News In Brief From Millmead

Published on: 19 Apr, 2016
Updated on: 21 Apr, 2016

A round-up of news from Guildford Borough Council’s Millmead offices

Burpham’s neighbourhood plan formally adopted

Shop parade in London Road, Burpham.

Guildford Borough Council formally adopted the Burpham Neighbourhood Plan at its full council meeting on April 12.

Council leader Paul Spooner said: “This is a very good news story… The Burpham Neighbourhood Forum can be congratulated for following this through.

“Following a six-week consultation and an examination, the plan was amended in line with the examiner’s recommendations, the plan has then been through a referendum of qualifying voters on 18th February this year

“A total of 993 voters voted, which is I think very impressive from an electorate of 4,437 [21% turnout]. 860 voted yes and 67 voted no, so quite a clear mandate….The plan will be able to carry full weight in planning decisions.”

Cllr Christian Holliday thanked fellow members of the Burpham Neighbourhood Forum who worked on the neighbourhood plan.

Cllr Holliday, (Con, Burpham) said: “I am delighted that the Burpham Neighbourhood Plan is the first neighbourhood plan in Guildford to reach this final stage.

“The emerging policies are already being referenced by officers in their reports and the Burpham plan is being used by others as an example. I would like to thank the members of the Burpham Neighbourhood Forum for all their hard work over the years [and council] officers for their support.”

Council will no longer accept ePetitons

Councillors have voted overwhelmingly (34 in favour, none against) in favour of a motion: “…not to accept e-petitions hosted by third parties (for example, Change.org), or accept as paper petitions information about e-signatories downloaded from third party e-petition hosts.”

The deputy leader of the council and lead member for governance, Cllr Nigel Manning (Con, Ash Vale) said: “This is not an attempt by us to silence residents making views. This is really to allow us as a council to validate petitions far more efficiently and effectively.

“It is becoming a petition culture in the country, and therefore one has to ensure that the officers… are not overwhelmed by the number of petitions coming in and the amount of work they have to do in order to validate petitions.”

An amendment proposed by Cllr Susan Parker (GGG, Send), that all extant ePetitions received remained valid was rejected.

Managing director Sue Sturgeon said: “We aren’t aware that we have any petitions in at the moment.”

Only ePetitions raised through the council’s website will be accepted.

Have your say on town centre taxi tank improvements

The council is asking for comments to proposed improvements to Guildford’s taxi ranks.

Cllr Graham Ellwood, lead member for licensing and community safety, said: “Our new proposals are particularly important in areas popular both in the day and during Guildford’s busy night-time period.

“Current arrangements sometimes create problems, such as vehicles waiting on double yellow lines.

“We hope these plans will help customers to get home easily after enjoying their time in Guildford, provide more space for taxis and will contribute positively to the town.”

The proposed new taxi rank locations are:

Bedford Road – seven spaces (6pm to 8.30am daily): parking bays adjacent to Bedford Road surface car park for a distance of 36m.

North Street – 11 spaces (24-hour operation): length of single yellow line outside Vinyl night club and TGI Friday for a distance of 50m.

North Street – six spaces (24-hour operation): outside Marks & Spencer and Paperchase for a distance of 30m.

High Street (lower end) – four spaces (6pm to 8.30am daily): parking bays, outside Vision Express for a distance of 19m.

Upper High Street – five spaces (6pm to 8.30am daily): parking bays outside Pizza Express and Oxfam for a distance of 26m.

Millbrook (A281) – four spaces (10.30pm to 4.30am daily): bus stop on north-bound carriageway outside the Legion nightclub for a distance of 19m.

The public consultation on the topic is open until Friday, May 6.

To give your feedback, email licensing@guildford.gov.uk or write to Taxi Rank Consultation, Licensing Services, Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, GU2 4BB.

Seale and Sands applies for neighbourhood area status

Seale and Sands Parish Council has applied to Guildford Borough Council to designate its parish as a neighbourhood area.

The Localism Act 2011 introduced new rights to help communities shape development in their area. Designating a neighbourhood area allows parish or town councils and neighbourhood forums (in non-parished areas) to prepare neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood development orders.

Neighbourhood plans set out planning policies for the local area. They must take account of national policy and help meet the strategic needs of the wider local area. Neighbourhood development orders can help bring forward developments the community needs.

More information about neighbourhood planning is available at www.guildford.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplanninginformation

The council is now consulting on the proposal. You can comment online through the planning policy consultation website at getinvolved.guildford.gov.uk or email comments to planningpolicy@guildford.gov.uk.

You can also write and post to: Planning Services (Neighbourhood Planning), Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BB

Call the council’s planning policy team on 01483 444471, for more details.