A stronger voice for Hersham.

Hersham Community Group           

• If you live or work in Hersham and want to ensure our community thrives then join us.
• Your support will help us run campaigns and promote the development of our community
• What will the HCG be able to do? 

How much we are able to do will depend on the support we get to make it work. We will need funding and backing from a good membership base and volunteers to contribute to meetings, campaigns, and to organise events.  Our aspirations are to work with residents and existing councillors to help Hersham flourish and prosper. Comment, campaign and lobby on planning. Without vigorous input from local people, through organisations like ours developers' proposals and council planning arrangements won't be scrutinised or coordinated properly. At the moment we need to work with local councilors to help achieve the best outcome for the proposed housing developments:-  Campaigns to protect Hersham have raised the voice of our community.

• Hersham Golf Club to be developed
• Air Products development - central to Hersham and its future
• Turners Lane, two housing developments
• The centre now in the hands of Waitrose
• We need to keep reminding everyone that the growing population from these and recent previous developments needs infrastructure to go with it. 
• A new larger capacity doctor's surgery is now planned on the Air Products site following direct action from our group.
• Shopping centre One of the biggest issues we all faced is the continuing decline in the centre of our village. A strong and sustainable future for Hersham Green Shopping Centre needs to be secured. The recent excellent news that Waitrose has now bought the centre provides us with a new way forward
• Community buildings and community services          We also need to campaign for community services for Hersham. The centres for the community currently run by Elmbridge are under threat.
• Social Activities and ‘Hersham's vibe’.     It's not just the buildings and green spaces that makes Hersham a great place to be. People say there’s a good vibe when a community is friendly and comes together to organise occasional events and other social activities.
• How can you support us?   
• Become a member of the new HCG through this site
• Volunteer to be on one of our committees or to help organise events.
• Keep abreast of developments in Hersham via this web

Following the merger of the Hersham Village Society (HVS) and the Hersham Residents Association (HRA)

• Membership will be annual and run for a calendar year. For 2026 only, the membership fee will remain at £5. Towards the end of 2026 and each calendar year thereafter, a decision will be taken regarding the membership charge for the following year.
• The HRA 5-year membership renewal dates will be honoured.
• HVS members aged 80 or over, will continue to be entitled to free membership, including those members who turned 80 during 2025. Renewal membership forms will still be sent, and these members will be asked if they would like to make a donation to the HCG.
• Those HRA members who had a household membership will be contacted to ask if anyone else in the household would like to join as all memberships are now individual.
• The current use of PayPal will continue but is to be replaced by go cardless shortly.
• We have been asked if members can pay by Direct Debit. We have decided not to offer this method of payment, however members may set up their own standing order, should they wish to do so. Please email us for up to date bank information.
• Membership cards, or an electronic version will be issued to all fully paid up members upon joining or renewal. This is still being set up but should be in place for January renewals.
• Renewal letters will be issued in either December or January to those members whose renewals are due in January 2026. Because we currently have a complex dynamic of a mixture of membership levels, including members who were previously members of both organisations, all members will be contacted with their membership information.

On our website we have a membership form with go cardless payment details for current and new members to sign up.  

Members shall conduct themselves in a manner that will not cause offence to others. Harassment, bullying, intimidation, or discriminatory behaviour will not be tolerated and will be grounds for suspension of individual members. The Chairman and committee members have the right to warn member(s) of their behaviour. If they persist, they will be suspended until further notice. A member must not disclose any information given to him in confidence by anyone, or information acquired which he believes is of a confidential nature, without the consent of a person authorised to give it, or if requested by law to do so. A member must comply at all times with the current Data Protection Policy and Safeguarding Policy. All members shall at all times have regard to the Constitution and not knowingly do anything which would place the Group into an illegal situation. Any conflict of interest must be declared prior to any meeting, and the member should withdraw from the discussion and any vote, unless the members present give consent for the member to remain.

• Committee Members 2026
• David Lock Chairman
• Steph Neale Treasurer
• Juliet Murray Secretary
• Ann Cowap
• Rachel Heaton
• lwona Januszajtis -Neale
• Sue Mealor
• Edward Meryon
• Freddie Spence

New Emails will be in place shortly

It's important members have confidence in our financial dealings, these follow current practice

• Accounts must be opened in the name of the Organisation.
• Bank transfers, cheques and other banking instruments or instructions must be signed by the Treasurer and one other signatory who is an Officer of the committee.
• Proper records of all transactions must be kept.
• An accurate record of income and expenditure must be presented at the AGM and accounts should be open to inspection by members on request.
• The accounts will be examined annually by an appropriately qualified External Independent Examiner as required by current legislation and appointed annually at the AGM.

In the event of a financial liability of the Organisation becoming due for payment, which is in excess of current funds held in the name of the Organisation, the financial responsibility of each individual member shall be limited to the amount of an annual membership fee.

Proper control of meetings is essential to ensure members have a voice in our organisation. Any AGM or EGM must be quorate. The quorum will be 10 members, including the committee. Failure by an individual member to receive notice of any meeting shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting or any decisions taken. No member may give a proxy to any other person to attend meetings or vote at that meeting. Annual General Meeting (AGM) The Organisation’s financial year will run from 1st January to 31st December each year. At least 4 weeks’ notice in writing (hard copy or electronically) must be given by the Secretary of the date of the AGM, which must be held once in each calendar year and no later than six calendar months after 31st December. A request by any member for an item to be included on the AGM agenda must be made in writing to the Secretary at least 3 weeks before the AGM. The Secretary shall send a copy of the AGM Agenda and Financial Statements to all members 2 weeks before the date of the AGM. At the AGM The minutes of the previous AGM shall be read, or taken as read if already circulated, and signed if agreed. The independently examined financial statements for the previous year shall be presented and adopted if agreed. The officers of the Organisation shall be elected. Up to ten additional Committee members shall be elected. The Independent Examiner(s) for the ensuing year shall be appointed. Every paid-up member present shall have one vote, and in the event of a tie the Chairman shall have the casting vote. Extra Ordinary Meeting (EGM) An EGM may be called by the committee at any time to discuss urgent business, or if at least ten paid-up members petition the Secretary in writing. The Secretary shall give fourteen days’ notice in writing to all members of the date of the EGM and the reason for the meeting. Relevant papers and the agenda shall accompany such notice. Every paid-up member present shall have one vote and in the event of a tie the Chairman shall have the casting vote. Committee and Sub-Committee Meetings Meetings of sub-committees shall be held as often as the sub-committee feels is necessary. Members of sub-committees shall normally receive not less than 14 days’ notice before each meeting. Procedures for Sponsoring Candidates for Local Elections Each paid-up member of the Organisation shall have the right, subject to the rules of the Constitution, to stand for nomination to be sponsored by the Organisation for election to the local authorities. This is subject to the member being paid up and resident in Hersham, as determined by their current entry on the Electoral Register.