Cranleigh Parish Council AGM last week & Leisure Centre consultation

Cranleigh Parish Council AGM last week & Leisure Centre consultation

Parish Council AGM – Thursday 7th March 2024

It was an interesting evening in Cranleigh Village Hall

Parish Council’s work

A few Parishioners turned out to listen to the report of the past year from Chairman Marc Scully. When looking at the list of projects and maintenance that the councillors considered and decided about it is no wonder they find it quite a tough job!  It includes all planning applications in the area, being consulted with about all big projects such as the Surrey County Council’s High street improvements, Waverley Borough Council’s plans for Cranleigh Leisure Centre, and continuing work on Cranleigh Neighbourhood plan,  and the LCWIP – local cycling and walking plans!

The King’s Coronation – Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie’s visit to Cranleigh

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey Michael More-Molyneux

Mr More-Molyneux and his wife attended the meeting to represent the King because of the welcome Cranleigh gave royal visitors on the occasion of His Majesty the King’s coronation. Mr More-Molyneux took along a beautiful plaque to commemorate the Royal Visit of Prince Edward and his wife Duchess Sophie. The plaque is to be displayed publicly for all to see.  He presented it to a member of the audience who received it on behalf of Cranleigh Community.  It was rather a special moment. He has lived in the county of Surrey all his life. Loseley Park has been the residence of the More-Molyneux family for over five centuries.

Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan –  it’s a good thing

Neighbourhood plans are to empower locals to have a say in where housing can be built.  Ewhurst recently voted for theirs.  Part of the Parish Council’s work this last year is to bring Cranleigh Neighbourhood plan to Referendum status – achieved – but currently suspended by a legal challenge – the reason for which is not allowed to be published – the challenger must be protected.  However it should be heard by the high court this month with any luck, then arrangements made to vote YES and adopt not long after.  It is a good plan with only a few areas of Cranleigh to be built on, and many protections and enhancements.  If and when building does occur at least the amount of CIL money (developer’s contributions) will be higher.

High Street plans are nothing to do with the Neighbourhood plan.  

The connection with High Street plans is simply that developers’ contributions must be identified at planning permission stage – so as far back as 2017 in some cases.  The Parish and Borough council asked for money to upgrade Cranleigh High Street and that money can only be spent on the agreed projects.  There are further surveys being carried out including speed surveys along the High Street. You will notice cables fixed across the road.

Cranleigh Leisure Centre presentation by Architects and Waverley officers

Another project has been to work with Waverley Borough Council to bring about plans for Cranleigh Leisure centre to be replaced by an amazing Passivhaus pool with many studios and other rooms for various uses.

It has been a long time in the planning

So that the current leisure centre doesn’t close the councillors and officers decided on the plan to build the new one in the centre of the car park, and only take down the old one when the new one is up and running.  The old one will then be taken away and car parking put in place. The sticky issue is this – parking!  firstly during the build and secondly afterwards when the business plan states that many more people will be attracted to use the centre!  Waverley urgently need sensible suggestions to answer this problem.  But also hope many people will walk and cycle whatever the weather or time of year. The plans do not include squash courts or much viewing area for swimming. There is no provision for squash courts despite squash now being an Olympic sport, and a much smaller viewing area for swimming – both of which were challenged at the meeting.

The consultation is 15th and 16th March, and on line.

Cranleigh Village Hall 2pm till 7pm Friday and Cranleigh Leisure Centre 10am till 1pm on Saturday.

Have your say by 22nd March!  web site – click here –  www.waverley.gov.uk/clcnewbuild – email – consultation@dppukltd.com

 

Cranleigh Society Neighbourhood plan meeting went well but…

Cranleigh Society Neighbourhood plan meeting went well but…

Hi and thank you

to all who attended the Neighbourhood Plan meeting held in the Band room this evening.  Councillor Elizabeth Townsend BEM explained what is in the Plan and how it will help to steer planning applications in the future – if voted for and adopted. The Plan requires Waverly BC to uphold the wishes of residents on many valuable issues.  It was good to see several of the original volunteers on the Neighbourhood plan from 2013/14.  Councillors Marc Scully and others attended as well. Many visitors had read the plan and had searching questions.

Cranleigh Society is here to listen, find out and represent our community

please encourage people to look at our pages.

Unfortunately – the referendum of 29th February has been postponed

by a High Court order – apparently the reasons will be explained later

Let’s be patient and not speculate

Make sure you apply to vote – now that it is postponed you haven’t lost your chance.

 

Public Rights of Way changes? Have your say

Public Rights of Way changes? Have your say

Surrey County Council looks after public rights of way – footpaths, cycle routes, horse trails etc. 

They are looking at these and have produced a survey – let’s see how many of you respond?  Please share as well.
To find out where our countryside rights of way are please go to Surrey County Council – website – look for ‘interactive map’ – click here 
to find the layer showing Countryside – rights of way.
Do you use the rights of way?
There’s still time to have your say on Surrey’s rights of way network.
Surrey County Councillors and Officers are undertaking a new Rights of Way Improvement plan and want to hear your views and ideas on how they can improve the paths in your local area.
Maybe you use Surrey’s paths for enjoying and exploring, for travelling to work or school or for health and wellbeing.
Or maybe you don’t use the paths at all – take part in our public survey and tell us why.
Survey is open until 10 March.
Link here to the survey: https://orlo.uk/qtD3F
If you have a problem with any public right of way/footpath/cycleway etc.  click here to report to Surrey CC.
Share your opinion – new footpaths planned for Snoxhall fields

Share your opinion – new footpaths planned for Snoxhall fields

Cranleigh Parish Councillors are seeking views on new footpaths proposed for Snoxhall Fields and park.

To complete the short survey please click here 
The Parish Council has received the sum of £38,143 from developer contribution s106 funding for new footpaths at Snoxhall Fields.
The Parish Council would like your feedback on the proposed new footpaths:
  • Linking North Downs to Hitherwood
  • Linking the adult football pitch path to the Beryl Harvey Field and Knowle Park crossing point
  • A footpath around the perimeter of the western football field linking the adult football pitch, Beryl Harvey Field and Knowle Park crossing point
  • Tarmac overlay on the play park footpath and road markings for play
If all new footpaths are supported by members of the public, there will be a circular footpath around both sides of Snoxhall Fields for recreational walking all year round.  Your responses will help the Parish Council to decide on the route of the new footpaths.
Please complete this survey by Thursday 29 February 2024
The tracks include completing the perimeter of the main field, and a full perimeter around the Football field, but not across it.  Also to make up the playpark footpaths for better playtime.

Discussion – Neighbourhood Plan – Cranleigh Society invites you – 22nd Feb, 7pm, Band room

Join us at the Band Room on Thursday 22nd February from 7pm to discuss the Neighbourhood plan 

The team at the heart of Cranleigh Civic society invite you to join them at Cranleigh Band Room on Thursday 22nd February from 7pm.

We will discuss the forthcoming referendum – public vote – regarding adoption of the Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan.

Vote on 29th February in person or by post in the same way as other votes.

The Neighbourhood plan needs to be voted on by its public to ensure it is adopted by the planning authority – Waverley Borough Council.

click Here for Waverley’s briefing sheet – the key comment is the question residents will be asked:

The Referendum
A Neighbourhood Planning Referendum relating to the adoption of the Cranleigh
Neighbourhood Development Plan 2021-2032 will be held on Thursday 29 February
2024.
The question that will be asked in the Referendum will be:
‘Do you want Waverley Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for
Cranleigh to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’
The Referendum area is identical to the Cranleigh neighbourhood area designated
by Waverley Borough Council on 16 July 2013 – that is the Parish of Cranleigh. A
map of the area is set out below.
Figure 1: Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan area and Referendum area

Regarding the various boundaries – 

Cranleigh Parish has a boundary including various green areas

Cranleigh Settlement is the smaller area with homes and businesses built on it, and this is the area where new housing can be built.

Cranleigh Conservation area is along part of the High Street

The Neighbourhood Plan has taken so long because so many laws pertain.  Let’s get a large turnout to support all the volunteers who have worked tirelessly on it since 2014.

Cranleigh High Street Repairs and Renewals Needed Now

Have your Say – support the need for urgent improvements…cranleighhighstreet@surreycc.gov.uk

Cranleigh High Street pavements, kerbs, gutters and drainage are in desperate need of repairs and management  – very overdue!  The High Street also needs investment to make it fit for the future. 

Those who like and approve of the plans, and want to see Cranleigh benefit, have been too quiet and those who oppose are very vocal.

So the whole scheme may be lost –  This is simply not good enough.   

Surrey County Council is responsible for only parts of the pavements, plus the roads, kerbs, gutters and effective drainage.  The pavements outside each shop are the responsibility of the shop owners, (not those who rent from them).

Thames water and others have had to repeatedly dig up and repair so many parts of both areas, it is so unattractive and not very safe for residents.

Where has all the tax money gone?  Section 106, CIL and other taxes on developers

The problems identified over the last decade, since the development and expansion of the village, have included that the pavements need to be repaired and Waverley BC and Surrey CC have money to do some of this from the developers.

Government Grants to get us out of our cars and regenerate High Streets  

There is other money that the Government may grant if councils can show reduction in traffic and revitalising High Street shops and experience when carrying out changes to High Streets.

But Surrey has applications from other towns especially Farnham and only a scheme that residents are happy with will get the bulk of the money.

Our Councillors and Businesses have done their best to influence and get something credible proposed. The Village Way mini roundabout IS being re-evaluated because of opposition to its removal.

The negative petition will have to be presented to the Surrey Cabinet whilst officers will present the case for the scheme. Residents can write in support, albeit with some reservations, now!  All meetings can be watched on line.  You can subscribe to be warned of meetings, then to watch either live or after the events – choose your preferences here

Surrey County Council Date 19th December 2pm.

Meeting

Cabinet – Tuesday, 19 December 2023 2.00 pm

The agenda will be displayed in the week before the meeting

Proposed venue: Council Chamber, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey ,RH2 8EF

Contact: Huma Younis or Sarah Quinn  Email: huma.younis@surreycc.gov.uk

Personal plea from Cranleigh Society Chair

‘Amid the complaints and comments about the proposals by Surrey County Council to revamp Cranleigh High Street what many seem to have forgotten was that it started with improving the pavement on the South side between Knowle Lane and Village Way. Few would argue with the dreadful state of the pedestrian walkway there and indeed across the village. The problem with simply fixing it is that much of the foot way is owned by the shop property owners who mostly are not the actual shopkeepers of course.

It was never a simple matter.

Councillor Liz Townsend with others sought to make overall improvements that would make the village a more pleasant, attractive and safer place to visit. Sadly the consultant that Surrey employed didn’t seem to truly understand the community and what we love about it. Having spoken with them at the first ‘consultation’ they seemed to rely on computer modelling more than our lived experience. It’s fine to count traffic and pedestrians but the reality of what people really do seemed to elude them.

There Is a real danger that another town, like Farnham, we are told, may get the funding and Cranleigh nothing. Is that really what we want?

The latest is that the vociferous rebellion has sent the planners back to think again. We are told the Village Way roundabout will now remain. But rumour is a vicious thing.

We are reliably told that the emergency services actually had no problem with the plans,  and also that the Horseshoe Lane roundabout is actually not part of the High Street plan at all, but entirely separate.

The moral is we need to be sensible, logical and not emotional and accept that not everything can stay the same.’