Oxted in the News

For readers who would like to know when Oxted comes into the news Google operate a News Alerts service (for free) and will email you whenever it picks up a story with Oxted in the title.

To set-up an alert follow this link

Thanks to Roger Adcock for pointing this out to me.

Tandridge Leisure pool re-open

I am a bit slow off the mark on this one...

But it is great to report that the Swimming Pool at Tandridge Leisure Centre reopened yesterday. Permanent repair work will take place over the next few months, but Tandridge Leisure are hopeful that this will not prove too disruptive.

Carton Recycling

More good news on the recycling front: TDC have annouced a new drinks carton recycling to give residents the opportunity to recycle even more of their household rubbish. While the cartons are at present excluded from the Green Box scheme they can now be dropped off at a special bin in Ellice Road Car Park

Each year, UK beverage carton manufacturers produce approximately 55,000 tonnes of paper-based cartons for milk, juice, sauces and other liquid foods/drinks. This equates to around 2.3kg of cartons per household which could be recycled instead of thrown in the rubbish bin. In response, Tandridge District Council is working with Tetra Pak and the Alliance for Beverage Carton and the Environment (ACE UK) to establish carton collection points. Once collected they are taken away to be baled and then transported to a recycling mill. They are recycled into a number of different products, ranging from plasterboard liner to high-strength paper bags and envelopes.

Leisure Centre Update - Pool to reopen by end of August

Tandridge Leisure have annouced that they are aiming to reopen the pool at the end of this week following the completion of all temporary repair work. Permanent repair work on the pool will be undertaken over the next 2-3 months and this is expected to cause very little disruption to service as it can be done overnight, however we are anticipating a very short closure period prior to completion of works. For full details see their website.

Tandridge Leisure Centre Update

While some of the centre may be open again by early next week it looks like the swimming pool may be out of action for some time. For more details see the Tandridge Leisure website.

Its at least some comfort that the de Stafford pool in Caterham has recently reopened, but the timing of this closure in the middle of the school holidays couldn't be worse.

Breaking News - Tandridge Leisure Centre

I've been informed that Tandridge Leisure Centre is closed and coordoned off this morning. I will update this Blog when I know more as to why and when it will reopen.

10am Update: There has been a small electrical fire in the plant room at Tandridge Leisure Centre in Oxted which has been extinguished and no-one was hurt. As a result all the electrics are down, so the centre is closed today. Tandridge Leisure are hoping to provide more information following a meeting at 12pm today.

Childcare to continue at Tandridge Leisure Centre

Following concerns expressed by local residents that the Crèche at the Tandridge Leisure Centre would close, Tandridge Leisure Limited (TLL) has confirmed that it to continue to provide some childcare service at the Leisure Centre by targeting the most popular times for customers requiring this service.

TLL is looking to make the best use of the crèche space, which has been operating at just over a third of capacity for some time. TLL do not think this is sustainable. Their decision to focus the crèche on times pf peak demand this will enable the Centre to extend its services to the public by also using the space for other activities such as additional group exercise classes, as a training venue and for private hire.

While it is clearly disappointing for Crèche users that Tandridge Leisure has decided to restrict the times that childcare will be available, it is good that they have recognised that there is a continuing need for to provide a facility.

Oxted Car Parking Changes

From 2 July new parking rules come into force in Tandridge District Council's car parks. The changes are occuring to remedy the fact that currently car parks designed for use by shoppers are full of longer term users who are tending to leave their cars all day during the week.

Following the changes there will still be free parking in Ellice Road car park for Oxted shoppers and, while limited to four hours, this benefit will apply even before 9.30am. But the biggest change is that even though motorists do not need to pay, they must now get a pay and display ticket and put it in their windscreen.

The Johnsdale Road car park will now be for permit holders only, freeing up space in the Ellice Road facility.