"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when once we practise to deceive.
Having had a briefing from some worried Tory Councillors about restless locals, he hurried down to The Ming to get first dibs on the upcoming offer. Its a shame he didn’t have time to meet with the local ‘Broom and Lee – Keep Charterhouse Green Belt Greens’ campaign group at the same time.
A spider at Gownboys Hall tipped us off about the Charterhouse Greenbelt picket line on Saturday. Demonstrators against Charterhouse’s proposals for 132 houses on the Greenbelt playing fields took direct action with placards and stakeboards all along the perimeter of the threatened playing fields.
This happened to coincide with an open morning for prospective parents arriving down Queens Drive. Parents took a tour of the school with a pupil followed by a question and answer session with the headmaster. No doubt the question was – why the protestors at such a school?!
When they were given the answer, or not – all they had to do was look across at the playing fields and watch pupils enjoying a variety of sports on some of the finest playing fields of England, just before the earthmovers take over? Why? To support the viability of the school of course, and keep their fees down. And no doubt fill Waverley’s coffers with Community Infrastructure Levy?
Honk if you want to save the Charterhouse Green Belt! The campaign is gathering pace. No wonder the security were looking rather twitchy!
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?
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
Conservative central office kindly sends out a template for local Councillors to fill in and pretend they are ‘In Touch’ This does rely on them having something to say. Nothing stops a Tory sticking out a leaflet with their faces in it – not even basic editing.
Unfortunately, the Godalming edition was sent to the printers with the templates still incomplete!
We’d like to offer a bottle of Silent Pool Gin to the best caption writer out there – Please comment below!
So which local Tory is being beaten up over this glaring error? Perhaps Jeremy’s agent and local co-ordinator Edward Norman will consider his position or is he now too busy in Woking, Runnymede & Weybridge to spot these glaring mistakes.
Here at the Waverley Web we have one of our own:
‘Hands up if you think we can manage to get our leaflets in shape- let alone protect Godalming.’
Here are four things that are pushing their campaigning activities forward:
2. They have set up a campaign website, where you can find out about saving Broom & Lees playing fields here.
3. They have set up a closed Facebook Group – do apply to join it. We understand that local Tory Councillors have been forced to log in and join to defend their actions – and their seats in 2019!
4. They have started leafleting the local community!
Here at the Waverley Web, we applaud you. Well done, we support you bringing pressure to bear!
