As temperatures continue to soar, Woking Borough Council’s Community Safety Team is urging people not to cool off, swim or dive in open water such as canals, rivers and lakes, including the Goldsworth Park Lake.
 
Around 58%* of accidental drownings occur at inland open water sites. Many of these are due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of open water safety.
 

Hale End Court, Woking’s latest housing scheme for older residents, has won Building Project of the Year over £10 million at the Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards 2022. 

The Building Project of the Year award recognises developments that deliver outstanding outcomes for all those involved in a construction project. The criteria for the award include great teamwork between client and supply chain, a low environmental impact, high levels of innovation and technical achievement, outstanding customer satisfaction and being delivered on time and within budget.

In recent weeks we have seen a rise in cases in the south east with a shift in the dominant strain from the Omicron BA.2 variant. The latest data indicates that Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 now account for more than half of rising COVID-19 cases in the UK and are driving the recent increase in infections.

We are fortunate that so far the rise in cases has not led to an increase in hospital admissions or deaths and this is down to the efficacy of the vaccine and the incredible efforts of people across the country getting vaccinated.

• New administration targets reduced costs and disruption to residents.
• Council seeks more funding from government for Woking’s key infrastructure project, Victoria Arch widening scheme.

At its next meeting on Thursday 14 July 2022, Woking Borough Council’s Executive will consider project options for the Victoria Arch widening scheme which, if approved, will initiate a fundamental review of the scheme including consideration of alternative delivery options and reduced costs. 

Firefighters are currently dealing with a large wildfire at Bisley Ranges. 

Surrey Fire and Rescue has reported that the fire is under control, but whilst the fire is continuing to burn it is producing a lot of smoke, which may be affecting areas of the borough. 

If you are being affected by the smoke, the current advice from Surrey Fire and Rescue is to keep doors and windows closed.  

Check for the latest update on the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service website

Lockdown showed us that most of the support we need to lead happy and healthy lives can be found on our doorsteps, within the communities where we live.

Tribe is a new digital platform which connects people needing support to caring individuals in the community and makes it easy to find local groups and activities.

Hundreds of young people from across Surrey travelled to Surrey Sports Park on Saturday 18 June to take part in the Specsavers Surrey Youth Games.

The annual event is the largest multi-sport youth event in the south east and brings together young people from all eleven boroughs and districts in Surrey. Dressed in light-blue t-shirts, Team Woking took part in friendly tournaments, matches and performances across the day.

Results show the usual resident population of England and Wales was 59,597,300 on Census Day, 21 March 2021.

This was the largest population ever recorded through a census in England and Wales with an increase of more than 3.5 million (6.3%) compared with Census Day 2011.

The population is also ageing, with 18.6% of people aged 65 and over, up from 16.4% a decade earlier.

From 3pm on Saturday 25 June, the highway underneath the Victoria Arch will re-open, earlier than expected, to all road vehicles in both directions.
 
The temporary road closure was necessary to conduct targeted trial hole excavations underneath and on both sides of the Victoria Arch. The carefully coordinated works have assessed the underground conditions, such as identifying underground pipes and cables, and the results will help inform the complex highways revitalisation plan for the Victoria Arch widening scheme.
 

Surrey County Council is supporting Sheerwater Health Centre and May & Thompson Pharmacy reduce inequalities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake by contacting adult residents in the Sheerwater area to encourage vaccination take-up. 

Call will be made until Thursday 30 June 2022. The only number the team will call you from is 01483 404 939.

As part of Woking Borough Council’s ongoing regeneration of Sheerwater, St Michael’s church is set to be transformed into a brand new, multi-use community hub.

The £1.85m investment, approved by the council’s Executive Committee on Thursday night (16 June), will fund the refurbishment and extension of the existing church building on Dartmouth Avenue, and provide a new home for the Maybury and Sheerwater Community Trust (MASCOT).