Tag: Aarons Hill

There are​ a lorra, lorra, Godalming residents preparing to turn out and object to the “Cash & Crash” brigade moving into their town.

‘Your Waverley’ is preparing extra space to accommodate the huge number of Godalming residents preparing to turn out for tonight’s Joint Planning Meeting.  But it could be standing room only?

Of course, we have our very own web hanging from the chamber’s dusty corners so will have a spider’s eye view.

The question is. Will councillors eager to keep their bums on their seats so close to a local election, defy Betty’s boot and overturn a recommendation to approve a huge development on former Green Belt land?

A scheme opposed by Godalming Town Council.

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Here’s what planning officers are recommending for APPROVAL: 

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Here’s where they want it:

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And – here’s what they want to build? On land recently removed from the Green Belt.

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There are so many hundreds of objections including a petition and those of Godalming Town Council – and parish councils around Godalming. The town council also claims there has been a lack of proper consultation. Lack of space prevents us from listing all objections – however, suffice to say most believe if this scheme is allowed it will turn Godalming into …

GODAWFULMING.

This is due in part to the huge impact the development will have on – heritage buildings – hence objections from The National Trust and the Victorian Society. The detrimental impact on the environment and wildlife, nearby homes – including the HQ of TV Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick and The Meath Home. On roads, on air quality, and the local infrastructure.

But support comes from six supporters including some local businesses.

However, there are some winners – along with a long line of losers. These include developer contributions of £864, 452 to the Green Oaks School, which county education chiefs recommended closure just a short while ago! £939, 306 towards a project at Broadwater School; and £174,320 for a new nursery school. Funny how the county council now support Green Oaks school and the development when they can trouser a shedload of money isn’t it?

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In total the ‘Cash and Grab brigade’ will have to stump up £3,832, 719.38, to include these, together with highway improvements. 

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However, everyone in Godalming will be relieved to hear that Officers acknowledge that introducing this huge amount of concrete into an area of open agricultural land will undeniably result in an irreversible change to the landscape. But wait for it…

However, it will visually relate to the existing residential development in this context!

 

Here at the Waverley Web, we had a Pirates of Penzance (peed our pants) moment when we read the proposed names of the streets: Woodland Lanes, Field Edge, Mews Streets; and lots of parking courts and 13 visitor spaces. Not to mention “The Crows of Pearl Blossom Play Trail.”

Why not – Concrete Court, Yellow Brick Road, or Asphalt Alley?

JHC – you couldn’t make it up.

We have included a clip from the report because we thought you wouldn’t believe us.

if you want another laugh: Here’s a tweet from Godalming’s Lib Dem councillor Paul Follows:

…as I work full time I asked if the site visit could be at 8am or 9am (it was in the diary for 10am) … I was told it couldn’t be because it was thought that councillors and officers could not make it that time of the day WITH ALL THE TRAFFIC.

🧐🤨

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Follow me, ​Follows.

There’s no doubt about it Waverley Town and Borough Councillor Paul Follows is certainly keeping his finger on Godalming’s pulse.  The town’s new boy is digging deep into development plans which could have a huge impact on the town’s future. We are sure others are doing the same -but are not quite so vocal? So the WW will go with the man who has his fingers on the keyboard.

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Here’s what is being proposed now that ‘Your Waverley” is rolling back the Green Belt around Godalming.

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UPDATE RE: OCKFORD PARK.COMMENTSS FROM SURREY HIGHWAYS AND NATURAL ENGLAND

Two of the main concerns that have been raised by residents so far have been regarding traffic and the environment.

Paul’s view:

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The application (on the Waverley planning portal) has now had two important comments logged against it – one from Natural England and one from Surrey Highways.

NATURAL ENGLAND

NE has in this case requested some more information about some of the protected animal and plant species that may be present: read its full comments here:

http://planning360.waverley.gov.uk/pla…/search-applications…

SURREY HIGHWAYS

SH has commented upon the methodology the applicant has employed, the mitigations proposed and other related matters and a number of other areas. It’s a bit of read but I really would welcome any comments on this.

http://planning360.waverley.gov.uk/pla…/search-applications…

Last week along with other Waverley councillors he attended a session with Ashill,  (the developer) Surrey Highways and other Waverley Councillors to informally discuss the application – so Paul welcomes any general queries. 

He was also a guest of Witley Parish Council (also discussing the application and the potential impact upon their area).

Oh Boy – Waverley’s new boy, certainly gets around!

Happy to discuss on here or at Paul.follows@waverley.gov.uk

Is a Godalming Tory jumping on the local residents’ bandwagon​?

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?

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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

 

Godalming residents show Waverley residents how objecting to development in the green belt​ should be done.

 Residents have decided they will not sit idly by and watch Godalming become Godawfulming or become part of Greater Guildford.

So they have put together a 72-page dossier that ‘Your Waverley’ will have to weigh-in rather than register!

Waverley’s new boy – Councillor Paul Follows – is it only six months since he was elected – seems like years – is, quite obviously, having an impact on the town he serves.  Because the good folk of Godalming are in fight-mode and planners may find it more difficult to support the spread of concrete across the green belt than they first thought? The proposed and combined development – a further 200 plus homes for Guildford would be the largest single expansion of the Godalming settlement boundary.

At a stroke, it would increase the population of Godalming by 4-5% and 8-10% taking the Guildford site into consideration.

objectionsubmitted.jpgResidents say the proposed development by Ashill in Eashing Lane ‘will have profound and long-lasting consequences for the whole of Godalming as well as the surrounding immediate area.’

You can read here why Godalming residents are so incensed by the bid to build 200+ homes on a site which has been included in the Local Plan, by rolling back the green belt.

WW wonders why the Tory councillors were so silent about the land being included in the Local Plan in the first place? 

Godalming Ashill Development is getting the bumsrush from residents.

Here’s the link to the 79 Page Objection Letter

Ignore the people of Godalming at your peril Waverley Planners!

Godalming Town Council will consider the application at the Town Council Meeting on Thursday 6th September at the Waverley Council Chamber.

Godalming Ashill Development is getting the bumsrush from residents.

Godalming residents are waking up and smelling the concrete that could be about to cover part of the town’s once protective green belt.

If recent planning officer recommendations are anything to go by its a given. The mantra in ‘Your Waverley’s ‘ planning department is – ‘if it doesn’t move grant permission!’

Last night at Western Planning officers were quite happy to convert a shed into a house near Farnham Castle’s Conservation Area!!

Residents are beginning to question why farmland should be removed from the Green Belt to provide more housing in Eashing Lane. Some residents are posting videos on the Godalming Community Board generating over a 100 comments in the GREAT GODALMING GREEN BELT DEBATE

  • What do they get in return for 262 houses?
  • A mystery Community Building and a footpath into an existing field they are calling a ‘new Country Park’ – (as it’s too steep to build houses on!)
  • More traffic?
  • Services under stress?

Meanwhile, the developers have released a “Community Update Newsletter” ahead of the Planning Application consultation closing this week.

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Here is the link to download the newsletter.

Respond NOW! here to Waverley by Friday 31st August for WA/2018/1239

One resident and video poster Nina M has also started a petition, which we would like to bring to your attention, seeking to “Ask Waverley BC to rethink housebuilding & reject Ashill development on greenfield land”

Good Luck – We’ve seen how the  East of the Borough, has been treated without the area benefitting from  Green Belt protection! As councillors sat with their hands in the air consenting development after development even on floodplains, they called it ‘Poor Old Cranleigh.”

No doubt they will stick their hands in the air and call our town – “Poor Old Godawfulming!’

Not a single Conservative Councillor has responded as to WHY they took this land out of Green Belt, as opposed to any other space, given the very narrow roads into Godalming or the bottleneck that is the A3 to Guildford.

Perhaps they will break the habit of a lifetime and write to us here at contact@waverleyweb.org