Surrey County Council will be carrying out parapet replacement works on the Ock bridge on Station Lane in Milford, requiring a full closure of Station Lane overnight for between 2 and 5 nights from 16th November. Working hours: 8pm to 6am

As with previous closures the diversion route will send all traffic through Hambledon. However as we found with the previous time Station Lane was closed nearly everyone took the more logical (and three miles shorter) unofficial route through Rake Lane. This caused chaos but spared Hambledon village.

Ahead of taking over the reins from 1st April 2027, West Surrey Council is asking residents what the key issues are in their local area. 

Six years ago Hambledon Parish Council wrote to Surrey County Council to request a review of the speed limits through the Village. Despite their efforts and those of our County Councillor Kevin Deanus, that review is still awaited. 

This is a golden opportunity to influence the new authority’s priorities. If Speeding through our Village is of concern to you please complete the attached Consultation Survey, highlighting this as a key issue. 

The on-line survey close date is 15th November at 11.59 p.m.

Here is the link :-

https://www.surreylgrhub.gov.uk/west-strategy

Thank you,

The Hambledon Community SpeedWatch Team 

It is now a year since the Milford Rail Crossing was ‘upgraded’ from half barriers to full barriers. This was to improve safety as half barriers are statistically more dangerous than full barriers – drivers can’t dodge around full barriers. Inexplicably these new full barriers need a lot more time with the barriers down before a train arrives – Network Rail can’t give a clear explanation why the new object detection cameras at the crossing require the barriers to drop sometimes 7 minutes before a train crosses. The resulting delays to drivers sitting at the barriers for upto 15 minutes is a source of widespread frustration. Journey times have increased and delays are so random that everyone is having to accommodate the prospect of being held for 15 minutes both at the crossing and at Milford crossroads when 30+ vehicles arrive at once. Locals have also voiced safety concerns about the yellow hatched box and queues backing up whilst cars turn right into the car parks.

The back issue for September 2026 is available to read online here:

https://www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Hambledon-Parish-Mag_Sept-2026-issue_Final-Web.pdf

A BBC feature about how villages in the South are managing speeding traffic, the traffic calming
measures they use and whether these differ from those practices used in city centres is expected
to be broadcast on the BBC South News programme on Thursday 1st October and Friday 2nd.

The feature briefly explains how a village speed watch group operates and explores the risks
from, and possible consequences to, drivers who speed through villages. The programme asks
whether local communities should be able to decide on their speed limits, a suggestion made
and being pursued by Danny Chambers the MP for Winchester amongst others.

In researching for the article, BBC South journalist Frankie Peck contacted the Hambledon Community Speed Watch team to ask if we would be willing to take part. We were delighted to do so. On a recent lovely sunny morning, Frankie and her camera man Peter spent a couple of hours with the team outside the Village Hall watching and filming one of our sessions.

The August edition is now available on the website alongside previous back issues.
The September printed edition will be delivered to subscribers in a short while.

Cala Homes currently building 200 homes at “Enton Meadows” (not meadows, not in Enton) have scheduled a closure of Station Lane in Milford. This is for electricity and gas roadworks. It will be traffic lights all day and then at 6pm closure til 5 am. The official diversion booked and agreed with Surrey CC is via Hambledon. This will divert vehicles that normally use Station Lane to the A281 and through Malthouse Lane and Hydestile Crossroads. This will include HGVs (despite the 7.5t restriction on all roads) and the 25 or more artics that deliver produce to the Tuesley Farm fruit packing/distribution hub. Tuesley Farm has HGVs movements upto 10pm routinely.