20MPH High Street Campaign Gains Widespread Support

Valerie White, local Bagshot resident and Conservative Candidate for this week’s By-Election on Thursday has welcomed the widespread support that she has received for her campaign to reduce the speed limit in Bagshot High Street.

Valerie said, ‘There are very serious concerns about the danger caused by speeding cars in the High Street. Sadly there have been a number of major accidents and fatalities locally in the last few years. Unless we do something my fear is that it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed on the High Street. An enforced 20MPH speed limit is one measure that will help reduce this risk.’

Valerie presented a petition to Surrey County Council some months ago to communicate the strength of local feeling on this issue and has followed it up by sponsoring discussions on the issue at a local ‘Community Panel’ meeting and at a recent ‘Police and Parish’ meeting.

Valerie goes on to say, ‘I have had a lot of support for this issue. I think everyone realises that we must do everything we can to prevent the dangers caused by speeding in Bagshot. If I’m elected to the Borough Council on Thursday then this is an issue that will be top of my agenda for further action.’

Action on Flooding

Conservative By-Election Candidate Valerie White has spoken to both the Environment Agency and the County Council regarding recent flooding problems in Bagshot.

Valerie is able to report that the Environment Agency have agreed that clearance of the watercourse will be carried out on the Windle Ditch, Bagshot, from the A30 to A322, this financial year. Debris and obstructions will be removed and intrusive vegetation will be trimmed back. Furthermore, the Environment Agency are also investigating the merit of providing a Direct Dial Alarm system on the Windle Brook when possible flood conditions are expected.

In addition, Surrey County Council have a programme and a budget for flood prevention works in Bagshot in 2007/08. The initial work will be in the London Road/High Street area. The gullies are being inspected and cleaned and additional drains may be built if required.
Surrey Heath Borough Council are to carry out works in Parkers Court and Gloucester Gardens which should help prevent further flooding on the Guildford Road. Other work is being done on School Road.

Anyone encountering any other flooding problems, that they do not feel are being adequately addressed can contact Valerie for assistance on 01276 479233.

MP Endorses By Election Candidates

Local MP Michael Gove has strongly endorsed Conservative candidates Valerie White and Caroline Reid.

Michael Gove said, “I have worked with Valerie, Caroline and the other members of the Conservative Team to secure the future of Bagshot’s post office, campaigned on road safety issues, lobbied together to limit the growth of fast food outlets and supported Bagshot’s small businesses.”

He went on to refer to the dedication and committment required to be a councillor and said, “Both Valerie and Caroline are caring individuals you can trust to put the village first in everything they do. I urge you to support Valerie and Caroline by voting for them on Thursday 13th December.”

Michael Gove has been Member of Parliament for Surrey Heath since May 2005.

Councillor Alastair Graham Calls for Economic Regeneration in Bagshot

Alastair Graham, headmaster of Hall Grove School and Bagshot’s first Conservative Borough Councillor for over 10 years following his election in May, has called for ‘economic regeneration’ in the village centre of Bagshot.

Alastair has lived in Bagshot for 50 years and in that time has seen major changes. He said, ‘I can remember when Bagshot boasted, amongst other shops, no less than three greengrocers, two butchers, a fishmonger, baker, ironmonger, electrical shop, wool shop, the International Stores as well as a bank, post office, chemist and dry cleaner. Some locals recall the days when there was even a cinema !’

He is now actively seeking opportunities to assist small businesses in the area and has found premises which he is hoping that some local entrepreneurs will take on to help supplement the range of shops that are available for local people in the village.

Anyone interested in opening a local shop should contact Alastair !

New Youth Cafe for Bagshot

Following a recent local ‘Tune-in Meeting to discuss local issues, Bagshot resident Glyn Carpenter who runs the Wentworth Patisserie, has offered to extend opening hours to make the café available for local youth to use in the evening.

The meeting, organised between Conservative led Surrey County Council and Surrey Heath Borough Council, the local police and other local organisations was convened to discuss a range of issues that concern local Bagshot residents. One observation made was that young people had ‘nowhere to go, and nothing to do in Bagshot in the evenings’.

Glyn immediately volunteered to make the Wentworth Patisserie available as a venue for young people to use, with a Council appointed youth worker to oversee the premises during this time.

Valerie White, a local resident for over 20 years, and an attendee at the meeting said, ‘I have been monitoring the success of the Camberley Youth Cafe and think this is an excellent idea for Bagshot. My thanks go to Glyn Carpenter for giving this project the opportunity to become a reality. I am sure everyone locally will give their wholehearted support to Glyn in this !’

Bagshot Blog is a Hit!

This blog is proving to be a big hit with local residents since its launch only three weeks ago.

In the last few days the blog had 182 visitors in just 48 hours ! And, as more people hear about it, the number of visitors is increasing daily.

The blog is providing a usefull information resource for local people about local news and issues and is providing people with an opportunity to have their say, prompting debate and discussion about things that matter.

It’s still early days for this blog but early signs are highly encouraging. If you are one of the many people who have read the blog but haven’t left comments please don’t hesitate to click the ‘Comments’ link beneath each post and let everyone else know your thoughts on the issues raised…

Bin Tax is Rubbish!

Prospective Conservative Parish Councillor Caroline Reid has denounced the idea of a “bin-tax” as a complete nonsense.

The Labour Government has proposed giving Local Authorities power to introduce so called “incentive charges” under the pretext of encouraging householders to minimise waste and to recycle more.  Put more straightforwardly this propsed “bin-tax” is yet another stealth tax.

Caroline said, “Our local Council are committed to promoting recycling and providing a good refuse collection service. They believe, and I agree, that ‘bin taxes’ are a step in the wrong direction in the fight to minimise waste and could, in fact, encourage Fly-Tipping”.

Local Bagshot residents will be delighted to hear that Conservative leader of Surrey Heath Borough Council, Moira Gibson has emphatically stated that, “We will definitely not be using this scheme in Surrey Heath !” – good news for all of us !

Parish meets Parris

Local parish councillor Valerie White met veteran Times columnist Matthew Parris last night at an event organised by the Surrey Heath Conservative Association at Chobham Golf Club. The event was very well attended with over 150 people present to hear Matthew speak about his experiences of life working for Margaret Thatcher in the 1970’s and his observations about the current government and potential future Conservative government.

Valerie said, ‘Matthew was a fascinating man to talk to. He asked me about the By-Election campaign in Bagshot and about my hopes for a successful result on Thursday 13th December. The depth of his insight into a whole range of issues was extraordinary.’

Matthew regaled his assembled audience with a series of hilarious and self-effacing stories about his time as Margaret Thatcher’s researcher, his time as a Conservative MP in the 1980’s and his later career as a broadcaster and prominent journalist.

The event was a part of a series of events organised by local Conservatives to give local people an opportunity to meet key political and media figures. Previous guests have included Zak Goldsmith, the son of the late Sir James Goldsmith and Lord Saatchi. Anyone interested in receiving information about future events should contact SHCA.

Bagshot – Does it Really Still Exist ?

Whilst belting down the A30 the other day in my Maserati at 175 miles per hour, on the way to Bracknell from my Camberley, I caught a brief glimpse of a sign for the mythical village of Bagshot !

I had never noticed the sign before and was somewhat shocked to realise that Bagshot is still quaintly signposted as if it were still actually a village.

Usually I am going far too fast to notice. Typically I exit the so called ‘Jolly Farmer’ roundabout, (named in tribute to the only business that has managed to sustain itself in that location for more than a week) jam my foot down on the accelerator and hammer down the downhill straight of the A30 at a speed approaching that of an F15 fighter. By the time I fly past Penny Hill Park the skin on my face is being clawed back by the G forces and I’m salivating in anticipation of the thrill of blasting around the corner at the bottom of the hill to find the lights green by the BP garage – so I can hammer past Pantiles at warp speed.

Were it not for a particularly slow and annoying group of elderly people crossing the fast lane of the A30 speedway I would not have been unnecessarily forced to brake. This was when I noticed the Bagshot sign – as the pensioners hobbled away from my screeching tyres.

My curiosity had been drawn. Later, after a quick search in Google, I chanced across this rather modest website purporting to have been started to provide a forum for discussing ‘Actions and Plans to improve Bagshot’.

Well. I really am flumoxed. I know Baghot used to exist. I know it used to be a village, back in ancient times. But does it really exist now ? And if so why ? Surely it is just simply part of Camberley – at best a mere pit-stop on the suburban freeway.

Do you really believe that Bagshot does still exist ? If so, please do tell me why you believe this to be the case ?

Conservative Candidates Launch By-Election Campaign

Caroline Reid and Valerie White launched their election campaign for the forthcoming Bagshot By-Election with typical good humour this weekend posing in front of a sign advertising ‘Hot Tubs’ at Nottcutts Garden Centre.

Valerie White, who is hoping to be elected to Surrey Heath Borough Council, is a well known figure in Bagshot having been a parish councilor for over 4 years. She has been involved in many high-profile campaigns including the campaign to keep a post office in the village, that she led with local MP Michael Gove.

Caroline is hoping to be elected to the local Parish Council on By-Election day, Thursday 13^th December. If elected, this will be Caroline’s first opportunity to be involved in local politics. She has long been an active member of the local community, having lived and worked in Bagshot for over 25 years and having been an active fund-raiser for the British Heart Foundation.

Both candidates are looking forward to a successful campaign which they hope will prompt a positive debate about the future of Bagshot village.