News

The final round of consultation on the Bustow & Smallfield Neighbourhood Plan (NHP) is now open for comments.

This consultation is being carried out by Tandridge District Council in accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning General Regulations 2012.  The consultation closes at 11.59pm on Thursday 25 June 2026. 

Please submit your comments to TDC by 11.59pm on Thursday 25 June 2026 using one of the following:
Complete the online form.
E-mail: neighbourhoodplans@tandridge.gov.uk.
Write to: Tandridge District Council, 8 Station Road East, Oxted RH8 0BT.

All the NHP documents can be found via the green 'View Website' link on the right hand side of this page.

The steering group would like to thank the many people who submitted comments to the previous January/February local Public Consultation.

Following that successful event, we have submitted loads of documents (The Plan itself, Consultation Statement, Evidence document, Basic Conditions Statement: over 140 pages of it) to Tandridge District Council.  
Tandridge have since confirmed that they all meet their requirements and we are now about to go out to the much wider ‘Regulation 16’ Consultation across the whole District.

(We have had to wait for the Local Elections for East Surrey to complete).

Once this Reg 16 Stage is completed, a government ‘Examiner’ will be selected to preside over our wording and determine if it is satisfactory to form part of the statutory planning process.   Finally, it should come back for the very last stage, which is for a very local Referendum.  That’s the process - and we are well on the way. Watch this space!

Peter Bond
Chairman, Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.
12th May 2026

Further to our previous post regarding the acrid smell emanating from fires within the village, contrary to our understanding, it is NOT Tandridge District Council who have responsibility to investigate this. It is down to the Environment Agency.
The Environment Agency can be contacted on their 24-hour hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through their website https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/pre-form 
Both methods of reporting can be done anonymously. Please report the issues when they occur to help the agency build up a picture and assist in gathering evidence.
If it is safe to do so, please take a photograph or video
We’d like to apologise for any confusion this may have caused.

The next litter pick is Sunday 16th November 8-10. Meet at the Centenary Hall anytime with the aim to finish by 10

The Planning Inspectorate has recently refused an appeal to site 3 caravans and associated groundwork’s on land north of Farfield, Green Lane, Shipley Bridge. 
In early 2023 the land was cleared, mature trees felled and hardcore laid, raising land levels and caravans placed on the site without the required planning permission.
A retrospective planning application was subsequently made which was refused by Tandridge District Council who consequently issued an enforcement notice requiring the land to be remediated.
The appellant appealed this to the Planning Inspectorate which resulted in a  hearing in September this year.
On 12 November the Inspector who heard the case refused the appeal on various grounds. He stated that the land had been “decimated” in what amounted to “an act of environmental vandalism”. 
Consequently, the land should be returned to its original state and cannot be used for residential purposes. 
The appellant also had an application for costs against Tandridge District Council dismissed. The appeal decision notice is shown below

For those in need of some financial assistance 

The 3 Parish Councils of Burstow, Horne and Outwood would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our VE Day 80 celebration event which made it such a success. The weather could have been kinder with a brisk wind blowing, but at least it was dry! 

We send grateful thanks to our generous sponsors Nick Knox Plant Hire, Asprey Homes, Coinford and Mansell McTaggart Estate Agents, to all the local shops and businesses and members of the community who donated generously to the raffle and Tombola, to all the participants who came to support the event with their stalls, to the caterers who provided excellent food, to the volunteers whose help was invaluable on the day and to the people of our communities who came along to make the event so enjoyable. 

We extend our thanks to the people who very kindly donated the precious memorabilia and objects of their family’s past from World War 2 to our wartime exhibition. It gave us a stark reminder of what they endured during that awful time in our history, but also of the bravery and sacrifice made on our behalf. 

We send thanks to My Favourite Things, the Ukulele Band, the Church choir and the Songmen for their very enjoyable entertainment.

Altogether a very successful day and a tribute to the heroes of that time, bearing in mind the war in the Far East was still going on for at least another 3 months. 
From...
The working parties of Burstow, Horne and Outwood Parish Councils

VE DAY 80th ANNIVERSARY 2025
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the World War 2 in Europe. A day of celebration for the people of this country, albeit the war was continuing in the Far East.
The Parish Councils of Burstow, Horne and Outwood are joining together to organise a day of celebration for this anniversary at Centenary Hall in Smallfield on SUNDAY 4th MAY 2025. 
We wish to make it a happy day for our communities, but a respectful one as well to remind us of the sacrifices made so we may enjoy our freedoms today. This year’s celebration will have live entertainment, refreshments, raffle, tombola, bar, face painting, ice cream van and many other activities. More details will become available nearer the time. 
A 1940’s theme is our suggestion. Fancy dress in the style of the times, military or civilian, would be a bonus, but, of course, optional. 
We also intend to have an exhibition of wartime memorabilia. We will welcome any exhibits from our communities to help us in this endeavour. 
Nearer the time we will be requesting donations for the raffle and tombola, and for volunteers to help the day go well. 
Sponsorship to help defray costs is also most welcome.
We are very grateful to Nick Knox Plant Hire and Asprey Homes who have already been extremely generous in their recent offers of sponsorship to our event. 
If you can help with any of the aforementioned please contact one of the below;
Burstow Parish Council - debbie.hale@burstowparishcouncil.gov.uk
Horne Parish Council - abrownfelix@btinternet.com 
Outwood Parish Council - velma9612@gmail.com

Burstow Parish Council are looking into the feasibility of setting up a ‘Men’s Shed’ in the village. To assist with this process, we are scoping the likely interest and support this project will generate.
Men’s Shed is a national scheme that aims to promote happiness and health in men through connection, conversation and creativity. Men’s Sheds encourage people to come together to make, repair and repurpose, supporting projects in the local community, thereby improving wellbeing, reducing loneliness and combatting social isolation.
To assist in gauging interest in the project there will be two drop in sessions at the Centenary Hall on Friday 10th January between 10am - midday and on Friday 17th January 2025 between 4pm - 6pm where you can come and find out more about the project.
If you are unable to attend but would like to find out more or perhaps be interested in helping deliver the scheme, you can contact Parish Councillor Andrew Gilbert who is leading the project by emailing him, Andrew.Gilbert@Burstowparishcouncil.gov.uk 

The latest Burstow Parish Council project starts to come to fruition next week, with a rejuvenation of the playground in the Broadbridge Lane playing field.
The planning has been going on for a number of months, working with contractors on the design and build of the scheme as well as applying for grants to help pay for the equipment.
The play area will be airport themed with various items of equipment for children to play on and help fuel their imagination in their play, including an ‘aircraft’ to climb in.
The kit will be located on a safety surface which itself is airport themed and will be slightly raised from ground level to hopefully ensure that the area is useable during wet periods, as well as being fenced. Seating is also included in the scheme.
Below is a copy of the plan illustrating the equipment that will be installed.

Games were played, refreshments enjoyed and laughter all the way!