Mayford Village Society AGM - March 5th - Minutes
Annual Report The Committee has had the busiest year in its 20 year history. Most activity related to the Village Society’s response to Woking Council’s Local development Framework Core Strategy report and the threat of development in the Green Belt
Local Development Framework Core Strategy (LDFCS).
Hard copies of all the Society’s reports to the Council were available at the meeting for members to browse through. Copies were delivered by hand to Senior Officers of the Council. All the reports can also be accessed on this site, using links above. MVS has joined with several other neighbouring residents’ associations to form an alliance to be known as Woking Residents Council (WRC) . The Society has set out to demonstrate the following:-
1) Mayford is a unique Village in the Borough and is mentioned in the Doomsday Book
2) Mayford is of strategic importance because it is the green space, often referred to as the green lung, between Woking and Guildford which prevents the coalescence of the two towns. For many years Woking Councillors, Officers and Planning Inspectors have defended Mayford’s Green Belt against development because of this importance.
3) Mayford does not have the infrastructure to support additional housing. There is no doctor, dentist or regular school within its boundary.
4) Many roads in Mayford have no pavements but grass verges and ditches instead. Many roads are unlit at night.
5) Many roads are not served by a bus service.
6) Large areas of Mayford are in the flood plain and should not be built upon.
7) Affordable houses would need a garage. A car would be essential for new residents moving into the Village.
8) The Village is already congested with traffic particularly at peak hours. Additional residents with cars would aggravate this.
The main message to the Council is that Mayford is unique and its Green Belt should be preserved and protected.Woking Council has already looked at a dozen sites within Mayford’s boundary as having potential for development. In every case the Council acknowledges that these sites are in the Green Belt and cannot be developed at the current time. This could change of course. The next stage is that following the public consultation that has taken place the LDF Committee will present further recommendations to Woking Councillors on the way forward after which there will be time for further consultation.
Traffic, speeding and pedestrian safety along Prey Heath Road.
Our Cty Cllr and Ward Cllr continue to work on the safety problems along this road. Some work has been carried out under Worplesdon Railway bridge to reduce flooding and improve overhead lighting but more needs to be done. We are very hopeful that funding will be available next year from Surrey CC for the much needed raised pedestrian walkway under the bridge with a single file vehicle system.
Land near the Shooting Lodge – A320 opposite Whitmoor Lane
There have been two Appeals against WBC’s refusal to allow a motor home on this site. The latest Appeal has been allowed which we hope will not set a precedent. The motor home is for horticultural use only not for residential use.
Hoe Valley Scheme, Westfield Road.
This scheme to build 52 homes has been given the go ahead by Woking Council. It should receive funding of £40m by 2014. A grant of £3.7m from the Environment Agency has been agreed which should protect 200 homes from flooding along the Hoe Stream. The Society has written to Chief Executive, Mr Ray Morgan to remind him of a meeting with the Society in 2006 when assurances were given that the Hoe Stream corridor running through Mayford and Kemishford up to the railway will also be looked at for flood protection as part of the scheme.
Wishel Tennis Club
Cty Cllr Will Forster facilitated a grant from Surrey CC for improvements to the tennis club’s existing site. We hope that this will mean that the club will not be re-locating to Saunders Lane, Mayford. Planning permission expires in three years.
Hand car wash at Wyevale Garden Centre
A planning application was refused and an Enforcement Order issued following which all the buildings associated with this car wash have been removed.
Wyevale now Woking Garden Nursery
The large white canopy that has been erected over the plant sales area does not have planning permission.A retrospective planning application was submitted and the application was refused. Woking Council are preparing an Enforcement Order for the Canopy to be removed. No doubt the applicant will appeal in which case the Society will alert members in a bulletin so that they can submit comments if they wish.
Briarwood Nursery
Details were sent to members in Bulletin 67. The application sets out to prove special circumstances which overcome limitations on Green Belt development. We await the Council’s decision.
Greenlands, adjacent to Secretts on the A320
Planning permission for a horticultural building was granted some time ago. We are monitoring the results of several Enforcement Orders from the Council as we understand the terms of the original planning approval have not been met.
Petition to Surrey CC – crossroads at Blackhorse Road and Saunders Lane
Following many serious injury accidents at this crossroads we supported a petition to Surrey CC for improvements to this dangerous intersection. Will Forster has asked for a grant of £10k for these improvements. No news yet but we are hopeful.
Use of football pitch next to the Village Hall for Mayford F.C Juniors
Woking Council maintain this pitch and their permission is required for its use by Mayford F.C on Saturdays.The Society and local residents were concerned about noise and traffic and parking problems if this were allowed. After our representations to the Council they have found another ground for the club to use for practice so they will not be using the Mayford pitch.
Farnborough Airport
The planning application to Rushmore Council to increase annual aircraft movements from 28,000 to 50,000 was refused. The Society and many members objected to this as did Woking Council. The applicant, TAG Aviation has appealed which will take place at Rushmoor Council Offices on 18th May 2010.
Hook Hill Lane Railway Bridge
This bridge is to be replaced in 2011. We have written to Surrey CC asking that the new design of the bridge includes more robust pinch points to deter commercial vehicles and sloping kerbs to avoid burst tyres for cars who misjudge the gap.
Later in AOB concerns were raised about the speed of traffic over the bridge and whether sloping kerbs would further encourage speeding. The Society will consider this.
Village Litter Pick
We had an excellent turnout last year with 25 members volunteering. This year the date is Saturday 8th May 2010 at 12 midday starting at the Bird in Hand. We only work for two hours. Volunteers work in pairs and Woking Council
provides bibs, sacks and pickers so there is no bending down. Please note your diaries and let Secretary Ron Dawes know you are coming so that we can ensure we have enough equipment. He can be contacted on 766688 or
ron2dawes@aol.com
Potholes
There are far more of them this year. Surrey CC want to know where they are please.
Contact them on 0300 – 200 – 1003. You can also report them on a special page on the Surrey CC website.
Village Entry Signs
With the assistance of Cty Cllr Will Forster and Chairman Doug Walton we have obtained a grant from Surrey CC
to replace three of these signs which are badly rusted. One on the A320 that fell down near Mayford roundabout will be the subject of a further request for funds later. We have received a request to relocate one of the existing signs and later the one on the A320.
This will be done subject to there being no underground utilities to interfere with the new positioning.
Membership
Chairman Doug Walton has made it a personal goal to increase membership of the Society. We have 333 members out of 1600 households in the Village. That number should be higher. Members at the meeting were invited to take with them new member packs to hand to non member neighbours. Nearly all the packs were taken. Anyone reading these minutes can obtain new member packs by contacting the Secretary.
The following issues were raised by members
Ice on Hook Hill Lane and the Blackhorse Road crossroads
There were several multi car accidents adjacent to the above bridge during the icy weather. Too much speed,Ineffective pinch points on the bridge, excessive speed over the bridge and non gritted roads were considered to be the main cause. Bad flooding and ice at the Blackhorse Rd/Saunders Lane crossroads too was noted by Will Forster although with limited budget available from Surrey CC these might prove difficult to resolve.
Uneven pavements in the Village
A particular hazard for pedestrians, particularly the elderly. It is doubtful that funds would be available for improvements. The Society has a good relationship with Kevin Patching, Manager at Surrey CC. We will discuss the above problems with him to see if anything can be done.
Bus Review
Will Forster announced that Surrey CC are to carry out a review of bus services in the County
No 10 Mayford GreenProperty has been unoccupied for some time. Garden in a mess. Will Forster aware. Owned by Surrey CC. The property should be auctioned soon.
Commercial vehicles using Kemishford Bridge
There is a weight limit on the bridge but lorries and coaches seem to ignore it. A problem of policing the bridge.Police resources etc. noted by MVS and Will Forster.
Mayford Village Society response to WBC Local Development Framework Core Strategy
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