A Tory bid to scupper Waverley’s “Rainbow” administration’s scheme for retail, homes, and a community hub has failed to stop progress on the town’s controversial Fairground site.
The administration, which includes Greens, Labour, Independents, Farnham Residents, and the Lib Dems, outvoted the Tory Group at a Full Council meeting.
The site in Weyhill that commuters have used as a free car park was included in Waverley’s Local Adopted Plan Part 2 over a year ago.
Although the Tory Group had long had its plans for the site, they were abandoned in 2019 when in control. The ruling administration now wants to make maximum use of the site by building 32 rental homes, a supermarket and a ‘Community Hub’ for youngsters.
Finance Portfolio Holder Cllr Mark Merryweather told colleagues the Fairground site was currently used as a popular free car park mainly for commuters and not shoppers. Commuters who came from as far afield as Chichester, which was no longer a sustainable use of WBC-owned land.
The development was proposed to be moved to the next stage to fulfill Waverley’s Corporate Strategy priorities. He welcomed the options: homes, a retail element, and a badly needed new community hub on part of the Weydown Road car park.
He fully realised this was of concern to residents, particularly near neighbours. Still, the redevelopment would maximise the use of a valuable site, which would be self-funded due to the retail development and provide much-needed affordable rented homes.
Selling the site to a private developer would mean the Council would lose control. We are now seeking to transition from viability to the design stage. We have to select a developer partner. A report, provided to councillors only and not made public, sets out the parameters and instructs experts to proceed.
We must recognise that many of the deliverables concern traffic flow, and Waverley will work with Haslemere Town Council and Surrey County Council highways. Residents would be fully consulted before proceeding to the planning application stage.
Cllr Tony Fairclough backed what he described as…
an exciting, ambitious, and well-thought-out proposal for Economic Development by providing social housing in the right place and a new community asset. It is a well-rounded proposal. Which I am delighted to support.
Cllr Terry Weldon said both Haslemere East and West would be affected. Although he supported the proposal, he warned that parking could overflow in the nearby residential streets.
He stressed that the status quo was unacceptable for financial or climate emergencies.
The problem is that a lot of people are using it because it is free. Most come out of town, which is unacceptable. It is crucial when we do a parking needs survey—to assess the needs of Haslmere residents and not parking for everyone else.
“Much like the very unpopular steep parking increases the Lib Dem administration has pushed through, with this development, we see the Lib Dems again acting against the interests of Haslemere residents and businesses.
“While I welcome better use of this site, we need more affordable housing rather than a fourth supermarket. And with the loss of parking, cars will inevitably be forced onto local resident streets.”
Cllr Lauren Atkins – had another view.
I am going to suggest something different. We lack low-cost business space, are over-focusing on housing delivery, and lack the courage to work with investors. She wanted discussions with anchor businesses and residences. Work up the right scheme. Do the right development in the right order.
Cllr John Robini claimed:
We need this housing in Haslemere. We only have four brownfield sites, and our town has very little affordable housing. I want to provide housing for our residents in the town centre. Haslemere hasn’t had a decent youth centre—the existing one isn’t fit for purpose. Let’s give our youngsters something.
I think this is the best opportunity for years. We need the money from car parks. We can’t offer free car parking anymore. Back it one hundred per cent. We will do our research on parking issues that can be overcome.
References to building a slum by providing homes over a supermarket by Farnham Cllr Carole Cockburn were angrily rebuked.
Chiddingfold Cllr Dave Busby said: I lived very happily for many years in a flat above a Supermarket and was very proud of my home. It was nowhere near approaching a slum.
Bramley Cllr Jane Austin was pleased to see development on the site but had serious concerns. Retail demand was based on historical data over a mixed-use food store, but there was no evidence of need. Haslemere was adequately served with supermarkets, and a fourth would not help the local economy. The town’s community boards were talking about Aldi or Lidl. Is that what Haslemere needs?
Once again, value for money is not the focus of this administration. Vacant possession could be complex. Aldi and Lidl need 100+ parking spaces and rarely commit to mixed-use. There has been no parking study, and residents will be inundated with parking on their residential streets.
Council leader Paul Follows said,` If we don’t deliver our own housing, we resort to Red Court five-bed executive homes.
Cllr Nick Palmer. said Waverley had a housing waiting list of over 1,000 and should take the rare opportunity of building on this brownfield site. The current site was an embarrassment. Not worthy of Haslemere,
Cranleigh Cllr Ken Reed said:
I am delighted and glad this meeting is being recorded; we have heard some real gems from the Conservatives. I would encourage everyone across the borough to digest what the Cllrs of Bramley and Farnham think they should be doing in their town.
Cllr Nick Williams quoted a long-term resident who said it was a site with a long history whose future has been mired in gossip and controversies. Now, we have an opportunity to end the controversy and gossip. However, the opposition would prefer we delay and put it in the hands of private developers. We will build comfortable homes that local people need.
Everything you may want to know is on the Waverley Website.