Sheerwater and Woodham

About the neighbourhood

This neighbourhood includes Sheerwater and Woodham.

About the Neighbourhood Officer

The Council's Neighbourhood Officer for Sheerwater and Woodham is Yvette Lanham.

Telephone Number: 01483 743475

Email: yvette.lanham@woking.gov.uk

Fax: 01483 776335

Address: Woking Borough Council, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking GU21 6YL

Yvette can be contacted about the following:

  • waste and recycling
  • litter
  • graffiti
  • abandoned vehicles
  • untaxed vehicles (on highway land)
  • grounds maintenance (trees, grass cutting and vegetation)
  • street furniture (street name plates, litter bins, dog waste bins and benches).

Latest news from the neighbourhood Please find below my update for the Sheerwater and Woodham area:

Tune In meeting update 22 November 2007

On Thursday 22 November 2007, the Neighbourhood `Tune-In´ meeting was held for Sheerwater and Woodham at Bishop David Brown School in Sheerwater.

The purpose of the meeting was to give residents of Sheerwater and Woodham the opportunity to meet and discuss local issues, and consider areas for improvement and development in the area. All attendees were invited to explain their concerns on arrival and they were then given the opportunity to discuss three issues in small groups with trained facilitators. As well as talking about the issues, local people were asked to think about the possible solutions and what they could do to improve the area in which so many live and work.

Woodham residents were invited to discuss issues where they lived and two further groups addressed priorities that have been decided on following the Community Needs Assessment.

A number of issues came out of the meeting which the Woking Borough Council, Surrey County Council, the police and the community in general need to investigate. I have listed below some of the issues and responses and will continue to update this periodically.

  • Lighting in Dartmouth Ave, in area of the shops - Surrey County Council is in the process of procuring a new contract using £65 million from the Department of Transport, which will replace upwards of 85% of the County´s street lighting over a 5-year period between 2007 and 2012. This Project will bring huge economies of scale and as such the County has made the decision not to replace or install any more of its old lighting until then, with minor exceptions made to this rule. We have kept a record of this request which will be reviewed when the contract is let. Further details of the project can be found on Surrey County Council´s web site.
  • A245 Sheerwater Road , Near Canal Bridge, request for crossing facility - Surrey County Council have advised that the A245 Sheerwater Road was investigated as a Route Management Study and the final report was published on the 28 August 2002. The report recommended a crossing facility should be installed to the north of the canal bridge and feasibility and design work for such a crossing were completed during 2006/07. Construction works for the Puffin crossing started on the 10 December and the crossing is now completed.
  • Speeding in Woodham Lane - Surrey Police have provided the following response.

For those residents that reside in the Woodham lane and surrounding area we are currently seeking volunteers to set up a community speed watch in the area. For those of you who have not heard of community speed watch, this is a scheme that has been set up locally which other areas have been benefiting from. The idea of the scheme is to empower local residents to take action against those who are the root cause of the problem and this allows residents to really get involved in the policing of their local community which can assist all of us in making the area a better and safer place to live.

If anyone is interested in this scheme please contact our casualty reduction officer PC Chris Wilkes 0n 0845125 2222 or email him on wilkes2700@surrey.pnn.police.uk.

  • Ponding at Martyrs Lane junction of Woodham Lane - Response provided by Surrey County Council. " The issue is being investigated, be assured we are aware of the situation".
  • Parking on verges in Albert Drive- Response provided by Surrey County Council

    " As you area aware, the Albert Drive area of Sheerwater was constructed at a time when the car ownership was considerably lower than it is today, and as such off street parking is limited. In a number of cases, the owners / occupiers of the properties in the area have applied for and been granted permission to park their vehicle in the front garden of their property, using an authorised vehicle access.

    The parking of vehicles on the highway verge is not permitted, however a balance needs to be taken in this area, as these vehicles would be displaced to either other verge areas or park on the carriageway, if posts were placed around the area where they currently park now. Neither of these options would be acceptable.

    The creation of parking bays was discussed at the County Council Local Committee on the 28 February 2007 and it was agreed that the Local Transport Plan (2006 to 2010) Objectives and Targets would not be met and therefore parking bays would not be considered for this area.

    The Local Transport Plan is focused towards improved accessibility and therefore improving walking and cycling. The Woking Cycle Network (Route 1) is routed through Sheerwater using cycle tracks along Albert Drive linking to Woking town centre / railway station and West Byfleet".

General update

  • Anti-Social Behaviour problems occur intermittently and unfortunately there has been graffiti and damage to the play equipment at Sheerwater recreation ground. The Council and police, as well as other local groups, are looking at what can be done to tackle this problem.
  • There have been only 4 reports of untaxed and abandoned cars in Sheerwater and Woodham in the last three months. Residents can help by reporting any untaxed or abandoned vehicles that you see direct to the Council offices on 01483 755855.
  • As mentioned previously, graffiti in the form of `tags´ and messages appear frequently on and around play equipment. Serco, on behalf of the Council, continue to remove graffiti; and again, please help by informing the Council offices on the number above if you see any graffiti in the area.
  • Grass cutting is underway, with the growth rate this has been challenging however resources have been optimised by Serco to ensure any issues are resolved. There are still a few areas where bushes are encroaching on the highway. Some of these are dealt with as Serco are made aware of them, but others are actually private hedges and need to be reported to Surrey County Council Highways who contact the owner. The link to the online form to report such issues is here :

http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/env/hews/hews.nsf/FIIRTF?OpenForm&CCode=VGPR~1&Subject=Vegetation%20overgrown&City=WOKING&faultID=75823806844

  • If members of the public would like to report any issues, such as litter, fly-tips, overgrown vegetation and grass too long, WBC´s partners Serco can be contacted direct on 01483 775422; or email: helpdesk@woking.serco.com.
  • Broadmere Primary School have been involved with designing a litter poster which is to be displayed in Sheerwater. Judging of the posters has been completed and the posters will appear in Sheerwater shortly. Many thanks to the sponsors Serco, The Lightbox and Pool in the Park. Also thank you to the school for being involved in this initiative.
  • On Saturday 26 July 2008, 10am - 12noon, there will be a Community Litter Pick, meeting at The Neighbourhood Office, Dartmouth Avenue, Sheerwater. This is organised jointly with Woking Borough Council and Surrey Police, please lend your support. For further information, please contact Yvette Lanham on 01483 743475.

More information

For more information about this neighbourhood, including other key contacts, please visit the community website, Window on Woking.