APPENDIX 2

Consultation Statement Shepherd and Flock Roundabout Proposed Conservation Area and draft Conservation Area Appraisal

Introduction

Waverley Borough Council prepared a draft Conservation Area Appraisal (CAA) to support the proposal for the Shepherd and Flock roundabout to be designated as a Conservation Area (CA) and carried out an associated consultation. This report outlines how the consultation was undertaken, who was involved and how responses were considered.

Consultation Process

A walkabout was conducted on 10 September 2020 with Local and Town Councillors and environmental enhancement projects for the management plan were highlighted.

The formal consultation started on Friday 2 October 2020 for six weeks, ending on Friday 13 November 2020 and included a public meeting held on Monday 2 November 2020 at 7pm. This was held virtually, via Zoom, due to the Covid -19 pandemic.

The following methods to inform the public of the consultation included:

 Letter to all residents and businesses within the proposed CA.  Letter to key stakeholders including:  Town Council  Farnham Society  County Council Highways and Rights of Way  Statutory consultees (Historic , Natural England and Environment Agency)  Thames Water  Relevant internal Waverley officers  Local Councillors

Due to the Council offices not being open to the public a hard copy of the draft Shepherd and Flock roundabout CAA document was not available at the Council Offices for viewing but residents could request a copy be sent to them and a copy could also be viewed online at the following link: www.waverley.gov.uk/shepherdandflockcaa

Whilst the consultation was focused, it did not preclude other interested parties from responding. In addition to the webpage on the Council’s website, a press release (Appendix A) was issued to inform the public of the consultation and public meeting and this subsequently appeared in the Farnham Herald on 2 October 2020.

Respondents were able to comment on the proposed Conservation Area designation and draft Shepherd and Flock roundabout CAA in a variety of ways:  Via the online Innovem (consultation) database accessed via the website (with no need to register)  By email to the heritage inbox ([email protected])  By letter  At the public meeting held on 2 November 2020

A number of key questions were asked:  Do you agree with the proposed designation of the Shepherd and Flock Roundabout as a Conservation Area?  Do you have any comments on the draft Shepherd and Flock Conservation Area Appraisal, and should it cover any other issues?  Do you have any comments on the draft Management Plan, and should it cover any other issues?  Do you agree with the proposed boundary for the Conservation Area?If not, please provide details or any areas you think should be included or excluded.

A full summary of the consultation responses is set out below. The main issues have been identified as a result of this process and, where appropriate and/or necessary, amendments made to the CAA.

Consultation Responses

Nineteen people attended the public meeting where questions ranged from the reasons behind the appraisal and management plan, whether it would affect owners on a day to day basis and how the management plan would be carried out. Specific questions and our response are outlined below together with the 29 written responses which were received. They fell into one of five categories:

1) Key consultees 2) Comments on the proposed designation 3) Comments on the draft conservation area appraisal 4) Comments on the draft management plan 5) Comments on the proposed boundary

The comments are summarised below.

1) Key consultees

Consultee Comment Historic England We welcome this conservation area appraisal, which refers and responds well to the key points raised in our published guidance. We do not consider it necessary to offer detailed comments but offer the following observations:  We note the unique character of this proposed conservation area which has a distinct rural and historic character but is entirely enclosed by a large

modern roundabout with urban development of Farnham town close by;  In light of this it may be helpful to expand on the setting section, for example explaining how setting shows historic relationships and uses or maintains a sense of this small distinct area Natural England Natural England does not have any specific comments on the proposal or conservation area appraisal. Environment The Environment Agency does not have any specific Agency comments on the proposal or conservation area appraisal. Surrey County Request that the SCC land currently being utilised as a Council (SCC) highways depot is excluded from the conservation area so Highways that the operational functionality of the site is not restricted.

Any existing highway assets that form part of the public highway within the roundabout, will remain as they currently exist. If rationalisation or alteration is required, this could be considered subject to approval and the necessary funding being made available. The highway budget for this type of work is currently zero this financial year with the outlook for the next financial year predicted to be the same. Improvements identified in the management plan may therefore require alternative funding sources.

Officer response The reasons for why this area is included is expanded on in section 5) of this report. Conservation area designation will not impact the operational functionality of the highways depot. Surrey County Consider the proposed designation to be operationally and Council Land and historically inappropriate. Property There are concerns that a future designation would fetter the ability to safeguard the site for operational highway requirements or for appropriate development on the northern section of the site. The planning policy requirements that would be triggered by such a designation would create onerous requirements and design considerations that hinder existing and potential future uses. Whilst SCC share the ambitions of improving the wider public realm across the county, it is considered that the contents of the management plan present an unrealistic position of what works could be achievable from an operational or safety point of view. SCC is therefore concerned that the CAA will be used as leverage for improvements to the area which are neither warranted not viable.

We consider that most of the historical associations have been lost with the 20th century construction of the roundabout and therefore there is only a very marginal case to argue significant value to warrant designation as a conservation area. In particular this relates to the northern section of the roundabout and therefore SCC would not object if only the southern section was designated.

Officer response Conservation area designation would not impact the operational functionality of SCC land and it does not prevent development. It is a material consideration in planning applications but this is not considered to be onerous and the development’s location within a conservation area is often found to be beneficial to the owner once works is complete. The reasons for why the northern section of the roundabout is included is expanded on in section 5 of this report. Farnham Town Consider the Shepherd and Flock Roundabout to be Council (FTC) worthy of becoming a conservation area as it as a unique site with listed buildings, heritages assets, and interesting history all within an unusual setting of a roundabout. FTC is content that the area has been thoroughly assessed and notes the inclusion of the Battle of Moor Park. The consultation has highlighted that residents' dedicate time and their own resources in ensuring the underpass is graffiti free. The residents' have requested SCC include the underpass on a maintenance programme for drains and clearing leaves to support their efforts. Changes to the railings and the removal of unnecessary clutter would improve the conservation area. FTC looks forward to a detailed action plan covering matters that have emerged from this process. The Farnham The Society supports the proposed designation of the Society Shepherd and Flock roundabout as a conservation area. However, we have discovered several issues and errors that require revisiting within the appraisal and management plan - We have inputted these more specific comments into the relevant sections below.

2) Comments on the proposed designation

We received 28 supports and three objections to the proposed designation. Only two of the objections provided reasons:

Comment Officer Response The roundabout does have some Disagree for reasons outlined in section 3 of historic features in the identified the CAA. ChA1 which we agree is very

pleasant, however it is not representative of the complete roundabout and there is no benefit to making the whole area an conservation area for a few houses which can easily be covered individually within the current legislation.

Conservation area designation Planning decisions will be still be decided adds an additional level of the usual way, it just adds an additional unwarranted costs and hindrance constraint which once development is to the housing needs of Farnham. complete is often seen as beneficial. The roundabout is not suitable for Designation as a conservation area does the number of vehicles that use it not prevent change and it’s not possible to on a daily basis, improvements to hold the designation indefinitely for works site lines, signage and larger that are not even in the pipeline or infrastructure improvements are considered possible, some of which could required. The roundabout’s irretrievably damage the character of the designation as a conservation area area. would make it difficult to get it altered in any way, which, should be considered. If and when it is ever done then the conservation plan would probably be a good idea.

3) Comments on the draft conservation area appraisal

The majority of respondees were happy with the contents of the document but we did receive the following comments:

Comment Officer Response It should just be about preventing Conservation area designation is about deterioration. managing change to ensure that any development/works preserves or enhances the character and appearance of the conservation area, as defined in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. It should also cover the flora and Conservation areas are about the built fauna in more detail environment, natural features do come into play but there is no requirement or need to cover it in more detail. Incorrect date for the Battle of Moor Noted, this typo has been corrected. Park on page 17. Figure 4 is incorrectly labelled as Noted, this typo has been corrected. Bourne Mill instead of Bourne Place.

Some of the details are incorrect: These are additional details rather than  Part of the village green was those in the draft appraisal being incorrect. taken by compulsory purchase It is important to balance providing an first for the 1939 construction of interesting document with one that it is the Farnham Bypass and useable and not unwieldy. However, the secondly in 1950s with other document has been reviewed and the adjacent land for the 1968 name of the cycle route has been added to construction by SCC of the section 3.7.1. Shepherd and Flock roundabout scheme. The remaining part of the VG is leased to the pub by Waverley BC  Historically Moor Park Lane was an access to Moor Park House which was remodelled in 1686 by Sir Clive Temple, who built the pleasure gardens as shown in a painting by Kipp.  The King Alfred Way cycle route runs down Moor Park Lane from the underpass 7, 7A and 9-11 Moor Park Lane Thank you for this additional information, it Farnham, were converted from the has been incorporated into the document stables to Bourne Place in the arts where appropriate. and crafts style by a local architect, Herbert Young Margary. He also designed the now named Phyllis Tuckwell hospice and the original Swain and Jones car room. One of the attractions of the path Thank you for this additional information, to Moor Park was the waterfall although interesting it is not pertinent to the above the path by Rock Mill character of the proposed conservation (outside of the roundabout). area and therefore officers have decided not to incorporate it within the report. The original pub was not in the Thank you for this additional information. present building but in no.21 Although interesting, as no rough date for opposite. It was relocated when the relocation has been provided and the the owner, Mr Reid, discovered he public house is shown on the 1871 OS could get more money by having a map in its existing location, officers have larger building. decided not to incorporate it into the document. There is a photo of the Battle of Due to copyright issues we cannot include Moor Park, which should be this photo but we will include the web link included. in ‘Appendix 5 – Sources of information and further information’, for those who would like to find out more. More reference should be made to Noted however, officers consider it not to the allotments, in particular it is a be open in the same way, as it is obscured large area which is arguably just as by mature hedging and set behind the open as 24 Moor Park Lane. houses and therefore not wholly visible from the public realm.

Should section 3.7.2 be re-named? This section is about how the greenery It is headed Streetscape but refers contributes to the streetscape, officers to woodland and trees. consider the heading to be appropriate and consistent with other CAA’s.

4) Comments on the Management Plan Comment Officer Response Section 4.1 applies a broad brush Agreed and the wording has been changed policy not reflecting the distinct to reflect the differences in the differences between the two characteristics of the character areas. character areas nor recognising the However, it should be noted that this capacity for ChA2 to accommodate document does not set policy and is only carefully designed development. guidance. The roundabout is within the Three out four of the existing conservation Farnham Settlement Boundary areas in Farnham lie within the settlement which means a presumption in boundary. Officers consider that it does not favour of development applies, this need to be referenced. should be clarified. There seems to be no monies to The purpose of the management plan is to back up or carry out any proposed identify ways that the area can be improved works. or enhanced, not to specifically set aside for these projects. In addition, highlighting these opportunities may open up different funding streams. Please leave the area as it is. Conservation are designation does not prevent development and therefore it is important to identify what type of development would be acceptable in order to preserve or enhance the areas and ways it can be improved. The plan should not be promoting See above development of the conservation area. In the recommendation for the Agreed and amended. Waverley Design Awards the Plan should be encouraging Amenity Societies, residents and the general public not just the town council to nominate outstanding developments. Consider section 4.4.2 to be out of This section is consistent with other CAAs place and excessive for the and considered appropriate. The subway proposed conservation area. forms part of the land maintained by Surrey Think the subway should be given County Council and therefore it has been a separate heading as its one of grouped with these. the highest profile issues facing the appearance of the area. A cycle/pedestrian access via a This is beyond the remit of the management bridge or toucan crossing for those plan. If you believe there is a safety issue approaching from the Sainsbury's

Water Lane direction would be please contact Surrey County Council useful, at present it seems the only Highways. safe crossing point is the subway from road. It seems a little light on firm  Trees are protected by the need to apply suggestions on how to preserve the for consent to fell any tree larger than area. Some further suggestions: 75cm in diameter.  Protection of trees and  Flower planters are lovely and do landscape features not enhance a street scene but they are mentioned. considered too urbanising for this rural  Flower planters of the quality setting. and level of maintenance to  The condition of the underpass is those in North Street would already noted within the document. enhance them.  Interpretation boards are a useful way  The underpass itself is filthy. It for people to gain an understanding of needs a regular cleaning and history of an area but in this location maintenance schedule. officers feel it would be unnecessary  An interpretation board would cluttering. also not go amiss.  It is acknowledged that wheelie bins add  How can the proliferation of to the clutter within a CA and can be domestic wheelie bins in the detrimental to the character if not stored street scene be removed? appropriately. There is clearly a tension  Include a recommendation for between CA designation and the need the gates into the Surrey depot for refuse and recycling collection and be more in keeping with the area storage. As a team we are constantly looking at approaches to improve the situation, however these are challenging for CA’s.  It is not appropriate to identify items on private in addition these gates represent the functional nature of the site. The entrance gates are not lawful During the course of this consultation and do not reflect the true public officers have become aware that these highway within the CA. gates were placed in this location by They be relocated at the entrance of residents to encourage drivers to turn the proposed CA to signify the start. around. Putting gates to mark the conservation area is considered to be unnecessary clutter.

5) Comments on the proposed boundary

Comment Officer Response It should cover all through Moor The reasons for not including this area have Park Lane covering High Mill the already been explained in section 3.9 of the Farm etc. appraisal. Include the roads abutting the These roads form part of the urban wider proposed boundary. In our setting of the proposed conservation area experience the quality of and it is not considered appropriate to development is often less just include them within the boundary. The outside the conservation area. impact on the setting of a conservation area

is a material consideration for a planning application. Include the foot underpasses under See above the roadway - both of them. ChA2 does not have the same Whilst we agree that ChA2 does not hold as historic value or character as ChA1 much historic value as the other area it and therefore should not be does form part of the historic layout and its included within the boundary. development. It also contributes to how the area is viewed from outside the prposed CA.

Next Steps

The consultation has informed officer’s recommendation for the area to be designated as a Conservation Area and the necessary amendments to the document before being submitted to the Head of Service for a final decision.

Appendix A – Press Releases

Have your say on the proposed Shepherd and Flock Conservation Area

Published: Tuesday 29 September 2020

Waverley Borough Council is seeking views on a new proposal to designate the Shepherd and Flock Roundabout as a Conservation Area. An appraisal has been completed which assesses the condition of the proposed conservation area and sets out potential enhancements.

The council wants to ensure the area is preserved and enhanced for future generations and views from across the community are being sought.

The draft Shepherd and Flock Conservation Area Appraisal is open for comment from Friday 2 October 2020 until Friday 13 November 2020 and can be viewed online and comments submitted at www.waverley.gov.uk/shepherdandflockcaa.

A virtual public meeting will be held for the community to ask questions and comment on the Appraisal on Monday 19 October 2020 at 7pm. If you would like to attend, please see our webpage above for details of how sign up. If you have any difficulties, please contact [email protected] call 01483 523429.

Councillor Andy MacLeod, Waverley Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Services, said: “The Shepherd and Flock Roundabout is a well-loved and important site, so it’s vital it is properly maintained and looked after. "The area is the site of the almost entirely peaceful "Battle of Moor Park" in 1897, when around 500 angry townsfolk of Farnham vindicated their legal right of way to pass over the various footpaths leading through the estate of Sir William Rose. “The site’s unique character and charm make it possibly one of the largest inhabited roundabouts in the UK and the detailed appraisal of the area’s character and condition will help us ensure its preservation. The information will also help inform planning decisions in and around the proposed conservation area. “We’d really like to hear people’s views on our proposals before we make any definite decisions. The consultation will run until 13 November 2020 so please make sure you take part if you want to have your say.” Hard copies of the appraisal are available on request and responses can be sent via online questionnaire, by email to [email protected] or by post addressed to Planning Policy, Waverley Borough Council offices, The Burys, , GU7 1HR.