Local Authority

Cattle are to be introduced to Chertsey Meads in an attempt to regain 'Site of Special Scientific Interest' status for the area.

Grazing cattle improve the quality of the grassland, create gaps in the grass where wildflowers can germinate and trample unwanted nettles and brambles.

Refuse and recycling collections across Runnymede are still suspended due to the snow and ice.

The services were suspended yesterday (Wednesday January 6) and Runnymede Council has decided that the conditions on the roads are still too bad for collections to resume.

Bosses will monitor the situation over the next few days, and when services do start up again, extra collections will help clear the backlog.

Emergency calls concerning household waste can be made to 0800 096 2028, or emails sent to refuse@runnymede.gov.uk.

There will also be a restricted service at Runnymede's Civic Centre in Addlestone today, and the library is closed all day.

The council has also postponed meetings of its planning committee and corporate management committee this week.

Day centres are open as normal, and a restricted meals on wheels service is also running, but museums and leisure centres have restricted opening hours.

Please contact these centres directly for more information.

Check back here for up-to-date information on services in Runnymede.

Services at Runnymede Council have had to be cut due to the snow sweeping across the borough.

Staffing levels at the authority are down to 70% and some services are having to be temporarily cut while the bad weather is here.

Refuse collections, kerbside recycling and garden waste collections have been suspended, and as has the Dial-a-Ride transport to day centres.

But the meals on wheels service is still running using 4x4 vehicles from the council's depots and day centres are open to provide meals.

A spokeswoman for Runnymede Council said: "Road and weather conditions will be reviewed early Thursday morning, when a decision will be made regarding Thursday's refuse collections.

"Contact will be made with the users of the Dial-a-Ride service when it is resumed.
"The snow is due to get worse so we may have to let some staff who have travelled long distances leave early, so there will be a slightly reduced service from 3pm.

"Due to the current weather conditions and expected minus temperatures tonight, both leisure centres will be closing early tonight (Wednesday January 6) at 6pm."

Council chiefs will assess the services again when they have seen what the weather is like on Thursday January 7.

Ambulance chiefs have declared a major incident in the wake of heavy snowfall across the area.

Patients are being warned to stay away from Accident and Emergency at St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, and bosses at South East Coast Ambulance Service are warning people to stay indoors if they can.

Sue Harris, director of operations at SECAM said: "We are prioritising life-threatening calls above all others, and due to the adverse conditions, it is unlikely that we will reach patients with minor injuries and symptoms in worst hit areas.

"We urge people to stay indoors unless it is absolutely necessary. Driving conditions are extremely hazardous and we want to reduce the risk of injury on the roads as much as possible."

ALL employees and volunteers who work with children and vulnerable adults may be subject to increasingly stringent security checks from 2010.

A report released by Runnymede Borough Council has stated that those who work in teaching, training, care and transport will have to undergo "Enhanced CRB checks."

An extra 200 police officers could be seen walking around the streets of Surrey in the near future.

Chief constable of Surrey Police Mark Rowley has said the force are looking to close police stations, make cuts of senior officers and lower bureaucracy as part of radical plans due to be discussed on December 10 with Surrey Police Authority.

People calling for a public toilet in Chertsey are furious that plans for new loos have been panned by Runnymede Council.

More than 50 residents signed a petition, which former county councillor Ray Lowther (pictured) took to Runnymede Council earlier this year, calling for new public toilets after Sainsbury's closed its lavatories due to repeated vandalism.

A mistake in calculating the cost of a zebra crossing in Chertsey has led to the scheme being cancelled by Surrey County Council.

The original estimate for a crossing outside St Peter's Church in Windsor Street was £20,000.

But after the design was completed, officers worked out that it would cost up to £80,000 to finish the pedestrian crossing.

Nicholas Healey, highways manager at the council, said: "We believe our original estimates were somewhat optimistic, and so we re recommending the scheme but at a higher cost."

On hearing this, members of Surrey County Council's local committee for Runnymede decided that the proposals should be thrown out.

Councillor Chris Norman (con) said: "It doesn't seem like a good place for a crossing because it is right next to the turning into Guildford Street.

"And I think the money could be better spent elsewhere, perhaps on other road improvement schemes."

Mr Healey said that he would look into bringing forward plans for a zebra crossing in Queen Mary Drive, New Haw at a cost of £40,000 to help balance this year's budget.

Reckless spending by the Government is to blame for cuts to front line services in Runnymede says councillor John Furey.

Runnymede Borough Council approved funding reductions of £653, 000 a figure that falls well short of their £1.5 million target, after councillors agreed that some of the recommended savings did not stand up under scrutiny.

Rubbish collection will go ahead as normal on Bank Holiday Monday (August 31).

Anyone who normally has their refuse picked up on a Monday should leave their bin at the boundary of their property by 6am as they would usually do.