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.