Report from the May Parish Council meeting

Sarah Sullivan and Norman Simpson were elected as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, of the parish council for the ensuing year.

Temporary Closure of Hascombe Fountain

After hearing from members of the public, resident and non-resident, regarding the fountain, the Clerk gave an update on the recent closure of the fountain. She stressed that the parish council was committed to getting the fountain flowing again and outlined the work being undertaken to make this happen. The parish council were instructed to turn the water off by Waverley Borough Council, acting on guidance from the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), due to public health concerns. DWI regulations had been updated and it was no longer considered that warning signs were adequate to protect public health.

In order to be able to turn the water back on, the parish council would need to take steps to ensure the water is safe to drink, or, as a last resort, erect a structure to prevent collection of the water. It was made clear that the requirements of the DWI would be necessary if another body or company, as had been suggested, was responsible for the fountain.

The parish council has instructed an expert consultant. Initially, it would be necessary to seek a full suite of tests, to be carried out by Affinity Water, which could only be done after an extended period of dry weather. The parish council agreed to set aside funds for this. Depending on the test results, it is hoped that installation of a UV filtration system will reduce the frequency and cost of ongoing testing. The parish council is seeking quotes for the filtration system, which will be dependent on connection to a suitable electricity supply.

The meeting heard from residents from outside the parish, who made it clear that it would not be acceptable for them if the spring water was subject to UV filtration, due to their belief that this alters the molecular structure. It is likely that without the filtration system, a parish as small as Hascombe would not be able to fund the required testing, however, the parish council would seek costs for all scenarios.

The cost of the initial tests and the filtration system will be a significant investment from parish council reserves. Before proceeding, as soon as we have quotes for installation of a UV filtration system and likely costs for ongoing testing, the parish council will consult fully with Hascombe residents by writing to every household. We will also schedule an additional parish council meeting as soon as we have further information.

Footpaths and Bridleways

The parish council was pleased to report that Hascombe is being used by Surrey County Council to pilot a scheme to improve the surface of the paths that become particularly muddy in winter, by providing hoggin to be spread by our newly trained path wardens and volunteers. We will let you know as soon as we have a date for this to be carried out.