Council Leader Questions GVG Links With Property Company

Published on: 7 Mar, 2017
Updated on: 17 Dec, 2018

Guildford Vision Group (GVG) is questioning Tweets published by Guildford Borough Council (GBC) leader Paul Spooner (Con, Ash South & Tongham).

In the Tweets Cllr Spooner questions the connection between property company Savills and the group. Two of the group’s steering group, John Rigg and Julian Lyon, have been, or are, employed by Savills which they have declared publicly.

Two of the recent Tweets written by Cllr Spooner, dated March 5.

Bill Stokoe a director of GVG said today (March 7): “We’re sad that the council leader has resorted to this level of comment. Maligning the motives of GVG members, almost all long term Guildford residents, is unfortunate, to say the least.

Bill Stokoe

“Many of the members are, or have been, employed in the property and related sectors – major urban development, town planning, transport infrastructure, architecture, economics and law but none of their employers have ever in anyway been involved in GVG. As concerned residents, with very relevant experience, we’re looking for a productive relationship with the council so comments of this nature don’t help.

“Our plan is progressive and seeks to meet the town centre challenges, including the infrastructure deficit. Last week’s international survey of traffic congestion ranks Guildford 6th worst in the UK. Can we be proud of that? The new crossing in our plan takes traffic round the centre, leaving the riverside and central areas much more free for pedestrians. It enables so many transformational opportunities for our town.

“Yes, our plan, if implemented, does affect a very small number of properties. The bigger blight is the severe lack of housing.

Cllr Paul Spooner

“Our ambitious plan provides over 2,500 new homes, many affordable, close by the centre and with community facilities. These new residents will help sustain the town centre economy.”

Councillor Spooner declined to comment. He describes himself on Twitter as: “Business Director, Leader of Guildford BC (Ash Sth & Tongham). Planning Lead. eM3 LEP Board, Parish Cllr, Club Sec@MAFC, Chair@NEHYL, HFA Council *Views my own*”. He has 1,807 followers and follows over 1,500 other users.

Responses to Council Leader Questions GVG Links With Property Company

Martin Elliott Reply

March 7, 2017 at 6:09 pm

Yes Cllr Spooners use of Twitter does seem somewhat ‘two faced’. He often confirms ‘the views are his own’ and not a council view, yet his Twitter Name is ‘Cllr Paul Spooner’ (@PaulKGB).

Wasn’t a Conservative councillor recently reprimanded by Cllr Spooner for using his councillor status when organising a petition deemed distasteful?
Linda Cooper Reply

March 7, 2017 at 7:14 pm

Affordable properties, you are joking? Greed, greed and more greed.
John Robson Reply

March 8, 2017 at 11:23 am

Did we have a Mayoral referendum after all?

Is anyone aside from the council’s hand picked Executive, allowed an opinion on how Guildford’s future is determined?

We know the vast majority of Conservative councillors are constrained by the whip, but now it appears any kind of free thinking from think tanks to aldermen will result in public castigation by the council leader.

Guildford is at a crossroads, and given the gravity of this issue, Isn’t the leader duty board to take on board all views expressed during this “consultation” or is his own view being jaundiced by the council’s own “stakeholders”? For instance the owners of key strategic development sites within the local plan and the council’s own battery of expensive consultants. These appear to be the only voices the council leader and his Executive are able to hear?