News Bulletin – 18th December 2015
This is our final Newsletter for 2015. It also gives us time for reflection, in that Ash Residents Association is now well over four years old.
A lot of issues have been addressed in that time, a lot or writing has been done, many, many meetings have been held, and many reams of paper have been consumed. We have enjoyed the work we have done and are proud of what we have achieved…… always with your help and support.
May we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Planning Application 15/P/00302. Wandle Close, Ash
7 Dwellings
At the November Planning Meeting it was decided that there should be a site visit by the Councillors before a final decision was taken, in order that the Councillors could see the issues for themselves .
During the period between the November meeting and the December meeting the developers produced a late document which re-iterated their assurances that there would not be any resulting flooding caused by their development. Consequently, prior to this December meeting, Ash Residents Association produced their own document for the Councillors’ consideration, which clearly set out the issues, including that fact that this site was in an area of High Risk from surface water flooding according to the Environment Agency Flood Maps. We also pointed out that, although the developer planned to raise the base of the houses by 300mm above existing ground levels, the site had, in the past, flooded to a depth of 800mm partly due to the existing drains and sewers being surcharged, or completely full. If this therefore happened again after the development, the houses would have 20 inches of water running through them.
The Guildford Borough Council Engineers have now stated that, in light of the ASHRA report, they need to re-assess this application, having previously given it their blessing.
This Application has now been deferred until such time as the Council Engineers have carried out their studies.
Note: If anyone is interested in the document we presented to the Councillors, it can be found here.
Planning Application 15/P/00167. Land West of Spoil Lane
26 Dwellings
This Application was made by Taylor Wimpey as an additional development adjacent to their existing new development in Ash Green Lane West / Manor Road.
This Application was originally refused by Guildford Borough Council, but went to appeal. Unfortunately the appeal was successful, and the development will therefore go ahead. Costs were awarded against GBC.
Planning Application 15/P/00391. 38 South Lane, Ash
6 Dwellings
At the November Planning Meeting it was decided that there should be a site visit by the Councillors before a final decision was taken, in order that the Councillors could see the issues for themselves.
Since then a late consultation request was received from Surrey Wildlife Trust, which raised concerns about the close proximity of Great Crested Newts. It is now up to the applicant to address the issue.
This Application will be brought back to Committee following the results of an appropriate survey.
News Bulletin – 18th November 2015
It appears that another developer is keen to put in a planning application to develop the Warren Farm site in Ash Green. The proposal, as we understand it, is to build 58 houses.
The developers are holding a public exhibition on the proposed development on 26th November 2015 from 17:00 to 20:00 at the Lion Brewery, 104, Guildford Road, Ash, GU12 6BT.
As with all of these public exhibitions, the more people who turn up, the better.
News Bulletin – 26th November 2015
Ash Residents Association thought you might like an update from the Planning Committee meeting of 25th November 2015.
Planning Application 15/P/01868. 109, South Lane , Ash
21 Dwellings
This application is at Appeal at the moment with the Secretary of State, and is awaiting the Planning Inspectors decision. The Appeal was made against non-determination, which means that Guildford Borough Council didn’t make a decision on the Application in the correct time-frame.
The Planning Committee were deciding at this meeting how they would have voted if they had been able to determine it.
The decision taken by the Planning Committee was to refuse this Application.
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Planning Application 15/P/00302. Wandle Close, Ash
7 Dwellings
After hearing the various speakers, the Committee decided, on Councillor Spooner’s suggestion, that there should be a site visit before a final decision is taken, in order that the Councillors can see the serious issues for themselves.
The site visit will take place on 3rd December 2015.
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Planning Application 15/P/00391. 38, South Lane, Ash
6 Dwellings
After hearing the various speakers, the Committee decided, on Councillor Spooner’s suggestion, that there should be a site visit before a final decision is taken, in order that the Councillors can see the serious issues for themselves.
The site visit will take place on 3rd December 2015.
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We will update you on the final outcome of all of these Applications in due course.
News Bulletin – 4th September 2015
Ash Residents Association thought you might like an update from the Planning Committee meeting of 2nd September, on the two Planning Applications that were deferred form the last Planning Meeting, pending site visits.
Planning Application 14/P/01154. Land at Foreman Road, Ash
55 Dwellings
After hearing comments from some of the Councillors who attended the site visit, Councillor Paul Spooner then presented his concerns over this Application. He raised the issue of housing density for this site and also the safety of children, when their proposed playground is adjacent to the Ash level crossing. Another major concern is parking in Foreman Road, which has not been mitigated even though Surrey County Council are making some efforts to reduce the parking opposite the proposed entrance to the site.
The final decision taken by the Planning Committee was to refuse this Application.
If the applicant were to make several amendments to the proposal it is possible that an amended application would be considered.
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Planning Application 15/P/00293. Land at Minley Nursery, Spoil Lane, Tongham
55 Dwellings
Once again after hearing comments from some of the Councillors who attended the site visit, Councillor Spooner presented his concerns over this Application. He raised issues regarding the density of the housing, and expressed his feelings over what he called the “creeping urbanisation of Ash & Tongham". He pointed out the major issues with access to this proposed site, in that it would involve the destruction of an ancient byway. Finally Councillor Spooner said that the Governments National Planning Policy Framework states that "approval should not be given to an Application on areas known to flood"……and this certainly falls into that category.
The final decision taken by the Planning Committee was to overwhelmingly refuse the Application.
The developers can, of course, appeal against this decision.
News Bulletin – 14th August 2015
As you will probably be aware the Guildford Borough Local Plan has been delayed and this leaves Ash and Tongham very exposed, as a lot of land around this area is domiciled as “Countryside Beyond the Greenbelt” and considered to be more acceptable for development than Greenbelt. However, that does not mean that we should just stand by and accept every development scheme that is put before Guildford Borough Council. It would appear that the Planning Department at Guildford Borough Council are keen to just approve every proposal they received, regardless of the merits and the pitfalls. To this end we, at Ash Residents Association, are continuing to make our own assessment of each proposal, using our own experts, presenting reports and, where necessary, objections to the Planning Department, and consulting with our local Councillors.
Having said this, there is a need to build additional housing in all areas of the Borough, indeed there are stringent targets set by the Government. However, we feel we still have a duty to ensure that the Planning Department and the Planning Committee consider the issues that will affect the residents of Ash and Tongham adversely, such as flooding, congestion, overcrowded schools etc.
The following is a list of the Planning Applications in Ash and Tongham that have gone before the Planning Committee in 2015, showing the current status.
Committee Date - 10th June 2015
Planning Application 15/P/00039
Courier House, Aldershot Road, Ash
HiSpeed Courier Warehouse
Decision: Refused
Committee Date - 1st July 2015
Planning Application 15/P/00167
Land West of Spoil Lane, Tongham
26 Dwellings by Taylor Wimpey
Decision: Refused
Planning Application 14/P/02398
Land Adjacent to Grange Farm, Grange Road, Tongham.
50 Dwellings
Decision: Approved
Committee Date - 22nd July 2015
Planning Application 14/P/01870
Land South of Guildford Road, Ash
56 Dwellings
Decision: Refused
Planning Application 15/P/00313
Standard of England, 158, Ash Hill Road, Ash
Morrisons new Store with 2 bed flat above
Decision: Deferred
Committee Date - 12th August 2015
Planning Application 14/P/01154
Land at Foreman Road, Ash
55 Dwellings
Decision: Deferred pending site visit
Planning Application 15/P/00293
Land at Minley Nursery, Spoil Lane, Tongham
55 Dwellings by Bewley Homes
Decision: Deferred pending site visit
Be assured that we will continue to fight applications that we believe are unworkable, unrealistic, unnecessary or just plain reckless.
News Bulletin – 22nd March 2015
This newsletter is to inform residents of the escalating number of Planning Applications that are being presented to Guildford Borough Council for consideration, and to request your assistance in fighting these. We will try to give you some background to each, advise you of our concerns, so that you, in turn, can use these concerns and any others you may have, in objecting to these specific applications.
It is absolutely essential that Guildford Borough Council realise the extent of the local discontent in Ash, Ash Green and Tongham at the amount of building being planned for this area, and the only way we can show them is to object in numbers to these ridiculous and careless Planning Applications.
We would be grateful if everyone could spare the time to write emails to GBC to object to each of these planning applications.
Planning Application 14/P/01154 Land at Foreman Road, Ash
This Application is for 55 homes to be built on the piece of land bounded by Foreman Road and the Railway Track at Ash Station. There are a number of reasons why this application should be refused, not least the fact that traffic access from Foreman Road onto Ash Church Road at the level crossing is almost impossible. Also the traffic from this site will be exiting onto what is effectively a country lane. Alternative routes out of this site will mean increased traffic through Ash Green and along Grange Road.
In addition, the possibility of a bridge being constructed over the railway track at Ash Station is again being considered. If this were to go ahead part of the land that forms this Planning Application would be needed to incorporate the bridge. Until the plans for the bridge are formulated, the design is complete and the amount of land required is known, it is not practical to grant and permission to build houses.
There is still time to send objections on this planning application. They should be emailed to planningenquiries@guildford.gov.uk heading the email Planning Application 14/P/01154 Land at Foreman Road, Ash
Planning Application 15/P/00293 Land at Minley Nurseries, Tongham
This Application is for 55 homes being proposed by Bewley Homes. The land in question is between the existing Taylor Wimpey site at Ash Green Lane West, and the Land behind Ash Lodge Drive that Bewley Homes want to build 400 homes on. This proves that Bewley Homes just aren’t satisfied with destroying a huge piece of beautiful countryside in Ash, they won’t be satisfied until Tongham, Ash and Ash Green are just one massive town.
Their proposal requires taking part of what is, at present, a BOAT (Byway Open to All Traffic: BY518) and to change the byway into a road, thus giving them access to the Taylor Wimpey access road. To do this they will have to destroy what is an ancient byway and many trees along the route. Additionally this will add even more traffic to an already dubious traffic junction with Manor Road, immediately adjacent to a large school and a playschool.
In the Flood Risk Assessment that form part of the Planning Application they state that the site the site is bounded to the south by a railway embankment which acts as a bund stopping flooding from the Hogs Back passing onto the site. Whereas in reality this same railway embankment has been overflowed on a number of occasions over recent years, therefore this site will be dangerously susceptible to flooding.
ASHRA request that as many people as possible send an objection by email to planningenquiries@guildford.gov.uk heading the email Planning Application 15/P/00293 Land at Minley Nurseries, Tongham
Planning Application 15/P/00302 Land at Wandle Close, Ash
This Application is to knock down the existing house at the end of Wandle Close and build 7 new houses on the adjacent land. The land in question is extremely prone to flooding, as can be proven by the numerous photographs ASHRA hold showing Wandle Close and Southlands Road under 300 to 400mm of water….and both of these roads are higher than the proposed building site. The area is highlighted in the Guildford Borough Council Ash Surface Water Study of October 2014.
In addition, the Thames Water sewer which runs through this site is shown in the wrong place, and will run under 5 of the properties gardens.
Objections to this application should be sent by email to planningenquiries@guildford.gov.uk heading the email Planning Application 15/P/00302 Land at Wandle Close, Ash
Planning Application 15/P/00391 38,South Lane, Ash
This application is to knock down the existing bungalow on this site and erect 6 new homes. The site runs along the rear of many of the houses on the south side of Southlands Road. A stream runs along the northern edge of the site and this stream suffers from regular flooding , as can be proven by the numerous photographs ASHRA hold showing Wandle Close and Southlands Road under 300 to 400mm of water….and both of these roads are higher than the proposed building site. The area is highlighted in the Guildford Borough Council Ash Surface Water Study of October 2014.
Objections to this application should be sent by email to planningenquiries@guildford.gov.uk heading the email Planning Application 15/P/00391 38,South Lane, Ash
The ASHRA committee thank residents for their continued support, and ask that everyone spare the time to send their objection emails against these applications. this is extremely important for the future of the area
News Bulletin – 23rd November 2014
Those of you who regularly read our newsletter or visit our website will know that some time ago Ash Parish Council made an application for a Judicial Review of Guildford Borough Council’s decision to grant planning permission on planning application 12/P/01973. This application is to build up to 400 homes on Ash Meadows to the south of Ash Lodge Drive.
Last Thursday the High Court Judge issued his findings, and unfortunately she decided in favour of Guildford Borough Council, even though she did find in his written judgement that Guildford Borough Council were wrong in not applying weight to Local Policy RE4. However, the judge decided that, because there was no Local Plan in place demonstrating a 5 year land supply for building, this was the over-riding factor. Ash Parish Council sought leave to appeal which was also refused by the Judge. Ash Parish Council are now discussing the options with their legal team. The full version of the judgement can be read here http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2014/3864.html
We will of course keep you updated.
In summary, Guildford Borough Council’s performance in all of this is extremely poor. They have failed, over a long period of time, to produce a Local Plan. Even now the new Local Plan, that is under discussion and has been out for consultation, is being delayed by the minor political parties for political reasons and to score points. Therefore once again, there is no consideration being given to the residents of Guildford Borough.
In addition, the Guildford Borough Council officers have erroneously advised the Councillors on serious and important issues.
The only party to take any credit is Ash Parish Council, for their unstinting efforts on behalf of the residents of Ash.
Graham
News Bulletin – 28th September 2014
Cluster Fund
You will remember the email we sent out recently informing everyone about the proposals by Surrey County Council & Guildford Borough Council to revamp the way they want to engage with residents about the issues in their local area. They were asking for suggestions as to what projects could be undertaken to improve the local community.
Well we have gathered all of your suggestions and forwarded them to Guildford Borough Council for consideration. Interestingly the most frequent suggestion was “Give the money to ASHRA to fight for residents”!
There is a public meeting to be held on Monday 27th October 2014 at 7:30 to 9pm at Ash Centre, Ash Hill Road, Ash, GU12 5DP where your suggestions will be discussed.
Becoming a Councillor
Borough and Parish Council elections are due to take place in 2015. Guildford Borough Council has notified us that there are FREE seminars for potential candidates.
If you are thinking about standing for election to the Borough Council or Parish Council in May 2015 the seminar will be held at G Live, Guildford at 6.30pm on Tuesday 14th October 2014. The seminar will cover:
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Getting elected
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The role and functions of the Borough Council and parish councils
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The role and function of councillors
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Ethical standards
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Support provided for councillors
You will also be able to ask questions of existing councillors and Council staff. If you plan to attend please let GBC know by emailing
committeeservices@guildford.gov.uk or calling 01483 444102.
Planning Application 14/P/01637- Land at, 109 South Lane, Ash.
We are reviewing this Planning Application, and are in the process of preparing our official response.
Planning Application 12/P/01973 – 400 Homes on Land to the South of Ash Lodge Drive
We understand that Ash Parish Council is still awaiting notification from the High Court of the date when their Judicial Review will be heard. The JR is alleging unlawful determination by Guildford Borough Council on various grounds.
The Ash Surface Water Study
The Ash Surface Water Study is on the agenda of GBC Executive on 30th September 2014. This study was conducted, using information gathered from various sources including the recent Halcrow Report, which has been reviewed and commented on by ASHRA, in its current draft form. We have requested that our technical comments and corrections to that report be taken into account at that meeting on 30th September.