Anonymous Leaflet Fuels Residents’ Fear of Green Belt Development

Published on: 29 Sep, 2013
Updated on: 30 Sep, 2013

Nearly 300 Fairlands residents attended to hear councillors address there concerns about development in adjoining fields. On stage, from left to right: Cllrs David Elms, Bob McShee, Monika Juneka, Stephen Mansbridge, Iseult Roche, Fairlands Assoc. Dep Chairman. Assoc Chairman, Terry Butler, can be seen standing just in front of the stage talking to an attendee in the front row.

Angry residents, concerned by rumours of development plans for green belt fields adjoining Fairlands estate, confronted local councillors on Friday night (September 27) in a packed community hall.

An anonymous leaflet, distributed locally, had generated many of the fears expressed that development plans were already under way.

The councillors present (all Conservatives were: council leader Stephen Mansbridge; lead councillor for planning, Monika Juneja; and Worplesdon councillors David Elms, Bob McShee and Iseult Roche; found it difficult to persuade many in the audience that the current exercise was only consultation.

Cllr Mansbridge was shouted down after speaking for several minutes, explaining the background and aims of the Local Plan, which the consultation will inform. A member of the audience called out: “Get on with it. This is nothing to do with what we want to hear!”

Monika Juneja made several attempts to tell the meeting that while sites across the whole borough, as well as those near Fairlands Estate, have been identified as possible development sites, all that was intended, for the moment, was to gather information from local residents about the sites and their suitability for development.

At first, residents in the audience seemed unconvinced, reporting stories of mysterious developers speculating by buying up some of the fields that had been identified in council documents. But, eventually most in the audience seemed to accept that Guildford Borough Council was only consulting at this stage.

Cllr Juneja encouraged them all to participate over the next two months. She said: “Please have your say. … If none of you want any development then say so.”

In a show of hands, only two out of an estimated audience of nearly 300 indicated that they were in favour of any development at all.

The meeting had been organised by the Fairlands Association and was chaired by its chairman Terry Butler.

Councillor Stephen Mansbridge  – Photo Mike Sleigh

After the meeting Cllr Mansbridge said: “It was good to meet with the Fairlands residents and be given the chance to put the record straight about what the council are actually doing at the moment.

“I hope they now understand that we want to consult them, and all other residents of the borough, so that their views are properly represented.

“We wanted to make it absolutely clear that someone had been alarming residents by giving them an impression that there was to be a development. As far as we know this is just foundationless scaremongering.”

Further details on the Local Plan consultation can be found on the council website: at 25 Swan Lane, where the council has a temporary shop acting as an information office and; events due to be held at some local supermarkets.

Were you at the meeting? Were your questions answered and have your fears been allayed? Please use the ‘Leave a Reply’ feature below to have your say.

Do you have a copy of the leaflet circulated? If so, please send to mgilesdragon@gmail.com

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