Latest news with #SurreyCountyCouncil
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Parents 'devastated' by possible school closure
The proposed closure of a Surrey village school has left parents, pupils and staff "devastated", according to one pupil's mother. Hattie Ward told the BBC it was "very sad" that St Mary's Church of England Infant School in Shackleford might close. "A school isn't just a place for childcare, it's a central hub for community," she said. Surrey County Council (SCC) has been approached for comment. Falling pupil enrolment has been cited by the local authority as a reason for the primary school's potential closure. A consultation said that in October 2021 the school reception had 30 pupils with no unfilled places. This fell to 16 pupils and 14 unfilled places in October 2024. The SCC report said falling pupil numbers - something the council said was happening across the county – had been driven by a "lower birth rate and families leaving Surrey as a result of the pandemic, Brexit and the cost of living crisis". Ms Ward told BBC Radio Surrey she and her children had made lifelong friends through the now voluntary-controlled school. "It's a workplace that staff have loved and a place of just historical significance and memories for a lot of people," she continued. A spokesperson for the Diocesan Board of Education, which supports the school, said they were "saddened that the school is faced with this challenging situation". "We recognise the concern this will cause among pupils, parents, teachers and the wider community," they added. The spokesperson said pupils could be transferred to Puttenham Church of England Infant School if the closure goes ahead, which they said was the "best option in the circumstances". "We will continue to work constructively with the school and the local authority on the next steps," they added. The decision on the school's future will not be formally made until a council meeting in early July. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook or X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. School for excluded pupils in Surrey facing surge in demand, bosses say We don't know how many people are having babies - and that's a headache for schools Dorking private school to close after 143 years Surrey County Council
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Business 'left in the dark' over sinkhole repairs
Council officials are to be questioned about plans to fix sinkholes that swallowed a large part of a Surrey road, as a local business claimed people were not being given timely public meeting organised by Tandridge District Council and Surrey County Council Highways aims to detail when Godstone High Street will be repaired after sinkholes – one 20 metres in length – appeared in February. It comes as one affected business owner told the BBC he feels "left in the dark" about what is being done to fix the partially collapsed road. "This continues to be a highly complex incident," said Matt Furniss, cabinet member for highways, transport and economic growth at Surrey County Council. He added that "thorough investigations" were needed to understand what caused the collapse and repair it fully and effectively. "We hope to have the road re-opened during December this year, but our focus will be on ensuring the road is safe to use so the exact date will be confirmed once we are fully assured of this," Mr Furniss added. 'Minimise the impact' Shane Fry, who runs the DD Services garage on the high street, told the BBC ahead of the meeting that his business had had to adapt to "stay afloat". He urged authorities to offer a clear timetable about when road repairs will be finished at the meeting."They said they would keep us up to date, but this hasn't happened," Mr Fry said, adding that he felt "left in the dark". "We need to know. It will benefit everyone in the area," he County Council said it was continuing to update local residents and businesses as it progressed through each stage of the process. "We're also looking at how we can minimise the impact on local businesses while the necessary road closures are in place," said Mr Furniss. Councillor Catherine Sayer, leader of Tandridge District Council, said local authorities wanted to get "all the information out there as soon as it is available". She told the BBC: "We obviously know it has been an awful time for people. But, as far as I can see, things are moving as fast as they can."She said she believes the meeting will tell the public what they want to know about how road repairs are progressing and offer a timeline."The key thing is to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible," she said. "Businesses need business as usual."
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Molesey parents' petition calls for increased Surrey bus capacity
Parents have launched a petition calling on a council to use government money to alleviate transport problems after a free school bus was December, Surrey County Council said it would axe free school buses running from Molesey to Esher High School, one month after it announced more than £12m funding from the government to "boost bus services".Children were advised to "bring torches" and "suitable footwear" for the proposed walk to school via alleyways, open fields and unguarded viaduct sluice gates, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).A council spokesperson said they were aware of the challenges that had been raised and were reviewing them carefully. "We will be able to update further in due course," they added. 'So inflexible' The LDRS previously reported it understood cutting the bus route from September would save about £180,000 per have started a petition calling on some of the government money to be put towards increasing the 814 bus between the two towns, which they said was already often Andrew Dillon started the petition and claimed the council was being "so inflexible" over the raised concerns that pupils would be left "stranded"."Attendance and punctuality will plummet, kids will be late for lessons and classes disrupted," he added."It will be a serious blow to the health of the school."Esher and Walton MP Monica Harding wrote to council leader Tim Oliver to request a meeting to discuss increasing capacity on the 814 route or other mitigating wrote: "The withdrawal of assistance and the dirty, isolated, and unlit 'safe walking route' proffered as an alternative by the council risks impacting the safety of pupils, the ability to get to work of parents, and the strong attendance and pupil recruitment rates of Esher CofE High."According to the MP, the council has offered to work with the school on a travel plan. But she warned that it should not be a substitute for greater capacity on the 814 route.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Surrey's housing plan will help 'build futures', councillor says
Plans to develop four council-owned sites into new housing which include accommodation for people with mental health needs, have been County Council says it proposals will help meet local housing needs in Merstham, Great Bookham, Cranleigh and Staines. A portion of the homes could be self-contained apartments where people with mental health needs would receive care and Mooney, the council's cabinet member for adult social care, said: "There are strong economic, health and community drivers for seeking to improve housing, accommodation and homes in Surrey." The final number of homes at each site, and the mix of general housing and supported accommodation, will be confirmed during the bidding the council predicted there would be about 20 to 30 homes per site, or about 100 in total. 'Building futures' All four sites – Chalkmead in Merstham, Keswick in Great Bookham, Longfield in Cranleigh, and Meadowside in Staines – have been assessed as suitable for housing based on access to local services, transport links and community facilities. A fifth site – Heathside, in Woking – is not being progressed at this stage, pending further consideration and January 2020, the council was supporting 1,621 people with mental health as their primary social care need, and by May 2025 that number had almost doubled to 3, said: "This initiative is not just about building homes, it's about building futures. "It's about ensuring some of our most vulnerable residents have access to safe, supported and sustainable accommodation, enabling them to live independently and thrive in their communities."
BBC News
7 days ago
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
Shorter summer holidays and longer half-term for pupils in Surrey
Would you prefer a longer October half-term in exchange for a shorter summer break? Schools in Surrey will be doing just that from the autumn of 2026 after a survey showed people were in favour of the new means that pupils and teachers will have a two week long half-term in October next year and their summer holiday will be shortened by five days. Overall there will still be the same number of school days in the year. Do you think this is a good idea? Would you like it at your school? Let us know in the comments. Why is Surrey council changing school holidays? Schools in Surrey were asked if they were in favour of a two week autumn half-term in a survey. 60% of schools said yes, 30% were against a new system and 10% were unsure. Clare Curran from Surrey County Council said the survey was in response to a wider discussion about term dates. She added that the decision was based on "the feedback received by the council from schools, school staff, and families regarding the challenges of differing term dates". Are other places changing their schools holidays too? Surrey isn't the only place in the UK reviewing the length of school holidays, with some areas like Suffolk and the Isle of Wight already implementing a two week October Welsh government looked at shortening their summer holidays too but has since shelved the plans after opposition to the idea. The discussion comes after a report from last year by the Nuffield Foundation suggested summer holidays should be cut down from six weeks to four and half, with terms made longer to improve the wellbeing of both teaching staff and pupils. That's something schools part of the Unity Schools Partnership in Suffolk found after introducing the longer autumn break. Pupil absences for illness after the holiday fell by 25% at 31 of its primary and secondary schools. What do you think? Would you give up a longer summer break in favour of a two week holiday in October? Let us know in the comments.
