As 10 years have passed since the Elstead Village Design Statement was published we have set up a small committee of Councillors to review and update it.

I attend the regular meetings of the MOD Hankley Conservation and can report that the fenced area where the public have been excluded during the search for old mortar bombs has now been opened up as the MOD advise that their work is complete. A programme of tree and shrub removal is continuing to allow the heather to regenerate.

Fly tipping, dumped cars and motorcycle riding on the Commons continues to be a problem. All information about sighting of people involved in these activities should be passed to MOD Portsmouth on tel: 023 927 22707.

Surrey CC Highway Engineers have advised that a pedestrian crossing is not suitable for Milford Road as we have suggested. There are too many access points preventing a suitable site for a crossing and parking near the shops would be almost eliminated. Also the sight lines are good and there is no accident history making it extremely unlikely to be funded.

Our request for interactive speed signs for Thursley Rd will be looked at in any future traffic calming scheme.

People who drive up Woolfords Lane will be pleased to hear that the re-surfacing should start very soon as the contract has been agreed.

Small improvements to the centre of the village are taking place as our new handyman is getting to work on things that have been outstanding for a long time. It has been  very difficult to get these small jobs done but which are so important to the appearance of our village.

The Parish Walks were more popular than ever this year - 33 on the August walk and 22 on the October walk. It is good to see on the walks new arrivals in the village wanting to discover the commons and the footpaths as well as people who have lived in Elstead for many years. We will arrange more walks next year.

Denis Holmes  Chairman

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