Meet Thames Water – 28 Nov 7pm Cranleigh Village Hall

Meet Thames Water – 28 Nov 7pm Cranleigh Village Hall

Thames Water  and our Parish, Borough and County councillor Liz Townsend BEM  invite you to bring your real stories and questions to us now.

Cranleigh Village Hall on Monday 28th November at 7pm. All welcome.  Thames will come armed with answers to your questions we hope!!! 

Reporting flooding:- click here to see links for emergency help

To report severe flooding in your area contact the Environment Agency on 24 hour service telephone line: 0345 988 1188. You can also use Type talk on 0345 602 6340.

You can use SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL’S online reporting forms to report minor flooding or report drains that are blocked or report drains that are broken. Please see our flooding advice pages for flood warnings and practical advice on what to do before, during and after a flood.

Our worries about flooding, drought, sewage in homes, sewage in waterways, water supply, burst water mains, replacement (asbestos cement) water pipes continue

It’s hard to believe flooding has come back, what with the drought and the desiccated gardens in the summer. Can anything be done by Thames Water to process sewage more efficiently, even when rain waters enter their system?

Surrey County Council have a Community Resilience Team and one of their jobs is to find answers to residents’ questions about what to do about flooding. They inform and attend Flood Forums and try to help but there are several agencies with different jobs and responsibilities.  This makes it difficult for us residents. Recently we attended a meeting called Surrey Flood Action Groups Forum with several other Flood forums in Surrey and found out how they have managed to get improvements in their areas.  Some of their stories are hard to listen to as you might imagine, but not worse than Cranleigh’s.

Cranleigh village hall 28th November 2022 7pm agenda

  1. Welcome
  2. Introductions
  3. Report on interruptions in water supply
  4. Delays in compensation payments and underpayments
  5. Update on leaks in local network
  6. Local network replacement programme and timeline
  7. Investment in wider network and timeline
  8. Sewage discharge into local watercourses
  9. Upgrades to sewage treatment works
  10. Any Other Business

Please send in your questions as soon as you can so that Thames Water’s staff can find some answers and be forewarned of issues we have.

The Government report on our rivers January 2022 can be found here

It is shocking and much of it was researched by volunteers over years.

Cranleigh Society meeting & AGM 7pm Band room 7th December 2022

Cranleigh Society meeting & AGM 7pm Band room 7th December 2022

Cranleigh Society public meeting & AGM   7pm Band room 7th December 2022

Dear Members and followers

We invite you to join us on Wednesday 7th December 2022

We will provide refreshments and time to chat, and look at our displays before giving presentations.

News updates include

Cranleigh Heritage Cottage Hospital – now known as Napper Cottage project. Members will be asked to vote.

Planning issues

Cranleigh’s waterways and rivers health report, flooding risks; Riparian duties of all those with ditches etc.

Updates regarding infrastructure and services

Councils’ update including Leisure Centre and High Street Changes

Committee business and members’ votes

We look forward to seeing you,

Please let us know if you are coming

The Team

Flood risks, asbestos pipes, drought, your Waverley

Flood risks, asbestos pipes, drought, your Waverley

Cranleigh Society met with Waverley Officers and Councillors and asked many important questions about: 

  • Asbestos cement drinking water pipes,
  • House buying in such a high flood risk area,
  • Water pipes bursting so often, especially near to each other,
  • The risks of sewage rising in homes during extreme weather,
  • The never considered issues of the effects of droughts on trees, food growing and properties alike.

A long time ago your Society carried out a risk assessment concerning the ageing asbestos-cement drinking water pipes in and around Cranleigh – as many as 29% of the pipes are made of these substances.  Waverley Borough Council (WBC) has not been able to respond to this despite repeated requests because it is not their responsibility they say but we say that with all the planning applications there needs to be a coherent plan with Thames Water (TW).

Thames Water is constantly having to mend burst pipes in Cranleigh. Clearly there is an on-going issue around the pipes – they should be replaced in a planned way and the risks of bursts minimised.  Any work on asbestos containing materials must be carried out by specialist contractors. The cutting or drilling of asbestos containing products is generally prohibited due to the release of free asbestos fibres into the atmosphere of the work area where there is a risk of inhalation.  So the pipes are not to be cut but replaced to the next joint.

Waverley Officers have repeated that due to the lack of any recognised scientific evidence of a link between ingestion of asbestos fibres and intestinal cancers (such as  “Jelly Belly” – a slow growing cancer of the pseudo-myoxma peritoneae) – WBC has no power to compel Thames Water to replace the pipes. WBC says it continues to meet its statutory responsibilities under the Water Industry Act, will assess any new research or evidence and will maintain regular contact with Thames Water to review the situation.

We will all continue to lobby MP Anne Milton’s flood group to see if research can be done and requirements laid out!

We asked what contingency plans does WBC have to cope with burst pipes and flooding? What about when flooding causes sewage to rise in people’s homes?

Water pipes burst for a variety of reasons and WBC is asking TW to work smarter and in a more joined up way.  TW are not planning full replacement at this time.

The Chair of Cranleigh Parish Council  Liz Townsend is working on a map of bursts to see numbers and clusters. This will provide evidence to pressure TW further.

If you have ever had a burst pipe please, please write to us or to Cranleigh Parish Council!

Whilst Thames Water has responsibility for dealing with burst pipes and the consequences of them The Waverley Flood Plan acknowledges that sewers can surcharge due to structural collapse and root ingresses. In an event where sewage has leaked into flood water and mixed then Waverley would liaise closely with Thames Water to help understand the risks posed. If this occurs, WBC would expect Thames Water to deal with the functioning status of their network.  WBC would provide advice and support for the community if burst pipes or sewage flooding led to the need for evacuation, clean up etc. by providing temporary accommodation. Thames Water would bear the cost of any impact.

We also asked has any consideration been given to future droughts? The Environment Agency (EA) leads on drought planning and especially with responses at the time. They are liaising closely with Thames Water and other water companies to protect and sustain water supplies, reduce leakage etc. They are also working with the Surrey Local Resilience Forum and other LRFs to produce drought plans.  The council would provide support during the recovery phase of any serious drought. Waverley is developing a plan in which they work alongside the tactical drought teams provided by the EA in a drought event.

So have they considered a big problem could come in the future namely serious depletion of natural water! This could impact on buildings as well as trees and other plants such as home grown vegetables and even farming. WBC has a plan  BUT – Is this drought resilience document a high priority? and is it enough? How will we feel if we go ahead and plant plenty of trees to help with the Climate Emergency, only to find they cannot put roots down and find water?!!!

Cranleigh Society is concerned about people who want to buy houses in Cranleigh but are not told by solicitors about the floods of the past on what had been green fields, and of the Environment Agency (EA) and Surrey County Council’s (SCC) responsibilities about flood risks.

WBC does not respond to questions raised by solicitors regarding flooding. They say this is a matter for the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency’s website classes Cranleigh in the highest flood risk level of 3. On the EA’s website they provide the risk assessment forms for the different flood levels and they also provide sequential tests for planning permission applicants.

Planning approvals are granted when conditions are met – on paper – using devices such as  – Sustainable Drainage System (SUDS) – for surface water Surrey County Council – Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) planning advice.  This means that WBC is not responsible if bad flooding occurs!

If there is a real risk to properties then evidence will have to be credible and in the public domain.  Otherwise it is just opinion.  Planning permissions are granted in the belief that flood risks will be properly managed.  WBC relies on the reports from EA and SCC when granting planning permissions.

There are 2 types of flood risks – Fluvial – water from the sea and rivers – and Pluvial – water from surface water run-off.

The Environment Agency only keeps records of Fluvial risks and does not measure water on green fields.

Surrey CC has only recently been made the Statutory consultee for planning permissions regarding Pluvial waters.

Neither covers the other’s responsibilities.

Developers often challenge the EA’s assessments and win….

New maps are needed for all!

CCS has been told that properties were purchased without people being made aware that they were  moving into a road where the house had previously flooded or where the land had flooded before the house was built.  Some properties have flooded three or more times and the occupiers are waiting for the next time that exceptional weather/poor drainage management means they are flooded again.  It may be that this is no longer true because  now all sellers have to complete a statement – when putting a property on the market – of any problems the property has or had in the past such as flooding.  We don’t know if there are any truth tests! We don’t know if this is the case with new builds but we don’t think so.

Also – when planning permissions are sought there is no requirement for the developers to show the ground height they expect to have to build up to before beginning to build.  In Cranleigh New builds are being built on raised land and they all rely on SUDS working well.

We just don’t know what the cumulative effects of all this  in the future and no-one is keeping track of all of the SUDS together and their effectiveness has yet to be tested.

Comments please!

9:30 FLOOD FORUM Sept 6th BAND ROOM

9:30 FLOOD FORUM Sept 6th BAND ROOM

9 am FLOOD FORUM Sept 6th BAND ROOM (with microphones and information sheets)

Anne Milton’s MEETING starts at 9:30 for one hour only.

Do get in touch in advance, join us and please tell us and the forum your flood news –

Do you have any problems you want to share – do write and reply to this post –

Perhaps you have noticed dried up rivers and brooks in Cranleigh area during the summer? Or maybe flooding and surface water pooling?

What about burst pipes,  mains replacements, and the sewage plant upgrades?

In England and Wales much of the rain water is meant to go into the sewers and be added to the sewage from households etc.  Some people have another system – see OFWAT’s link below.

Surface water drainage

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting and also to reading your comments

 

 

 

 

 

Society News

Society News

Spring has sprung! Lots to report – please read on…..

Cranleigh Society Social meetings – Monday 11th March From 6.30 at Three Horseshoes pub – remember you can order food if you would like to – some of us do.  And please remember we need your support and ideas.

COMMUNITY!  If  you belong to another group in Cranleigh please contribute to our cause – are you a member of a Resident Association, or similar – then we would like to hear from you!

This Week – Cranleigh Parish Council needs you! 

Village Hall on Wednesday evening 7pm to discuss the hospital project CVHT  hostel for health workers & HC-One private care home plus 20 NHS & SCC beds

Village Hall on Thursday all day and early evening to discuss Cranleigh’s Plan – Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan.  It has been written, we have to respond then it goes to an inspector, then we have to vote!  And only after that all succeeds can Cranleigh be better off regarding planning permissions because it has an Adopted Plan!

Meetings with Waverley Councillors & Officers continue

Cranleigh Civic Society and Waverley Borough Council Officers and Borough & Parish Councillors met up to discuss concerns and prompt ACTIONS.

They urge the community to communicate strongly either to Cranleigh Parish Council or Waverley Borough Council or any group such as Cranleigh Civic Society so that your voices can be heard. In turn they weigh up all the responses and in the context of the law and their own strategies.

The topics and questions covered are the key questions you all ask us.  The responses are in some cases detailed and satisfactory and in others we must continue to try to get improvements and changes.

Waverley is working hard – to reduce costs and confusion, and reduce the problems they have to deal with – by communicating better and responding where possible in helpful ways.

Community Recycling Centres – Waverley agree that if  these services close to save Surrey County Council money, WBC will have to pay for the removal of fly tipped matter – so please everyone write to Cllr Andrew Povey and explain your ideas about what to do. He is leading a task force and has asked for everyone’s suggestions/evidence to keep the CRC open  e.g. levy our Parish precept as we do to ensure the toilets stay open? email:  andrew.f.povey@surreycc.gov.uk

Most of you will most likely have seen and signed this petition to keep our recycling centre open (it’s had a brief stay of execution but it’s days are numbered) but if not please do! Unless of course you don’t mind having to schlep over to Witley or the other side of Guildford at the weekend to dispose of any waste… Click on link, share with friends. It takes 5 secs. https://petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/CranleighCRC/

Drinking Water pipes – please report problems and bursts to Cranleigh Parish Council so that they can continue to press Thames Water to sort them out, They need replacing whether or not there is a health risk associated with bursts (blue asbestos fibres).  We are hoping that someone in authority can help the World Health Authority to set up a new world wide investigation into the use of asbestos cement fresh water pipes.  Come to the flood forum 22nd March for more – we will have microphones and a PA system – details below.

A comment about our water pipes has been found reminding us of the complicated nature of it all – “The National Water Council spent 4 years and a lot of money trying to develop a method of resin lining asbestos cement pipes to slow down exfoliation, but in the end they gave up as no one could come up with a reliable, lasting installation method.  Some of the pipe manufacturers sprayed the insides of their pipes with bitumen, but the NWC tested that and found it didn’t last long so they never endorsed it”.

Flooding – it’s essential that you report flooding to Cranleigh Parish Council so that they can press Waverley BC and all other bodies that keep the house buildings going on. Photos with dates and times are essential please.

Cranleigh Leisure Centre – Waverley have paid for outside expert advice and consulted with Cranleigh Parish councillors who in turn say they have their “ears to the ground” and know what people want. Waverley must now decide what to do next but it’s delicate because the Leisure centre is run by an outside business and they have the right to be dealt with in private.

Planning permissions  – if you can’t find out how to tell Waverley how you feel about planning permissions please contact the Clerk at Cranleigh Parish Council for the reference number and details.  All PPs go to our Parish councils as soon as they are made. Glebelands school sports pitch has long since been assumed to be given up for a new Cranleigh Primary school – but there are problems….. Cranleigh School – private – has withdrawn its application to build 40 houses opposite Notcutts. The housing along Elmbridge Road is being built – watch and report!  HC-One Care home with 20 hospital beds for the community, and CVHT’s hostel are both being looked at by Waverley at the moment – see above item about the meeting this week.

The future of sport in Cranleigh – Waverley have a department that works on providing sports facilities. They state that Cranleigh school – PRIVATE – was never involved in the building planning permission levy – Section106 money for a new all weather pitch in Cranleigh.  Something is being considered if and when there is planning permission for Surrey County Council to build on Glebelands sports field (it has been reported that this field is unused because is floods).

Lost income from levying builders – S106 & CIL – it’s complicated!  Let’s just say it’s all a matter of delicate decision making to make sure houses are built and money comes in for small projects – not major roads etc. The CIL – COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY  – can be used after March 1st 2019.  but at the discretion of the council. When S106 or CIL money becomes available is a complicated matter…… we have been explained to and we have a spreadsheet if you are interested.

Trees and Hedgerows – Waverley says that trees impact is part of the planning balance required by national policy.  We say Waverley’s strategy must be strengthened.  Do you have photos and details of destruction or better of protection needed?

Planning conditions – must be undertaken – if you believe some builder is breaching conditions or don’t know what conditions have been put in place then contact – planningenforcement@waverley.gov.uk.  Victoria Choularton is the Enforcement Team Leader on 01483 523008.

Communications – The Waverley Borough Council officers say their team always welcomes feedback on what can be improved and what works well – any suggestions can be sent to: harri.robinson@waverley.gov.uk. In the mean time people are welcome to sign up to the existing newsletters on the council’s website: www.waverley.gov.uk/newsletters.

Some of Waverley’s  processes and methods are being upgraded thanks to pressure from the public including Cranleigh Civic Society. Meeting up with Waverley regularly is clearly very important.

If you would like more details –  join us when you can – 2nd Monday in each Month – at the Three Horseshoes Pub any time from 6.30pm, 11th March.

MP ANNE MILTON’s FLOOD FORUM FRIDAY 22nd MARCH 10.30 BAND ROOM – we will have MICROPHONES and a PA System. This meeting will include preparation leaflets to help participants understand who is on the panel, the language and the issues.  We have borrowed the Lions PA system – thank you Lions – so let’s get a good crowd going – bring evidence of what is wrong.

CRANLEIGH’S RIVERS & STREAMS – message from Glen at Surrey Wildlife Trust

A history of poor management and pollution has left the Cranleigh Waters a shadow of its former self so Surrey Wildlife Trust are working with the Cranleigh community on a 3 year project, funded by Thames Water, to improve the health of the river. Understanding the issues is key to restoration so in 2018 volunteers were trained to monitor  river health by sampling invertebrates on the river bed whose presence can tell us how clean the water is as well as pin point pollution and habitat issues. Monitoring is done in pairs and involves taking a 3 minute kick sample with a net to collect invertebrates such as mayflies. The invertebrates are then counted and the score can tell us what sort of state the river is in. By taking a snap shot of the catchment using this method we can focus our efforts to maximise our impact. Later in the Summer there will be a number of volunteer restoration days installing habitat in to the stream to create opportunities for wildlife and kick start natural processes. A rivers workshop will also be held in the summer to present the findings of all the investigations to the community and look at next steps.

 

CVHT – Where are our hospital beds?

CVHT – Where are our hospital beds?

Cranleigh Village Hospital Trust (CVHT) invite us to Cranleigh Baptist Church to hear from their contracted partner firms HC-One on 11 OCTOBER 2018 at  3 till 8pm.

The proposals are for the following planning permissions:

2 new buildings and parking on “The Paddock” field of Snoxhall Fields.

One is a Care Home with hospital beds and the other is a block of flats or bedsits, hopefully to be taken up by staff of the Care Home and hospital beds.

RSVP via membership@cranleighsociety.org and we hope to see you there!!

Further information can be found here: