Have the residents of Godalming bounced the Tory-dominated town council into objecting to a planning application it would have preferred to see approved?
Is one of the Tories now smoothing the way for the Tory-dominated borough planners to give it the go-ahead?
You will see from the letter below that Godalming Town Council has registered its objection to a development of 262 dwellings on land between New Way & Aarons Hill, Godalming.
No surprise there then after more than 70 people turned up and another 170 registered their objection to development in the GREEN BELT that would join Godalming to Guildford Godalming Town Council backs residents’ fight – plans just not good enough for green belt site.
Or bearing in mind the Waverley Web’s post yesterday – perhaps that would be just what the new Unitary Authority would want? Has Hambledon’s Holder become a bit bolder or is he just demob happy as he prepares to leave ‘Your Waverley?
Councillor Andrew Bolton reminds residents on Facebook that – it is Waverley Council that will determine the application, NOT the Town Council. No doubt, just in case residents dare to think their very vocal opposition is going to make one jot of difference at Waverley Towers.
Please, Councillor Bolton, don’t treat the voting fodder like idiots! They know full well that it is the borough council’s function to refuse or permit planning applications. Residents aim of turning out in force was to register their opposition, to their town councillors, the people they elected to represent their views. Because like the residents in the East of the borough they know that if it doesn’t move, Waverley officers will recommend developing it, and unless councillors break the habit of a lifetime Tory councillors will follow their lead! Neither were residents asking you to predetermine an application. But just giving you a gentle reminder that it is your function as a Godalming Town Councillor to not only listen but HEAR and act on the concerns. You ignore the mood of Godalming people at your peril.
To remind them of the lack of funds for Green Oaks and then mention that the developers’ twenty pieces of silver – or as you describe it as 106 monies for infrastructure, could provide “substantial support for Green Oaks School” and that it may not survive without it was not only disingenuous but a disgraceful veiled threat. Dare we suggest you were more than a little put out that a motion to object came from the opposition? An opposition that is proving itself to be very effective?
Don’t forget the changes to the Guildford Local Plan for the other half of the field. Guildford’s consultation started on 11 September and will run until 23 October 2018. You can all comment on the proposed removal from the Green Belt here: https://www.guildford.gov.uk/newlocalplan/examination
If I were being fair, and goodness knows why I should be to anyone from this hapless bunch of charlatans, I would say that perhaps Cllr Bolton is just exercising his intellect out loud. Pretty much unique amongst Conservatives at Godalming Town Council and YW for having an intellect to exercise, I read this as a different approach to his FB page and an attempt to show how finely balanced a decision this is in his mind. Probably softening us up for YW deciding to support the application.
Support the application they, including Councillor Bolton, most certainly will. Not a murmur about rolling back the green belt when the Daft Local Plan was before them for comment and approval – wonder why they are voicing their concern now? Sorry to be so cynical, but we have been watching this bunch for almost two years and if you need to see what their past decisions look like in the flesh, or better still in the concrete, – visit Cranleigh.