Chaldon Matters April 2017
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Chaldon Matters www.chaldonvillagecouncil.org.uk Newsletter 47 April 2017 TDC Leader Proposes New Garden Village Land to the west of Chaldon In recent press releases, Cllr Martin Fisher, expressing our anger and frustration at his - has areas of Great Landscape Value (AGLV); Leader of Tandridge District Council (TDC), failure to clearly inform us of the inclusion - has Landscape Character Areas 2015; put forward a proposal of a ‘garden village’ of the land at Chaldon as a possible location - is designated as Green Belt and the TDC as the solution to meeting the housing need. for a large development that would be so LP Green Belt Assessment confirmed that The Sites Consultation that took place at the damaging to Chaldon. it serves the purpose as defined under the end of 2016 identified two possible sites for NPPF; this garden village or extended settlement The inclusion of this land, which was not - is adjacent to the important North Downs at South Godstone and Blindley Heath. part of the ‘Sites Consultation’, completely Way National Trail; However, the recent inclusion of new undermines the Local Plan process. It raises - surrounds the Chaldon Conservation Area; sites in the updated Housing & Economic considerable fears in the local community - links two sites of Special Scientific Interest; Land Availability Assessments (HELAA), and will offer false hope to developers. - has a number of highly important grade II including land to the west of Chaldon, has Therefore, the land needs to be properly ancient buildings; raised the possibility that other locations assessed as soon as possible and either ruled - surrounds the ancient St Peter and St will be considered. out of consideration for inclusion in the Paul’s Church with its 12th century wall Local Plan or, if still viable, arrangements painting that is unique in England. Chaldon Village Council closely questioned made for a public consultation before any Cllr Fisher on the Local Plan and other further decisions are made. It is important to stress that, at this stage, issues during his attendance at our February there is no suggestion that any of these new meeting. He was specifically asked about the As far as we are aware, the land has sites will be selected, but we must not be land to the west of Chaldon and whether this not previously been put forward for complacent. The lack of candour from Cllr large site would be considered as a location consideration and this is hardly surprising Fisher is a warning that we cannot rely on for the ‘garden village’. However, at the given its high significance with regard to TDC for information or have confidence meeting Cllr Fisher was very circumspect landscape value, green belt, local history that they will consider the interests of and chose not to be candid with the Council. and biodiversity. Chaldon when making district-wide Instead we learnt of the inclusion of this planning decisions. For this reason CVC land through press releases a few days later. The land: will be submitting its own assessment of the - has designated areas of outstanding sites and will robustly defend our important We have now written to Cllr Fisher (the Natural Beauty (AONB); Green Belt and green spaces. letter can be found on the Council website) - includes tracts of ancient woodland with Inside this issue... great historical significance; Cllr Bob Milton NEW GARDEN VILLAGE PROPOSAL GREAT BRITISH SPRING CLEAN ANNUAL VILLAGE MEETING SPRING WALKS CHANGES ON THE COUNCIL BROADBAND UPDATE Communication Welcome to the first Chaldon Matters Chaldon are undoubtedly major contributors Finally, CVC is asking for your help in of 2017 and my first as Editor. I’d like to to the character of the village, and the walks identifying Chaldon wildlife. In this edition, start by thanking Jacqui Mitchell, former are a great opportunity to celebrate them and you’ll find a flyer depicting more unusual Councillor, who has worked so hard to ensure their ongoing right of way. species that can be found in the village. develop this newsletter over the past few years. I am very pleased to be taking on such We’ve reached an important stage in the Please get in touch with Cllr Brand on the a worthwhile job. Also, a huge thank you to Neighbourhood Plan process, with TDC email address on the flyer if you spot any all our distributors in the village, who, come reviewing the policies. Cllr Milton has of them. rain or shine, will make sure everyone gets worked tirelessly on behalf of the village their copy. We couldn’t do it without you! to reach this point and we are enormously I hope you find this issue of Chaldon grateful to him. Matters informative, and I would welcome It’s great to see the days lengthening and your feedback and/or input to inform future spring arriving in Chaldon. We’re looking For anyone who would like to receive an content. forward to seeing Chaldon residents come electronic version of Chaldon Matters, and out in record numbers for the Spring walks also minutes from CVC’s meetings, you can Cllr Rebecca Gower in May, particularly for me, the children’s sign up on the Council’s website at http:// walk, which I’ll be leading. The footpaths in chaldonvillagecouncil.org.uk/ Let’s Celebrate Chaldon! Village Meeting to be held on 27th April. support from village residents through the Please try to come and get involved in a Chaldon Working Group. For the past months, we seem to be involved project that is of vital importance to the in a perpetual battle to protect our village village and will be very enjoyable and Cllr Bob Milton from unsustainable development. First, we rewarding to be a part of. We cannot do it had Surrey National Golf Course and Roffes without you! Lane as possible sites and now we have the All Change on the Council huge tract of land that covers Tollsworth, Alderstead Heath and Chaldon Court Farm. Your Council continues to challenge these Goodbye to Jacqui... new sites and, through high quality site assessments, has been able to demonstrate their unsuitability for development. We will continue to do so through the Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan. The recent activity by the Chaldon Working Group to identify and assess sites for possible Local Green Space designation is an example of how we can be highly proactive and take the initiative away from TDC planners. Your Council wants to continue with this proactivity by producing a Village Design Statement (VDS) that will celebrate all that is good about Chaldon and provide a very clear guide to TDC and developers It is after 4 thoroughly enjoyable years that as to the type, location and character of all I look forward to seeing you there, but if you the Council has to bid farewell to Jacqui future development in Chaldon. We have an have any questions in the meantime please Mitchell. Jacqui has been an exceptional opportunity to do this now, with possible contact me. asset to the Council for the whole time she funding through the Neighbourhood Plan has been a member. It would be impossible for specialist guidance. But we need the help Cllr Bob Milton to enumerate all of Jacqui’s successes on the of Chaldon to produce the VDS. Village Council within this short article. The Chaldon Working Group demonstrated Neighbourhood Plan Update However, in this copy of Chaldon Matters what can be achieved if we come together it would be remiss of me not to draw as a village and I am once again calling on The Neighbourhood Plan has reached everyone’s attention to the fact that without all Chaldon residents to consider giving a crucial stage with the TDC Planning Jacqui Chaldon Matters would not exist as up some spare time to help us produce department reviewing all policies. As I the quality, informative newsletter that it the best VDS we can. We want to tap into write this article, the CR3 Forum is engaged is today. Jacqui has for many years had the your skills and knowledge and this doesn’t in discussions with TDC to agree the final thankless task of chasing Councillors for mean necessarily attending long meetings. wording of the policies. articles, collating and “tweaking” articles to We will produce the VDS through a series ensure brevity where so many of us prefer of events that will help us identify and A key component of the Neighbourhood to be verbose. She has designed what has celebrate everything that is good about Plan is the defining of character areas and become a publication that the Council can Chaldon; its people, its history, its buildings the development of design statements. This be proud of. This baton has been passed and its environment. The VDS will also help is one reason why CVC wishes to continue to Rebecca Gower who, I have no doubt, us to understand what we need to improve with its plan to write a Village Design will continue to maintain and improve the the village and help us to develop a clear Statement for Chaldon. We are currently quality of Chaldon Matters as well as the plan to protect and enhance quality of life in working with the CR3 Forum to identify rest of the communications brief. our beautiful village. possible funding for expert advice. The production of a Village Design Statement The VDS will be launched at the Annual is a major undertaking and CVC will need Welcome to Keith knowing her I am optimistic that she will – for example, the vast majority of Street continue to be active within the community Lights are currently dimmed by up to 50% and remain a great asset to the residents of power from 2200 – 0530 hours each night.