Trading standards officers searching for funds a cowboy gardener conned out of elderly customers discovered he stashed away £150,000 in off-shore bank accounts. Benjamin Brown, 62, of Epsom, Surrey, who is serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence for fraud and money laundering, ignored a court order to disclose all his accounts and moved large sums around before … Continue reading
Surrey County Council has signed off plans for the second of a three-year review into local bus services in the county at today’s meeting of Cabinet. The latest changes will save the county council more than £720,000 annually while ensuring people can make virtually all the journeys they did previously. Watch Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member … Continue reading
Following the approval of plans to relocate Horley Library at today’s meeting of Surrey County Council’s Cabinet, Richard Walsh, Cabinet Member for Localities and Community Wellbeing said: “We have decided to relocate Horley Library to the centre of town so it is in a more accessible location. It will be similar in size the current … Continue reading
Scores of neighbours across Surrey are signing up to share their time and expertise in a new community drive launched by the county council. Since plans for the scheme, which involves members offering their skills and getting help with tasks they struggle with, were launched communities have worked with the council to form groups in … Continue reading
Surrey’s approach to keeping children in care out of custody was today praised in an independent review chaired by Lord Laming. The cross-bench peer’s report for the Prison Reform Trust found action needs to be taken to prevent children in care being “sucked into the criminal justice system for trivial reasons”. He highlighted how the work done … Continue reading
Community groups and charities in Surrey have been awarded £622,000 thanks to the county’s role in the 2015 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey events. Mickleham Children’s Playground Association, Guildford Archery Club and Ripley Bowling Club are among eight Surrey organisations handed grants from the London Marathon Charitable Trust, which gives out proceeds from the RideLondon cycling festival. The … Continue reading
Trade magazine the MJ has published an article by Surrey County Council leader David Hodge about last month’s launch of a £1 million fund to boost local shopping parades and village centres. This week the authority unveiled a £3m fund for retail areas beyond the centres of large towns in Surrey or shopping streets in smaller ones. … Continue reading
Firefighters will respond to a wider range of medical emergencies with South East Coast Ambulance Service from next week as part of an expanded co-responding trial scheme. Following early success of the trial, which began at the end of September last year, trained firefighters will now not only attend cardiac arrest calls but also other … Continue reading
Shopping streets in towns across Surrey are set to benefit from a new £3 million fund launched by the county council. The authority is making up to £750,000 available annually for boroughs and districts to improve secondary shopping centres. They will be able to put it towards retail areas beyond the centres of large towns … Continue reading
David Hodge used today’s Full Council meeting to pledge support for arts and culture in the county. The Surrey County Council leader said they “educate us” and “contribute to our economic prosperity”. He also pointed to successes the council has been involved in, including: Last year’s celebrations of the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta in Runnymede Brooklands Museum’s work … Continue reading
Listen to rail passengers, county council Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning Mike Goodman and Great Western Railway give their views on the enormous economic benefits of fully electrifying the North Downs Line to BBC Surrey. It has been estimated that upgrading the last two sections of the Reading to Gatwick like would generate 8,000 jobs … Continue reading
Every 20 minutes a child comes into care in England and more foster carers are needed to give them a loving home. With Foster Care Fortnight getting underway today, 25 Surrey foster carers have shared their favourite 20 minutes of fostering last year. To find out more about fostering in Surrey, visit Surrey County Council’s … Continue reading
A Surrey couple who have cared for 269 children over 40 years are among the country’s busiest foster carers. With Foster Care Fortnight getting underway on Monday, Pam and Graham are appealing to others to open their homes and hearts to children who need a family to look after them. The Farnham couple, who have … Continue reading
The Prime Minister’s flood envoy for the Thames Valley, Philip Hammond, today visited County Hall for a meeting with Surrey County Council Leader David Hodge about the River Thames flood scheme. Foreign Secretary Mr Hammond, the MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, discussed the scheme with Mr Hodge and a representative from the Environment Agency. Mr … Continue reading
The Coroner conducting the inquest into the death of Cheryl James will deliver his conclusions at 11am on Friday 3 June. Miss James died of a gunshot wound in 1995 at Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey. The High Court ruled in 2014 that the inquest held on 21 December 1995 into the soldier’s death should be … Continue reading