Challenger – You Have Mail

Here at the Challenger we receive many emails and letters regarding local issues. We thought we would summarise these for your attention and invite you to make comment.

Over the coming months there will be quite a few changes in the area with redevelopments planned on the old Rowland House site, off Rowland Road, where over 40 affordable homes are planned by Thames Valley Housing; the refurbishment of the old cottage hospital to allow the temporary decant of the GPs while a new health centre is built; plus the long awaited new Cranleigh hospital and integrated care facilities in Knowle Lane. Wow! We shall see our fair share of contractors’ hoardings and lorries around our ever increasingly congested high street.

Talking of traffic issues there are some unhappy bunnies who are fed up with shoppers illegally parking at the Rowleys Day Centre, preventing the older folk from using its services; lunch, chiropody, coffee shop, hairdressing and access to the handyman and gardening schemes. It is so unfair when Rowleys clients, some of whom are not so good on their pins, are forced to turn around and go home. Rowleys is taking steps to stop illegal parking – so be warned – you heard it here first! Mums are feeling a bit peeved too that the Snoxhall car park, there for the users of the Snoxhall facilities and adventure playground, is being used by office workers.

Surrey County Council too wants to get up close and personal to Cranleigh motorists. It has under consideration on street parking charges but before introducing new measures intends to CONSULT. Where have we heard that before?

There are quite a few controversial planning applications in the pipeline. We hear that the former brickworks site in Knowle Lane is rearing its head once again by its new owners, also the Planners’ eyes will soon be on the application to build on the old Swallow Tiles site in Bookhurst Road. Over in Alfold, villagers await with interest Waverley’s decision on the Wildwood Golf Club application to build a hotel and golf lodges to herald the arrival of the Professional Golf Association’s bid to make it a centre of excellence for junior golf. This could put Alfold on the map and certainly Top Gear has put Dunsfold Park in the spotlight. We hear that waiting list for tickets, which was announced on a recent programme, is now an amazing 76 years and fans are coming to the area from all over the world. If Wildwood goes ahead they will have somewhere nearby to stay.

In Bramley, villagers are fighting for their treasured library – book worms watch out and support Cranleigh Library...it could be next.

Last, but definitely not least, patients of Dr Ishaque will be saddened to hear that one of the Cranleigh practice’s most popular doctors is leaving. We wonder why and wish him well.

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