Latest news with #MattFurniss
BBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Surrey A281 road reopens after lorry damaged listed building
The A281 (The Street) in Shalford, Surrey, has now reopened following repairs to a Grade II listed building after a lorry collided with road had been shut between Church Close and The Seahorse Pub since 29 May, with scaffolding put up to restore the damaged emergency Traffic Regulation Order allowed the road to be closed for 21 days from the collision for safety and work to take place."Everything [is] being cleared away and the road is being reopened as we speak," a spokesperson from Surrey Highways told BBC South East. The roof of the roadside cottage was struck by a passing lorry on 29 said the closure caused up to 40-miniutes in extra travel time through lights remain on the road between the junction with Dagley Lane to St Marys Church, as pre-existing works by Scotia Gas Networks (SGN) Furniss, Surrey County Councillor for Shalford, previously told BBC Radio Surrey that the recent closure allowed the gas distribution company to "speed up their work".This work has been ongoing since 12 May and is expected to end 18 July, according to Surrey aid with traffic flow, the local government office said working hours will be extended and the traffic lights will be manually operated between 07:00 and 19:00 BST.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Shalford: The A281 shut after lorry hit building to reopen
A main road through Surrey which closed after a lorry hit a Grade II listed building is set to reopen. The A281 (The Street), in Shalford, has been shut between Church Close and The Seahorse Pub since 29 May while repair work is carried out. Residents have faced a 40-minute diversion and said the closure of the "very busy through-road" has been an "absolute nightmare".Matt Furniss, Surrey County Councillor for Shalford, says the road closure "has been very difficult" but "we hope the roofing will be completed at the end of this week and the scaffolding removed as quickly as possible". Mr Furniss told BBC Radio Surrey the owner of the building had to repoint and replace a gable, with the involvement of Guildford Borough Council's conservation said: "Shalford has suffered for a couple of years now with significant amount of road works particularly with emergency utilities from Thames Water and SGN."But the good news about the closure it that SGN have managed to speed up their work."We've managed to coordinate other works into the single closure so a little bit of a silver lining there."Mr Furniss says he was not aware the owner of the lorry was known but the council will still be seeking compensation to cover all costs.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Road closed after lorry hit building to reopen
A main road through Surrey which closed after a lorry hit a Grade II listed building is set to reopen. The A281 (The Street), in Shalford, has been shut between Church Close and The Seahorse Pub since 29 May while repair work is carried out. Residents have faced a 40-minute diversion and said the closure of the "very busy through-road" has been an "absolute nightmare". Matt Furniss, Surrey County Councillor for Shalford, says the road closure "has been very difficult" but "we hope the roofing will be completed at the end of this week and the scaffolding removed as quickly as possible". Mr Furniss told BBC Radio Surrey the owner of the building had to repoint and replace a gable, with the involvement of Guildford Borough Council's conservation team. He said: "Shalford has suffered for a couple of years now with significant amount of road works particularly with emergency utilities from Thames Water and SGN. "But the good news about the closure it that SGN have managed to speed up their work. "We've managed to coordinate other works into the single closure so a little bit of a silver lining there." Mr Furniss says he was not aware the owner of the lorry was known but the council will still be seeking compensation to cover all costs. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Surrey County Council
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Surrey farmers able to bid for funding to aid growth
Farmers in parts of Surrey can now apply for grants from Surrey County Council to help boost of up to £120,000 is available to help farmers in the districts of Tandridge, Guildford and grants will aim to support ideas like opening farm shops, generating sustainable energy and "developing agritourism", the council suggests."As committed custodians of much of Surrey's fantastic countryside, farmers play a key role in everyone's way of life," said councillor Matt Furniss. A total of £360,000 is available from the government's Rural England Prosperity Fund for 2025/ council is calling it a "competitive process" and says it will "focus on supporting a small number of large-scale, high-impact projects".Applications can be made on the Business Surrey website and closes at the end of farmers and landowners can also apply for separate Business Growth Grants from the Surrey Economic Growth Fund, which are open until the end of May.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Road closure permits in Surrey up by more than 50% in five years
The number of permits issued to temporarily shut roads in Surrey has risen by more than 50% in the last five years.A BBC Freedom of Information request to Surrey County Council (SCC) showed that in 2020-21 there were 1197 closures for utilities works, and this jumped to 1866 in council said it was working with companies to improve traffic management and communication with UK, the trade association for utilities companies, said it was "engaging constructively with highways authorities" across the country. Matt Furniss, cabinet member for highways, transport and economic growth at SCC, said demands from firms, including those which provide electricity, gas and water services, in Surrey were amongst the highest in the UK, with 88 works starting every day in the last 12 months. "Whilst we recognise that works on the highway carried out by utility companies are necessary, these works are all too often impacting negatively on Surrey road users," he said."We're working with utility companies to drive better traffic management, better coordination, and better resident communication, and I'm pleased that they are supportive of our key proposals to improve the management of emergency works."We've also introduced a lane rental scheme where we charge organisations for the time their roadworks create delays on the highway during peak hours on busy roads, to encourage faster project completion and off-peak work schedules, to reduce disruption." Clive Bairsto CBE, CEO of Street Works UK, said the trade association was "engaging constructively" with highways authorities to deliver infrastructure works "whilst giving customers and road users the speed of delivery, lack of congestion, and transparency they expect".A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: "We know roadworks can be frustrating for drivers, which is why we are cracking down on utility companies and increasing fines for them if their works overrun or they fail to leave roads in a good condition."As well as this local authorities already have a range of powers to help them coordinate their roadworks efficiently and advanced notice of live and planned road works."
