Compton Parish Council News
A successful and constructive meeting regarding traffic-calming was held at Compton Club on Wednesday 12 February, with more than 80 residents in attendance. It led to the drafting of a submission to Surrey County Council. This will be published on Compton Parish Council’s website in due course for review.
DON’T FORGET that Compton Parish Council is organising the ANNUAL LITTER PICK on Saturday 22 March. It starts at 10.30am, at Compton Club and volunteers can return there for hot soup and rolls at midday. Many hands make light work of clearing all the rubbish discarded around Compton over the past year, so please join. Litter pickers, high-viz jackets and bin bags are provided, but please bring your own gloves and wear suitable shoes.
REMINDERS: The next PC meeting is on Wednesday 19 March, 7pm, Pucks Oak Barn. The Annual Parish Meeting is on Wednesday 7 May at 7pm, Compton Club. There will be drinks and food, and the opportunity to learn what the PC has been up to during the last 12 months.
Thames Water - Surface Water Rebate
According to local resident Will, some of us could be owed money from Thames Water. With water bills set to rise, it’s worth checking you are eligible for a Surface Water Rebate from the utility. Applying before April could result in a rebate of £175 (based on the current yearly discount and permitted five years of backdating), plus an ongoing yearly discount (2025/26: £50.16).
To qualify, check whether your rainwater doesn’t drain into the main sewer, then apply to Thames Water via its website. You’ll need to provide evidence of where your rainwater goes, such as an invoice for a soakaway or photos proving your water drains to a stream or river. You’ll also need proof of property ownership (e.g. Title Deeds).
Compton Phone Box
Compton Phone Box raised £2,521 (83 individual donations) for the Phylis Tuckwell hospice charity with its ‘Santa Claus down the chimney Christmas’ and ‘Red Riding Hood Panto’ installations. Thanks in particular go to Hans Christmas Andersen for the beautiful tree and All for Love London for help with the decorations. Most of all, thank you to all the people who have supported the phone box over the last year and helped achieve such a great amount for local hospice charity Phylis Tuckwell. Spiceall resident Laurie Hill is part of Phylis Tuckwell’s At Home team. In November 2024 she was awarded the Queen’s Nurse status from the Queen’s Nurse Institute. This annual award is granted once a year to a limited number of nurses who demonstrate a commitment to high standards of care and practice. The title is a recognition of a nurse's commitment to learning, leadership and excellence in healthcare. Congratulations, Laurie.
Compton Village Association Subscriptions
Exactly 100 households have paid their annual Compton Village Association (CVA) subscription for 2025. But there are many more that have yet to pay. You know who you are! The CVA treasurer hopes to be deluged by at least a further 75 bank transfers in the next week. £4 per family or £2 for individuals and Senior Citizen couples. The Village Association is a non-profit organisation responsible for: Village Website • Village Projects in conjunction with the Parish Council • Village Fete • Welcome Pack for newcomers to the village • Guide to useful phone numbers • Managing the minibus, Compo, in accordance with the joint venture agreement with the Watts Gallery • Compton NEWS.
PAYMENT METHODS
- Bank transfer to the Compton Village Association account at Lloyds bank: Sort Code 30-93-49, Account No. 00115047. Business account. Please use the reference 2025 Sub.
- Just click on this form and return either a printed copy or electronic - to send your subscription to the Treasurer, David Hunt, at Poplar Cottage, The Common, Compton, Guildford GU3 1JF. Cheques payable to Compton Village Association.
⸙⸙Wild About Compton ⸙⸙
Phil Gorton is the recipient of a Lifetime Membership Award from Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT). It is an acknowledgement of the years of quiet dedication he’s poured into the site at Pucks Oak Barn in his role as a Volunteer Warden. Clare O’Reilly, who is the Conservation Manager for Central Surrey for SWT and manages Pucks Oak, along with the other McAlmont Reserves in the area, made the nomination. Congratulations to Phil, who does so much for the village, including laying hedges, helping in the churchyard, bell ringing, house histories, in addition to his work at Pucks Oak. Clare is also keen to talk more about the Reserves in the area and the work of her team. She hopes to inspire and encourage people to join SWT’s volunteer sessions. Further details about these events will be published in the coming months.
St Nicholas Church - Church Administrator role.
GSt Nicholas is seeking to recruit a CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR. The role is for seven hours per week, working mostly from home, with occasional visits to church. £15 per hour. Closing date 21 March. Please contact Rector Sally for more details: stnicholascompton.rector@gmail.com.
Compton Village—Past & Present
Compton Village – Past & Present by Fiona Curtis, would make a really special Christmas gift for someone this year. Copies cost £20 each — a veritable bargain for a coffee table book about our unique neighbourhood. Find out more at www.compton-village-historybook. com/.
Collection can be arranged, either with a bank transfer in advance or cash on collection. For mailings, please provide full address and include an additional charge of £5.50 in the bank transfer for tracked postage and packing. Bank transfers should be made to the Compton Village Association account at
Lloyds Bank, Sort Code 30-93-49, Account No. 00115047 and reference Book.
Details for ordering as follows: David Hunt — david.hunt0808@gmail.com/07831 768970 OR
Jane Turner – janewturner@mac.com/07763 146448.
Some copies are available to buy at the Compton Club also for £20. Copies also retail at Watts Gallery for £25. The book launch discount has been made possible through the Compton Village Association.
Compo drivers needed.
Compo needs drivers. The weekly shopping service to Godalming aboard Compo is a vital community resource that relies on the generosity and commitment of volunteers. The service provides a much-needed connection for those who may otherwise find it difficult to access essential goods. If you have the availability on a Tuesday morning approximately once a month to drive the bus, thus contributing to this valuable service, contact Jon Maslin at j_maslin@hotmail.com or Richard Paxton at paxtonrichard@gmail.com.
WELCOME PACK FOR NEWCOMERS TO COMPTON
The Welcome Pack, published by Compton Village Association, has been updated by Jane Turner and over 30 copies have been sent out to people who requested one or who have recently moved into the village.
“Recently” means within the last 5-7 years, or even if you’ve been in the village a long time but would simply like to be reminded of what we offer. It’s full of information about organisations, societies, venues for hire, history and a lot more. The Welcome Pack is FREE. If you would like a copy, contact Jane Turner on 07763 146448, janewturner@mac.com.
Harrow Pub Development
A revised application has been filed with Guildford Borough Council’s planning department for the Harrow redevelopment. It can be viewed at https://publicaccess.guildford.gov.uk/online-applications/, using the reference 24/P/00449 (Change of use of building together with extensions and alterations following partial demolition to provide 5 dwellings with associated amenity space and car parking. The Harrow Inn, The Street, Compton, Guildford, GU3 1EG). The deadline for comments and objections is Friday 3 May and a minimum of 20 is required for the revised development application to go to a planning committee decision.
After the decommissioning of the telephone box by BT, Compton residents wondered what to do with it. It was agreed that it should remain where it was as it was part of the village scene, but sadly it was rusty and the glass was either broken or replaced by plastic.
An anonymous benefactor assisted the Parish Council in covering the costs of repairing the box and Cllr Chris Sharples and another anonymous helper went about restoring the box.
Its central position made it a great place to advertise the village's support for the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. This was followed by Armistice Day when it stood as a prominent act of remembrance.
Later it sported a gold cup for the World Cup and latterly it bore a kilt and matching headwear for Burns Night and beautiful Chinese Lanterns for the Chinese New Year.
Spring saw a beautiful array of purple both inside and outside the box to raise awareness of The Meath and the common, but often stigmatised problem of epilepsy. This was followed by a nod to our Dutch neighbours and friends, one of whom provided initial funding and motivation to cheer up the phone box when it was looking rather derelict.
Compton residents love the various incarnations and Cllr Chris Sharples will hopefully go onto surprise us with future transformations, which not only entertain residents, but also bring a smile to the users of the B3000.
