Public Meeting & AGM 23-11-13

HOUSING ON OUR ALLOTMENT SITE

COUNCIL CONSULTATION – MORE HOUSING!

THIS MAY BE A LAST CHANCE FOR SOME OF YOU TO FIND OUT WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON AND WHAT MAY BE ABOUT TO HAPPEN. SO PLEASE TRY TO COME ALONG.

OUR MEETINGS ARE ANYTHING BUT DULL, FORMALITIES VERY BRIEF & THERE’S A LOT TO TALK ABOUT – THE ALDERSHOT RD ALLOTMENTS & LOCAL AREA HOUSING PLANS BEING 2 HOT TOPICS!

DATE: SATURDAY 23RD NOVEMBER 2013

TIME: 10:00 START - 11:00 FINISH

VENUE: PARK BARN DAY CENTRE – NEXT TO KINGS COLLEGE (LOTS OF PARKING)

INFORMATION ABOUT WBDRA & THE MEETING

Please do take a look at our website – lots of information about the current GBC consultation & Allotment Site History

website: www.saveouropenspaces.com

If you have any questions/concerns, then please e-mail us – our address is:  wbdra@yahoo.co.uk

WESTBOROUGH, BROADACRES & DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
Meeting Minutes - 24th November 2012

Meeting held at: St Albans Church Hall, Wood Street Village
Commenced: 10.00 hrs

Those present:

David Bird (Chair)                                                                              
Helen Ward (Secretary)

Committee members:

John Shorto  (Treasurer)
Noreen Moynihan
Beverley Mussell

                                                                                                                               
Apologies:

Anne Milton MP 
Dr Paul Cragg (Worplesdon Parish Council)
Barry & Janna Jennings; John Steer & others

                                                                              
                                                                                                                                   
1.  CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME

Meeting commenced 10:00 hrs
The Chairman (DB) welcomed all those present.
He also pointed out the emergency exits and the evacuation procedures. 

2.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES/ RE-ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 3rd December 2011 were unanimously approved as was the re-election of the serving officers (DB, HW, JS and committee members: Bev Mussell, Noreen Moynihan, John Kerswell & Paul Cragg.
DB informed the meeting that Lewis Hulatt was willing to help with anything which required a knowledge of allotment law.

3.  SECRETARY’S REPORT
None for this year

4.  TREASURER’S REPORT
Funds stood at £262.26. There was a £15 annual charge for the website and donations go towards other expenses such as church hall hire.

5.  CHAIRMANS REPORT
 

PLANNING OBJECTIONS 

Had only been raised by WBDRA if there had been concerns from neighbours.
 

38 Oakfields - Had been finally approved by Planning Inspectorate in Bristol

1 Dorrit Crescent - Applicant wanted to build three houses in an area of bungalows. All had gone quiet for now but was expected to reoccur

5 Wood Rise - Applicant wished to put an extension on to one of the Neo-Georgian houses. Although the developer never turned up to the planning meeting, the application was passed

Hare & Hounds - The new owner had planning permission for three houses to which there had been no objections. There had been a new application for five houses but this had been rejected

ALLOTMENT HOUSING 

DB gave an outline of the history of the Aldershot Road allotments:
In 1997 there was supposed to have been a public consultation which never really happened. GBC decided not to rent out 39 allotment plots and these soon fell onto decay & reverted to fallow land.

Proposed area of site land for building could not be accessed via Woodside Road or Westway but could be via Oakfields or possibly Broadacres. Beverley Mussell pointed out that access could be via Hillspur but it would be dangerous and put the Guildford main reservoir at risk.

Building on the site would also cause horrendous drainage issues for Oakfields and Broadacres due to water run-off via natural underground soakaways.
 

A legal battle to halt the change of use from statutory allotments wasn’t really viable and public pressure counted more.

Another public consultation is due soon and hopefully the weight of public opinion will put pressure on the council not to develop the site.
 

Bob McShee (Worplesdon Parish Councillor). Hoped to bring along a lead member of the GBC development team and also a GBC executive to one of our future meetings.
 

GBC has to build 320 new houses per year, however pressure on the allotment site could be somewhat relieved if the proposed 400 houses are built is Ash.
 

Other issues:
 

Bellfields: Also under threat of regeneration and development. This has been put on hold but could help our case as the plotholders on the Bellfields site would come onto our list.

Puttocks Park and Ride:  What will happen to this once the lease expires in 2014? Bob McShee stated that the consultation over this is to be held Jan/Feb 2013 and suggested we write to voice our opinions. Can register online to access the relevant documents etc.
 

Onslow Park and Ride: Where will the new access roads be? No-one present knew the answer

6.  OTHER ISSUES FROM THE FLOOR

Keith Witham – (County Councillor for Worplesdon) explained to the floor the area covered by Worplesdon and that Surrey County Council had spent just under £1.6 billion for that area. GBC spend around 15 million on all major services e.g. Schools, Social Services, infrastructure, fire & rescue etc and that they come under Surrey county Council.
Surrey County Council employs around 26000 people. People who have concerns could talk with Keith or any relevant councillors.

East Guildford Residents Association have stated that they are willing to speak on behalf of all Guildford residents group and are willing to join forces with associations from West Guildford to exert more pressure regarding planning issues.
 

Car and vehicle vandalism in the local area. Raised by HW.
 

Raised by Lyn Mussell asked the County Councillor (Keith Witham) about the impact of the new Police Commissioners and that holders of new posts have to be impartial regardless of political alliances. DB said he would try to invite the local police representative to the AGM next year. Janet Ville had now moved to another post.

Meeting was adjourned at 11:30 hrs by DB who thanked all for attending on this rather cold & wet day.

Minutes submitted by: Helen Ward
 

Approved by:  David Bird