Waverley Web

From our boy on the front line.

Get Surrey readers will have been surprised to note that the A281 Horsham to Guildford Road didn’t even make it onto the list of the top ten busiest roads in the county of Surrey.

Perhaps someone should tell Waverley’s Portfolio Holder for Planning too – because Cllr Brian Adams (Con Frensham, Dockenfield & Tilford) has spouted statistics that are not borne out in fact. These inaccuracies are then reported and become the ‘Gospel According to the Press’.  Published statistics state, the average commute time during the morning rush hour was  22.5 mph across Surrey.

However, what Get Surrey didn’t tell its readers, is that according to the Department of Transport (yes, we bothered to delve into the DoT statistics to determine the true position) – is that the average speed of traffic on the A281 is above 25 mph.

Cllr ‘By Pass’ Byham is right.  There is a bottleneck in Bramley – mainly caused by delivery lorries,  the same in  most other High Streets in the borough and beyond. However, he surely understand that with the Horsham Local Plan for 16,000 homes now approved, others being prepared on the Hampshire border and in Guildford, it is ineviteble – the traffic can only increase. Waverley is not an island!

Yes Mr Edge – when are Waverley Councillors going to stand up to the Conservative Executive? It is a question posed so often by our WW followers.

When is it going to assess the implications of building the additional houses on the borough’s green fields – particularly in Farnham, Cranleigh  and the villages around. We all know they are talking in secret with developers and SCC’s Alan Young, in a bid to  persuade them to come up with enough dosh to provide the vital Infrastructure required. However, according to our informants they aren’t having too much luck. Why…because Developers, develop to make money, don’t they, and if they provide too much infrastructure small sites become unprofitable ? Got it!

Fear not Mr Edge there’s a Big Bogey man hovering over Waverley Borough Council and he is called  – The Inspector.

Or how not to…in Waverley’s case.

So busy was the Council defending its decision to increase car parking charges across the borough by 7.5 % that it turned on…would you believe…yup

The good old Surrey Advertiser – for putting up “banner headlines.” Or as it is called in some quarters – reporting the facts.

Even  Mayor –  Rubber Band waded in – hasn’t anyone told him to shut up and put up over controversial matters and open fetes  whilst he is  part of the elite Chain gang! Its called etiquette.

There they were at the Full – almost empty Council meeting – on Tuesday congratulating themselves on their efforts to persuade motorists from shopping in all the major town and village car parks in Waverley. So they put  up charges so even more people will go on line.

However, one councillor said he would like to see “a more enlightened policy”in future, to help retailers – “not commuters, though they are, he admitted, a “useful part of the community.”  One or two hours could be provided to shoppers – “free” on occasions. Sorry couldn’t name him the webcast wasn’t working – again…and thank you for calling us commuters  who battle in the traffic and try to find a seat on the train “useful.”

Then Cllr Tom Martin  chipped in with a tirade. (Shoot the Messenger we think its called) – in this case, the Surrey Ad – who, he said, had only just increased its own cover charge by 5 pence to £1.  Up shot the Mayor with his five pennorth – “not the first increase in the past few months either.” he called.

Not being one to sit idly by and not give his opinion, (obviously hadn’t heard the adage – “better to be silent and thought to be a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt,)”  Council Leader Robert Knowless said “the Surrey Ad needs to look at its own charging policy – now maybe even less people will read it.” 

Oh dear Bobby Knowless – time to go back on the beat WWethinks..might find yourself on the front page next week. By the way, the public has “choice” whether or not it buys the Surrey Ad, motorists however have no choice but to use the car parks!

 

Despite Care Ashore‘s best efforts – no Great Crested Newts have been found on the proposed site for 500 new homes on the Springbok Estate in Alfold.

Care Ashore (the Charity supported  by the Seamen’s Union – and one of the wealthiest in the country) bought an online test kit (from a company that is no longer trading) for its Ecological Survey. It carried out the necessary Ecological Surveys to justify Thakeham Homes proposed scheme to more than double the size of the village.  A decision is now pending.

So far – no newts is good newts! Probably because the survey only included one likely pond – the one used regularly by the highly popular Springbok Model Boating Society and newts don’t like boats!

Developers Thakeham Homes, which is in secret talks with Waverley Borough Council and other developers carried out two surveys on its Environmental Statement.

Villagers were shocked to see the only pond surveyed was the one least likely to have any Newts due to it being a Fishing Pond and host to numerous Model Boat days. We looked into the company, Sure Screen Life Sciences and found its glossy website which sells DIY kits. Investigations at Companies House revealed it had not traded since 2013. How could they have provided the staff to produce as detailed a report if they had no payroll or staff. Who were the two names on the report?

We doesn’t have the answers but it all smells decidedly fishy. Perhaps WBC ought to check it all out?

Villagers believe the Eco surveys and environmental statements were bogus (hence have posted their own with Waverley)

We hear newts have been found in Farnham on proposed development sites. More to follow…