It took Government Inspector Gary Chapman just a few paragraphs to overturn yet another planning decision by Waverley Planners.
We at the Waverley Web have to ask: What is the point of having a local planning committee making local decisions when they are so regularly flipped at appeal?
Once, there were three Waverley area planning committees and a central planning committee; there is now ONE.
Most members are Farnham and Haslemere councillors, with just a couple representing the east of Waverley. Local ward members can no longer vote but can speak to an application. Despite some opposition to planning applications that now go to the planning committee, most come with an officer’s recommendation to approve. Lately, Planning officers have warned councillors to either come up with very robust planning reasons for refusal or to give their stamp of approval.
Waverley Farm Appeal; document 9129453
A Government Inspector has given Waverley Court Farm the go-ahead to demolish farm buildings and build eight dwellings and a carport.
Why? Because it wouldn’t have a significant effect on the environment despite being close to the Farnham SPA and the Thames Heath (Special Protection Area)
He admits that the SPAs are vulnerable to increased disturbance from recreation due to an increase in the local residential population and that the proposed Development will likely result in localised effects.
However, the developer had proposed mitigation measures (a financial contribution). How does that help to protect Special Protection Areas? The accumulative effect of development will eventually have a catastrophic impact on such important sites.
WW You are quite right the majority of Planning goes to Delegated Authority – Why are we wasting our time with the One measly Planning Committee? At least before we had a mix.
Whilst I feel for Farnham. I did a bit of checking on the Planning Commitee and I was, to be quite honest, shocked to see the way the Borough is represented – I will email a copy of the Map to show this as I cannot upload a Picture. Please can you change this website so we Mere Mortals can Upload Images to our Replies………….
But it is frankly appalling that there is little to no representation in the East of the Borough.
Of the 14 Members listed (plus 1 sub)
The West: Farnham/Haslemere have 10 Members (now there is a Surprise!)
The Central: Godalming/Milford/Witley have 3 Members (Includes the Chair so bonus vote there!)
The East: Cranleigh has 1 (YES ONE) Member
Rumors in Alfold are Rife about the additional 300 Plus that Thakeham Homes are in discussion with WBC Planners at the moment at the Springbok Estate and this is just from people locally that have had Planning Officers visit for Their Own Planning and have been “warned”
What sort of Democracy is this when we only have ONE Member?
It is obvious that Councillors know what is going on and that yet again ALFOLD is about to be shafted to Protect the “GreenBelt” and those with Large Pockets at the other end of the Borough.
It is about time this damn Borough Council Fessed up and told us what they are up to – Because rumours are devisive and at the moment I wouldn’t trust ANY OF THEM what ever their Colour.
As for the Planning Inspectorate – It is a Governement Funded Department so they will follow whatever they are told to do and I have no doubt that Developers will have departed from Conservatives months ago and are now Smoozing up to Labour to ensure they can fulfil THEIR Agenda.
What a Pile of CR*P
Really Hacked of Grumpy Denise
PS Picture to follow via Email
How does a financial contribution from the developer save the nightjar in the Special Area of Protection?
Quite simply – it doesn’t.