GPCA Newsletter August 2001

GOLDSWORTH PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
GPCA NEWSLETTER. AUGUST 2001 VOL. 21. NO. 8.

Created Mon 27/Aug/2001 Update Sat 17/Nov/2001

IMPORTANT! Please read the disclaimer on the home page.

Also available at Forbuoy's Newsagent shop at G.P. Centre and through your letterbox! This was printed at the beginning of the month and some events may be out of date by the time you read them!

PETER WINTER

It is with great pleasure that we can announce that Peter Winter has won a good neighbour award from Woking Borough Council. For the last five years, Peter has been the editor and main contributor to this newsletter, which is distributed to most of the 5000 households on Goldsworth Park. His wife, Jean ably assists him in this work. Since 1978, Peter Winter has played an active part in the life of Goldsworth Park. He was involved with the setting up organisation that became the GPCA. In the early days he collected subscriptions from door to door and he has, at various times, held almost every position on the committee, including Chairman and President. He continues to be active as a committee member and was also a founder member of the Allotments society. In particular, he played a very active role during the period from 1986 to 1990, handling the negotiations with Woking Borough Council that led to the construction of the Community Centre Hall. He was actively involved in fundraising for this project and supervision of the building work. The period from 1991 to 1993 was difficult for the GPCA due to a lack of members prepared to operate the committee. During this period Peter was the main supporter and, on at least one occasion, he prevented the GPCA from being wound up. In the last year he has made great efforts to revitalise the Woking Mediation Service, that had degenerated due to lack of support. This has involved obtaining new funding, and the recruitment of new volunteers, both as mediators and committee members. This resulted in the successful re-launch of the service in April this year.

Thank you and well done, Peter.

Ian Rickard, Chairman.

WOKING MEDIATION SERVICE

The Mediation Service held its AGM at Goldwater Lodge in July. This service, supported by Woking Borough Council and Surrey Police, deals with neighbour disputes, be it noise, barking dogs or boundary disputes, etc.

ROAD SURFACES

We understand that two roads, Bampton Way and Chirton Walk, are to have resurfacing work carried out. This work will start in August.

GREEN WASTE AND PAPER COLLECTION

Someone asked us how a single vehicle could collect both paper and green waste.

Answer: The rear section is divided into two compartments.

DON'T FORGET

Now the new Yellow Pages is out, you can recycle your old one at the Goldsworth Park recycling centre, Sainsbury's at Brookwood and Parley Drive layby until the end of August.

GOLDSWORTH PARK RANGERS

Goldsworth Park Rangers Seniors intend leaving nothing to chance in their quest for honours again this season. They have already started pre-season training and had their first pre-season friendly on the 29th July. They were due to have two more: 19th August v Old Wokingians and 26th August v Fox and Flowerpot, both scheduled for 10:30 kick-off on Goldsworth Park Rec. GPR are YOUR local team, so why not get down and give them your support. Admission is the cheapest in the area: it's FREE!

GOLDSWORTH CARE

Dear Resident,

On behalf of the steering committee of Goldsworth Care, I would like to thank all of you who supported our refreshment stall at the Party in the Park. We raised \u00A3101, which will be used to help us launch our scheme in September. We are still looking for volunteers, so if you wish to apply please call me on the numbers listed at the end of this article. we desperately need drivers to assist us to help those of you who are housebound and living on Goldsworth Park. We will start to provide a service from September onwards, but our success depends on your support: with it we can achieve a great deal of good, without it the scheme will falter. Anybody still interested in the scheme should phone me on 715338 or 859173 as soon as possible.

Once again, thank you for supporting this scheme.

Tim McGloy-Glenholme, Secretary, Goldsworth Care.

NOTE: email info@goldsworthcare.org.uk

ST PETER'S HOSPITAL SCHOOL

Did you know that at St Peter's Hospital there is a hospital school? This provides schooling for children who, for various reasons, are unable to attend mainstream schools in either the short or longer term. The small, dedicated staff here can provide a high level of education for these children. The only limitation is the lack of some specialist equipment, which cannot be provided due to lack of both space and funds. However arrangements can be made for these subjects to be covered at the appropiate mainstream school. Extra funds are always welcomed by this specialist unit. Anybody who may be able to help should contact Kate at the unit on 01932 874761.

CAR BOOT SALE

The last sale was held on Monday 27th August 2001 and is held most bank holidays. To book a pitch call Arthur on 722407.

GOLDSWORTH PARK ALLOTMENTS SOCIETY

During a recent evening, judging took place to identify the best kept plots at the Brookwood site. Judging was based on tidiness, quality and variety. The Allotments Society's last event was the annual Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Show. This was due to be held at Brookwood on Saturday August 25th 2001. Go organic, grab a plot now ready for the next growing season. Contact John on 821974.

SPEAK UP - WE'D LIKE TO HEAR YOU

Members of the public now have the opportunity to speak at Council Commitee meetings. In line with its continuing policy to create a more open and accountable authority, Woking Borough Council has increased the opportunities for members of the public to have their say. Recent proposals for a public question time were approved by the Council's Executive Committee, allowing anyone living or working in the Borough to ask up to three questions of a particular member of the Committee or to the Chairman. Further information about taking part in the public question time and speaking at other Council meetings is now available in a new leaflet published by the Council, entitled "Speak up...we'd like to hear you!" The leaflet gives details of the opportunities available for local residents to voice their views and explains what they need to do. It includes information on presenting a petition, making a deputation and the role of local councillors in representing their constituents. Cllr Jim Armitage, Chairman of the Council's Executive Committee says "Many people see local councils as faceless bureaucracies. Woking Borough Council is challenging that perception by encouraging people to voice their views, to meet councillors and question their decisions and to take part in consultations to improve local services." For a copy of the leaflet contact the Council's Member Services on 743001 or email memberservice@woking.gov.uk

ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN!

Just recently I had chemical burns on my legs. I went into the NHS walk-in centre at Woking Community Hospital. The care, right from the receptionist to the nurses, was 100%. It would be a good idea for there to be a hospital like this in every major town in the country, instead of the sprawling hospitals that you cannot find your way around. Aren't we lucky to have such a first class facility right on our doorsteps, and it is a pity that the health ministers of the day don't have a look at the way that the hospital is run. Just in case someone is wondering where to get the money from, may I suggest using the lottery money for these purposes like they do in other countries.

Philip (The Flower Man).

NOTE. Woking NHS Walk-in Centre. Woking Community Hospital, Heathside Road, Woking, Surrey, GU22 7HS. Telephone 776080. From the park, go into Woking , past the fire station, under the railway arch, towards Guildford, just after the new police station do a left into Heathside Road. Hospital is on the right. Free parking available to legitimate users. Also see NHS Direct.

WOKING ACTIVE RETIREMENT CLUB

The club, generally referred to as "WARC", was founded in 1987 and its members come from all parts of Woking and surrounding districts. The core activity is a monthly meeting, to hear a talk on a wide range of interesting subjects, and these usually attract about a hundred members. Recent subjects have included "History of the Basingstoke Canal", "400 Weddings and a Funeral" (by a photographer) and "Kew Gardens". We meet at The Generation Centre, Goldsworth Park on winter afternoons, and at Woking High School, Horsell on summer evenings. Other activities include Bowls (Short-Mat in the winter), Bridge, Keep Fit, Art, Rambling, Whist and Skittles. A monthly lunch is usually arranged, as well as theatre visits and other outings, plus a couple of Cheese and Wine parties. Membership is limited but there are vacancies at present, so if you are retired, reasonably active and are interested, please phone the Membership Secretary, Pat on 223218 for further details.

CRIMEWATCH GP - MARK YOUR MOBILES

Police are advising mobile phone owners to mark their property and to keep phones secure at all times. This follows an increase in the theft of mobile telephones across North West Surrey Police Division. There have been one or two cases of phones being snatched from people as they use them, but in the main phones are stolen when they are not secure. One of the easiest places to steal a mobile phone is in the pub as too often people leave their phones on the table or the bar while they are socialising, and their attention is often elsewhere. Woking Crime Prevention Officer, PC Kevin O'Grady, is advising phone owners to engrave their property, either on the casing or in the battery compartment. "Take the battery out and engrave inside the compartment using a diamond-type engraver which is inexpensive to buy and easy to use. Engrave the phone with your postcode and add your house or flat number, or the first two letters of the name of your home," said PC O'Grady. PC O'Grady is happy to talk to members of the public about crime prevention issues, and he can be contacted at Woking Police Station on 761991.

CRIMEWATCH GP - RETURN OF THE TYRE SLASHERS

Once again tyres are being deliberately slashed in Goldsworth Park and police are appealing for help to catch the culprits. Since March there have been 57 crimes of tyres being slashed on the estate, and some cars have had their tyres slashed three of four times. Police in Woking are anxious to talk to anyone who has information that will identify the offenders. They are also appealing to people who get their tyres changed to keep the damaged ones so that they can be forensically examined. Police advice to everyone in Goldsworth Park is to use their garages if they have one, and to park their cars in open areas, and near street lights. The officer investigating these crimes is DC Caroline Katryniak of Woking CID, who can be contacted on 761991.

GOLDSWORTH PARK GUIDE ASSOCIATION

We currently have spaces available if you are aged 5-7 and would like to join RAINBOWS, and aged 7-10 and would like to join BROWNIES. ALSO, CAN YOU SPARE A FEW HOURS A WEEK? DO YOU ENJOY WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN? If so, we currently need adults to help run our Rainbow or Brownie meetings each week. Please Contact District Commissioner Angela Borras on 837917 for more information.

LAKE A LITTER BLACK SPOT

Many of you may have seen the headline in recent issues of our local papers. The RSPCA were quoted as including Goldsworth Park lake in a list of litter black spots. The general reference quoted was bland in content and generalisation. as Ian Rickard stated, the GPCA have no idea of what the RSPCA are talking about. Anybody can make a general bland statement without being in any way specific. Detailed comments can be identified and , where practicable, a solution can be provided. Residents often identify problems in the lake area to the GPCA. We, in turn, talk to our councillors or council officers. A swift response or actions soon solve problems. Our stated problems in the lake area are usually about dog fouling or cyclists. I understand that council officers are also unaware of details relating to the RSPCA's comments. Woking Council puts a lot of effort into maintaining this area to an acceptable standard. The area is also patrolled by a water bailiff. The GPCA would invite the RSPCA to provide us and council officers with full details, if they have any, or to withdraw their black spot label from Goldsworth Park lake. As the saying goes, put up or shut up. Footnote: As of 1st August neither the GPCA nor other interested parties have had any contact with the RSPCA, our only additional information has been via press comments.

STREET CLEANING

According to a statement by its Managing Director, Onyx, the cleaning company with the contract for cleaning Woking's streets, miscalculated costs! He is also reported as saying that currently manual mobile crews clean all 29.3 kilometres of Woking streets.

Question: Does the 29.3 kilometres of streets include Goldsworth Park? Either we are not in the borough of Woking, or he has been misinformed. Come to Goldsworth Park, Mr Rowley - we could take several hours of your time to show you roads that have not been cleared once, let alone 5 times, weeds 12 inches high in the gutters, and leaves from last autumn.

PLANNING APPLICATION

You may recall that some issues ago we commented on the planning application by the Salvation Army to build a new centre in Sythwood on the old bypass route. Several rumours have since circulated about changes being made that may have a knock-on effect on the Allotment site and other access points. Our information is that this application is like a jigsaw, with many parts to be put into place. Nothing has yet been decided, therefore rumours are premature. The GPCA will keep its ear to the ground on this matter.


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