GBC News
Symptom-Free Tests Available At Millmead House: Residents, workers and students in Surrey who do not have Coronavirus (Covid-19) symptoms are now able to get a free test at our Millmead House offices in Guildford town centre. The centre will offer a walk-in lateral flow test from Monday to Friday between 8am and 7.30pm as part of Surrey County Council’s community testing programme more . . .
Fun, free play sessions returning to the borough: Children under 12 can enjoy fun, free and exciting play sessions across our borough again with the return of our after-school Playrangers sessions on Tuesday 20 April. Our Playrangers sessions are led by experienced play workers who encourage children to play freely outdoors. The sessions let the children choose what they want to do but our Playrangers bring plenty of ideas, equipment and games to make them even more enjoyable more . . .
Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 1921 – 2021: A hand-written letter of condolence on behalf of the borough of Guildford from the Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Richard Billington has been sent to Her Majesty The Queen: “I am writing to you as Mayor of Guildford on behalf of the people of the Borough of Guildford in Surrey to offer my sincere condolences to You and other members of the Royal Family following the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh more . . .
Financial Help for Business during Covid-19: The government announced a range of help for businesses to be delivered by Guildford Borough Council. The funding will be made available as grants for small local businesses. The link to apply is: https://www.guildford.gov.uk/article/23827/Financial-Help-for-Business-during-Covid-19 and applications must be made by Monday 22nd February 2021 more . . .
COVID-19 Impact: Borough Businesses have your say Do you own or run a business in Guildford? Local business owners can now let us know how we can help provide further support and advice by completing our quick and simple online survey. The survey can be found at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/GuildfordBusinessSurvey/ and is open until Friday 29 January 2021 more . . .
Budget Challenges, Residents to help set priorities The Executive considered the latest outline budget for 2021-22 and business planning to help with the Council’s medium-term plans up to 2025 at a meeting last night (24 November). Savings will continue and residents will be asked for their views on where to prioritise spending more . . .
Supporting our borough’s children and families over half term Cllr Julia McShane, Lead Councillor for Community says: “This half term we are working in partnership with Foodwise TLC, a charity delivering food provision, training and education to local communities, to help prevent local children going hungry by providing meals to local families who need them. If you need any support or help, please get in touch with your school who will help you get referred more . . .
Mayor of Guildford update Leader of the Council, Cllr Joss Bigmore says “Thank you for your kind thoughts for our Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Richard Billington over the past few weeks. He has been in hospital and is now undergoing treatment to remove a tumour. Understandably he will be stepping back from his Mayoral and Ward duties and our Deputy Mayor, Cllr Marsha Moseley will take over all civic engagements more . . .
Hear more about our plans for Weyside Urban Village: 1,500 homes to be built on brownfield land We have two more online public exhibitions in October and November which anyone can attend to find out more about our proposed exciting riverside development in Guildford. These follow our successful online events in July and August, where we welcomed over 200 residents, over three quarters of whom supported our plans. The 41‐hectare Weyside Urban Village project more . . .
A new Leader announced Cllr Joss Bigmore was voted the new Leader of the Council at a meeting of Full Council last night. The change of leadership was part of a planned new co-operative approach to running the Council as it moves into the second year since the borough elections in 2019. The new co-operative approach to running the Council was announced at a meeting of Full Council in May 2020, but the actual handover was delayed by response required to the Covid-19 pandemic more . . .
Video Game Industry Grows and Guildford Games Festival is back
Guildford Games Festival, supported by the UK’s games industry trade body UKIE and age
ratings advisory body AskAboutGames and sponsored by us and Enterprise M3 LEP, goes
global in 2020 as it returns for a second year on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November to
mark the industry’s continued success in the borough more . . .
New guidance to ensure low carbon, sustainable development in Guildford borough New housing developments in the borough will have lower carbon emissions, be more sustainable and better able to meet the challenge of climate change after new guidance was adopted at a meeting of the Executive last night. This detailed guidance is called the Climate Change, Sustainable Design, Construction and Energy Supplementary Planning Document
(SPD) more . . .
Celebrating 75th anniversary of VJ Day in Guildford
VJ (Victory over Japan) Day, 15 August 1945 marked the day on which Japan surrendered bringing an end to nearly six years of war in the far east – a triumphant day following a war that cost millions of lives and saw unimaginable suffering with thousands held as prisoners of war more . . .
Update on the borough’s leisure facilities
Lead Councillor for the Environment, Cllr James Steel provides an update on the borough’s leisure facilities: “We are sorry to confirm that although the government now allows outdoor pools to open we are unable to open our paddling pool at Stoke Park this summer. We know how much you love our borough’s popular free attraction and we have not taken this decision lightly more . . .
More Parking Permits and Electric Vehicle Charging Points for Town Centre
Town Centre residents will have their car parking spaces reserved seven days a week as part of changes to the town’s Parking Zones to be implemented after the end of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic more . . .
Hear more about our plans for Weyside Urban Village:1,500 homes to be built on brownfield land
We have four online public exhibitions in July and August which anyone can attend to find out more about our proposed riverside development in Guildford. The 41-hectare Weyside Urban Village project, which will deliver approximately 1,500 homes on brownfield land, is an ambitious plan more . . .
Strong message to those who toss litter in Guildford
Despite polite requests and many reminders littering in Guildford remains a growing problem. Today the Council launches a blunt anti-littering campaign with a strong message appealing for people to ‘take litter home’ more . . .
New Opening Hours For Council’s Community Helpline
The Community Helpline set-up by Guildford Borough Council to help residents in need of support during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic will change its opening hours from Monday 6 July. The Helpline (01483 444400) has made over 21,000 calls since its launch on 6 April, to assist vulnerable residents with food parcels more . . .
Leader Statement – Our High Street Springs Back to Life After Lockdown
As we reach the end of a milestone week with restrictions easing and our non-essential retail shops opening their doors for the first time in three months – I’d like to thank you all again for your continued support and for playing you part by following the government guidance more . . .
Covid impact means difficult decisions to be made
The impact of the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak has put significant financial pressure on the Council as it works hard to provide new and maintain existing frontline services for the borough. A £15 million emergency fund was agreed by Full Council in May in anticipation and next week on 23 June more . . .
New Procurement Strategy set to achieve over £1.2million savings annually from 2022
The Council has agreed to adopt a new procurement strategy 2020-23, to enable the Council to achieve significant savings while also procuring goods, works and services more effectively. The strategy encourages sustainable and proportionate economic growth in the borough to help provide the prosperity and employment more . . .
Town Centre Car Parks Remain Free in June
All Council-owned car parks in Guildford town centre will remain free of charge throughout June as some shops and businesses start to re-open in line with new government guidance.
We are working in collaboration with our Business Improvement District, Experience
Guildford, and town centre partners to reassure residents once businesses more . . .
Surrey’s First Dedicated Swift Tower Installed On Shalford Common
Surrey’s first dedicated swift nesting tower has been erected on Shalford Common to protect one of Britain’s most remarkable and endangered bird species who frequently choose to nest there. This stunning and very special piece of public art is the result of a collaboration project between more . . .
Future Of Guildford Park Car Park To Be Decided
The future of Guildford Park Car Park will be reviewed after proposals were approved by the Council’s Executive on Tuesday (26 May). Previously-approved plans had considered a combination of public parking spaces and social housing more . . .
More water bottle refilling stations installed across the borough
Six new bottle refilling stations will be installed in Guildford during May and June as part of the Council’s commitment to eliminating single-use plastic containers. The stations are being installed between 21 May and 12 June more . . .
More Free Family Fun and Fundraising at Guildford Live II
28 May 6.30pm – Live on Facebook
We are proud to support the borough’s second free family friendly variety performance, dedicated to our NHS staff and keyworkers, by Guildford Fringe Theatre which takes place on Thursday 28 May at 6.30pm live on Facebook more . . .
Coronavirus (Covid-19) Leader Statement: Thank you to our residents
Following the government’s change to their Coronavirus guidance this week, Leader of the Council, Cllr Caroline Reeves made the following statement:
‘We are now nearly two months into staying home to stay safe in order to protect our brilliant NHS workers and save lives more . . .