Tag: Green Oaks School

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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Do you remember when the WW did a little fact checking on The Tory’s efforts to keep ‘IN TOUCH’ With Godalming’s electorate?

Well, we have just completed a little FACT CHECKING exercise on  Waverley Liberals’ efforts in its latest Newsletter –  FOCUS.

 

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We have FACT-CHECKED this document – which gets 10/10 for accuracy and more important gets 10/10 for refraining from hogging all the praise for saving Green Oaks School instead makes reference to the ‘partnership’ fight between Lib Dems, residents and Green Oaks PTA.

You can read the Newsletter in Full by clicking on the link below.

Waverley Focus Summer 2018

In the interest of fairness and balance here is our post that FACT-CHECKED – VISION FROM THE GODALMING CONSERVATIVES.

Caption competition – Help the Local Tories with their leaflets?

FactCheck – Your Local Tory leaflet?

People Power or Political Power?

Never before have we seen such scrutiny applied to a piece of Conservative propaganda as this piece of fiction that was delivered in Central Godalming, and has caused quite a stir on the Godalming Community Facebook Group. Thanks, Elaine for the post!

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Godalming Residents, the Green Oaks PTA and parents have been steaming at the idea that Cllr Andrew Bolton is taking credit for “allowing the school to remain open for a year”, generating 98 comments of outrage in the Facebook Group. Elaine asked the Group: “I thought the Liberal Dems councillor Paul David Follows was the main campaigner of keeping Green Oaks school open? Have I got that wrong?”

 

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It was well known that the Conservatives wanted to close the school, which had caused them some headache over the years, ruining the Education Cabinet member Cllr Peter Martin’s Waverley statistics. No wonder Peter took every opportunity to brief against the school, and apparently urging fellow councillors that the closure was inevitable. This briefing then led to Jeremy Hunt issuing this unfortunate press release reported in the Sorry Advertiser:
Jeramy Hunt backs Green Oak school closure decision as public meeting called. Jeremy Hunt said: “although he sympathised with parents and children, he understood Surrey County Council’s decision. It is a great shame that Green Oaks CofE Primary School is set to close and I fully appreciate the concerns of parents who are understandably worried about what will happen to their children and where they will continue their education.”

Sometimes Jeremy you need to consult the actual people rather than your Tory cronies as to the will of the people!

Godalming Town Councillor Richard Wainwright jumped in to try and defend Peter Martin and Andrew Bolton and received very short shift!

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Richard was also noted for taking credit for the Godalming Neighbourhood Plan, something he admitted was nothing to do with him, although he did apparently amend a line in it at the consultation stage. Bravo Richard!

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Of course Green Oak parents are also furious that the Conservatives  say the school only has a years’ reprieve!

That’s  not what the parents have been told – and is hardly likely to encourage people to send their children there with its future in limbo!

If you receive an election leaflet, from whatever party, do send it in to us at WW and we will be happy to fact check it with you!

Our post yesterday asked if some Waverley councillors had been hit by the pre-election panic stick?

This particular Godalming Councillor most certainly has!

Gets interesting when Councillor Bolton jumps in talking in the third person.. so when he does deign to engage with the community it’s not even him!

Now here’s the real man behind the campaign to save Green Oak School. Councillor Paul Follows. Election season 2019 has begun?

PAUL FOLLOWS – Godalming’s new man on the council block plays a blinder in support of the town’s schoolchildren.

Green Oaks School closure prompts emergency Town Meeting tonight.

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Have ‘Your Waverley’s’ planners been hit by pre-election fever?