Tandridge Buzz

A Lingfield pensioner has been left distraught after the theft of 29 award winning red canaries from his home.

Thieves broke into a shed at the property, in the Lingfield Common area, between 7.30pm on Sunday 25 March and 8am Monday 26 March.

“This is an appalling crime which has left an elderly gentleman very upset at the loss of the birds which he has reared to award winning standard,” said Lingfield Neighbourhood Specialist Officer PC Barry Reece.

“I would appeal to anyone who has information on the whereabouts of the birds to contact Surrey Police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 as a matter of urgency so we can bring those responsible to justice and reunite the victim with his pets.

“I would also like to stress the importance of security tagging your pet whether this is by microchip or by fitting an identity ring which can prove invaluable if your pet is lost or stolen.”

Last year, 60 birds,  including parakeets, finches and budgies were stolen from a property in Ockleys Mead, Godstone.

• Anyone who has information on the theft or knows the whereabouts of the stolen birds which were all fitted with identity rings should contact Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference TD/12/1369 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A woman and two teenage boys were left with cuts to their faces after an “appalling” attack carried out by a gang of up to 10 boys in Lingfield, Surrey.

The incident took place around 4.30pm on Sunday, 5 February while the victims were attempting to turn round a car near to the common ground on Vicarage Road, Lingfield.

A group of up to ten boys, aged in their late teens, assaulted the woman and the two 16-year-old boys who received deep laceration injuries to their faces.

The woman received cuts and bruises in the attack and all three then took refuge in a property near to the scene before emergency crews were called.

“I would appeal to anyone who has information on this appalling attack to contact officers as a matter of urgency as we need to find those responsible and bring them to justice,” said Tandridge Neighbourhood Inspector Angie Austin.

“Did you see a group of youngsters in the area around the time of the attack acting suspiciously? This attack took place in a public place which many people use and I would urge anyone with information to come forward.”

The two boys were treated by ambulance crews near the scene for their injuries and later visited East Surrey Hospital for treatment. The woman did not require hospital treatment for her injuries.

• Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference TD/12/590 or the independent Charity Crimestoppers on 0800 111 555.

Surrey County Council has asked the High Court to lift an injunction against its community run libraries – but it has been accused of wasting tax payers money by an opposition campaign group.

The Surrey Library Action Movement (SLAM) group  secured an injunction at the end of January, while it seeks permission for a full Judicial Review of the controversial policy.

Surrey County Council had planned to run 10 libraries, including Lingfield and Warlingham, under volunteer schemes as part of an overall bid to save £200m over four years.

“Our aim is to keep all of Surrey’s 52 libraries open and help them to thrive, while elsewhere in the country libraries are closing,” said David Hodge, Leader of Surrey County Council.

“The first community library is due to open in Byfleet in just over a week. Not only have volunteers put a lot of hard work into getting to this stage, but we believe these plans offer a good future for these libraries.

“We understand some people don’t agree with our efforts to help communities run their libraries, but we have received a lot of support from people that understand we are doing what is best for Surrey’s libraries and the people who use them.”

The council is also concerned that the temporary court order, which says the authority cannot take “any irrevocable action” towards implementing its libraries plans, is ambiguous and therefore should be reversed.

The county council does not believe it prevents the authority from continuing to work with the many volunteers who have come forward.

SLAM said the Council had turned an offer of a settlement.

“There is a sensible and cost-effective way out of this for Surrey County Council, but in not agreeing to put an end to the legal case, and bringing up technicality after technicality, the Conservatives at County Hall seem insistent on spending as much taxpayers’ money as possible on defending their ill-thought out plans,” said SLAM spokesman Lee Godfrey.

A campaign group has begun legal action against Surrey County Council (SCC) over its plans to have community run libraries.

The Surrey Library Action Movement (SLAM) wants a judicial review of the council’s plans to cut costs.

Under the council plans 10 libraries, including Lingfield and Warlingham, would be manned by volunteers as part of an overall bid to save £200m over four years while keeping all 52 libraries open.

The group has engaged the services of Public Interest Lawyers, who represented Gloucestershire and Somerset campaigners in their successful challenge. A High Court judge ruled that both councils  must reverse their policies on libraries.

The firm has sent a 16-page pre-action letter to the Council asking it to change its mind and setting a deadline of 5pm on 10 January for a response.

Exasperated

“In short, we are challenging SCC’s decision-making process and their lack of scrutiny, both of which we believe to be inadequate and unlawful,” said SLAM chairman Mike Alsop.

“We have taken this action with great reluctance, having exhausted all other means of trying to hold SCC to account over their library  plans.

“We have also become exasperated at SCC’s avoidance of any discussion or consultation with Surrey residents on the library plans, and also the Council’s increasing hostility towards legitimate protest.

“We believe we have been given no other choice than to hold SCC to account by pursuing legal action.”

Financial constraints

A Surrey County Council spokesman said it was currently considering the content of the letter.

“The council has to save more than £200 million over four years.

“We’re trying to stretch a smaller budget to keep all 52 of Surrey’s libraries open at a time when other local authorities are closing branches across the country due to financial constraints.

“We’ve come up with a solution but need the support of library users to succeed. Our plans mean we can focus resources on continuing to run more popular libraries while investing in the latest technologies to make them better.”

Police have released a CCTV footage of a woman they believe could have witnessed an ‘appalling’ robbery and attack at the Lime Garage in Lingfield on Monday 5 December.

The incident took place at around 1230pm at the Limes Garage on the A22 Eastbourne Road.

A member of staff was approached by three men, two of which were wearing motorcycle helmets, who threatened him with a screwdriver, assaulted him and then stole a motorcycle from the attached showroom.

The motorcycle, a black Suzuki GSXR 600, is believed to have been ridden towards Godstone on the A22 by one of the men, carrying another one of the suspects on the back.

The passenger was possibly not wearing a crash helmet and the other man left on foot.

Police believe the woman in the photo captured on CCTV may hold vital information about the incident.

“This was an appalling attack which took place in the middle of the day on a busy junction along the A22,” said Investigating Officer Detective Constable Karen Bradley of Reigate CID.

“Officers have studied CCTV footage from the area and have identified the lady in the picture as a potential witness and we would urge her to contact us to establish if she can help us with enquiries.

“We will treat any information provided to us in complete confidence and any witnesses who wish to provide information anonymously can do so by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers.”

Anyone with information on this incident or who can identify the lady in the photograph is urged to contact Surrey Police by calling 101 quoting reference TD/11/5995.

Libraries in Lingfield and Warlingham will have to be manned by volunteers or face closure under new council plans for community run libraries.

Caterham-on-the-Hill library is also next in line to be run by the community, if the 10-piolt schemes prove to be a success.

The move has sparked criticism from the Surrey Library Action Movement (SLAM), which believes that libraries must be manned by professionals.

The community initiative is part of Surrey County Council’s aim to keep all 52 of its libraries open.

Volunteers will be able to take over the day-to-day running of 10 libraries, including Lingfield and Warlingham, while the county council continues to provide everything else including the building, stock, computer equipment, as well as free Wi-Fi in all libraries.

SCC said that the 10 branches taking part in the pilot scheme account for just 7% of library visits countywide and were ranked lowest in a league table of libraries as part of a public value review.

“The decision means we are a step closer to fulfilling our aim of keeping all 52 of Surrey’s libraries open, while focusing resources and making best use of new technologies such as e-books,” said Denise Saliagopoulos, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games.

“We’ve been greatly encouraged by the response we’ve had to the plans to give people the freedom to tailor their local library to meet local needs.”

The county council will continue to support community-run libraries including covering additional running costs if volunteers want to extend opening hours.

Self service desks will also be provided as well as training for volunteers.

Following a series of meetings with communities, ideas floated so far include tailoring opening hours to meet the commuter rush and provding a parcel collection service for people a work during the day

However, John Bond of SLAM disputed the Council’s survey audit of libraries in the County. “We already know that the savings from the 10 threatened libraries are insignificant — and overstated, and that the Big Society excuse was concocted,” he said.

Tandridge residents have been warned to be on their guard when using cash machines after a series of debit cards were cloned and money withdrawn from accounts.

In one incident, a customer using a cash machine at a petrol station in Lingfield had £750 withdrawn from his account within three minutes of using the machine.

Several other incidents have been reported after a device was planted on the cash machine outside Barclays Bank in the High Street in Lingfield.  Two customers reported unauthorised transactions of £300 each after using the machine. Barclays Bank has offered refunds to all those affected and is taking steps to check their ATM machines on a regular basis.

The device fits over the card reader and can be very hard to spot. When customers use the cash machine, it allows criminals to record their card details, which are then transferred to blank cards and used to take money from their account.

“ATM skimming involves fitting a device to a cash-point in order to copy customers’ bank details and has become a national problem as this technology develops,” said Detective Constable Kerry Akehurst, from Reigate CID.

“It is a despicable crime and we are working closely with the banks to catch the people involved. Members of the public are advised to remain vigilant and check cash machines before using them.”

Police have issued the following advice:

• Always check the ATM before inserting your card. If there is ANY sign of a device having been fitted or something unusual about the machine report it to police and the premises in which the ATM is housed.
• Always cover the keypad with your hand whenever keying in your PIN
• Make sure no-one is paying close attention to your use of the ATM and don’t allow anyone to distract you whilst carrying out a transaction
• If anything or anyone makes you feel uncomfortable whilst using the machine cancel the transaction and use a machine in another area.
• Regularly check your account to make sure there are no unusual transactions and to detect any irregular use at an early stage

Crowhurst villagers raised around £2,000 at its annual village fete to help pay for the upkeep of St George’s Church and its world famous 4,000-year-old yew tree.

Villagers need to raise around £30,000 to carry out work to the church tower, following a building inspection last year.

Money raised from the fete will go towards this and help pay the Diocese of Southwark quota, which is a payment made by every church to fund the cost of clergy.

Families enjoyed the range of activities at the fete including children’s go-karting, a bouncy castle, face painting, rock bun competition as well as raffles and silent auctions. Live music was provided by the Lingfield Silver band on the day.

“This is our annual contribution to the church and it gives us a great opportunity to meet with people in the community and bring everybody out and have lots of fun while in the process making lots of money for St George’s Church in Crowhurst,” said Reverend Stephen Gendall.

Reverend Gendall said the church needed a “lot of money” to keep it going every year. “We have to pay for the upkeep of the church and it is a grade-I listed building as well as paying the staff who keep it turning over from week to week.”

He paid tribute to the effort of the “unique” Crowhurst community, which has a population of less than 200.

Tandridge District residents are throwing away one-third of the food they buy at a cost of around £600 a year.

That was the shocking message delivered by celeb chef Richard Fox at the Edenbridge & Oxted Show last week as he showed people how to make their food go further as part of the Love Food Hate Waste campaign with funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Overall the UK throws away 8.3m tonnes of food a year, most of which could have been eaten. Fox showed Show goers how to put left overs in the fridge to good use.

“It is all about using up every day ingredients and leftovers to make delicious dishes,” he said.

“One of the keys is to buy locally as it cuts down food miles. It is all about being environmentally friendly and saving money as well.”

He added: “People are always interested in making food go further and saving money. The fact of the matter is that one third of the food we buy gets thrown away and the average household throws away £600 worth of food a year.”

Fox said the “huge difference” between local produce and supermarket produce was flavour. “If you have fruit and veg that is grown by a local farmer with a passion for provenance and flavour then that will be reflected in the food you eat.”

Fox starred in the Channel 4 series Risky Business alongside former Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrisey two years ago. The pair brewed a beer and ran a pub — the Punch Bowl at Marton Cum Grafton in North Yorkshire — in the series.

A second TV series — Men Brewing Badly on ITV — saw the pair take a truck load of their beer over to South Africa for the World Cup.

Police are on the hunt for over 500 French red-legged partridges stolen from a farm in Lingfield on Bank Holiday Monday.

The theft took place at sometime between 6pm on Bank Holiday Monday and 6am on Tuesday 30 August from a large farm in Haxted Road.

A vehicle was driven over cultivated grounds, at the 400-acre site, in order to gain access to the French red-legged Partridges which had been stored in a pen.

Members of the Country Watch scheme have been notified of the stolen game and been urged to remain vigilant for any suspicious activity in rural and isolated locations.

“I would appeal to anyone who has been offered French red-legged Partridges for sale to come forward as they may have been stolen from this gamekeeper,” said Neighbourhood Sergeant Mike Simmonds.

“I would also like to remind members of our rural communities, including farm owners, landowners and game-keepers, to participate in the Country Watch scheme. With your help we can ensure rural crime is kept low in Surrey.

“This is a particularly unusual crime and we are appealing to people to remain vigilant. Have you recently been approached by someone selling Partridges and believe they could be stolen? Or perhaps you know someone who has recently acquired Partridges?

“Perhaps you were in the Haxted Road, Lingfield area on Bank Holiday Monday, maybe you had visited the Edenbridge and Oxted Show and remember seeing something suspicious but thought nothing of it at the time?

“Any information, no matter how small could help us find these birds and reunite them with their rightful owner.”

Anyone with information should contact Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference TD/11/4217. Information can also be passed anonymously onto Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

The first Chinese built car to be available in Britain was unveiled at the Edenbridge & Oxted Show last weekend.

The Show president launched the 4-wheel drive pick-up truck from the Great Wall motor company — called the Steed — on behalf of dealership Kinghams of Croydon at its stand.

“It is fabulous to be the first —its good for any business to have a first,” said Keith Kingham.

“We put our hands up early on and we are the first dealership to be signed up.”

The 2-litre diesel engine pick-up truck is retailing at a price of £13,995 plus VAT. Kingham described it as “stonking” value.

“I can see lots of builders and farmers who need a pick up truck but also need four doors and need to carry four or five people being interested in this.”

Over 40,000 people packed out the Edenbridge & Oxted Show to share in a celebration of the country way of life.

Visitors over the bank holiday Sunday and Monday were treated to an array of shows and attractions from farm machinery to gun dog displays, the Devils Horsemen, dancing sheep and the grand parade of cattle.

Tandridge Buzz was at the Show and will bring you a series of special reports over the coming few days — starting with our intreview with Show chairman Paul Turney.

“The Edenbdirgde and Oxted agricultural Show is all about celebrating the country way of life and we have been doing that since 1837,” said Turney.

“The highlight has been seeing so many people here happily celebrating and enjoying the Show.

“I think we have topped 40,000 over the two days.”

The Edenbridge and Oxted Show is a charity with the majority of revenue ploughed back into putting on next year’s show.

The surplus is donated to a number of agricultural charities.

Tandridge Buzz will be publishing a series of videos and photos from the event over the coming days.

Two brothers have now had to pay out over £17,000 in fines and costs after failing to comply with planning enforcement notices to remove caravans from a Lingfield site for a second time.

Charlie and Jonny Quinn, care of Victoria Fields, Clay Lane, Lingfield pleaded guilty at Guildford Crown Court on 20 July and were fined £2,500 each and ordered to pay Tandridge Council’s costs of £1,200.

It was the second time the pair had been before the court over the issue — in February this year they were fined £5,000 each and ordered to pay over £1,000 in costs.

In June 2008, part of the land owned by the brothers had been surfaced with hardcore and three caravans brought onto the site. A planning application was submitted in July for a change of use to residential, with some building works.

The application was refused and on 24 April 2009, two enforcement notices were issued to remove the caravans and the removal of the hard surface.

Following an appeal, a public inquiry was held in October 2009 when the inspector dismissed the appeals and refused planning permission for the change of use of the land.

The residential use enforcement notice was varied to be complied with by 16 November 2010.

On 17 November the Planning Enforcement Manager carried out an unannounced site inspection and found the caravans were still on site and some were still occupied.

After the brother’s court appearance in February, the enforcement officer visited the site in March again and the caravans still there.

“Failing to comply with the planning notices has now cost these brothers over £17,000,” said Councillor Gill Black, chairman of the planning committee.

“We have offered them advice about what they need to do and also put them in touch with our housing department. The caravans must be removed and the land returned to its original state. We have made it clear if they do not comply we have no choice, but to continue to pursue them.”

Tandridge District Council has elected Lingfield & Crowhurst councillor Brian Perkins as chairman for 2011-12.

He takes up the mantle from Alan Jones with the vice-chair role going to Sakina Bradbury, who represents Whyteleafe Ward.

Perkins, a pharmacist by trade, has represented Lingfield & Crowhurst Ward since 2002 and for the past year he has been the Council vice-chairman and a member of the Housing Committee.

During the last nine years Perkins, pictured with wife Sonia, has served on many committees and was for a while seconded onto the Surrey Health Scrutiny Committee.

He also represents the Council on outside bodies, particularly those dealing with care and sport and was a district member of Surrey County Council’s Local Committee.

Perkins has chosen the following charities to support for the year:

• St John Ambulance
• Cystic Fibrosis Trust
• Tandridge Community Fund