Oriental Road
Neighbours TogetherOriental Road
Neighbours TogetherGU22 7AW and GU22 7AH and GU22
7AN (Oriental Close) 
Most recent news at the top
There's a burst water main in Church Street East in Woking town centre.
Council tax will rise by ten percent this year - see Woking Borough Council residents face 10% council tax increase - BBC News.
See the letter from the minister here - https://www.woking.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Council/Letter
With Woking Borough Council in such a mess financially, I wonder if the plans for further towers in our town which have planning permission will come to fruiton? I suspect not, personally. The Victoria arch scheme is no more. Ten million pounds of savings will need to be found each year just to pay the interest. Grim.
You can read the full report into Woking's finances at Woking Borough Council: External Assurance Review - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Don't miss sections 86, 117 and 131-134.
Two media reports Woking Borough Council: Government steps in over £2bn debt - BBC News and Ministers step in at Woking council as debts forecast to reach £2.4bn | Local government | The Guardian.
This coming year Woking Borough Council will spend £8.3 million from reserves to make ends meet. See This week's latest news and local information. (mailchi.mp). That won't be possible next year, as they have insufficent funds.
Victoria Way closures and roadworks start on Feb 6th, lasting three months. See Council announces programme of highway improvements to Victoria Way | Woking Borough Council
The borough finances are worse than was feared. See Grim warning that Woking Borough Council is 'close to running out of money' | wokingnewsandmail.co.uk dated December 16th 2022. The leader of the council used the word disastrous to describe them.
When unsure how to dispose of something, try Find out what to do with an item - Joint Waste Solutions
See Report outlines Victoria Place development's positive performance | Woking Borough Council for the latest news on the new development.
If you need to report a fault with the pedestrian crossing lights in Oriental Road, visit Highway issue - Issue information - Surrey County Council (surreycc.gov.uk). D3710 is the reference of the lights.
There are two planning applications regarding the approach road to Day Aggregates in the air. The council wants our views.
The reconstruction of Victoria Arch was going to involve its closure for two and a half years. I am astonished that anybody would even consider such a thing. What a contrast with the JWs - see Jehovah's Witnesses to build hall in weekend | Stuff.co.nz .Following a meeting on July 14th, there are welcome changes to the plan. See Scheme timeline | Woking Borough Council. Expect disruption between now and 2026! You can sign up for e-newsletters here Victoria Arch widening scheme enewsletter. Liam Lyons our councillor says the scheme is unlikely to go forward in its present form.
Have you seen the Town Centre Masterplan and the consultation? It's open until October.
The Victoria arch scheme costs are escalating, so the project has been paused for investigation.
Demolition of the remaining part of the triangle has begun. Victoria arch is open again after subterranean investigation.
We have started a Whatsapp group for residents. Please enquire.
New road lights now switched on. So smart.
HSBC bank to close at the end of July, the owners of the Peacock Centre going into administration, whatever next?
Sparkling new surface outside our house now! Lights still to be switched on. Brilliant lack of disruption due to the night working. Well done everybody. See below.
Have you seen my two short videos about Woking? Woking Awake (2009) What we can expexct to happen in Woking in the next ten generations.
Woking by Sea (2019) - watch it or watch out!
Road closures etc. are scheduled from Monday 28th March for two weeks to install the new puffin crossing and repair the road surface. Updates here and allegedly on www.one.network but I found the interactive map difficult to use. Electrics have already been installed for the forthcoming crossing, about where the car is in the photo. You can see the place where there is new tarmac. See here for details.
I wrote my short novel When That Time comes in 2009;
it was based on our road. It is now a paperback for the first
time. Free signed copy to residents if you call at my home at
number thirty. Fun! Click the image for further details. Next
year will be a solar maximum, so its message is timely. I hope we
are more prepared for a solar blast than we were for the pandemic.
Read about The Carrington Event on Wikipedia to get the idea, and
note that the solar flare in 770 may have been ten times worse.
The danger may be remote but it is not zero.
Victoria Way had southbound traffic open again on Wednesday 16th. Don't hold your breath. It was closed again by Saturday, allegedly due to broken glass in a tower, then open again the following Tuesday. Nice, but for how long?.
The pedestrian underpass into town is to be closed for eight weeks from Monday 24th for repairs and rennovation.
The Government has given the green light for more tall buildings in the town centre. Woking to build its tallest tower yet as Government inspector overturns refusal - Surrey Live (getsurrey.co.uk) January 10th. Also Woking tower blocks: Council overruled by planning inspector - BBC News
Nothing is happening to the remains of the triangle where Evans cycles and Blockbusters used to be because of someone who does not want to sell. The compulsory purchase process is adding a year to the project. I feel sorry for the owner.
Victoria Way town centre section will remain closed until the new year, probably February, while 2000 cladding panels on the Hilton Hotel are made safe.
Day Aggregates approach road is causing a headache for the forthcoming dual carriageway scheme. Tricky. There is talk of it moving out of town.
Victoria Way closed in the town centre in October due to the Hilton cladding problem. A piece came off in a strong wind. Victoria Place, the big new towers, will open in 2022 they say.
The Covid jabs now take place in the Peacocks Centre where Top Shop used to be.
Fraud Newsletter (October 2021) (neighbourhoodalert.co.uk). Includes advice for hacked social media accounts.
At the Woking Neighbourhood Watch online Zoom on 6th October, I learned that fitting a Ring Doorbell (Secured by Design) to your house which brings up vidoe of callers on your mobile phone can also help the police solve crimes somteimes because of what happens in the the background. Martin Stilwell paid £54 for his camera on the side of his house. A good deterrent. Useful tip: look at your house from across the street after dark in the evening. Does it look lived in? The police have hundreds of unmarked bicycles they have recaptured from thieves that they cannot get back to their owners: bike marking kits are available from them, and they have a rehgister of owners you can join. The jabs centre has moved from the Maclaren building to the old Top Shop in the Peacocks centre. from 7th October, you can get a booster jab if your second jab was on or before April 14th. Turn up around three p.m. The jabs begin to lose their effectiveness after six months. Please report all crimes you observe as it helps the police build a picture of what is going on, by ringing 101. Morrisons have had no petrol queues since Oct 5th, but in contrast, Shell Old Woking had no fuel at 1200 on the 7th. Fellowes Green BP near Bisley receives a tanker every four days.
Fraud Newsletter (September 2021) (neighbourhoodalert.co.uk)
White Rose Lane has been resurfaced. Nice.
Small shops face £1.7bn debt mountain, says report (yahoo.com). Many more high street shop closures are expected in the autumn, maybe a third of them, according to Bill Grimsey (Radio 4, 16.07.21, 0615)..
Did you hear David Nabarrow of the World Health Organisation say on Radio 4 that when you look at the rising Covid figures worldwide, the worst is yet to come? (13.07.21 at 0650).
I have joined the Woking residents panel. They want 1000 members, and have 750 to date.
The huge cranes have gone (as if you hadn't noticed). It feels strange.
Current Scam advice.
Woking Police Newsletter number one.
Martyr's Lane and other recycling sites are having number plate recognition cameras installed in March 2021 so they can see who is using the service and how often.
Woking's towers latest news.
There are still town centre road closures in place. The towers will now not open until October. There has been a severe cost overrun.
Statistics and graphs. For the UK situation see here, and for the world situation, see here.
Well done Maclaren for hosting the vaccination programme at their building opposite the locksmith in the town centre. Pole position! We may be locked down, but we're not locked out.
Romance Fraud. See here. There are some really nasty people out there.
Vaccination Scams. Pauline Smith, Head of Action Fraud, said:
“Remember, the vaccine is only available on the NHS and is free of charge. The NHS will never ask you for details about your bank account or to pay for the vaccine. If you receive an email, text message or phone call purporting to be from the NHS and you are asked to provide financial details, this is a scam.”
Royal Surrey hospital has 100 Covid patients in Intensive Care, and Frimley hospital 200. They are under great strain.
January Fraud update from Surrey County Council.
Christmas update. Please get in touch if you have any needs. We need to pull together. There's a stressful year coming.
The A320 is to be upgraded - the Chertsey road.
Worldwide Covid statistics. Click here for your Surrey Covid figures.
Surrey libraries have 30,000 e-books free online.
The Crimestoppers COVID Fraud Hotline is open 24/7, 365 days a year on 0800 587 5030 or fill in the simple and secure anonymous form at www.covidfraudhotline.org
Woking News and Mail is no longer being delivered free. You can have it delivered at a cost.
Avoid being scammed : contact tracers will only call you from the number 0300 013 5000.
Woking Borough Council volunteer support group : here.
Also Woking Coronavirus Support Facebook page : here.
Surrey Libraries are live online at 1030 some days.
We are invited to get support at home from the Red Cross if needed. Telephone 0300 456 1914 (and if prompted select option 2)
Allotments have a role to play this year. We have completed our new veg plot - 12 square metres of what was our lawn. We are fortunate to have a garden as many don't. There could be food shortages to come. Our attitude is prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Inspirational hand washing video. Fun. Also Chin up! The view from North Yorkshire.
Guildford Plants are delivering plants locally. Woking Garden Centre is delivering. 01483 714861. Squires Garden Centre Chertsey delivered to us on Thursday 26th March, and Squires Garden Centre Woking was still answering calls and hoped to be able to deliver.
Surrey County Council have set up a Community Helpline on 0300 200 1008. Ask for help there, or offer to volunteer to help others.
Surrey Police write, "Have you received a text claiming to be from the Government that you've been fined for leaving your home?" It's another scam. The most recent Corona virus scams are multiplying. See the foot of this page for some examples. If you want me to forward Surrey Police emails to you, please ask.
Social media. Re detecting the virus and acting on it, I have received this advice twice now from different sources. A family member who is an orthopaedic surgeon has described it as "complete nonsense." Her GP husband said, "Afraid it is mostly nonsense although threaded occasionally with some truths. I’d tend to rely only on information from NHS websites, or Public Health England or the WHO." See the NHS response to misleading advice.
Local radio includes Radio Woking and BBC Radio Surrey. The online Radio station at St Peter's hospital Chertsey is Radio Wey.
The Shah Jahan Mosque has a food programme running for NHS workers and families on free school meals and people who can't get to the shops. Tel 07928 539061 or email office@shahjahanmosque.org.uk. Woking Foodbank is manned 1030 - 1230 Mon Wed and Thur, tel 07309 115862.
A thought - normally I would throw out an empty soap dispenser into the black bin, but now I think it is worth saving such items in case they can be refilled now or at a later date. Somebody might invent a sanitiser that can be made from products we have in our homes, for example. I am even going to save empty screw top bottles, as they could hold liquid.
Current local pharmacy opening times (May): Boots on Guildford Road Mon - Sat 1000 - 1600, closed Sun . . . Boots Heathside Road next to the hospital Mon - Fri 1000 - 150) Sat 0900 - 1230 closed Sun. There are restricitons on numbers, so the queue could be long. It was thirty people at 1145 on Thursday 26th March, but on April 20th it was negligible. If you are planning to go and queue, please ask if anyone has prescriptions that you can take with you. Thanks.
Surrey Libraries are making ebooks and magazines free.
My short novel When That Time Comes was based on Oriental Road. It is about the breakdown of society caused by a burst from the sun knocking out all the computer chips. It feels eerily apt. Enjoy, or maybe be concerned... Free download.
Out of a possible fifty-two, we are in contact with thirteen households, most of them on the south side of the road. We now have eight offers of people willing to help and shop. Also one of our households have had CoVid19, confirmed by testing positive, and now they are fit, they are in a strong position to help. Only four of our households are in full self-isolation, not even going out to shops. All are OK for now.
I am reviving my jam
making. Please keep your jam jars and lids in case we need more.
I made 12 jars of marmalade recently. Tasty! But the four jars of
plum jam were less good. I think the fruit was not the best
quality. I will wait now for the summer. My thinking is that in
an absolute emergency, a person could probably survive on a
spoonful of jam each day.
Here is the document that is advising government strategy. Apparently researchers at Oxford think they have got it wrong. Confusion!
Did you know that Milk and More do doorstep deliveries of milk etc. in our road on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays? We have been using them for a long time. Bread, eggs, whatever as well as milk. You have to sign up online. Sadly they are not currently accepting new customers because of demand, but keep an eye open. The delivery on Easter Monday 13th April failed without advance warning. It turned out to have been a holiday for staff.
Boz Fruit and Veg at 7 Church Path may deliver. Please check.
Vincents Butchers offer a limited delivery service to vulnerable customers and those who are 70+ minimum spend twenty pounds. Only two customers in the shop at one time.
Sunday Worship live stream from Emmaus Road church at 1000. Other churches likewise.
Nextdoor Woking (free to join) also known as Neighbour. Posts are taken down quickly.
Visit Woking Borough Council and their Corinavirus advice. See also We Are Woking
Woking News and Mail comes out every Thursday, often in the shops on Wednesday. Now delivered free.
For keeping in touch, we have started using Skype - it's a free download but you will need a webcam if your device has not already got one. Zoom, also known as Zoom US, is also popular as is Facetime on Apple machines. I send Jacquie Lawson e-cards occasionally. They are cheerful and I have never had a problem with the system. You pay an annual fee to join. They provide employment to graphic artists. Pleasing all round.
Don't forget the importance of exercise. See my wonderful set of pedals. £152 from Amazon - search for magnetrainer. Simply walking up and down stairs is good. I can also strongly recommend our Health Rider, which we have had for twenty-five years. They are often available cheaply on Ebay.
Ask for a free copy of one of my books The Garden of the Galaxy and The Piano Teacher to while away the hours.
Contact David Pennant. Thank you.
Copied from a Police Report
Some of the tactics being used in phishing emails include:
• Fraudsters purporting to be from a research group that mimics the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organisation (WHO). They claim to provide the victim with a list of active infections in their area, but to access this information the victim needs to either click on a link which redirects them to a credential-stealing page or make a donation of support in the form of a payment into a Bitcoin account.
• Fraudsters providing articles about the virus outbreak with a link to a fake company website where victims are encouraged to click to subscribe to a daily newsletter for further updates.
• Fraudsters sending investment scheme and trading advice encouraging people to take advantage of the coronavirus downturn.
• Fraudsters purporting to be from HMRC offering a tax refund and directing victims to a fake website to harvest their personal and financial details. The emails often display the HMRC logo making it look reasonably genuine and convincing.