Village News

The Parish Council’s ongoing efforts to help keep East Horsley’s roads as safe as possible have stepped up in recent days.

As part of this work, the village’s road signs have received their annual clean, carried out by local window cleaner Damien Clark.

The visibility of the signs has also been improved, with Village Warden Nick Clemens using his long-handled hedge trimmer to cut back vegetation that had begun to obscure them.

These simple but important measures help to ensure that road signs remain clean, clear and visible to all road users.

It’s been a seriously dry summer.

Last Saturday marked the 40th day in the South when temperatures topped 30°C, while at Wisley it was the 60th consecutive day without rain.

You can see the impact right here on Wellington Meadow, which is looking very brown and dry.

With conditions this hot and dry, the risk of wildfire is high. If you’re enjoying our open spaces:

Choose a picnic rather than a disposable BBQ
Take your litter home
Avoid open fires and bonfires
Keep glass bottles out of direct sunlight

One spark can start a wildfire, threatening wildlife, habitats and people.

Let’s enjoy the sunshine by helping to keep our open spaces safe.

Find out more about wildfire prevention here

De Vere Horsley Estate has issued a statement following concerns raised by residents about the fireworks display held on Friday 31 July.

The Estate states that all necessary permissions and approvals were obtained for the event and that discussions took place with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and Surrey Police beforehand. Following feedback from residents, De Vere has advised that it has decided to suspend fireworks displays at the Estate until further notice.

Residents wishing to read the full statement can do so below:

Michael Micallef's letter

East Horsley Parish Council is aware of the concerns raised by residents following fireworks at a local venue during the current period of exceptionally dry weather.

At its Parish Council meeting on 27 July, residents expressed concern about the potential fire risk in these unusually dry conditions. Since then, further concerns have been raised with the Parish Council and on local social media regarding the use of fireworks during the current dry spell.

In response, the Parish Council contacted Horsley Towers to make the venue aware of residents' concerns. The Chair of the Parish Council also met with representatives of Horsley Towers to discuss the matter directly and to convey the concerns expressed by local residents.

We understand that appropriate precautions were taken during the event. However, given the heightened fire risk across Surrey, the Parish Council felt it was important to ensure that residents' concerns were communicated.

The Parish Council would also like to remind everyone to take extra care while the current dry conditions continue. Please avoid activities that could accidentally start a fire, including the use of disposable barbecues, fireworks, bonfires and the careless disposal of cigarettes.

Thank you to everyone who has contacted us. We value residents' feedback and will continue to listen and act where appropriate to help keep our community safe.

At the Statutory Meeting of East Horsley Parish Council held on 28 May 2026, Councillors marked a change in the Council’s leadership when the Chairman, Robert Taylor, decided not to stand for re-election.

Members of the Council expressed their sincere thanks to the outgoing Chairman for his dedication, commitment and valuable contribution to both the Parish Council and the wider East Horsley community during his time in office.

Following the resignation, Councillor Aileen Aitchison was elected as Chair of East Horsley Parish Council, with Councillor Robert Taylor elected as Vice-Chair.

The newly elected Chair thanked fellow Councillors for their support and expressed her commitment to continuing the Council’s work on behalf of residents and the community.

East Horsley Parish Council looks forward to building on its ongoing projects and priorities under the new leadership, working with residents, local organisations and volunteers to support and enhance village life across the parish.

Who are your Councillors

On Saturday 13 June, as part of Great Big Green Week, the CAN (Climate Action Network) Task Group organised a community litter pick that brought residents together to help care for the local environment.

Volunteers of all ages set out across East and West Horsley, collecting litter from roadsides, footpaths and public spaces before gathering at West Horsley Place to celebrate their efforts with refreshments and homemade cakes. The event was a fantastic example of community spirit in action and made a visible difference to the villages.

The CAN Task Group would like to extend its sincere thanks to everyone who took part. Special thanks go to the Great Big Green Week Team, East and West Horsley Parish Councils, Mark Beasley - Horsley Live Music Club, West Horsley Place, and the many cake bakers whose generous contributions helped make the morning such a success.

Most importantly, a huge thank you to everyone who joined the litter pick. The amount collected highlighted the importance of the event, while the enthusiasm and teamwork on display showed the power of community action in helping to create a cleaner, greener future for the Horsleys.

The next Village Litter Pick will take place on 26 September, and everyone is welcome to get involved.

Residents came together for this year’s Spring Litterpick, making it a truly successful morning.

Armed with litter pickers and plenty of enthusiasm, volunteers of all ages turned out to help tidy local streets, green spaces and footpaths. Their efforts made an immediate and visible difference, with bags of litter collected and the village left looking cleaner and more welcoming for everyone.

The Parish Council would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who gave their time and support. From families and individuals to regular volunteers, your contribution plays a vital role in helping to care for our shared environment.

Our next Litterpick will be held on 26 September.

Around 120 residents from Horsley, Ockham, Effingham and Clandon attended a Community Safety Forum at East Horsley Village Hall in early January. The event was organised by Guildford Borough Councillor Catherine Young on behalf of the Safer Guildford Partnership.

Surrey Police confirmed that Horsley and neighbouring villages remain a relatively low-crime area, with no increase in recorded crime over the past year. However, residents raised concerns about perceptions of reduced community safety, including anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and burglaries.

Police stressed that reporting incidents is essential to help identify hotspots and prioritise resources. Reports can be made by calling 999 in an emergency or 101 in a non-emergency, via the Surrey Police website, through the Suspicious Activity Portal (for non-crime incidents with photos or video), or anonymously via Crimestoppers.

The area is covered by the Surrey Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team, with dedicated PCSOs for local villages. Details of the team and local updates are available on the Surrey Police website.

Residents also raised specific local issues, including Alms Heath in Ockham, Effingham Common and Great Ridings Wood in East Horsley.

Members of the Safer Neighbourhoods Team will be available to speak to residents on 23 February, 2–4pm, at Station Parade, East Horsley.

L-R Borough Commander Surrey Police, Blaine Rafferty, Marie Clarke, Guildford Borough Council, Vicki Grinter, Guildford Borough Council, Claire Upton-Brown, Assistant Director of Planning at Guildford Borough Council, Zöe Franklin MP

Hair Masters Design on Station Parade was awarded the best Christmas Shop Window Award this year.

The team said:

"We were thrilled to be recognised for our window display. So much creativity and love went into our festive window, and it meant the world to have it acknowledged. A huge thank you to East Horsley Parish Council and to everyone who stopped by during the village Christmas event. Your support, kind words, and smiles made the celebration extra special. We’re so grateful to be part of such a wonderful community."

The award celebrated the creativity and festive spirit of local businesses, highlighting the warmth and community engagement that made East Horsley particularly special over Christmas.

A dedicated group of volunteers, both young and not so young, led by Tim Elkington, recently continued efforts to establish a wide hedge along the boundary of Wellington Meadow and the A246 near the bus stop.

The hedge will provide valuable habitat for wildlife and help shield the grassland environment of the meadow from the effects of the busy road. Originally started in 2024, last year’s planting faced challenges due to an exceptionally dry spring and summer, resulting in a lower-than-expected survival rate for the trees.

This year, new plantings included woollen mulch mats to help retain moisture and biodegradable tree guards to protect the saplings from vole browsing. The success of these methods will be monitored to determine the most effective approach for establishing a thriving, long-term hedge.

The 2025 Guildford Design Award in the Public Realm category has been won by Derek Hunt for his stained glass windows in St Martin’s Church.

“The project captured the imagination of our congregation and the wider community alike,” commented an elated Renos, Rector of St Martin’s.

The windows were commissioned as a permanent memorial to the profound impact of the Covid pandemic and symbolise both the losses suffered and the hope and compassion shown within the village, described by Renos as “a generation’s legacy.”

The design is centred on the symbol of the English oak tree, conveying themes of steadfastness in the face of adversity, regeneration and recovery, and growth and renewal through the Christian virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love.