Spring 2002

This column, which will appear regularly, gives your Surrey and Elmbridge Councillors the opportunity to provide information about Council matters of local interest.

Elmbridge Borough Council and Surrey County Council provide a wide range of services there has been great difficulty in knowing what is available, from where to obtain information and how to have questions answered. Now, for the first time a Help Shop is available that will solve these problems. It is based at the Cobham Centre, Oakdene Road - opposite Waitrose and is open every weekday from 10am to 1pm. You can either visit or telephone on 01932 590065.

The range of information available includes Health services - such as doctors, dentists, therapists or chiropractors, Social services, Nursing and residential homes, Leisure and sport facilities, Schools and playgroups, Churches, Adult education, Energy efficiency advice, Recycling and refuse services, Council tax advice, Bus permits for senior citizens, Reporting highway defects such as potholes or broken street lights, Sport and social clubs/organisations and help available to older people and carers. More than two hundred leaflets are available describing statutory and voluntary services and health promotion information. There are also a number of Surgeries held, where you can raise problems about matters such as policing, crime prevention and disability needs. If you need further information about these services please telephone the Help Shop who will be pleased to assist.

Bonfires can be a major source of nuisance to people nearby - usually from the smoke and ash they produce. Unfortunately, there are very few rules and no Byelaws that prevent garden bonfires from being lit or which restricts them to certain hours of the day or days of the week. However, the Council has powers to deal with bonfires that cause a 'Statutory Nuisance". If there is a problem, a sensible first step is to speak to the person causing it, explaining how you are being affected and seeking co-operation to deal with the matter. There are alternative ways of disposing of garden refuse and you could suggest that these be considered - a leaflet, Alternatives to Garden Bonfires, is available from Elmbridge Council (01932 843314).

If a direct approach is not possible or fails, the complaint should be put in writing to the person causing the nuisance, requesting that the problem be dealt with; a successful outcome is more likely if the letter is worded courteously. If after a week the problem continues, you can contact the Environmental Health Division at the Elmbridge Civic Centre, who will consider the situation and advise what actions can be taken. It is important to keep copies of any correspondence, a written record of the dates and times when the problem has occurred and how you were affected, as this information may be required as evidence if the matter comes to Court. Photographs would also be useful. The records should cover at least three occurrences of the problem. Elmbridge Council produce a leaflet on bonfires that provides further information, the legal situation and possible ways in which they can help.

Your four Councillors are always available to be of assistance. Each of us covers a different aspect of Council business. Dorothy Mitchell (01932 889819) is your Surrey County Councillor and deals with matters that are County responsibilities. Elmbridge Borough Council activities are covered by Norman Kaphan (01372 842868) - Environmental matters, James Vickers (01932 862839) - Leisure and Housing matters and Roger Whittaker (01372 843016) - Planning matters. If in doubt about whom to contact, Norman Kaphan will provide initial guidance.