Latest news with #MattFurniss
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Surrey farmers able to bid for funding to aid growth
Farmers in parts of Surrey can now apply for grants from Surrey County Council to help boost of up to £120,000 is available to help farmers in the districts of Tandridge, Guildford and grants will aim to support ideas like opening farm shops, generating sustainable energy and "developing agritourism", the council suggests."As committed custodians of much of Surrey's fantastic countryside, farmers play a key role in everyone's way of life," said councillor Matt Furniss. A total of £360,000 is available from the government's Rural England Prosperity Fund for 2025/ council is calling it a "competitive process" and says it will "focus on supporting a small number of large-scale, high-impact projects".Applications can be made on the Business Surrey website and closes at the end of farmers and landowners can also apply for separate Business Growth Grants from the Surrey Economic Growth Fund, which are open until the end of May.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Road closure permits in Surrey up by more than 50% in five years
The number of permits issued to temporarily shut roads in Surrey has risen by more than 50% in the last five years.A BBC Freedom of Information request to Surrey County Council (SCC) showed that in 2020-21 there were 1197 closures for utilities works, and this jumped to 1866 in council said it was working with companies to improve traffic management and communication with UK, the trade association for utilities companies, said it was "engaging constructively with highways authorities" across the country. Matt Furniss, cabinet member for highways, transport and economic growth at SCC, said demands from firms, including those which provide electricity, gas and water services, in Surrey were amongst the highest in the UK, with 88 works starting every day in the last 12 months. "Whilst we recognise that works on the highway carried out by utility companies are necessary, these works are all too often impacting negatively on Surrey road users," he said."We're working with utility companies to drive better traffic management, better coordination, and better resident communication, and I'm pleased that they are supportive of our key proposals to improve the management of emergency works."We've also introduced a lane rental scheme where we charge organisations for the time their roadworks create delays on the highway during peak hours on busy roads, to encourage faster project completion and off-peak work schedules, to reduce disruption." Clive Bairsto CBE, CEO of Street Works UK, said the trade association was "engaging constructively" with highways authorities to deliver infrastructure works "whilst giving customers and road users the speed of delivery, lack of congestion, and transparency they expect".A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: "We know roadworks can be frustrating for drivers, which is why we are cracking down on utility companies and increasing fines for them if their works overrun or they fail to leave roads in a good condition."As well as this local authorities already have a range of powers to help them coordinate their roadworks efficiently and advanced notice of live and planned road works."
BBC News
04-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Surrey's first School Street to launch at Farnham Heath End School
Surrey's first school street scheme will launch at a secondary school in Farnham this access will be restricted around Farnham Heath End School during the busiest times of the day in a bid to reduce air pollution and improve road Bullers Road will be open to pedestrians, cyclists and wheelers only between 08:00-09:00 and 14:15-15:30 BST in school term time, with exemptions available for residents, carers, school transport, and blue badge County Council is introducing this scheme as part of a £3m investment in improving road safety near schools across the county. Matt Furniss, cabinet member for highways, transport and economic growth, said: "This marks a significant milestone in our efforts to improve road safety, promote more sustainable school travel and reduce air pollution around schools."We hope this will be the first of many School Streets across Surrey."For those that need to drive, parking has been made available at a nearby rugby club on Monkton Lane so that children can walk or scoot the final 10 minutes to the school. A new signalised crossing and footway has been installed to make this walking route safer and easier, said a council schemes are proposed for roads near Potters Gate Primary School in Farnham and Danetree Primary School in Ewell.
Telegraph
20-02-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Homes near Surrey sinkhole ‘may still be at risk'
Homes surrounding a 20m-wide sinkhole that swallowed parts of a village high street remain at risk – and it could be months before evacuees can return home, a local councillor has said. The sinkhole appeared in Godstone in Surrey on Monday night, with SES Water later announcing one of its water main pipes had burst underneath the road. A 100-metre cordon was put in place as a major incident was declared, forcing the residents of 30 properties to evacuate. Matt Furniss, the cabinet member for highways, transport and economic growth at Surrey county council, said: 'All properties have been surveyed and we believe are currently structurally sound, but this may not remain the case. 'We are starting borehole investigations today. We cannot estimate a timescale for return but will keep residents updated. It may take months.' Testing will take place on Thursday to help determine how to stabilise the area temporarily before 'completely rebuilding the road'. Mr Furniss confirmed a second sinkhole appeared in a property's front garden on Tuesday afternoon, which is thought to be linked to the first one. Photographs showed a car teetering on the edge of the hole – with its wheels just a few inches away from the eroded tarmac. Mr Furniss added: 'The car won't be moved until it is deemed safe to do so.' He also told the BBC it is believed the second nearby hole had been created by 'water finding a route from the first one downhill'. 'It's within the cordon area. The area hasn't been growing, so we just need to do the investigations,' the councillor told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'We don't know what's caused the water pipe to break and effectively create the sinkhole at this point. 'That's what the borehole testing and the investigation will look into. 'What we do know is that it is currently stable. 'Surrey Highways will then be looking to find a solution to rebuild.' Asked whether the ground in the area was 'dodgy' and ill-suited for building, Mr Furniss told the BBC: 'Potentially. But we do have those new technologies that can stabilise ground… quite successfully, and we've done a number of those in Surrey itself. 'The borehole testing, which we're doing today, will show us what is going on under the ground, and we can just review the entire structure around the sinkhole and then take steps to rebuild.' Meanwhile, locals have been urged to register for information and updates on the sinkhole at the youth centre in Godstone. Mr Furniss said: 'Most of the residents have been self-evacuated, so they are dealing through either family, friends or their insurance companies. 'And we will let them back as soon as we deem it safe. 'These investigations we're doing as quickly as possible, but we do have to do it safely, and that's the key point that we're just emphasising.'
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Homes near Surrey sinkhole ‘may still be at risk'
Homes surrounding a 20m-wide sinkhole that swallowed parts of a village high street remain at risk – and it could be months before evacuees can return home, a local councillor has said. The sinkhole appeared in Godstone in Surrey on Monday night, with SES Water later announcing one of its water main pipes had burst underneath the road. A 100-metre cordon was put in place as a major incident was declared, forcing the residents of 30 properties to evacuate. Matt Furniss, the cabinet member for highways, transport and economic growth at Surrey county council, said: 'All properties have been surveyed and we believe are currently structurally sound, but this may not remain the case. 'We are starting borehole investigations today. We cannot estimate a timescale for return but will keep residents updated. It may take months.' Testing will take place on Thursday to help determine how to stabilise the area temporarily before 'completely rebuilding the road'. Mr Furniss confirmed a second sinkhole appeared in a property's front garden on Tuesday afternoon, which is thought to be linked to the first one. Photographs showed a car teetering on the edge of the hole – with its wheels just a few inches away from the eroded tarmac. Mr Furniss added: 'The car won't be moved until it is deemed safe to do so.' He also told the BBC it is believed the second nearby hole had been created by 'water finding a route from the first one downhill'. 'It's within the cordon area. The area hasn't been growing, so we just need to do the investigations,' the councillor told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'We don't know what's caused the water pipe to break and effectively create the sinkhole at this point. 'That's what the borehole testing and the investigation will look into. 'What we do know is that it is currently stable. 'Surrey Highways will then be looking to find a solution to rebuild.' Asked whether the ground in the area was 'dodgy' and ill-suited for building, Mr Furniss told the BBC: 'Potentially. But we do have those new technologies that can stabilise ground… quite successfully, and we've done a number of those in Surrey itself. 'The borehole testing, which we're doing today, will show us what is going on under the ground, and we can just review the entire structure around the sinkhole and then take steps to rebuild.' Meanwhile, locals have been urged to register for information and updates on the sinkhole at the youth centre in Godstone. Mr Furniss said: 'Most of the residents have been self-evacuated, so they are dealing through either family, friends or their insurance companies. 'And we will let them back as soon as we deem it safe. 'These investigations we're doing as quickly as possible, but we do have to do it safely, and that's the key point that we're just emphasising.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
