Council Leader to Share Platform with Solum Partner, Day Before Station Planning Appeal

Published on: 4 Nov, 2017
Updated on: 7 Nov, 2017

Council Leader Paul Spooner is to share a platform with the managing director of Keir Property (South), part of the Solum partnership which is appealing against the council’s refusal of the planning application for a controversial redevelopment of Guildford Station.

The appeal hearing is due to commence the day after the event, Tuesday, November 7 and will be held in the Guildford Borough Council’s (GBC) council chamber at Millmead.

In an event called, “Guildford and Surrey Development Plans 2017”, organised by Built Environment Networking, to be held at the Mandolay Hotel on Monday (November 6), the GBC leader will join six other speakers, including Pip Prong of Keir Property. Keir, together with Network Rail, form the Solum Regeneration partnership.

Council Leader Paul Spooner

The other speakers at the event represent: Enterprise M3; Surrey County Council; Countryside Properties; Crest Nicholson Regeneration; and Heathrow Airport.

The event description on the BE website states: “Surrey and the regions to the west and south-west of London are flourishing at the present time; ideally placed to catch the London commuters these locations capture the best of rural and city living and with a strong road and rail network and two major airports nearby; urban and international connectivity is key.

“… levels of development activity is unprecedented. This looks set to continue for the foreseeable future and as such we couldn’t miss the opportunity to hold an event in Surrey.

“…our November conference in Guildford brings to light some significant development opportunities and some of the markets leading players to share with you their key schemes and plans for the future.”

“Surrey County Council and Guildford Council [sic] will set the scene on the frameworks and schemes that are on their radar and Surrey will highlight the bigger picture as far as the county is concerned.

Describing one of the event participants the event description states: “Countryside Properties are a major player around London and the South East and Guildford / Surrey is very much on their radar. Andrew Taylor their director of planning will present to us why Surrey is such a hot spot for Countryside and where their future schemes may lie.”

Paul Spooner has not responded to an invitation to comment by The Guildford Dragon NEWS.

Cllr Susan Parker

Susan Parker of the Guilford Greenbelt Group said: “We are disappointed to see Cllr Paul Spooner sharing this platform with the apparent intention of promoting development opportunities within Guildford.

“The Conservative party promised to protect the green belt in this borough. Is this promise being kept? Will Cllr Spooner’s discussions at the conference break this promise?

“Local people will want to know what opportunities for development are being offered locally by their elected representative. In particular, I’m sure local people would like to know the “frameworks and schemes” that are on the council “radar”, as offered in the conference publicity. Are these proposals already in the public domain?”

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