Beare Green

April 30, 2010

Holmwood Station

Holmwood station in Beare Green is a gem. It’s our main public transport service for local and near local residents. Whilst the frequency of service to low (not necessarily a bad thing), we do need to give the station the attention it deserves.

The station is served by Southern Railway. As a member of Southern’s Passenger Panel I’m asked to report back to Southern’s management on train services. Recently, I was asked for feedback on ways to improve the service and I’d like to focus on the station.

How do you find the service in general? How do you find the station (Holmwood)? Are there ways it can be improved? If so, what suggestions do you have?

I’d love to hear back from you.

2 Comments

Filed under Travel, community

Tags: holmwood, platform, rail, southern, station

April 16, 2010

Sort after Beare Green

House for sale: courtesy of dkodigital (flickr.com)

I recently had the pleasure displeasure of having to re-mortgage my house. Fortunately my broker, a local agent, pretty much takes care of all the details sparing me from the frustration of paper work. I could be accused of being a little lazy for not taking more of an interest.

Anyway, whilst there (with my broker) they suggested that I could start thinking about upgrading, for example move to a bigger house. I started asking questions trying to get a sense of what I could get with the extra money I could borrow against accrued equity. My broker turned to the local estate agent to enquire, however, it was obvious that there were not many houses for sale in Beare Green despite the contrary in other local areas. The agent also happen to mention that they’d had quite a few enquiries about Beare Green so there is certainly outside interest.

Here’s my theory. Beare Green residents rather enjoy where they live and love Beare Green. So much so they are not prepared to leave.

What do you think?

January 24, 2010

Safer neighbourhood policing newsletter: Tagging local graffiti

View document here

January 6, 2010

That’s the spirit (Community).

I’ve just read an article from www.circleanglia.org, Home Matters, where our village members, Julie Beach (Area Housing Manger), Adrian Birtchnell (Community Warden) and Mandy Eggleton (Housing Management Support Officer), have been working with other residents of Beare Green to improve their neighbourhood.

It reads that the community clear up afternoon was held and was a great success.

Residents of Beare Green are also hoping to form a residents group. If you would like to join, please contact Julie Beach on 01306 505514.

December 20, 2009

Let it snow… in Beare Green

Like many parts of the UK Beare Green got its fair share of the snowy weather. The snow started falling late Thursday evening (17th December). I noticed it falling quite hard as I returned home late on platform 2 (Holmwood Station). The following day I had the day off work so was lucky enough to walk my daughter to school (with my son). What fun. It’s not like we get snow often so when it does we certainly make the most of it.

The roads around Beare Green were hazardous – even the main Beare GReen arterial road, Horsham Road. With cars slipping and sliding up and down the road it was actually fun watching the front wheels spinning. The safest parts of the village was the deep grassy sections where the snow was fresh and powdery.

I managed to take a few photos of our village:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/doos/4194933504/

1 Comment

Filed under community

Tags: snow, uksnow, weather

December 6, 2009

Local Beare Green pubs – any good?

I’ve been a local resident (in Beare Green) for ~3 years now and I’ve yet to drink from a ‘local’ pub. Bad huh? Some might argue that I’m missing out, but not being an avid pub socialite or drinker, I don’t get that calling that’s instinctive in local blood. You know, your mates are down the pub talking, joking and gossiping about locals while flexing their natural arm. Sometimes I wish I could walk down the road and have a couple and meet locals to find out what the villagers are like.

The Duke Head pub

Could you might recommend a good local pub for me to try. The only pub I know of is The Duke’s Head, on Horsham Road. I’ve heard they are under new management – wonder whether the service and atmosphere has improved? If the owner is reading this perhaps he might challenge me to visit and report back to this blog and its readers?

Happy festive season – perhaps we might meet sooner than you think.

3 Comments

Filed under community

Tags: a24, activity, dukes head, horsham road, locals, pub

November 8, 2009

Brockham bonfire rocked

http://www.brockhambonfire.com

Once again hats off to the organisers of last night’s Brockham bonfire. The organisation was simply superb. From the moment we parked up till the announcer said goodbye and we we said goodnight to the parking attendants. A fantastic collective (and team) effort.

Olly Newport managed to capture and post a short video of the fireworks.

This year the weather was a little kinder than last. With only 5 minutes of light showers we enjoyed clear skies as we marveled at the wonderful fireworks display. The fireworks team should received a commendation for their efforts. In typical concert style “Would you like more?”, the pause lasted 30 secs before the finale concluded a highly entertaining evening.

My kids loved it, the local youngsters loved it – judging by all the happy smily faces and loud cheers – and the adults loved it too.

I look forward to next years.

[Brockham bonfire photos]

1 Comment

Filed under Events

Tags: bonfire, brockham

September 5, 2009

Oil – to drill or not to

It shouldn’t come as a surprise when you read that there are plans to drill (for oil). Why? Because we humans have always put making money ahead of everything (gross generalisation I know – I’m guilty of this too sometimes). Economic pressure is a powerful force, which often comes at the expense of ruining natural beauty. But, have all the recent anti’s obscured the real picture? If you look at www.thevirtualvillage.com website you’ll see all the pictures synomynous with armageddon… the end of the world. Pictures like the one below sure paint a gloomy impression, right? That’s for effect!

A typical drill ram

According to the action group’s website 1,588 people (Feb 25th) have formally objected against the Oil & Gas Exploration Planning Application (Bury Hill Wood). I’d be interested to know whether you were one of those and why you objected?

I might just point out that the Leith Hill Action Group should align their on-/off-line campaigns. They recently placed a campaign ad in the local Dorking Advertiser (Sept, 3rd) to remind locals about campaign, but when you visit their website their latest stop press notice is dated July 18th. So, with the website not very useful I’ve decided to join the ‘Don’t trash Leith Hill‘ Facebook group to follow developments.

So, how will it effect residents of Beare Green? I’m not sure. I know though that if you enjoy the natural delights of our surrounds then it might do. I ride (on my bicycle) on and off road around Coldharbour/Leith Hill and would be saddened by any destruction that might take place as a result of the exploration.

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Filed under community

Tags: exploration, leith hill, oil

August 11, 2009

Cutting the trees

I recently returned home after a lovely holiday in South Africa to find the playground tree had been cut back. I cannot see an obvious reason for it other than whilst away winds broke a branch of the tree and the local council saw it appropriate to eliminate any futher hazard to locals?

I’d be interested to hear if you have any idea?

Tree Cutting

2 Comments

Filed under community

Tags: council, hazards, playground, pruning, tree

July 5, 2009

Beare Green cricket clubhouse

So, they’ve finally started re-building the Beare Green cricket club’s clubhouse. After a bike ride this morning I popped over to the building site and took a couple of photos. It seems like they’ve laid the foundations – thick concrete slab with supporting wood beams to hold things in place.

While there I was approached by a lady asking me if I knew where she could get money to build it. I assumed by that she might be involved in the local fund raising committee and not all the funds are available for its re-build?