Category: Cranleigh

Changing the name – so what’s the game?

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Dinah Washington’s What a difference a day makes:

What a difference a change could make
Just five little letters
It might bring back the sun and the favour
Where there used to be rain
Our yesterday was blue, dear villagers, without you
Today we’re a part of you,
Our lonely days are through, dear villagers
Soon you might just be ours
Lord, what a difference a name makes
There’s now a rainbow before us
Skies above can’t be stormy
Since that moment of bliss
That thrilling idea
It’s heaven when you
Find a trick up your sleeve
What a difference a name change might make
All the difference to us!

Changing the name – so what’s the game?

As they say in a marriage – ‘Change the name but not the letters – you change for worse and not for better.”

After 20 years has the Cranleigh Charity, Cranleigh Village Hospital Trust (CVHT), given up or is it proposing to battle on regardless of public opinion? The residents, including many donors, have written to the Waverley Web saying they are completely baffled.

They are asking:

WHY has CVHT announced – just days after its planning application for a Care Home + community beds was refused – a name change?  Do they seriously think it’s going to be a game-changer?  If so, they’re doomed to disappointment!

CVHT – CRANLEIGH VILLAGE HOSPITAL TRUST
HAS NOW BECOME
CVHT – CRANLEIGH VILLAGE HEALTH TRUST

Do the Trustees – like Jeremy Corbyn & John McDonnell – think that local residents are daft?  Do they really think they can continue to bamboozle them?  If so they are living in a bubble bigger than the Westminster bubble that failed to predict the recent political earthquake!

 Apparently, the Trustees have also changed their charitable objectives, according to the Charities’ Commission website:

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We very much doubt the people of Cranleigh and the Eastern Villages care about the so-called charity’s objectives any longer simply because they know it’s no longer a charity but a private enterprise.  

What they do care about is the fact that they’ve been robbed!  And in broad daylight!  
Until the Trustees of CVHT fess-up, admit to their chicanery and offer to reimburse those who supported their original objective – a NEW COTTAGE HOSPITAL – not a PRIVATELY OWNED NURSING HOME the Villagers – v – Trustees divide will continue.  
Rather like Momentum, the Trustees have built themselves an echo chamber and moved into it.  But what they need to remember is that there are more villagers than them and that doesn’t bode well for their welcome should they ever succeed in getting their miserable, tainted project off the ground.  Do the residents of Cranleigh and the Eastern Villages want this self-serving project to succeed in the teeth of local opposition?  The answer is short and to the point: NO!  Perhaps there should be a vote on it … just saying …

 

Here are the original Objects…

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Here are the new Objects, if you can Adam and Eve it, published on the Charity’s website. Note: In the area of the Primary Care Group.  A group soon to become Surrey Heartlands Trust. Also note the new Charitable Objects cater for anyone and everyone, for anything and everything,  – just so long as it can hang onto the land and the public’s money?

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No wonder Cranleigh Parish Council, which handed over the proposed site in a land-swap, has set aside £3,000 of its limited funds to seek legal advice?

Power to the people of the eastern villages as they joined Waverley Planners to give a controversial Care Home development the order of the boot.

The new face of ‘Your Waverley.

As the dust settles on our ballot papers. The Farnham Residents, Liberal Democrats, The Greens,  Independent, and Labour in Waverley, are all filling the borough’s bottle banks.

So what of the Conservatives? Is Julia Potts tearing her hair out at the thought of facing four years in opposition?

No way, not the PottyOne we know. She will be setting out her stall before the ballot papers are cold and packed away. Just in case, that odd vote is found that could send Hindhead’s Peter Isherwood heading for the exit. He who has won his Hindhead seat on something resembling the flick of a coin! What a way to secure a seat? The WW  team hope he never graces a seat at the top table again!

Let us all hope that the Tories, after such a punishing smack, resist the excuse of blaming their Tory masters. But, instead take a good hard look at why the roll call of ousted colleagues is so long, in true blue Waverley:-

Pat Frost, Mike Hodge, Denise LeGal, Chris Storey, Wyatt Ramsdale, Nick Williams, Ross Welland, Ged Hall, Stewart Stennett, Jim Edwards, Carole King Tom Martin, Andrew Bolton, Rashida Nasir, Liz Wheatley, and more all GONE

Godalming’s Peter Martin only just hung in, Isherwood was pulled from the hat and Julia Potts herself only scraped in coming 2nd to her Tory partner. And, she had dumped her previous Farnham ward, which she would have surely lost to Farnham Residents. Farnham unceremoniously dumped her deputy leader Ged Hall, who had fallen on his sword,  giving up his Tilford seat to his leader.  No greater for his love hath no man for his leader than sacrificing his seat? Definitely no cause to let the red wine flow?

But some fine Tory councillors live to see another day – Kevin Deanus – uncontested and the indomitable Liz Townsend among them. She, and he will be carrying Cranleigh and Alfold’s banners regardless of the council make-up

There was much spluttering about 2 Labour successes, Labour in Waverley!!!

So here is a timely reminder. They follow in the distinguished footsteps of two of the finest councillors ‘YW’ has known. The late Harold and Elsie Denningberg. Harold was awarded the Freedom of the Borough – an honour achieved by few.

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What an achievement to see The Green Party in evidence at last. They take their places just as a landmark 1,800-page report hits the streets revealing one million species are at risk. More than at any time in Human History.

The United Nations report paints an alarming picture of species extinctions, declines in wildlife and habitat loss. And we must not forget the Independent. Well, done Jack Lee even your opponent Rosaleen Egan (UKIP) voted for you.

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Watch out Ms Potts – there’s a new species, on the prowl.  How are you going to shut up the man who has fought against the environmental damage which ‘YW” has ignored for so long?

Jerry Hyman, the member for Farnham’s Figrove will now be accompanied by a phalanx of Fifteen Farnham Residents’ from the length and breadth of Farnham. With the added bonus of  Farnham Residents holding power in the Town Council.

Last but certainly not least – Paul Follows, the man who has worked tirelessly to change the political face of Godalming. It was almost unimaginable when a young fresh-faced Paul Follows stepped across the hallowed threshold of Waverley Towers, just 18 months ago. It took only weeks for him to suss out there was much to be done out, both there and at the Town Council. Now, with the Bots booted, along with many other Tories- there could be a very stiff broom sweeping through both the town council and ‘YW.’

Cllr Follows a very media-savvy professional, didn’t play dirty, he played a highly intelligent and fair campaign. Even ensuring the Lib Dems and Greens stepped down for an Independent in Haslemere; the Greens and Lib Dems delivering each other’s leaflets. For his Herculean efforts, and his spirit of co-operation he has earned the respect of all. Now he will be rewarded when he takes his place alongside thirteen of his Lib Dem colleagues on Tuesday 21st May.

Godalming shows us all how political campaigning should be conducted.

NEXT STOP. INTERESTING TIMES?

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Has the Cranleigh Society taken over the role of the parish council?

Who exactly IS speaking up for the people of Cranleigh?

The Cranleigh Society was once a respected part of the local scene. Adopting the slogan –

“Speaking up for Cranleigh.”

Now it has become a village spin machine., often speaking with forked-tongue. This failing organisation which has lost officers and members could fold at is AGM if it cannot find new officers. A stream of chairmen have resigned, the latest who worked with the Protect our Waverley Campaign and the (CPRE) Campaign to Preserve Rural England to stop development on the only brownfield site in the borough, whilst watching the eastern villages losing acres of countryside to new homes, most of which have proved unaffordable for local people.

Recently the new town dubbed by Waverley councillors as…

“Poor old Cranleigh,” 

… featured last week’s Financial Times in- an in-depth study highlighting problems Cranleigh shares with others, over its huge number of bursting water pipes containing asbestos. However, though we hear from the locals that although the FT  journalist was pointed by the Cranleigh Society in the direction of  former member Adrian Clarke, prominent in the investigation of the asbestos scandal, CCS chose to make comments such as these.

So is the Cranleigh Society which first highlighted the asbestos issue – now speaking with a forked tongue for the people of Cranleigh? 

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A scandal over blue asbestos in drinking water in the village dubbed ‘Poor Old Cranleigh’ has now hit the headlines of a National newspaper.

 

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“Speaking up for Cranleigh Parish Council.”

 

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Here at the Waverley Web, we receive regular missives from the Society. Many of which are so inaccurate and biased, in favour of certain developers, that we have stopped using them. Our Farnham Society, which is well-established and trusted, speaks up on issues affecting our town but obtains its members’ views first.

This latest is a typical example of its propaganda about a controversial plan to build a private care home instead of a hospital. An issue among donors for a hospital and day hospital which is causing great concern locally. Has a charity made it’s very own April Fool of the eastern villages?

Where has all the money gone?

here’s what the CCS had to say about new amended plans.

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So according to the gospel according to the Cranleigh Civic Society or perhaps a  member of the Society, “an amended junction is safe.”

A crossroads, rather than a roundabout,  in Knowle Lane between the Berkeley Homes site and the new Private Care Home. Adjacent to entrances a few yards away for lorries delivering to Sainsbury’s’ and on the other to Wiskar Drive and M & S Foods. Which are yards away from the Kerbside Garage and the junction with the High Street?

So the WWeb wonders why the parish council is holding an Extraordinary meeting on 11th April when the Cranleigh Society has everything under control and all is tickety boo? WW wonder if the Society ever reads the Cranleigh Community Group Board?  A  group that is uncensored and reflects local views?

 Strange that the CCS, failed to mention that the plans also include another entrance. An entrance to the residential flats over the Snoxhall Sports fields single – access road which crosses the LITTLEMEAD BOOK AND THE DOWNSLINK?!?

 

A scandal over blue asbestos in drinking water in the village dubbed ‘Poor Old Cranleigh’ has now hit the headlines of a National newspaper​.

Only look at this article taken from the Financial Times if you have a strong stomach, never drink water, or don’t live or work in Cranleigh.

Do read it Thames Water and Wannabe Waverley Councillors.

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Click on the link below to read the article.

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Within hours of a full-broadsheet page FT article hitting the streets, the castigation of a Cranleigh engineer had begun.  Don’t rush down to the Cranleigh newsagents, as over here in Farnham we heard that “a mystery gentleman’ bought up every copy of the prestigious FT – probably because he wanted to check his investments on the FTSE??!! Or maybe it was a developer?

However, fear not – we snaffled a copy over here, and offer our sincere sympathies to the residents of Cranleigh & the eastern villages who have suffered hundreds of burst pipes. Pipes that are leaking blue asbestos into their drinking water!

The WW first wrote about this phenomenon a year or so back. Not that anyone takes any notice of anything we say! However,  due to the dogged determination of  Cranleigh Society engineer Adrian Clarke the health implications were brought to the attention of MP Anne Milton and the statutory agencies.

The Society subsequently set up a Flood Forum which called to account Thames Water; The Environment Agency, Waverley & Surrey County Councils and the Health & Safety Executive. Who has simply done, little or nothing, except talk a lot we are told. Because pipes all over Cranleigh keep bursting, some have leaked for months if not years, putting fibres into drinking water!

Ignored by ‘Your Waverley’ but Thames Water is forced to recognise there IS a problem with blue asbestos in the East’s water supply!

 Cranleigh’s very own Erin Brokavich in trousers, namely  Adrian Clarke has taken his sorry story to the FT after watching workers wearing protective white masks as they removed burst pipes. Pipes made of asbestos cement. The former factory inspector has failed to persuade anyone- including the MP – to have pieces of pipework examined under laboratory conditions.  Nobody is suggesting that Cranleigh is the only place in the country with asbestos pipes, however, it is undergoing an explosion of housing development, just as we are in Farnham. But all progressing without proper attention to overburdened infrastructure – including water and sewerage treatment.

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Adrian Clarke  pictured here believes: ‘ Screen Shot 2019-04-01 at 14.44.48.png

If it is dangerous to inhale asbestos- then it is dangerous to drink.”

Whilst the World Health Organisation (WHO) has no concerns, and neither do Thames Water, SCC or ‘Your Waverley’ councils. However, scientists are not so sure, pointing to the asbestos industry’s questionable research carried out on hamsters and rats.

“The WHO study was based on limited research and was incorrect,” Arthur Frank professor of Public Health and professor of medicine at Drexel University in Philadelphia told the FT. A man who knows his stuff and who has helped asbestos victims in court cases.

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“There is plenty of evidence that water rushing through asbestos cement water pipes leaches out asbestos fibres and there is no question in my mind that ingestion of asbestos causes gastrointestinal tract and kidney cancers.”

Cranleigh’s campaigner agrees.

“People are still dying of asbestos-related diseases. Everyone assumes they inhaled asbestos at some point in their lives. But what if people are dying from drinking asbestos fibres in water?”

Note: Thames Water told Cranleigh residents it would be renewing a considerable amount of the 1950’s and 60’s pipework. It hasn’t. Despite the fact that increased water pressure to thousands of new homes is progressing, and blowing mains and pipework to older homes. For Sale signs litter Cranleigh’s Streets and new homes are languishing on the market despite huge incentives including price cuts. 

 

We feel an election​ coming on?​

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Here are just a few comments from members of the public in and around The borough of Waverley as the flag is about to signal the start of election frenzy. 

 

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Just a recap to remind everyone in Farnham how the Tories fared in the borough council elections four years ago.

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Villagers bemoan the loss of their green fields and countryside, and new properties being squeezed onto flood-prone sites. They put the blame squarely, but perhaps not fairly on its councillors – all of whom are Tories?

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