Chantry Woods Proposal Was ‘Secretive’

Published on: 9 Jan, 2019
Updated on: 11 Jan, 2019

Chantry Wood Camp Site

By Rebecca Curley

Local Democracy Reporter

Residents have criticised a decision to turn a campsite into a forest school as “secretive”.

Neighbours to Chantry Wood Campsite say they wish they had been spoken to before Guildford Borough Council published its proposals for the future of the site.

Supporting the principle of using the “stunning piece of land” for health and education benefits, they say they were concerned such a “drastic change of use” was not something they were notified about.

The Guildford Borough Council Executive voted on Tuesday, January 8, to go ahead with plans to lease the site to a forest school operator.

After hearing about residents’ concerns over the lack of information around the detail to what that would involve, they also pledged to consult with neighbours at every stage from now on.

Jonathan Bigmore speaking at the GBC Executive meeting

Jonathan Bigmore, representing families from six homes around the site, told councillors ahead of the vote: “We fully support the principle of getting young people outside and learning about the environment. Health and education benefits are obvious and should be encouraged.”

But he said there had been a “complete lack of communication” to residents and the users of the woods.

He added: “The whole process has been secretive and a comprehensive report absent for the sake of expediency.

“The area is calm and peaceful. Noise will fundamentally change the area. Not for just us neighbours but for the hundreds of users.

“This whole conversation didn’t need to happen here if we had been asked a month ago.”

Chantry Wood (known to many as simply the Chantries), between Shalford and Chilworth, is managed by Guildford Borough Council’s Countryside Estate and is one of its strategic SANG sites (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace).

The campsite has been running for more than 50 years with basic facilities including toilet blocks, a barn and fire pits.

Peter O’Connell, GBC

Visitor numbers to the site have decreased from 1,898 in 2016 to 1,263 in 2017.

And costs have increased from 2015-16 with £5,398 in expenditure and £4,023 in income to £9,354 expenditure in 2017-18 with £4,695 income.

Peter O’Connell, GBC director of environment, said use of the site by the target group, scouts and guides, is decreasing each year and forest schools are using the site already.

Cllr David Wright

He said leasing it to a school operator was a “controlled release” of the land.

Cllr David Wright, (Con, Tillingbourne) said: “This proposal will not affect existing public access and it certainly will make better use of what is currently an under-valued facility. It’s under-valued because it’s somewhat run down and needs extensive redevelopment.”

He said the forest school proposal “ticks a lot of boxes”.

Cllr David Bilbe

Cllr David Bilbe (Con, Normandy), lead member of enterprise and economic development, will now oversee the next stages including consulting with neighbours and providing more details.

The GBC webcast of the debate can be viewed here.

Responses to Chantry Woods Proposal Was ‘Secretive’

Valerie Thompson Reply

January 11, 2019 at 11:03 am

Typical behaviour that we have come to expect from GBC – make a secret decision, then tell the local people who might have objected, try to soothe the ruffled feathers with a so-called “consultation” afterwards and then carry on as if the public’s view doesn’t matter.

What am I saying? Of course they don’t matter!
John Ferns Reply

January 11, 2019 at 8:04 pm

I could not help noting the response of the GBC officer and his unfortunate response to the challenge that there had been no prior consultation with the public.

His words “In terms of consultation; yes it’s there as Option D but I think we feel that getting a reflective wider community opinion as to the use and direction of the site would be challenging and would be quite labour intensive.”

He concluded: “I sort of hear the points about discussion with local residents but it’s getting an overall objective view as to how we best use the borough’s residents really.”

I squirmed with the palpable embarrassment he must have felt when he uttered this excuse.

In the overall scheme of things, the costs involved would have been peanuts compared with the megabucks that have been expended on other well documented, so-called “vanity projects” that GBC has embarked upon in the last year.
- Jules Cranwell Reply
  
  February 25, 2019 at 2:06 pm
  
  He appears to have gone to the Sir Humphrey school of diplomacy.
John Redpath Reply

February 22, 2019 at 3:39 pm

This story is not done yet and has been re-kindled by many residents in Charlotteville who are concerned about the future for this site.

Amazing this council! If your visitor numbers are dropping off you should find out why, fix it and then advertise and promote. That’s what we do in the real world. The attitude of the GBC Executive appears to be to “get rid and make it someone else’s problem”.

John Redpath is a prospective Independent candidate for the borough council elections in May.
Jules Cranwell Reply

February 23, 2019 at 2:07 pm

Why is anyone surprised at the secrecy and lack of legally required transparency by this leadership. This is their modus operandi.

All important decisions (e.g. the Garden Village ) are taken behind closed doors by the leader his inner circle, then presented to the council and residents as faits accomplis.

It’s time to restore democracy to our borough.