Elections for the Committee are held annually at the AGM in February or March, although anyone interested in joining can contact the Secretary at any time (& be voted in at a Committee meeting).
Committee meetings are held monthly (except for August & December) on the third Tuesday evening of the month at the United Church in the High Street.
Willy Burgess
📨 Chair - Willy BurgessCame to live in Egham in 1985 and joined ERA in 1986.
Was a daily commuter to an academic job in London for most of the next 40 years, during which my ERA involvement was limited to helping during local elections.
Retirement in 2023 freed up more time for ERA, and it’s great to work with others who love Egham as I do.
My motivation is for Egham to thrive, and for ERA to be a vehicle giving everyone who lives here a say and a hand in making that happen.
Adrian Skelt
📨 Secretary and Newsletter Editor - Adrian Skelt
Andrew Marven
📨 Treasurer and Data Protection Officer - Andrew MarvenI’ve lived in Egham with my family, and have been a member of ERA, for over 20 years. I like Egham’s balance of feeling like smallish town close to the countryside as well as being within (fairly) easy commuting distance of London where I work sometimes.
I’m particularly supportive of ERA’s work with local independent councillors and in objecting to proposed developments such as gravel pits that would be massively detrimental to Egham as a place to live.
I joined the ERA committee in 2024, and as Treasurer I oversee how we spend our money on the priorities of ERA and its members and to the benefit of the Egham residents, and I get the opportunity to keep my hand in at double-entry bookkeeping!
Jenny King - Membership Secretary
📨 Membership Secretary - Jenny King
Gren Elliot
📨 Website Admin - Gren ElliotEx-Zimbabwean retired Computer Programmer who has lived in Egham since 2002. Love the villagy feel of Egham and the ability to walk to good quality shops, restaurants and coffee sources and to stop and chat to friendly people.
Never worked with visible bits of websites, so enjoy the chance to learn about that.
Attracted to ERA to help feel part of the community and love the support for Councillors who aren’t beholden to the main political parties and so can concentrate on authentically representing real people.
Siân Williams
Brigitte Kreuger
Jim Pearcey
Moreton Moore
Alison Wilkinson
Open positions
We are seeking volunteers for the following positions:
- Planning Officer
- Social Media Co-ordinator
The ERA planning Officer role
Putting Planning Applications for Egham under the microscope is one of the most important things ERA does. The aim is to protect against inappropriate development as well as, where we can, to influence improvements to the environment and the infrastructure of Egham. In practice this means keeping an eye on Applications as they come in, and, according to the specifics, deciding on whether to submit an objection - then writing it.
Applications across RBC come in weekly & often there are none that affect Egham, but we need to keep an eye out. Decisions in principle are made at Committee, but there’s a need for one person to take the lead (ideally with others ready to help). Situations range from small-scale house-developments to large- scale applications for apartments or offices, inappropriately situated or without adequate parking, bad design or other faults.
The big planning threat currently is for the long-running gravel application at Milton Park Farm (see the Spring Newsletter). It’s not all negative: ERA is active on several RBC consultations, so we have opportunities to influence future ground-rules, targets & standards etc. Soon there will be consultation on refurbishment of the eastern Precinct in the High Street (see the summer newsletter), & a review of the RBC Local Plan, which is the template for all RBC’s decisions on future applications such as for Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs), parking & much more.
Currently the Chair is keeping a watching brief on Planning Applications but the role needs a dedicated Committee member. It’s an interesting role & will suit someone with an eye for detail & a sensitivity for Egham. Please consider whether this could be you & contact the Chair - Willy Burgess if you’d like to discuss it further.
Other roles
The Committee is in need of bigger numbers & new blood. We specifically need to be able to revitalise and manage our social media communications; This will be a satisfying & interesting roles for the right person - is it you? Or do you know someone you could recommend?
We also need to bolster the numbers of ‘ordinary’ members of the Committee. We meet 10 times per year. If you share our enthusiasm for Egham, tempered by concerns for its protection, please do consider joining the Committee - please contact the Chair - Willy Burgess