The Minister for Local Government has today published the second report from Woking Borough Council’s Commissioners since the beginning of the intervention in May and announced new appointments to Woking’s Commissioner team.

The Commissioners’ report sets out the Commissioners’ view that staff and councillors continue to work extremely hard to meet the challenges facing the council and has made progress in each of the 12 key areas of focus identified in their first report. 

Proposals to increase the cost of swimming so that Pool in the Park could remain open to members of the public and user groups are being finalised as an alternative to closure.

The detailed option proposes substantially increasing fees, including concessionary rates, that would significantly reduce the level of subsidy required from the Council.

Brockhill residents are to be consulted about the proposed closure of the extra care sheltered housing scheme in Goldworth Park.

To operate the building safely, Brockhill requires urgent fire safety remedial works and a heating upgrade, which combined, is estimated to cost £2.75m. The capital investment required over the next 10 years to maintain the building is expected to exceed £5.5m, which is an unviable and disproportionate level of investment for a building that no longer meets modern day standards.

Last night (30 November 2023), Woking Borough Council members collectively promised to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women and girls.

The White Ribbon promise, which can be made by both men and women, aims to change long-established and harmful attitudes, systems and behaviours around masculinity that perpetuate inequality and violence.

A recent survey of 500 Surrey residents has revealed that one in four women (and one in five men) have experienced street harassment or unwelcome attention in the last 12 months. 

From Monday 4 December 2023, the 446 route will provide an extended direct bus service to Woking, Staines, Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals, Hatton Cross Underground and Heathrow T4.

Patients and NHS staff will soon have direct access to Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals (ASPH) from Woking.

The changes are an extension to the current 446 service which runs from Monday to Saturday. Service information and real time vehicle tracking is available on the White Bus website or through the White Bus App.

Last night, Chelsea goal scoring legend, pundit and Assistant England Football Coach, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, was given the honour of turning on the Christmas tree lights in Woking Town Centre in front of hundreds of fans and festive revellers. 

Children and adults alike took great delight counting down to the moment that Mr Hasselbaink and the Mayor of Woking, Cllr Ilyas Raja, hit the big red button and lit up the enormous 37ft Norwegian Spruce in the centre of Jubilee Square.

Late yesterday afternoon (23 November) Southern Housing were in receipt of a structural appraisal report in respect of the condition of the Eastgate building. 

Following an appraisal of this information by its Building Control and Environmental Health officers, Woking Borough Council considered it a necessary requirement to expediently issue an Emergency Prohibition Order under S43 of the Housing Act 2004. 

The return of Woking’s Voluntary Sector Fair saw hundreds of visitors flock to Woking Leisure Centre to discover what support and volunteering opportunities are available in the borough. 
 
Now in its third year, this year’s event was the biggest yet with over 80 local organisations and community groups represented.
 
The fair provides visitors with the chance to speak to experienced volunteers about the benefits of voluntary work, while also learning about what health and wellbeing support they can access locally. 
 

Local organisations have celebrated the official opening of a fully refurbished and renovated community centre in Old Woking by the Mayor of Woking, Cllr Ilyas M Raja, on Wednesday 8 November 2023.

Following the works, Old Woking Community Centre (OWCC) in Sundridge Road now boasts an extensive two storey extension. Renovations include a refurbished main hall, new dance studio and specialist dance floor, lifts making the upper floors accessible to all, new children’s nursery, café and toilet facilities.

A consultation giving residents and stakeholders the chance to have their say on proposals to make essential changes to reduce council services has ended (Sunday 12 November 2023).

The six-week service review consultation, which received 5,801 individual responses, sought the public’s views on proposals to become a smaller, more efficient council focused on delivering essential services to residents and how it can balance its budget.

This year a Chelsea FC legend has the honour of lighting up the borough’s biggest Christmas tree and switching on the Christmas mood in Woking Town Centre. 

An enormous Norwegian Spruce, kindly donated by the Woking Asian Business Forum (WABF), will once again adorn Jubilee Square and be the centrepiece of the town’s seasonal decorations.

A landlord who repeatedly failed to comply with a Planning Enforcement Notice has received a hefty fine during a sentencing hearing at Guildford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 24 October 2023.

Mr Sultan Mahmood, owner of 34 Monument Way, Woking, was fined £12,000 for repeatedly failing to remove an ‘L shaped’ dormer that did not comply with approved plans. Mr Mahmood was also ordered to pay the council’s legal costs totalling £3,532.50 and a victim surcharge of £170.