20 I Heathscene I www.surreyheath.gov.uk/environment

environment

The borough’s household recyclingcollection scheme has beenexpanded to include things likeunwanted clothing, curtains, belts,sheets and towels.

Residents can simply put theirunwanted textiles in a separatecarrier bag on refuse collection day.The carrier bag must be clearlylabelled as TEXTILES and tied tokeep the contents clean and dry.

Bags are collected by Surrey HeathBorough Council’s collection crewand loaded into a separatecompartment on refuse collectiontrucks for easy sorting.

It’s expected that around 50 tonnesof textile materials will be collectedfor recycling each year which wouldotherwise be thrown away.

Cllr Vivienne Chapman, communityportfolio holder said: “Thanks to thecommitment of residents, Surrey

donating good quality clothing tocharity shops as they wouldnormally do.”

For more info and to see a videoguide on textile recycling visit:www.surreyheath.gov.uk/textiles

Heath is alreadyone of the toprecyclingboroughs in thecountry but wewant to continueimproving bydeveloping ourcollectionscheme in newways.

“Now thatwe’recollectingtextiles weask thateveryonekeeps up the goodwork. This is a great scheme which should result in thousands of items being reused or recycled,boosting the borough’s superbrecycling rates.”

Cllr Chapman added: “Residentsare encouraged to continue

Whether it’s mowing the lawnor clipping a hedge, you might have heaps of garden waste thatneeds clearing.

A fortnightly, subscription-basedgarden waste club is available toSurrey Heath residents and is aneasy way to recycle your gardenwaste from your home.

Subscriptions start from as little as£3.33 per month.

Subscriber and Bisley residentJackie, said: “The Green WasteClub has been brilliant as it savesus petrol and avoids putting thegarden waste in the car. I can wheelthe bin round the garden, pruningas I go! It’s just so convenient!”

Visit www.greenwasteclub.co.ukfor more details or call 0800 0858 286.

Recycling unwanted clothes andtextiles made easyHouseholds can now put old clothes andtextiles alongside their grey bins on refusecollection day!

Garden waste collectionsfrom your homeThis time of the year means there’s lots to be done in the garden!

environment

www.surreyheath.gov.uk/environment I Heathscene I 21

How much food do you throw away?An alarming 75,000 tonnes of uneaten food is being thrown away in Surrey every year. And even though a third is collected and recycled, the cost of dealing with it adds up to a staggering £6 million a year. That’s the same amount of money it takes Surrey County Council to fund 630 primary school places, buy a million library books or fix 108,000 potholes.

So to help you waste less, the LoveFood Surrey campaign provideshelpful tips on how to waste lessfood and save up to £50 a month.

It pays to planBefore you do your next big shop,check what you have left, becreative and make a meal plannerand shopping list for the week, soyou only buy what you need.

Perfect portions Weighing and measuring food is thebest way to cook perfect portions.Use mugs, spoons, spaghettimeasures or weighing scales towork out just the right amount offood to cook for your family.

Lovely leftoversIf you’ve cooked too much, coolyour leftovers as soon as possible,store in the fridge and eat withintwo days.

Store food properlyCorrect storage means your foodcould live for extra days, weeks oreven months. Keep the fridge below5°C and chilled food will stay freshfor longer.

Freezing guidelinesFood can be kept safely in thefreezer for years as long as youkeep it frozen the whole time.However the texture and taste may change over time, so try eating food within three months.Remember to label items as youfreeze them.

Use byThese dates are for safety and mustbe followed correctly; don’t use anyfood after the ‘use by’ date, even ifit looks and smells fine. Using itafter this date could put your health

at risk. To extend the life of food,freeze it before the ‘use by’ date,defrost when needed and use within24 hours.

Best beforeThese dates refer to quality not tofood safety; foods with a ‘bestbefore’ date should be safe to eatafter this date (except for eggs), butthey may no longer be at their best.

So waste less...and caddy the rest.

Did you know?

Every day in Surrey we throwaway two shed loads of bananas.

Every week in Surrey we throwaway enough strawberries tocover a tennis court.

For more advice visitwww.lovefoodsurrey.com

22 I Heathscene I www.surreyheath.gov.uk

council

opportunity forpeople to havetheir say on thefuture of the areathey live in.

“Around 1200people visited theexhibitions andmany chose tomake formalresponses to theconsultation.

“Over the nextfew months wewill prepare astatementsetting out what people have said to us about the possible sites. We willthen consider all the feedbackreceived and select the preferredsites. Consultation on these willtake place in 2014.”

Always do your bitto prevent fly-tips

The Household Waste Duty of CareRegulations (2005) state thatresidents are responsible for anywaste leaving their property,including from builders or gardenersthey employ to carry out work.

People are required by law toensure that the person or companyhandling the waste is authorised totake it, transport it and dispose of itsafely. For these purposes, theymust be registered as a licensedwaste carrier.

Environmental services managerJohn Foley said: “When selecting

Residents are reminded of their duty to prevent the illegalfly-tipping of builders' rubble and garden waste that mightcome from their homes.

Views gathered on sites for allocation

Around 340 parcels of land acrossSurrey Heath have been suggestedto the council as potential sites for allocation.

A public consultation took placeearlier this year with the councilasking everyone to give feedbackon the possible sites.

Residents, businesses and otherorganisations were also invited tovisit any of seven public exhibitionsheld around the borough in Apriland May.

As well as being able to view mapsand documents about the proposedsites, those visiting could speak toplanning officers, ask questions andleave comments.

Cllr Keith Bush, portfolio holder forregulatory, said: “The publicexhibition events were an important

Surrey Heath Borough Council has started the process of examining where new sites forhousing, employment, retail, transport and green spaces could go in the area.

any tradesperson, always checktheir credentials and ensure they have a carrier's licence totransport waste.

“It's also up to householders whoare having work done like doubleglazing, or new kitchens andbathrooms to ensure any contractorthey employ has this licence.

“By not using a licensed wastecarrier, you could find that yourwaste is fly-tipped, making youparty to a criminal offence for which you could be prosecuted and fined.”

You can check the list of registeredwaste carriers at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Surrey Heath Borough Counciloffers a chargeable collectionservice for bulky household items,as well as a kerbside collectionservice for garden waste.

For more details contact the councilon 01276 707330 or visitwww.surreyheath.gov.uk/environment

For more details visitwww.surreyheath.gov.uk/siteissuesoptions or contactplanning.policy@surreyheath.gov.uk

www.surreyheath.gov.uk I Heathscene I 23

Housing Benefit and Council TaxReduction SchemeThis can help pay your rent and/or council tax. You can checkyour eligibility to claim by using our on-line calculator atwww.surreyheath.gov.uk. Just type “benefits calculator” inthe search field and follow theinstructions. If it shows that you maybe eligible then you can contact usto make a formal application.

Working Tax CreditYou may be eligible to claimWorking Tax Credits if you are inemployment but on a lower income.The amount you can claim mayincrease if you have a disability ordependent children. For moreinformation visit gov.uk

Child Tax CreditYou could get Child Tax Credit foreach child you're responsible for ifthey're: under 16 or under 20 and in approved education or trainingwhether you're in work or not. For further information visit gov.uk

Help with rent, council taxand household expensesThere are a number of benefits you may be eligible for to meet all or part of your rent, counciltax and household expenses.

Other financialsupport availableSurrey LocalAssistance SchemeThis provides a one off payment for immediate needsin an emergency such as tobuy food, essential home repairs, replacement furnitureand appliances.

Go to www.surreycc.gov.uk andtype “local assistance scheme” inthe search field for moreinformation on how to apply.

Discretionary HousingPayments and Council TaxReduction ExceptionalHardship PaymentsIf you already get HousingBenefit, Local Housing Allowanceor Council Tax Reduction and arestruggling to pay your rent orcouncil tax and you have unusualor extreme circumstances whichare causing hardship, you may beeligible for additional one offfinancial support.

Go to www.surreyheath.gov.ukand search for “DiscretionaryHousing Payments” for moredetails.

Rent a roomWhilst this option won't suiteveryone, it can provide a sensibleway to help you stay in your homeif your housing benefit has beenreduced because you have aspare room. Currently the first £20of the weekly income receivedfrom a lodger is ignored for benefitpurposes. Do check with yourlandlord before taking a lodger anddon't forget to tell Surrey Heath'sbenefits team as well.

You can find out more informationat www.spareroom.co.uk

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www.surreyheath.gov.uk/leisure I Heathscene I 25

Park lifeGet outdoors, get active and enjoy the summer in the open spaces of Surrey Heath. The borough has more than 30 parks and open spaces in all.

Here’s a taste of just some of theevents happening in the near future.Join us!

Field Safari at Frimley Lodge ParkThursday 29 AugustJoin in a safari session amongst thelong grass and flower meadows ofFrimley Lodge Park, to spot themini-beasts that call it home. Peekand peer through the plants atshield bugs, damselflies and maybeeven a stag beetle! Nets providedbut places are limited, pre-bookingessential. For more information call01276 707323. Sorry, no dogs. Cost £2.50 per child. Family event.

Water Beasts of Watchmoor!Sunday 8 SeptemberJoin a Greenspace Officer for anafternoon of family pond-dipping at the Watchmoor Reserve.Discover some of the mysteriousbeasts that lurk in the murky depths– if you’re lucky you may catch aleech or even a water scorpion!Dipping nets provided. Meet in the car park behind Sainsbury’spetrol station, Watchmoor Park.Pre-booking essential; phone 01276 707166 for more information.Sorry, no dogs. Cost £2.50 perchild. Family event.

Basingstoke Canal walkSunday 29 SeptemberA peaceful, medium length walkbeside the Basingstoke Canal.Starting and finishing at FrimleyLodge Park with a refreshment stop in Ash Vale. Meet outsidePistachio’s Café, Frimley LodgePark at 10am.

For more about our walks andevents programme, call 01276 707338.

leisure

There are various activities and events at Flourish Community Garden throughout the year, for furtherinformation contact Kate Turner on 07500 87689, email cgp@live.co.uk alternatively you can visit

www.surreyheath.gov.uk/communitygarden

www.surreyheath.gov.uk I Heathscene I 27

council

August

Saturday 17 – CamberleyFarmers' Market, 10am to 3pm,Park Street. Every 3rdSaturday of the month.

Saturday 31 – 10am to 4pm.Camberley Car Show, HighStreet and Park Street.

September

Saturday 14 – Noon to 2pm.Heritage Open Weekend atSurrey Heath Museum.

Saturday 21 – Tour of Britaincycle race, Chobham.

Saturday 27 – An evening with Lee Mead at TheCamberley Theatre.

Saturday 29 – BasingstokeCanal walk, at 10am.

Visit:www.surreyheath.gov.uk/events

Dates foryour diary

Superfast broadbandcomes toSurrey Heath After a successful launch in May to bring high-speedsuperfast broadband to Surrey homes and businesses, morecommunities have now joined the roll-out with residents andbusinesses in Chobham and Deepcut next in line to receivethe upgrade.

Superfast broadband will changethe way we all use the internet. For residents this will mean fast,reliable internet access so that thewhole family can enjoy watchingmovies, catch-up TV, online gaming,video calls to friends and family and speedy downloading of photosand files.

For businesses in Surrey it isestimated that trading online with superfast speeds will provide

an annual £30 million boost to the economy.

So, if you want fast, reliable,consistent access to the internet forleisure or for your business, superfastbroadband could be for you.

To find out when your area is beingupgraded and how to buy asuperfast broadband service visitwww.superfastsurrey.org.uk

Do it online, Anytime!Do you know that you can access a number of our servicesonline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Contact us at a timeto suit you.

Council Tax, fees for Land Chargesand Building Control, BusinessRates, Fixed Penalty Notices,Business Directory subscription andmuch more.

Pay it £Apply for licences, replacementbins, Council Tax discounts,Building Control submissions andnotify us that you're moving home.

Apply for it ✓

Ask about any of our servicesincluding Council Tax, HousingBenefit and Waste Collection. We're here to help.

Ask for it ��Report concerns such as anti-socialbehaviour, abandoned vehicles,missed bin collection, dog fouling,and fly tipping.

Report it ��

Find out more at www.surreyheath.gov.uk/online