Latest news with #BBCRadioSurrey
BBC News
21-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Paddling pool in Guildford's Stoke Park reopens after long delays
A paddling pool in Guildford has reopened for the summer holidays, almost two months behind schedule. The pool in Stoke Park was expected to open for the May half-term before it was delayed due to the water being contaminated. Julia McShane, leader of Guildford Borough Council, has now confirmed that the facility reopened on water has proven the latest in a series of issues with the pool, which also opened a month late last year because of staff sickness. Three years ago the pool was forced to shut just days after a £141,000 refurbishment because parents said its floor was too slippery for McShane says that a team of engineers have worked "absolutely flat out" since learning of the problem with water quality."We're absolutely delighted to welcome people back to the paddling pool for the summer holidays... I know how much the pool means to the community," she told BBC Radio Surrey."We're not sure exactly what has caused the problem, but obviously I'm really delighted that we've been able to resolve it at the moment," she added.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Road closed after lorry hit building to reopen
A main road through Surrey which closed after a lorry hit a Grade II listed building is set to reopen. The A281 (The Street), in Shalford, has been shut between Church Close and The Seahorse Pub since 29 May while repair work is carried out. Residents have faced a 40-minute diversion and said the closure of the "very busy through-road" has been an "absolute nightmare". Matt Furniss, Surrey County Councillor for Shalford, says the road closure "has been very difficult" but "we hope the roofing will be completed at the end of this week and the scaffolding removed as quickly as possible". Mr Furniss told BBC Radio Surrey the owner of the building had to repoint and replace a gable, with the involvement of Guildford Borough Council's conservation team. He said: "Shalford has suffered for a couple of years now with significant amount of road works particularly with emergency utilities from Thames Water and SGN. "But the good news about the closure it that SGN have managed to speed up their work. "We've managed to coordinate other works into the single closure so a little bit of a silver lining there." Mr Furniss says he was not aware the owner of the lorry was known but the council will still be seeking compensation to cover all costs. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Surrey County Council
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council leader to discuss SEN and devolution
Special educational needs provision and local government reorganisation will be among the topics discussed when Surrey County Council's leader answers questions on BBC Radio Surrey. Tim Oliver will appear on the hot seat on the breakfast show on Wednesday from 09:00 BST. The council's provision for children with additional needs has been previously criticised, with the cabinet member responsible saying the authority was "resolute" in its ambition to improve. Its children's services department was rated "good" on Friday, after "inadequate" ratings in 2015 and 2018. Listen to the BBC Radio Surrey breakfast show from 06:00 - 10:00, Monday to Friday, on BBC Radio Surrey or on BBC Sounds. The council submitted plans to central government earlier in May for how local government could look in the future with fewer, larger councils responsible for services. Surrey County Council, supported by Elmbridge Borough Council and Mole Valley District Council, is proposing that two new councils are created, with one in the east and another in the west. Elections that were due to take place in 2025 in Surrey have been postponed until 2026 as part of the devolution plans. Oliver has been the leader of the county council since 2018, and is a councillor for the Weybridge division. In 2024, he was awarded an OBE for services to local government. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Council's 'long journey' to good Ofsted rating More than 1,800 children with SEN missing school Council apologises to families over SEND provision Fines for education failures approaching £1m Surrey County Council
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Council's 'long journey' to good Ofsted rating
Surrey County Council has turned around previous "inadequate" Ofsted ratings to secure a "good" label for its children's services. An inspection of the authority's children's services was carried out in March and the report published on Friday. The county council has been working to turn around the "requires improvement" rating it was given in 2022, following "inadequate" ratings in 2015 and 2018. Clare Curran, cabinet member for children, families and lifelong learning, told BBC Radio Surrey the rating was testament to staff who had worked "tirelessly, relentlessly" to improve the service. She added: "It has taken some time and it has been a long journey." All areas were rated "good", including the overall effectiveness judgement. Previously, a member of Surrey County Council asked whether there should be resignations at the authority following mistakes made over Sara Sharif. The 10-year-old was found dead at her home in Woking in August 2023, after suffering a series of injuries following years of abuse at the hands of her father and stepmother. Curran said Ofsted's latest inspection was a "really thorough process" which "extensively scrutinised" the council's safeguarding practice and children's social care service. She said although the inspection report made "numerous references to good practice in the area of safeguarding", the council was "playing an absolutely full and active part" in the independent safeguarding practice review that was ongoing into Sara's death. Curran added: "Sara's death was incredibly distressing, very sad and our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to all those who knew and loved her." The report said most children and families in Surrey now received the help, protection and care that they needed. "Services have improved substantially since the last inspection in 2022, when they required improvement," inspectors said. "These improvements to practice have been achieved through skilled leadership, strong political and corporate support, and well-trained and committed staff." Areas for improvements related to the number of care leavers in education, training and employment, and equity of experiences for them regarding housing. Asked about the council's provision for children with additional needs, which did not form part of the latest Ofsted inspection but has been previously criticised, Curran said the council was "resolute" on its ambition to improve. She said the Ofsted report showed SCC had "capacity to transform and improve services" and was undergoing the same process of improvement for children with additional needs. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Sara Sharif family court judges named after appeal Questions must be answered over Sara murder, PM says Future of Sara Sharif social workers under scrutiny Council apologises to families over SEND provision More than 1,800 children with SEN missing school SEND children face complex care system - report Surrey County Council Ofsted
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Thames Water hopeful of sewage flooding solution in Horley
Thames Water says it is hopeful a short-term solution to sewage that has flooded Horley residents' properties will be implemented in the coming Pelham, who lives near Horley Sewage Treatment Works, said water contaminated with E. Coli had flooded his garden three times in five Water chief operations officer, Esther Sharples, wrote to the town's MP to say the issue is "one of our top priorities".Dorking and Horley MP Chris Coghlan said he was "waiting to see the details" of the proposed solution, but thought the firm had "got the message that it has to stop, because it's so horrific." He told BBC Radio Surrey that he was pleased Thames Water was acting, but he had reported the company to the Environment Agency and regulator Ofwat "to try and put maximum pressure on them to act".Ms Sharples said in her letter that Thames Water would "explore all options to bring forward" mitigation measures and were "carrying out the necessary surveys" to confirm its short-term solution will be effective."I am therefore not able to provide precise details just yet, but will be able to give you a more detailed explanation in June, and I remain hopeful of a solution being in place this summer," she added that Thames Water was also "developing a long-term plan to carry out further mitigation".Coghlan said: "The proof will be in the pudding of whether they actually deliver." Mr Pelham said that his garden had been flooded in November and in floodwater tested positive for E. Coli and high levels of ammonia and phosphates, according to the Lee Street resident."In places it was waist deep and up to your knees pretty much everywhere else," he said."Let's hope that they not only sort the immediate issue out, but futureproof it for any other developments that are happening, and hopefully it won't ever happen again."Water quality campaign group River Mole River Watch said Horley Sewage Treatment Works had received "a woeful lack of investment" for decades.
