Elmbridge Borough Council are proposing to remove Green Belt status from two large areas in the Cobham, Stoke D’Abernon and Oxshott area (see map on right, click on it for a larger view). These areas are best known as:
There is a third in Long Ditton near the A3 'Ace of Spades'.
If the proposals go through, each of these two parcels of land could accommodate up to 1000 homes each or even more. This would have a severe impact on our local infrastructure and local traffic problems as well as losing precious Green Belt land.
It is important you find out more about how this may affect you and make your opinion known, otherwise no response will be taken as acceptance.
The Council’s public consultation process concludes on Friday 24th Feb 2017 at 4pm.
The consultation takes the form of a questionnaire which is very carefully worded and therefore your answers must be carefully worded to ensure they are not misunderstood.
The Stoke D'Abernon Residents Association (SDRA) with the help from the Cobham Green Belt Group, Cobham Downside and Residents Association and Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust have researched the Elmbridge Borough Council proposal and analysed the questionnaire and have identified key issues which we suggest you might want to include in your response to the questionnaire.
The SDRA organised a local meeting at the United Reformed Church on the 24th Jan 2017. Three hundred and twenty concerned residents from Stoke D'Abernon, Cobham and Oxshott packed out the church to find out more and to see presentations about the consultation and how best to respond to it. These presentations can be viewed on this website or on the SDRA website.
Our suggested steps for responding to the consultation are as follows but not all steps are essential. However, please follow steps 3. Reviewing the suggested responses and 4. Completing the consultation questionnaire as a minimum.
More details and relevant links for each of these steps is available on our Action Plan page.
A lot of this information is available online but if you don't have easy access to the Internet, you can either visit the Esher Civic Centre and view the documentation on display or attend the last drop in session at the Esher Civic Centre on Saturday 4th February 2017 between 10am-2pm where Planning Officers will be available to discuss the proposals.
The questionnaire is available in paper form from the council by calling Michael Corbett on 01372 474823 and requesting a copy to be posted directly to you but please do it soon, as there is little time. You will find it useful to have sight of the questionnaire before viewing the documentation or attending the drop in session. Alternatively, ask a neighbour to download and print a questionnaire for you.
Do spread the word and make your friends and neighbours aware.
Tonight (24 Jan 2017) the United Reformed Church in Cobham was overflowing with residents who came to hear the Stoke D'Abernon Residents association tell them about the Elmbridge Consultation for removing two large parcels of land from the Green Belt and what residents can do to make their opinion known.
The areas concerned are:-
For those who weren't there, go to the Stoke D'Abernon Residents Association (www.stokedabernon-residents.org.uk) website via this link to see the presentations and find out more and how best to respond to the consultation.
The Consultation has been extended from the 10 Feb 2017 to the 24 Feb 2017 but that still leaves little time for residents to complete the lengthy questionnaire.
Tell your neighbours and friends about this to ensure as many as possible respond to the questionnaire.