ALDUN, here we come!
Another few hundred yards and Alfold meets Dunsfod Aerodrome.
How’s your maths?
Another 11 homes were granted on appeal this week to join others granted on appeal, which may not seem like much. However, combined with the 23 plus 7 already given on a site adjacent to Brockhurst Farm on Dunsfold Road, we now have 41 plus nine at Vintners!! Even the original house Vintners was the subject of an appeal.
This begs the Question: Who needs local decision-making?
An original appeal for 39 Homes on the site was refused in September 2018. Waverley Council’s planning document LP2 was not in existence then, and the good people of Alfold didn’t have their Neighbourhood Plan in place. Now they have both, but that means diddley squats because Waverley doesn’t have a 5-Year Housing Land Supply…
So, the inspector didn’t take more than a few days to determine the appeal held on November 12th!
As I have previously stated local democracy is a tick in the box exercise which when it is complete, can be ignored. The purpose is to be seen to be democratic and then take no notice and continue as planned. Recent governments have promoted the ideals of local democracy and encouraged the population to become local councillors or ‘mugs’ as they are known to those in the know. There needs to be a buffer between the outrage of local residents and those desiring to make a lot of money. Somebody has to take the flak and there is nothing better than a volunteer who thinks they are making a difference. There is no better example than the local plan which has caused more sleepless nights and frozen fingers in cold village halls for years. Nobody really believes any good would come of them and those delusional souls that think they have saved their little bit of shabby Surrey are sadly mistaken.
Because.
Quietly as a mouse, as the gin soaked Surrey Hills slumbered, the big nasty Government started removing all the funding and sending it to parts of England that are not comfortably middle class.
Nowt local democracy could do about that.
But the consequences will roll down the hill and splatter all over the place. If a community doesn’t get funding from Government it takes what developers offer in incentives. Which means acquiescence and thus more building.
Meanwhile. Those with sense are dividing up their land and quietly selling up. The opportunity to make a quick million and zoom off never to be seen again is bubbling away.
The bubble burst with Alfold.
MeaninglessMud
I am sorry you are wrong……… If Alfold hadn’t got their Local Plan it would have been even easier for these Greedy Developers and despite my ongoing frustration with the whole mess in Alfold, there is still hope we can muster support. Maybe not so much from people who have lived here for ever and are just so DAMN Tired of fighting this… But even the NEWBIES are getting a bit hacked off… and starting to shout rather more loudly.
I don’t blame Farmers for selling off their land – I blame Government for not looking beyond their Term in Government and seeing what they are doing to our Country’s Food Supplies and Ecology. How they can look at their Children and explain how we have become one of the most Nature Depleted Countries in Europe, is beyond me….. I will have Popped my Clogs before anyone really takes this seriously.
I drive my OH insane with my ranting – But that is tough… I am not here to be quiet and even if it changes nothing at least I know I tried and will continue to try until I pack my bags and move to sunnier climes…….. But until then – I still have a little more ammunition – which I have every intention of using…
Poor old Alfold.
Systemic failures all round. Inept, defensive and hostile council planners, unachievable central government targets, SCC / Waverley repeated failure to put longterm land plans together. Compounded by greedy, deceitful developers, milking a broken system and abuse the existing residents. Utilities failures leading to repeated sewage spillage when it rains, no bus services that actually turn up, businesses closing, HGV flagrantly abusing traffic orders, hurtling through the small roads at high speeds. Residents selling and fleeing at the fastest rate in years.
Alfold; the forlorn hope of Surrey!