Cobham Heritage

Three Farms Meadows/Former Wisley Airfield Development Appeal Dismissed

We are very pleased to report that the Secretary of State has dismissed the appeal by the developers who want to build over 2000 houses on Green Belt land on the former Wisley Airfield site also known as Three Farms Meadows.

The original application made by the developers in April 2016 was refused by Guildford Borough Council.

The developers appealed and the planning proposal went to the Planning Inspectorate. The planning appeal hearing took place in September 2017 where interested parties were able to take part. The Cobham Conservation & Heritage Trust took part as a Rule 6 party, entitling it to cross-examine the developers witnesses. Other local interest groups including the Wisley Action Group (WAG) and Parish Councils, appointed barristers to further the case against. After the four week hearing the Inspector upheld Guildford's decision.

The developer appealed once more and the development was sent to the Secretary of State. After much deliberation the appeal has been dismissed today (13 June 2018) by the Secretary of State.

It will be interesting to see what effect this may have on the proposed Guildford Local Plan which is currently being examined by the Planning Inspectorate, the result of which is expected in July 2018.

Wisley Airfield Developers map

Local Children sow Poppy seeds at the Avenue of Remembrance

Children sow Poppy and Wildflower seeds at the Avenue of Remembrance On Tuesday 24th April 2018 over 30 children from St Andrews, St Matthews, Royal Kent and Cobham Free Schools sowed poppy and wildflower seeds around the beautiful new blossoming cherry trees on the Avenue of Remembrance in Cobham.

Both the cherry trees and poppies will maintain the memory of those Cobham men who fell in the Second World War. The children were supported in this task by Elmbridge Leisure Services and Cobham Conservation & Heritage Trust, and had a wonderful time raking in the seeds. Their teamwork was impressive and the children and parents expressed pride to be involved with a project the results of which will be appreciated by Cobham residents, and those driving through, for years to come.

Re-dedication of the Avenue of Remembrance, Cobham

Despite the rain more than 120 Cobham residents attended the re-dedication of the Avenue of Remembrance on Sunday 8th April 2018.

The Avenue of Remembrance is an important memorial to those who lost their lives during WWII and lived in and around Cobham.

A community initiative to restore the Avenue of Remembrance Cherry Trees in Cobham was launched by Elmbridge Borough Council and local organisations in September 2017. The much-loved and admired memorial was originally created and dedicated in 1946 by the Cobham Womens’ Institute who planted the cherry trees in commemoration of local service people who lost their lives in WWII.

Over the last 70 years the avenue had lost its impact, due to some trees becoming diseased, and replacement trees not thriving. A consultation carried out with Cobham and Stoke D’Abernon community in September 2017 highlighted a wish to restore the avenue to its former glory.

A recommendation to renew the Avenue of Remembrance to protect it for the future was approved by Elmbridge Borough Council who also financed the project. Works started in earnest in February 2018, culminating in a "Topping Out" ceremony on 15 February to mark the planting of 46 Cherry trees to replace the original ones. The replacement trees were grown by Barcham Trees from Cambridgeshire. They are now in place to mark the centenary of the end of WW1, and will hopefully be fully mature for the WWII centenary commemorations in 2039-2045.

This project is a fantastic testament to the dedication and commitment of local organisations to look after and nurture their environment, in partnership with the Borough Council. The organisations involved in this initiative are Cobham Cedar Club Women’s Institute, Royal British Legion Cobham Branch, Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust, Cobham and Downside Residents’ Association, Stoke D’Abernon Residents’ Association and St Andrew’s Church Cobham, together with other churches in the area.

View the photo gallery View the re-dedication programme

NFU Mutual Insurance Offer

If you have a Cobham Village Card and purchase one of NFU's Home, Comprehensive Car or Equine policies, through the local Cobham NFU Mutual branch, they in turn will make a contribution equivalent to 10% of your new policy premium into a charity of your choice. If you choose the Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust, this will help to fund our projects and our other work.

For a quote, please contact 01932 865 667, or pop into 5 High Street, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 3DH, and remember to mention 'Cobham Village Card' and 'Cobham Heritage' as your chosen charity.

If you don't already have a Cobham Village Card, get it free via the Cobham Village website www.cobhamvillage.co.uk. The Cobham Village Card is issued by the Cobham Chamber of Commerce.

Alterations to the M25 junction 10 and the Painshill roundabout.

M25 J10/A3 Improvement Scheme You will have read about the proposed alterations to the M25 junction 10 and the Painshill roundabout. These have major implications for all of us in Cobham and the surrounding area. As part of these, from the top of Painshill to the lights on the byfleet road there will be extra lanes in each direction to allow more space for vehicles to queue! Painshill park will lose a chunk of land behind its unique follies.

There are three ways to engage before the consultation ends on 26th March:

Examine the plans at Cobham library available until 26th March 2018 and respond to the consultation.
Go along to one of the public information events (see below) and respond to the consultation.
Support Painshill by going on to their website (www.painshill.co.uk/a3/) and supporting their petition to Highways England.

Public Information Events

Friday 23th February 2018	12:00 – 19:30	Cobham Hilton, Seven Hills Road, Cobham, KT11 1EW
Saturday 24th February 2018	10:00 – 17:00	Cobham Hilton, Seven Hills Road, Cobham, KT11 1EW
Friday 2nd March 2018	14:00 – 19:30	Cobham Village Hall, Lushington Drive, Cobham, KT11 2LU
Saturday 3rd March 2018	10:00 – 17:00	Cobham Village Hall, Lushington Drive, Cobham, KT11 2LU
Friday 9th March 2018	15:30 – 20:00	Ripley Village Hall, High Street, Ripley, GU23 6AF
Saturday 10th March 2018	10:00 – 17:00	Ripley Village Hall, High Street, Ripley, GU23 6AF
Friday 16th March 2018	08:00 – 20:00	Cobham Services M25
Friday 23rd March 2018	08:00 – 20:00	Cobham Services M25

You can also visit the Highways England website to see more details: www.highways.gov.uk/m25j10

Avenue of Remembrance at the Tilt - Trees Successfully Replaced

We are glad to report that the Avenue of Remembrance cherry trees at the Tilt which were in such bad condition, have now been replaced thanks to Elmbridge Borough Council following the public consultation at the end of 2017.

The opportunity has been taken to move them a little further away from the busy Stoke Road to minimise the effects of the salt spray that comes from the road during icy conditions.

The trees are a substantial size and should flower soon and make a stunning avenue once again.

Please make a note in your diary for the Dedication ceremony for the new trees. This will be held on Sunday 8th April at 12.30. More details to follow.