Heart of Weybridge

Morrisons plans for Weybridge

Miles Macleod — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:29:57 +0000

A new Morrisons store in Weybridge? Proposals to redevelop the old Focus DIY site plus adjacent land off Monument Hill are finally bring made public. There is an exhibition in Weybridge Hall on Thursday 10 May 5-8pm, Friday 11 May 5-8pm and Saturday 12 May 10am-4pm.

The plans are for a Morrisons foodstore, customer café, and a shoppers’ car park with 220 spaces and 90 minutes free parking. It would create 300 new full- and part-time jobs.

Morrisons say they intend to submit a planning application to Elmbridge Borough Council this summer. Local councillors had an opportunity to preview the plans back on 7^th November 2011, but were asked to keep the details confidential. Questions then were around nature of the store, number of parking spaces, access for shoppers and lorries, number of local new jobs, as well as the design of the building.

What are your views? We have heard mixed views from people before they have seen the plans – so it will be interesting to hear what local residents (and traders) think after having a chance to see the plans and discuss the proposals.

Weybridge Hall Saved

Miles Macleod — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:24:15 +0000

A two year partnership agreement to save Weybridge Hall was announced on 14 December 2011. This is wonderful news for Weybridge and for all who have been working to save Weybridge Hall. It follows a year of campaigning by the local community and prolonged negotiations about community management of the hall. This is the start (not the end!) and voluntary help is essential to achieve continuing success for the hall.

We are delighted that Elmbridge Borough Council recognises that ”Weybridge Hall is an important local amenity in the heart of Weybridge”. The agreement between Elmbridge BC, DC Leisure, Weybridge Society and Friends of Weybridge Hall secures the future of the Hall for at least two years. Friends of Weybridge Hall was set up when the threat to the hall became apparent, and is chaired by Jennifer Doyle who, with former mayor Graham Winton, has represented the Friends of Weybridge Hall in the negotiations. The support of the Weybridge Society has been important in enabling this partnership agrement, together with great online publicity from allaboutweybridge.

Max Clifford boosted the Hall’s re-launch by agreeing to fund the redecoration of the Hall. This will help provide a brighter space for hire by individuals, businesses and groups. Weybridge Hall offers a large indoor space with hardwood floor, excellent acoustics and great lighting. It is available for hire for private functions and public use – call DC Leisure on 01932 254750. If you would like to get involved with supporting the Hall, please contact Jennifer Doyle at jenny.doyle29@yahoo.co.uk.

Parking meters out, permits in?

Miles Macleod — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 10:19:36 +0000

On-street charges scrapped
On Monday, Surrey County Council Elmbridge Local Committee – in a widely welcomed move – reversed the unpopular decision to introduce on-street parking charges with parking meters on Weybridge shopping streets. Instead, the current arrangements will remain in place, with limited free waiting of an hour, or in some places just 20 minutes, to ensure a good level of ‘churn’ of spaces for shoppers. This reversal of policy seems a piece of obvious good sense, though it took the overthrow of the Leader of Surrey County Council before it became possible.

Resident permits in Weybridge North?
Plans were also announced for detail changes to restrictions in specific roads across the borough. One major item for Weybridge is the proposal for a new consultation on residents-only parking in Elmgrove Road, Oakdale Road, The Crescent, Dorchester Road, Gascoigne Road, St Albans Avenue. The reason for the proposed resident permit scheme is to improve amenity for residents, by helping them park near their homes. Readers may recall the last consultation was on a far bigger scheme covering much of north Weybridge, which was roundly rejected as failing to meet local needs. Parking problems in the named roads have been an ever increasing issue, and we await publication of details of this more focused local scheme.

Museum winding down in Weybridge

Miles Macleod — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:27:33 +0000

You may have read that Elmbridge Museum is reducing its opening to two days a week — Friday and Saturday — and is expected to close its Weybridge Church Street location to the public in about 18 months. This is part of a plan to change the way Elmbridge Museum works, which involves cataloguing and photographing well over 40,000 items, in preparation for increased online access and more active museum outreach. It it hoped this will give wider access to the museums’s many treasures.
Weybridge worries
But what does this mean for Weybridge? We will be without a museum in our town after so many years. And there is some concern about what will happen to the building in Church Street (owned by Surrey County Council), which also houses the library.

Welcome to Heart of Weybridge

Miles Macleod — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:54:16 +0000

This campaign was triggered by local comments and requests — people telling us of things they would like to see happen, that could improve daily life in our town

big things, like new facilities they dream of (even a pedestrian shopping street!)
small things, like lowering an awkward kerb to make crossing the road easier
community things, like taking an elderly neighbour to have a weekly social lunch at the Day Centre

Everyone who lives or works in Weybridge can help make a difference for our town, by supporting the Heart of Weybridge campaign

first to find out what matters most to people in our town
then to work together to help get that vision translated into actions that benefit Weybridge.