by admin | Jul 26, 2023 | CCS meet ups, History
Today at 3pm Cranleigh Society is hosting Vintage teas and Cranleigh Memories – please come along if you have lived and worked in Cranleigh for a very long time.
at 4.30 Cranleigh Society will hold its monthly catch up meeting – you are welcome to join in – all over by 6.
Cranleigh Parish Council has an extra meeting at 7 in the Parish office – to discuss a few things including an idea to launch a survey about CVHT and the future of the Paddock.
The public can attend and will be invited to comment.
we look forward to seeing you
best regards
the team
by admin | Jul 26, 2023 | CCS meet ups, Civic Societies, Cranleigh, Cranleigh Hospital
MEETING TONIGHT- 7PM CRANLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL OFFICE extra full council meeting
Dear supporters,
As you know, Cranleigh Society speaks up for Cranleigh residents when there is something to be concerned about. In particular when green fields are under threat.
CVHT is a charity that was formed in good faith to save our beds in Cranleigh hospital over 20 years ago.
The original plan was simply to save Cranleigh Village Hospital beds from closure. The financial argument was excellent and put forward by Cranleigh GPs. Step up/step down beds in local small hospitals cost less than in large acute hospitals. GPs and nurses used to care for the patients and were in contact with consultants at RSCH etc.
Once it became apparent that the beds alone could not be saved, because of NHS policy changes, the community gave money for the hospital building, and more money in bequests has been donated. The money was firstly for the building – to buy it from the NHS so they could use the money to pay for staffing to keep the beds open. We were told they valued the hospital site at £1million.
70 CVHT volunteers worked to bring this story to life and get the job done – save the beds. However, it didn’t work at all. The NHS policy changed several times. They wanted community beds, then they didn’t, then they did again and finally decided that they did not and closed the beds in Cranleigh and focused on Milford Hospital.
The revised plan was to acquire land and build a new hospital AND health centre, funded by mortgages that the GPs would help with.
The field behind Marks and Spencers – known as the Paddock – was owned by Cranleigh Parish Council and had fallen into disrepair as a sports field. The person who owned the land on the other side of Knowle Lane suggested the Paddock could be used to build a new medical centre and hospital and that some of his land could be used to make better sports facilities. This was legally agreed. The sports provision has been made and is used successfully.
This got planning permission and support from the community, but then it was changed when the financial burden on the GPs became untenable and they obtained a government grant to quickly build a new medical centre only, the one we have today.
This meant the finances for a new hospital alone, without the GPs, was unviable and the alternative plan was devised – to build a care home with hospital grade beds, along with accommodation for care workers. This, however, involved partnering with a care home business to get sufficient finance – planning permission was turned down and the community felt let down all round.
Most of the money donated and raised at the shop was used in pursuit of these ideas, professional fees cost a lot of money.
Now you can understand that CVHT state that they want to find a way to get income from the Paddock to give back to the community for health purposes. The Parish council may agree. Do let your elected representatives – Parish and Borough councillors – know your opinions.
Meeting of Parish Councillors tonight – you can attend and make a statement when invited to. You can write in with your views. You can wait for the survey to be officially published.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FIRST DRAFT THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED – it is not the actual survey
Your Opinion Counts: Help Us Reimagine The Knowle Lane Site!
Dear Cranfold Resident,
The Cranleigh Village Health Trust (CVHT) needs your help! We are considering the future use of our land in Knowle Lane (known locally as ‘The Paddock’) and would like your views.
Originally, we planned to develop the field into a health facility. However, our proposal was rejected. Now, we are exploring other uses, but any changes must meet certain criteria.
We would need approval from Waverley Borough Council Planning Department, and support from Cranleigh Parish Council, with whom we are sharing this survey. Also, a third-party developer would be required to help develop the site.
The land is a potentially valuable asset, and its development could raise a significant amount of money to fund healthcare and wellbeing services in the village.
Any proposal must be in accordance with our charitable objectives, which mean that the land can only be used or sold for “the protection of public health in Cranleigh and the surrounding areas”. Proceeds from a sale would fund local healthcare and wellbeing provision.
Please share your preferences and ideas with us for its future use.
Possible Options:
Following discussions with Cranleigh Parish Council, we would welcome your views on other possible uses of the land.
-Selling the field for commercial development.
-Selling for developing a community facility possibly connected to a new leisure centre.
-Selling for developing affordable housing, potentially for healthcare workers.
We would welcome your thoughts on other suggestions that would be consistent with the criteria set out in this letter.
Share your thoughts by:
-Completing our online survey at www.cvhtsurvey.co.uk
-Sending an email to response@cvhtsurvey.co.uk
-Mailing your response to [PO Box, TBCJ Please respond by 30th September 2023
Your responses will be discussed with local stakeholders to guide our next steps. We appreciate your help.
Cranleigh Village Health Trust Company No: 04253074
Registered charity number: 1089861
Registered address: Bourne House, Queen Street, Gomshall, GUS 9LY
Cranleigh Village HEALTH TRUST
by admin | Jul 18, 2023 | CCS meet ups, History
Every Life is important – some we know more than others…
In 1974 a few Cranleigh residents decided to form a Lions Club – in order to formally raise funds to help others in the community. Today marks the passing of Lion Phil Tilbury, who joined in 1974 and has helped so many people along the way. For more information please see the web site here
Lions Clubs International was started in the USA – ‘The International Association of Lions Clubs, more commonly known as Lions Clubs International, is an international service organization established in 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, by Melvin Jones.’ read more here
Lion Trevor had recorded Phil chatting a little about his life in Cranleigh. Cranleigh Society is starting to record a few older folks tales to be seen and heard by others and generations to come.
Come and join in – Wednesday 26th July Band Room from 3pm
If you need help to get there please phone Sue – 07946 590 347
by admin | Jul 11, 2023 | CCS meet ups
We invite you to the Band Room for afternoon teas on Wednesday 26th July from 3pm.
Please let us know if you would like to join in and also if you need help to get there. complete the box at the bottom of this post.
A while ago we held a lovely afternoon vintage tea in the band room and people who have lived in Cranleigh all their lives came along, brought very old newspaper articles, and even had little videos made telling a few memories. As in the nature of life, one lady has recently passed away and she will be sadly missed by many. Beryl was born and grew up in Cranleigh on the Horsham Road when there were few houses along it! We will be able to publish the video in the future.
Meanwhile we wonder who would like to come along next time – we are happy if it’s the same people and some different folk.
At 4.30 we will have a Cranleigh Civic Society catch up so do come along and join in to hear what we have been finding out.
Our Parish council is getting on with making plans for improvements where they can. They are responsible for Village Hall, Snoxhall Pavilion, Youth Centre, tennis courts, Beryl Harvey fields, public toilets, play park, football fields, cemetery and also the allotments.
Waverley Borough council is still working on the Leisure centre project.
Surrey County council is still working on spending new housing tax money on High Street improvements.
Thames Water are busy trying to fix bursts and lay new pipes – we have all had reason to chat to their workers! Fixing problems as they arise.
In brighter news – Cranleigh Heritage Trust has applied for a National Lottery Heritage fund grant to repair the Old Hospital Cottage at the front of Cranleigh Hospital and bring it into uses for the community’s health and wellbeing. The team are having a bit of a rest whilst waiting for the results.
We wish you well and hope to see you soon.
best regards
from the team
by admin | May 23, 2023 | CCS meet ups, Cranleigh
Hello, we usually have monthly meetings on the last Wednesday of each month, then go to the Three Horseshoes to chat and share with some of our members and followers.
Due to all sorts of reasons our monthly meeting tomorrow – 24 May – will not go ahead.
So sorry. BUT you could go to the pub at 6 and chat to each other?
News – the Application by Cranleigh Heritage Trust for a large National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant has been submitted! This was the work of a team including the Cranleigh Society Team, of 9 dedicated people. If awarded the 15th Century Cottage at the front of Cranleigh Hospital will be saved and opened. But it will take another year of work to bring this about. There will be a new web site in June and social media so that you can all support, make your ideas known and get involved. We have kept your views to date too – thank you. The work will save the NHS money and the team will work with the community to bring further services and opportunities to Cranleigh in this much loved Old Hospital Cottage – the first Cottage Hospital of its kind in England. Please do not confuse this effort with others working on our behalf too – the League of Friends and SMART Cranleigh are working with the NHS to bring more medical services to Cranleigh, and the hospital is open and provides all sorts of good services 9-5 daily. Other money raised to bring beds back to Cranleigh? not a success, sadly, and no news there.
Outcomes hoped for:
- The spaces will be made attractive for renting out some of the time, to bring in money to keep the building open.
- Heritage archives, pictures, books, video stories, furniture will be displayed, in rotation, and the cottage will be opened to general public.
- Information about Cranleigh, environs, walking routes, nearby villages, clubs and activities, will be available at a visitors point when the cottage is open to the public, and on the website. All will be linked with other Cranleigh information websites because we all care and work together.
- The spaces will also be made appropriate for various health and well-being uses, and the team will work with providers, grant bodies and other sites in Cranleigh to ensure improved services for all.
Cranleigh deserves more than just this team of people to be looking out for it! How can you become better informed and more involved?
Have you looked at the minutes of Cranleigh Parish council’s full meetings, and planning meetings?
Have you seen the elections results on Waverley’s web site? Do you look at planning applications every week too! Waverley’s meetings minutes are worth a read, and so are Surrey’s.
Have you read about the sewage discharge scandal in full and decided to take action if you can? click here for the full article showing how 2 men made a huge difference
Do you follow CPRE – click here – Council for the preservation of rural England?
Do you follow SWT – click here – Surrey Wildlife Trust?
and so on – there are plenty of volunteers working tirelessly to find out and inform us, do vital physical work as well as lobby Parliament on behalf of all.
Cranleigh Civic Society was formed in 2014 to make a big fuss about overdevelopment and the absolute crucial need to upgrade infrastructure as well as protect wildlife, farming and our mental health. We as a community Do care and so we ask you to show you care more by getting involved.
very best wishes to you all,
the Team
by admin | Apr 26, 2023 | CCS meet ups
Hi, we are told that the pub staff are off for various reasons so they can do a few meals, not loads. But please come along anyway!
We look forward to seeing you!!
best regards
the Team
Trevor, Sue, Diane, Lorraine, James, Bob, Coral, Chris, Howard, Terry
