Parish Council Achievements

Summary Achievements March 2024 to March 2025

Village Meeting Points (Cllr Holt)

Cllr Holt spoke on just some of the completed areas that the Parish Council are involved with.

A lot of work has gone into the ‘Claygate The Way Forward’ Vision and action plan. There is a consultation with Elmbridge Borough Council being held on 23rd April 2025.

There is now 30 minutes free parking at the Claygate Car Parks for residents.

A fabulous edition of the ‘Claygate Courier’ had been completed for delivery in March and grateful thanks were given to Peter Whitehead for all his hard work putting this together.

Community Support Sessions were being run with Cllr Rollings in centres across Elmbridge.

Claygate Parish Council had successfully lobbied Hinchley Wood Secondary School to make sure that admissions would still include Claygate children.

There had been many CIL and grants over the last year to various different groups and clubs.

Litter Picks were continuing and the next one to be held in conjunction with the Claygate 'Get Involved Day' on Saturday 26th April.

Looking at increasing our links with youth in our community.

Planning Highlights (Cllr Sheppard)

• Responded to Consultation on new NPPF.
• Reiterated CPC opposition to development on Green Belt.
• Reviewed all Planning Applications for Claygate .

Planning Issues and Challenges (Cllr Sheppard)

• Massive increase in Elmbridge’s housing target
• Elmbridge draft Local Plan found “unsound” by Planning Inspector – new Plan to be drafted by 2028.
• Elmbridge Local Plan expires 2026 before new draft Plan is complete.
• Timetable for Surrey reorganisation cuts across new Local Plan timetable.
• Element of judgement in planning decisions: CPC & EBC views may differ.

EHT: Two Groups from CtWF (Cllr Bray)

• a. Environment & Sustainability – led by Peter S
  • Heather Lockwood, Peter Lawrence, Cllr Mary Marshall, Vanessa Relleen, Steve Wells
  • i. Developing plan [PS]
  • ii. Green Elmbridge Networking Event – Nov 20th
  • iii. PS Networking locally into local communities [Bookham] and groups [Green Elmbridge, Claygate Hubs Bike Repair Project]
  • iv. Community Solar Energy Schemes
  • v. Community Garden
• b. Transport & Parking – led by Ben F
  • Philip Champion, Pat Chapple, Geraldine Dahlke, Tim Lovett, Pauline Pope, Peter Robinson, Paula Spinks-Chamberlain, Cllr Mark Sugden, David Walker-Smith
  • i. Developing plan
  • ii. Footpath, Raleigh Drive to Claygate House
  • iii. Station car-parking
  • iv. EBC Commuter Parking

EHT: Working With Mark Sugden – Our SCCllr (Cllr Bray)

• a. Church Road Zebra crossing - next FY
• b. Red Lane speeding
• c. Fix My Street
• d. Roadside Rangers

EHT: Our Own Initiatives (Cllr Bray)

• a. Things Done
  • i. Weeds in kerbs and pavements
  • ii. Tree Surgery work, Meadow Road island
  • iii. Elm Road rubble clearance
  • iv. Old Claygate Lane footpath clearance.
• b. Things Ongoing
  • i. LSI
  • ii. Holroyd Road issues [HM]
  • iii. High kerb at SW corner of The Parade
  • iv. Bubble gum signs
  • v. New Bench on The Parade

Achievements November 2024 to February 2025

Claygate Parish Council Achievements

• Finalised Vision and Action Plan for Claygate The Way Forward Project with Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) ready for consultation in April 2025.
• Secured Consultation to be carried out by EBC on plans for Torrington Lodge Car Park despite other consultations in Elmbridge being shelved due to devolution.
• March edition of Claygate Courier developed. Delivered to all residents by CPC and CVA volunteers.
• Arrangements made for Claygate Village Meeting 20th March 7:30pm with guest speakers.
• Attended consultation on EBC's Community Support Services at Claygate Centre and provided feedback.
• Successfully lobbied the Hinchley Wood School Trust on admissions policy which adversely affected Claygate pupils.
• Awarded CIL Grant of over £16k to Claygate Primary School for new drainage system to allow the playing field to be used.
• Awarded CIL Grant of £6k to The Claygate Youth Hub for new quiet space.
• Awarded CIL Grant of £9.8k to Holy Trinity Claygate for Way Maker Project to install a gate to the Recreation Ground to open up the churchyard.
• Awarded grant to the Claygate Village Association to pay for the Village Hall for Get Involved Day on 26th April.
• Awarded the Brian Rhodes Community Cup to Susannah Moffat, Trustee of the Claygate Youth and Community Hub.
• Carried out a Communications campaign over Christmas advising on local services which are available to those in need.

Environment Committee Achievements

• Secured 30 minutes free parking at Torrington Lodge and Hare Lane Car Parks implemented from 1st April 2025 following lobbying of EBC.
• Secured commitment from Surrey County Council (SCC) to install Vehicle Activated Signage to deter speeding on Red Lane.
• Liaised with SCC to feed back from residents' views on Local Street Improvement initiatives in Claygate.
• Hosted the Green Elmbridge networking event.
• Chased for rapid reinstatement of K3 service when the route was suspended due to a burst water main.
• Working with EBC on improvements to the pathway from Raleigh Drive to Claygate House.
• Installation of a brash pile on The Firs verge with help from Claygate environmentalists between Dalmore Avenue and Foley Road to compost cuttings from the trees and bushes.
• Three quotes obtained and one chosen by the council for a new bench on The Parade by Claygate Pharmacy. Application put into SCC to install the bench opposite the Claygate Pharmacy. Selected contractor and applying to SCC for installation approval.
• Attended a walk with Wingham Court to understand the issues that their residents face travelling in the village. Liaising with SCC to address issues.

Planning Committee Achievements

• Reviewed 47 planning applications in the last four months.
• Issued a statement regarding protection of the Claygate Green Belt and our stance with respect to opposing development on it.
• Committee members joined a training session run by a senior Elmbridge Planning officer.
• Objected to a further plan for the redevelopment of the 31 Stevens Lane site (2025/0003).
• Continued to monitor developments relating to the Elmbridge Local Plan, but there has been little activity recently, pending formal authorisation of the withdrawal and rewriting of the Draft Local Plan which was withdrawn by Elmbridge Borough Council on 26 February.

Achievements June to November 2024

Parish Council

• Took on management and coordination of The Way Forward project from the Claygate Village Association and agreed a governance structure for doing so, with CVA volunteers working with the CPC going forwards/
• Agreed a draft implementation plan for Claygate The Way Forward with Elmbridge Borough Council and started review of a vision and strategy for Claygate to be consulted on with residents in 1Q25.
• Developed the October edition of Claygate Courier, with the CPC and CVA distributing it.
• Cllr Gil Bray took the lead for the CPC, together with Holy Trinity Claygate and the Scouts, to organize the Remembrance Day Parade.
• Remembrance silhouettes explaining Local Hero biographies were sourced by Cllr Hadleigh Moon.
• Grant of over £10k to the Claygate Village Hall Association for equipment.
• Manned the stall at the Claygate Flower & Village Show, talking to Claygate residents about Claygate issues and how we can help.

Environment Committee

• Started a campaign against weeds on the roads; wrote to Surrey County Council CEO about the problem, and presented to other Surrey town and parish councils.
• Approved grant to the CVA for the Claygate Christmas Lights and Tree.
• Claygate Village Sign restored and installed with help from Richard Knight, Clive Thompson and Andy's Gardening Services.
• Cllr Donna Holt started investigation to install a new bench in The Parade, with seats higher than normal for people who are less able to stand up easily.
• Cllr Gil Bray liaised with the residents to organize and pay for the tree surgery necessary for a tree on the Meadow Road island.
• Cllrs organized and participated in the October litter pick which was also attended by many villagers and the Claygate Scouts.

Planning Committee

• Reviewed 70 planning applications.
• Cllr Anthony Sheppard led the CPC response to the government consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework, stressing the importance of preserving the Green Belt.
• Cllr Gil Bray represented Claygate at the Local Plan review with the Planning Inspectorate at EBC; and provided website and social media updates on the topic.
• Objected to 11 Elm Gardens development—application number 2024/1484—following the concerns of residents.
• Met with EBC and followed up on specific planning issues:
  • Continued to lobby EBC regarding Claygate's status as a 'local centre'. Now the Local Plan has been found to be unsound by the Inspector, we will ask again for this [designation] to be changed.
  • Asked EBC to take forward discussions with PA Housing regarding plans to develop on the site of garages at Holroyd Road and Foxwarren.
  • Lobbied EBC regarding objections by the Parish Council to householder applications not being referred to East Area Planning Committee.

Achievements 23rd May 2024

Parish Council

• Carried out a very successful May Litter Pick, well attended by the Community, Guides, Brownies & Hub.
• Onboarded four new councillors following their election.
• Met with EBC representatives at the Claygate Centre to review progress towards re-opening four days a week & to make suggestions for joint activities between the two memberships.
• Approved £10k grant for refurbishments to the Village Hall.
• Approved £2k seed funding grant—50% matched by the Claygate Community Benefit Society Ltd (CCBS)—towards valuation and survey costs of The Winning Horse Project.
• Approved £50,000 CIL grant to The Winning Horse Project, contingent on a grant of £890,000 from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
• Onboarded & started to train the new Clerk & RFO.

Planning Committee

• Reviewed 22 planning applications in the past two months.
• Represented Claygate at the enquiry at EBC by the Planning Inspectorate into the application to build on the Green Belt: Land North of Raleigh Drive (2023/0962).
• Represented Claygate at the Local Plan review with the planning inspectorate at EBC.
• Met with EBC to discuss local planning issues and particularly to lobby for Claygate to be reclassified as a Local Centre to protect it from overdevelopment.
• Objected to the Station House HMO Development (2024/0118) at East Area planning committee, on the grounds of parking issues on The Parade. Unfortunately EBC voted for the development despite admitting at the Committee Meeting that there is a parking issue.

Achievements 2nd April 2024

Parish Council

• Represented Community Centre members at meetings with Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) to secure its future following the unplanned closures.
• Asked the Planning Inspectorate to recognise Claygate as a Local Centre—not s District Centre—in the Local Plan to protect Claygate from overdevelopment.
• Drafted and distributed a 20-page Courier newsletter to all residents with delivery help from CVA volunteers.
• Voted for a new Brian Rhodes Community Cup winner: John Bamford.
• Awarded a new contract which arranged for maintenance of six Highway Garden Sites by Paul's Garden Services for the next three years.
• Arranged and ran a very successful January Litter Pick.
• Awarded grants to plant Claygate Pearmain apple trees in Claygate and provide funds towards new picnic tables at Treetops on the Recreation Ground.
• Assisted the CVA by taking three vanloads of cuttings to the Leatherhead Recycling Centre following the removal of large quantities of over-growth along The Firs verge between Dalmore Avenue and Foley Road.
• Paid for maintenance of the defibrillator at The Hare & Hounds.
• Recruited a new Parish Clerk: Dawn Lacey.
• Appointed a young adviser and listened to her ideas.

Planning Committee

• Liaised with EBC regarding Land North of Raleigh Drive to object to development on Green Belt Land—Planning Inspectorate Ref APP/K3605/W/23/33343391; Planning Application Reference 2023/0962.
• Reviewed 41 Planning Applications in the last three months.
• Objected to Station House development (2024/0118). Raised concerns about insufficient car parking and the proposal's compliance with the relevant spatial regulations.
• Raised concerns with the Planning department about development at 11 Elm Gardens.
• Raised a formal objection to the proposal at 11 Elm Gardens (2024/0223): concerns about the size of the dwelling proposed, it being out of out of place, both in size and appearance contrary to policy.