James Moules

Guildford Borough Council is seeking to replace its 191-vehicle fleet after ageing vehicles and rising maintenance costs disrupted bin collections and street cleaning. The fleet’s upkeep is projected to cost £1.3 million in 2026–27, nearly twice the available budget, while full replacement is estimated at £24 million. The council has allocated £10 million, with the remaining £14 million expected to depend on funding decisions by the new West Surrey Council, which will take over local government services in Guildford and five other Surrey districts from April 2027.

Patient injuries reported by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust rose from 92 in 2023/24 to 431 in 2025/26. The trust attributed the increase to the opening of Silverwood’s 64-bed inpatient facility in Chertsey, while noting that most injuries were not linked to restraint. Prone restraint incidents fell to zero in 2025/26 following implementation of Seni’s Law, but recorded chemical restraint use increased sharply to 830 incidents. The figures have prompted scrutiny of patient safety and restrictive practices in mental health care.

Fresh plans propose renovating and extending the vacant former NatWest bank on Worplesdon Road in Guildford to create two commercial units and six homes, including flats and two semi-detached houses. A previous proposal for nine homes was refused by Guildford Borough Council and rejected on appeal because of concerns about overbearing effects on a neighbouring property. The applicant says the revised scheme would reduce impacts on neighbours, help meet housing targets and provide 12 off-street parking spaces.

Ewell Castle School has received permanent planning permission from Epsom & Ewell Borough Council to continue using a former charity shop in Fitzalan House on Ewell High Street as teaching, study and office space. The school said its compact main campus required additional accommodation for sixth-form students and support staff. Planning officers said the five-year temporary use had shown the site was suitable, brought a vacant property back into use and provided social infrastructure. No physical changes to the building are planned, and the school said no complaints had been received. The permission also allows continued use of 13 private parking spaces.

Residents have complained about litter at Box Hill & Westhumble railway station after Southern removed platform bins under changes linked to Simpler Recycling regulations. The operator says the station lacks secure space for the larger bins required for waste collection, and is asking passengers to use train bins or take rubbish home while increasing platform cleaning. Liberal Democrat MP Chris Coughlan has raised the issue with Southern and is seeking a more permanent solution.

Zoe Franklin renews calls for a Guildford West railway station to support expanding housing areas in the town’s west, arguing it would improve transport links to major local institutions and reduce car use in line with environmental goals. The proposed station, long discussed but never realised, would sit on the North Downs Line and help workers access the town despite high housing costs. Local authorities have previously allocated funds, but the project has yet to progress.

Several Surrey libraries are using Hikvision CCTV cameras, despite the Chinese manufacturer being barred from sensitive UK government sites over security concerns. Surrey County Council said the closed, offline systems posed low risk and were securely managed. Hikvision defended its compliance with UK regulations, while critics highlighted national‑security risks and allegations of the company’s technology being linked to surveillance of Uyghur Muslims. An expert urged councils to review their use of the equipment.