In our post yesterday, we posed a question to Waverley Planners.

But did we ask the right one? Here’s what one Alfold resident thinks.

WW Perhaps you need to ask Waverley tCouncil the question, what exactly is the Planning Committee for –

A Rubber stamp?

Will this help Alfold’s Poogate?

Now and again, we post a comment left on our Comments Page. Here’s one posted by Denise Wordsworth. She Who Dares to speak up for the village she loves.

There are 15 councillors on the Planning  Committee. Apportioned across the political parties. Of those 15:
Six from Farnham (Inc. 1 Vice Chair) Used to be WESTERN PLANNING
Four from Haslemere/Hindhead Used to be SOUTHERN PLANNING
Two from Witley/Milford Used to be CENTRAL PLANNING
One from Godalming (Chair) Used to be CENTRAL PLANNING
One from Bramley/Wonersh Used to be EASTERN PLANNING
One from Cranleigh Used to be EASTERN PLANNING

So, it is all “Politically Correct,” but it hardly gives equal representation across the Borough, especially in more rural areas.

Then, to get an idea of what has actually been brought before the Committee – look over the last 3 months:

SEPTEMBER 18th
1. Two Dwellings – Bramley – Refused
2. Five Dwellings – Farnham – Granted
3. Single Storey Extension – Godalming – Granted
4. Football Pitch – Hambledon – Granted
5. Four Dwellings – Farnham – Granted
6. Vary a Condition to replace Car Ports with Garages- Dunsfold – Granted

OCTOBER 8th
1. Special Planning meeting for Reserved Matters at Coxbridge Farm – Farnham 320 New Homes – Deferred

OCTOBER 16th
1. Construction of Decking & Lighting – Godalming – Granted
2. Two Dwellings – Wonersh – Refused
3. Extensions – Haslemere – Granted
4. Change of use from Hotel to Two Dwellings – Farnham – Granted

NOVEMBER 13th
1. Erection of a Sports Pavillion – Farnham – Granted
2. Three Dwellings – Haslemere – Deferred due to access.
3. One dwelling (change of use) – Farnham – Granted
4. 65 Dwellings Reserved Matters – Farnham – Granted

Next Meeting DECEMBER 11th
1. 320 Dwellings Reserved Matters – Farnham as per October 8th
2. 3 Dwellings – Haslemere as of November 13th

So my question is, WHY is the Application for Reserved Matters for 86 Dwellings in Alfold NOT going in Front of the Planning Committee When Alfold has already taken so many houses? This Application WA/2023/01468 is on Grade 2 Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land with multiple Reserved Matters reincarnations, with Bio Diversity NET LOSS (to be Off-Set elsewhere in Surrey)

The Workspace Hub and Village Green were initially removed from the Application, then the Hub popped up beneath a Block of Flats, now again removed and being “Gifted via an undisclosed sum” to the Village for them to build out/maintain, etc. elsewhere in the Village as seemingly agreed but as yet to be confirmed but noted on Waverley’s Planning Portal.

” .. Parish Council and Vistry, therefore, must agree on provision off-site between themselves and outside the
planning system…..l

This MAY benefit the village in the long run. However, it still sets a precedent for any future applications, along with the Thakeham 99 Dwellings in the village that morphed from being a mix of market and affordable homes to 99 Affordable/Social Houses… without ANY consultation with the village or anyone else I can find.

I simply do not understand how some of the applications detailed above have been deemed worthy of the Planning Committee’s consideration. Yet this Alfold scheme, which has been queried by planning officers since 2023-4 and still appears to have an issue with the width of the shared-use pavements, will simply be signed off!!

You at the Waverley Web have been writing about planning all over the borough for years… and know full well the problems we have in this village with Sewage, Water, and Electricity Outages, so you know the problems we face here with over 480 New Homes approved in the last few years. We all know Thakeham will return with their extra 350-odd –

Will they have to go via the Planning Committee? Or will they, too, slip through the net that is WBC’s lack of 5-Year Housing Land supply now that Dunsfold Park has stamped its feet and gone into Purdah?