News in Godalming

The Rail to Refuge scheme, which was due to end next week, is being continued by train companies to help more people escape domestic abuse and reach a safe refuge.

The scheme includes South Western Railway, which serves Godalming, Farncombe, Milford and Witley stations.

Today (Friday) is International Epilepsy Day, also known as Purple Day.

For staff and residents at The Meath it's an opportunity to raise awareness of the condition, and to celebrate the many life-affirming activities that go on at the home to help the residents make the most of every single day.

Godalming High Street could be permanently pedestrianised, and the area around The Pepperpot supplied with outdoor tables and chairs, under proposals about to be put before the town council.

The Godalming Town Centre Strategy, which has the strapline Preserving the Past, Protecting the Present, Planning the Future, also envisages the town council taking over ownership of several places from Waverley Borough Council, including the public toilets in Crown Court, and the freeholds of both the Scout hut and the Wilfrid Noyce Centre.

Drop-in Covid vaccination sessions for people aged 50-plus are being held across Waverley this week.

The sessions are being held at venues including G-LIve and Cranleigh Village Hall, and are only for people who have yet to receive their first dose.

Thanks to Sector29 for this picture of the beautiful daffodils at The Burys Field.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex visited the Godalming Community Store last week - her fourth visit since the store opened.

The store, at the Wilfrid Noyce Centre, is run by Godalming Town Council and volunteers from the Godalming and Farncombe Coronavirus Assistance Group.

Surrey may be able to access the national Safer Streets Fund to get its street lights turned back on in crime hotspots.

The Government announced last week it was doubling the size of the fund to £45 million, following the death of Sarah Everard, who was walking home in south London.

Police seized two quad bikes after being called to reports of riders causing damage on private land and in woodland in Hascombe yesterday.

Complaints about noise and damage caused by the bikes prompted officers to visit the site off Nore Lane. Similar reports have been made by landowners and residents in Dunsfold, and police say they are working to deal with the problem.

Our Job of the Week this week is a bookkeeper role in a Godalming company.

The full-time post pays between £25,000 and £30,000.

Have you ever wanted to learn to speak Arabic? Or Japanese, Polish, Russian, Greek or French?

How about learning to paint in watercolours or oils, to draw, sculpt, take photos, make prints or master the art of calligraphy?