View source for Claygate: The Way Forward

__NOTOC__
== May 2025 ==
{| border="1" cellpadding="3"
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|  align="center" |'''Action №'''
|  align="center" |'''Date Created'''
|  align="center" |'''Description'''
|  align="center" | '''By'''
|  align="center" |'''Status'''
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{{C㉕037}}
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== April 2025 ==
=== Progress recorded at the time of the Elmbridge consultation ===
'''KEY'''<br>
*yellow highlighting: {{hi|Actions by CPC}}
====THRIVING CLAYGATE====
<small>
{| border="1" cellpadding="3"
|-
|  align="center" | '''VISION OBJECTIVES'''
|  align="center" |'''WHO'''
|  align="center" |'''ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE'''
|  align="center" |'''ACTIONS IN PROGRESS - Spring Summer 25 / Ongoing'''
|  align="center" |'''FUTURE PLANNED ACTION - Autumn 25 Onwards'''
|  align="center" |'''RESOURCES REQUIRED'''
|-
{{Vill-Bus-Init}}
{{Vitality-Shops}}
{{Pedestrian-Experience}}
{{Improve-Parking}}
{{Improve-Signage}}

| style="vertical-align:top;"| 6. '''Improve access to Claygate railway station for all users including the railway footbridge.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| EBC / CPC
| style="vertical-align:top;"| Railway footbridge has been repaired and is due to reopen at end of February.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC EHTC {{hi|to be alert}} to realistic opportunities to improve facilities for less able residents.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| StAR
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 7. '''Reduce traffic congestion in The Parade and surrounding streets.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| SCC / EBC / CPC / SWR
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC EHTC to {{hi|remain mindful}} of congestion in The Parade and surrounding streeets and alert to credible opportunities for improvement
| style="vertical-align:top;"| StAR
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 8. '''Improve traffic management and road safety within the village.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| SCC / EBC / CPC
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| (1) CPC continuing to {{hi|work with}} Speed Watch team.<br>(2) CPC continuing to {{hi|work with}} SCC Cllr Mark Sugden on highways maintenance issues e.g. road surfaces, markings and signage.<br>(3) CPC {{hi|promoting}} Surrey roadsafe website and Fix My Street app.<br>(4) СРС publicising upcoming road work and road closures.<br>(5) CPC {{hi|pursuing}} installation of signs to warn motorists of horse riders.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC EHTC to {{hi|remain alert}} to opportunities to improve local streets insofar as safety and traffic management are concerned and to seek funding from EBC / SCC as appropriate.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| StAR
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 9. '''Improve public transport provision, links and connectivity throughout the village and to other parts of the borough.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| SCC / EBC / CPC
| style="vertical-align:top;"| Parish Cllr and Ward Cllr Mary Marshall chased SCC / EBC for rapid reinstatement of K3 service when Claremont Lane was recently closed due to a burst water main.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC EHTC {{hi|remains alert}} to need to maintain and, if possible, improve provision of local public transport services.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC EHTC to {{hi|remain alert}} to the need to maintain and, if possible, improve provision of local public transport services.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| StAR
|-
|}
</small>

====SUSTAINABLE LIVING====
<small>
{| border="1" cellpadding="3"
|-
|  align="center" | '''VISION OBJECTIVES'''
|  align="center" |'''WHO'''
|  align="center" |'''ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE'''
|  align="center" |'''ACTIONS IN PROGRESS - Spring Summer 25 / Ongoing'''
|  align="center" |'''FUTURE PLANNED ACTION - Autumn 25 Onwards'''
|  align="center" |'''RESOURCES REQUIRED'''
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 10. '''Promote good design in all new developments to meet the requirements of the Elmbridge Design Code and Claygate Village Design Statement.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| EBC / CPC
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC Planning Committee {{hi|considers}} all planning applications in the context of the Elmbridge Design Code and Claygate Village Design Statement.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"|
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 11. '''Increase the diversity of housing tenure to include affordable housing and small units for younger people EBC and those who are downsizing.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| EBC
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| (1) The type of housing tenure needed to meet local housing needs is subject to the new Local Plan (currently being prepared by EBC) and the new National Planning Policy framework.<br>(2) PA Housing Association is currently reviewing their development strategy and prioritising their land holdings. No short-term plans as yet to develop any sites they own in Claygate. EBC will continue to meet with PA Housing for updates.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 12. '''Produce a Development Brief for Torrington Lodge Car Park.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| EBC
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| EBC currently preparing a Development Brief with feasible options for Torrington Lodge Car Park.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| EBC to consult Claygate residents on options for TLCP.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 13. '''New developments will showcase sustainable building practices and will encourage 20% biodiversity net gain.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| EBC
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is now for mandatory for all major new developments and for small sites.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| All new developments are monitored for Biodiversity Net Gain.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| All new developments are monitored for Biodiversity Net Gain.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 14. '''Increase planting including trees, tubs, and troughs to create a visually attractive street scene and encourage biodiversity throughout the village.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC / CVA / CRGT
| style="vertical-align:top;"| (1) CPC and CVA Claygate in Bloom tubs, troughs and hanging baskets throughout the village<br>(3) CVA Best front garden competition<br>(4) Claygate Recreation Ground (CRGT) family garden<br>(5) CPC grant for fruit trees<br>(6) Blue heart spaces<br>(7) CPC litter picks<br>(8) CPC maintenance of Highway Garden sites
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC to {{hi|encourage and support}} (via grants and CIL funding) local groups and organisations to get involved with initiatives to increase planting to enhance the attractiveness of the village and increase biodiversity.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC to {{hi|encourage and support}} local groups and organisations to get involved with initiatives to increase planting to enhance the attractiveness of the village.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| StAR
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 15. '''Preserve and enhance the provision of and access to green spaces in and around the village including the recreation ground, community gardens, allotments, and village greens and green infrastructure links to neighbouring areas.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| EBC / CPC / CRGT
| style="vertical-align:top;"| (1) CPC {{hi|oversight of}} village greens and other green spaces<br>(2) Promotion of Elmbridge Countryside Team's walks and conservation activities.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| (1) Opportunities for other Community Gardening projects being sought e.g. front of BT exchange.<br>(2) The government's new Planning Guidelines and the rejection of EBC's Local Plan pose new threats to local Green Belt. The CPC will continue to strive to protect it.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC to {{hi|encourage and support}} local groups and organisations to preserve and enhance provision of and access to Claygate's green spaces.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| StAR
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 16. '''Promote active travel within the village through 16 improvements to pedestrian and cycle routes and associated facilities.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| SCC / EBC / CPC / CRGT
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| (1) CPC {{hi|pursuing}} improvements to footpath on Hare Lane Green.<br>(2) CPC pursuing improvements to footpath on Recreation Ground to Claygate Primary School with CRGT.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC EHTC to {{hi|be alert to}} opportunities to improve pedestrian and cycle routes and associated facilities including installiing more bike stands.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| StAR
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 17. '''Promote the use of sustainable and environmentally friendly products and practices by local businesses and residents.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC
| style="vertical-align:top;"| (1) "Ecocentric" in the Parade sells eco products.<br>(2) Claygate Village Market has a 'sustainable' focus<br>(3) Green Elmbridge networking event held in Nov 2024.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC (or new Village Business Initiative if formed) to set up a Claygate-wide website to promote village activities, amenities and facilities.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| Cost of designing website and ongoing monthly charge
|-
|}
</small>

====OUR VILLAGE COMMUNITY====
<small>
{| border="1" cellpadding="3"
|-
|  align="center" | '''VISION OBJECTIVES'''
|  align="center" |'''WHO'''
|  align="center" |'''ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE'''
|  align="center" |'''ACTIONS IN PROGRESS - Spring Summer 25 / Ongoing'''
|  align="center" |'''FUTURE PLANNED ACTION - Autumn 25 Onwards'''
|  align="center" |'''RESOURCES REQUIRED'''
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 18. '''Maintain and enhance the provision and accessibility of health and wellbeing facilities to meet the needs of residents of all ages.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| SCC / EBC / CPC
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC Health & Wellbeing Group engaging with EBC review of Community Services especially relating for those who are isolated and/or in financial hardship.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| (1) CPC Health & Wellbeing Group exploring opportunities to extend the provision of health services in the village<br>(2) CPC to ask Esher and Claygate Car Service if they can provide transport for Claygate residents to the East Elmbridge Foodbank & local Community Fridges when needed.<br>(3) CPS Health & Wellbeing Group to encourage local organisations and venues to provide Warm Hub sessions for winter 25/26.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC Health & Wellbeing Group to be alert to opportunities to extend the provision of health services in the village and any threats to reduce provision.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| StAR
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 19. '''Improve awareness of the health & wellbeing activities and facilities on offer in the village.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC social media / website used to publicise location of nearest foodbanks, community fridges and defibrillators.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC (or new Village Business Initiative if formed) to set up a Claygate-wide website to promote village activities, amenities and facilities.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| Cost of designing website and ongoing monthly charge
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 20. '''Encourage the provision of spaces where people can socialise, congregate, connect, engage with, and  participate in activities that will benefit both individual wellbeing and the wellbeing and resilience of the community.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC / CCBS
| style="vertical-align:top;"| (1) Cllr Holt and John Bamford, Friends of Claygate Centre, attended EBC consultation with users of Claygate Centre.<br>(2) John Bamford spoke at EBC Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on the independent review of EBC's Centres for the Community.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC Health & Wellbeing Group to be alert to opportunities to encourage the use of Claygate's community assets for activities that reduce social isolation and promote wellbeing.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC Health & Wellbeing Group to be alert to opportunities to encourage the use of Claygate's community assets for activities StAR that reduce social isolation and promote wellbeing.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| StAR
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 21. '''Establish a multi-purpose community hub to serve people of all ages including a warm hub and access to food support and other help and advice.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| EBC / CPC / CCBS
| style="vertical-align:top;"| Claygate Community Benefit Society (CCBS) established to pursue the purchase of ''The Winning Horse'' pub to provide a community hub for people of all ages with access to food support and other help and advice.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CCBS seeking to raise funds to purchase and refurbish ''The Winning Horse''.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CCBS to refurbish ''The Winning Horse'' to provide a multi-purpose community hub.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| StAR
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 22. '''Ensure the provision of sufficient places in local schools for Claygate families.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| SCC / CPC
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC chair met with chair of trustees of Hinchley Wood School to get background to the proposed change to their admissions policy and catchment area which would disadvantage children living in Claygate, CPC made strong representations in their submission to the public consultation on the proposed changes.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC to be alert to any threats to reduce the availability / choice in nearby schools for children in Claygate.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 23. '''Create and maintain high quality, imaginative and safe spaces for children and young people to play and socialise.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| EBC / CPC / CRGT
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC {{hi|support}} for Claygate Youth & Community Hub provides safe space and activities for young people in Claygate.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CPC to {{hi|encourage}} EBC and CRGT to ensure the children and young people of Claygate have access to well maintained playgrounds and other play facilities and safe places to socialise.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| StAR
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| 24. '''Explore opportunities for a gym or other/physical fitness facility in the village.'''
| style="vertical-align:top;"| EBC / CPC / CRGT
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CGRT Trustees responded to outcome of EBC/CPC/Residents' Survey and agreed to install some outdoor gym equipment on the Rec.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| CRGT have applied for funding to purchase some outdoor gym equipment on the Recreation Ground.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| (1) EBC aware of demand for a gym in Claygate and will promote this as an opportunity to prospective developers<br>(2) CPC will be {{hi|alert to}} other opportunities for fitness facilities in the village.
| style="vertical-align:top;"| StAR

|-
|}
</small>

== February 2025 ==
{{Minute-ext|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->27th February 2025|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->32|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To agree the CtWF Vision and Action Plan for Consultation in April with EBC.|<!--- 5. Content --->The CtWF Vision was discussed and approved. {{box|Proposed by Cllr French and seconded by Cllr Bray.<br>Carried unanimously.}} The Action Plan was also discussed and approved. {{box|Proposed by Cllr Holt and seconded by Cllr Bray.<br>Carried unanimously.}}}}

== January 2025 ==
=== Is the Parish Council happy with the direction and progress of the ''Claygate the Way Forward'' project? Will it deliver what residents said they want?===
The CVA spent £4,000 on a survey conducted and published last year to determine what Claygate residents wanted, which turned out to be&mdash;summarising from the 'Survey Highlights' of the report&mdash;something like:
{| border="1" cellpadding="4"
|-
| align="center" | '''More Housing'''
|  align="center" | '''Use of Torrington Lodge Car Park'''
|  align="center" | '''Parking'''
|  align="center" | '''Shopping'''
|  align="center" | '''Travel'''
|  align="center" | '''Healthcare'''
|  align="center" | '''Community'''
|-
|  style="vertical-align:top;"|
housing development on village brownfield sites
----
not on Green Belt
----
private housing with 1-3 bedrooms
----
affordable housing
| style="vertical-align:top;"|
at least partially for parking
----
for a supermarket
----
as a fitness centre
----
for housing
----
for a health centre
| style="vertical-align:top;"|
first hour of use free
| style="vertical-align:top;"|
an additional supermarket
----
a hardware shop
----
a delicatessen
----
a village market
| style="vertical-align:top;"|
Extend the K3 route to Coverts Rd and Holroyd Rd
----
Cut speeding
| style="vertical-align:top;"|
an NHS dentist
| style="vertical-align:top;"|
a support hub
|-
|} 
* The survey report also included a series of 'recommendations' and 'emerging ideas', many of which pre-dated the report. (The Working Groups were established in the second half of the previous year.)  
* Some of these recommendations and emerging ideas&mdash;for example, 'develop a collective website for Claygate'&mdash;have not been put to the residents of Claygate. Nor is there any certainty that implementing the recommendations and emerging ideas will lead to the fulfilment of what residents said they wanted.
* Given what has happened since, the general impression is that CPC and its working groups have focussed largely on the 'recommendations' and 'emerging ideas', and achieved very little of what respondents actually said they wanted. Indeed the only clear victory from the list above has been the village market, which was organised by someone from outside those groups.
* So is the purpose of ''Claygate the Way Forward'' to give residents what they said they want, or is it to implement the 'recommendations' and 'emerging ideas' in the report?

==== CPC's chairman's answer of 10-JAN-25 ====
"Yes, the council is happy with progress, and the initiative will deliver the recommendations in the
report as was the intention of the project. Updates come into the council via the working groups and
progress is therefore transparent through the council minutes. Progress is however subject to many
dependencies and it will take time to implement many of the recommendations in the report. Especially
as a consultation is due this first half of 2025. Please note that it is the recommendations in the report
that will be implemented, not what was voted for in the survey as the most popular choice of shop."

"Many of the points made by this question focus on the types of shops wanted by people responding to the
survey; however local councils have no powers to implement specific types of shop that residents wish
for."

=== Should CPC be spending £2,000 on a Shops survey when what residents said they want is shops that aren't currently here: i.e. a hardware shop, a delicatessen and another supermarket? ===
* How will this survey help residents or the Parish Council?
* How will it bring Claygate closer to getting a hardware shop, a delicatessen and another supermarket, particularly if the principal respondents are the existing shopkeepers of Claygate?
* Should the public sector be funding a survey (and indeed a website) run for the private sector?
==== CPC's chairman's answer of 10-JAN-25 ====
"As already discussed above. None of these types of shop will be able to be implemented as part of the
project recommendations and nor was that the aim. It’s not the place of the initiative to try and engineer
what types of shop open in Claygate.

"The CtWF Shops and Businesses group and Councillors have been approached by a number of shop
holders unhappy about a lack of consultation with them in particular. So yes - in the same way that
money was spent on consulting residents with the original survey, it was felt by the CtWF Shops and
Businesses group and the Council that the shop owners community also needed to be consulted and that
commitment is proceeding.

== November 2024 ==
* In the [[Claygate Village Association|CVA]] accounts for the year ended 30th September 2024, the combined cost of the ''Claygate Can Do Better'' and ''Claygate The Way Forward'' projects was £4,659, of which survey analysis accounted for £3,925.

== October 2024 ==
{{courier-OCT-24-4,5b}}
{{source|Claygate Courier, October 2024 issue, pages 4 and 5}}

== March 2024 ==
{{Courier-MAR-24-1-2}}

== See also ==
* [[Claygate Village Association]]
* https://www.claygatevillageassociation.org/the-way-forward
* [[The Text of the ''Way Forward'' Report of June 2024]]