New West Surrey Council CEO set to be given a £236,485 salary

• Bracknell Forest Council's Susan Halliwell has been recommended for the chief executive role at West Surrey Council

Today in Guildford, Woking and west Surrey commuter belt

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The local news that matters this morning

Here's the local news from the past 24 hours, made easy to digest.

SurreyLive — Surrey News · yesterday Residents to hold protest outside Frimley Park Hospital over planned £2bn redevelopment • The residents' group has planned a peaceful protest outside the hospital

Woking News & Mail · yesterday Goldsworth Care marks 25 years of helping out • Goldsworth Care – one of Surrey’s Good Neighbour schemes – is celebrating 25 years of providing transport for residents of Goldsworth Park to medical and other appointments, as well as offering other services such as shopping and helping out with form filling.

Woking News & Mail · yesterday New West Surrey Council chief set for £236k salary • The chief executive of the newly created West Surrey Council is set to pocket a £236,485 annual salary.

Guildford Dragon · yesterday Airport Expansion Plans: ‘An Example Of An Issue At The Heart Of The Climate Crisis’ • By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporting service The newly-formed West Surrey Council is expected to throw its weight against expansion at Farnborough Airport. • It comes as a motion reaffirming Waverley Borough Council’s continued opposition to more weekend flights at the site was passed in an effort to protect communities affected by aircraft noise.

SurreyLive — Surrey News · yesterday New emergency unit at East Surrey Hospital will offer patients ‘rapid access’ to services • The new service will work alongside the hospital's existing Emergency Department

Guildford Dragon · Local news · yesterday Salary of New Council CEO Revealed • By Chris Caulfield local democracy reporter The CEO of the newly created West Surrey Council is set to pocket a £236,485 annual salary. • Susan Halliwell currently oversees Bracknell Forest Council and is expected to take over the top job after beating nine other applicants.

Epsom & Ewell Times · Local news · yesterday Kingswood “blot on the landscape” development approved • A Grade II* listed site on the edge of the Surrey Hills where a major Hollywood blockbuster was filmed is to be turned into a £200m housing and leisure complex.

University of Surrey news RSS feed · Education and research · yesterday National plan urges AI teaching at universities, with Surrey’s discipline-specific model leading the way • National plan urges AI teaching at universities, with Surrey’s discipline-specific model leading the way dn0009 Fri, 11/09/2026 - 15:17 Press release A new national plan from Universities UK (UUK) has called on every university in the country to build AI into its courses – an initiative that the University of Surrey has led the sector on. • From this month (September 2026), AI will be embedded into every degree at Surrey, tailored to each subject rather than taught as a general digital skill.

What's on: next 14 days

A quick-view of 32 public listings happening across Guildford over the next 14 days. Tap any item for the source and full details.

12 SepThe GI Music Lounge - Vic Cracknell Jazz Quartet with special guest Duncan Lamont, Jr The Guildford Institute

13 SepGuildford Antiques and Brocante Market Guildford High Street

13 SepThe Energy Edit: VAYU Studio x NEOM Pilates Experience VAYU Studio

15 & 22 SepCommunity Tuesday Coffee Culture

15 SepLittle Notes: 14mos-2.5yrs Autumn Term Pass Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

15 SepThe Other Side Of Murder Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

16 & 23 SepSunflower café Guildford Reformed Church

16 SepYouth Theatre: Autumn Term (13-16yrs) Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

17 & 24 SepBowling for Mental Wellbeing Guildford Spectrum

17 SepCheese and Wine Pairing – Wine Tasting Workshop The Guildford Institute

18 SepHejira - Jazz Festival University of Surrey

20 Sep5 Mistakes That Changed History Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

21 SepIntermediate Improv Comedy Course G Live

22 SepShort Stories, Tall Tales: Adventures of an Ugly Duckling Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

22 SepThe Choir of Man Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

23 SepIain Ballamy Quartet - Jazz Festival Guildford pavillion

24 SepAuthor Talk: Layla McCay The Queer Bookshelf New House Art Space

24 SepHellfire Comedy Club - September G Live

25 SepCK Gospel Choir St Nicholas Church

25 SepCraft Cafe - Jewellery Making G Live

25 SepThe GI Music Lounge - Rowan Stuart The Guildford Institute

19 SepFake or Fortune | Guided Walk - Saturday 19 September 2026

12, 17, 20 & 22 Sep; 19 Sep at 14:00Guildford Story | Guided Walk - Saturday 19 September 2026 at 14:00

13 & 24 SepHidden Guildford | Guided Walk - Sunday 13 September 2026

20 Sep at 14:00Pottage to Pasta | Guided Walk - Sunday 20 September 2026 at 14:00

15 SepPubs & Inns | Guided Walk - Tuesday 15 September 2026

15 SepLittle Notes: 14mos-2.5yrs Autumn Term Pass Fun-filled music classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers Tue 15 Sep 2026

15–16 SepOriginal Theatre in association with Theatr Clwyd present The Other Side Of Murder Starring Rufus Hound, Susie Blake & Carla Mendonça Tue 15 Sep 2026 - Sat 19 Sep 2026

15 SepLittle Notes: 2.5-4.5yrs Autumn Term Pass Fun-filled music classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers Tue 15 Sep 2026

15 SepLittle Notes: 5-14mos Autumn Term Pass Fun-filled music classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers Tue 15 Sep 2026

16 SepYouth Theatre: Autumn Term (13-16yrs) Wed 16 Sep 2026 Youth Theatre for young people aged 13 to 16 years old.

16 SepYouth Theatre: Taster Session (13-16yrs) Youth theatre for young people aged 13 to 16. Wed 16 Sep 2026 - Wed 14 Oct 2026

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Did you know? · Guildford

The River Wey Navigation was the brainchild of Sir Richard Weston and opened with 12 pound locks between Weybridge and Guildford, carrying timber, corn and gunpowder to London. Source →