Developer’s Last Online Consultation on Wisley Airfield Hits Bumps

Published on: 10 May, 2021
Updated on: 10 May, 2021

Aerial photograph of the former Wisley Airfield site.

Taylor Wimpey’s announcement of two Zoom webinars in the third and final chapter of its online community consultation on plans for the former Wisley Airfield is being challenged.

TW project manager Antonis Pazourou is inviting local residents to another online Q&A to find out more about the proposals for the site, based, he said, on community feedback from the first and second webinars.

“The comments we have collected from the local community throughout the chapters of engagement have been, invaluable in shaping the proposals,” he added.

But a statement from the Wisley Action Group (WAG) said: “They confirm 150 questions were asked in the first and 80 in the second, but there is no mention of how many were the subject of a satisfactory answer or, indeed, any meaningful answer at all. Some questions are simply brushed off with a ‘We are working on it’ response.

“This so-called consultation programme continues to be little more than a cosmetic veneer of PR flim-flam with the implied suggestion that planning consent is a ‘done deal’. It most certainly isn’t.

“Mr Pazourou still fails to explain how his proposals would override 13 of the 14 reasons why a similar scheme was rejected on appeal by the Secretary of State. And he’s yet to demonstrate how removing the nesting skylarks adds up to ‘environmental enhancement’.

“Can anyone believe a genuine process of community liaison is taking place?

“The SoS, in dismissing an appeal by the former owners of the land, referred to the lack of transport infrastructure as a ‘fatal flaw’ in the scheme, adding that a settlement of this nature would inevitably cause substantial harm to the character and appearance of a rural area.

“Fundamental questions about roads and supporting infrastructure have emerged more recently, suggesting that a TW press release focusing on how these questions would be answered might be more appropriate than the continued cosmetics of webinars.”

Cllr Colin Cross

And R4GV’s Lovelace borough Cllr Colin Cross, the new county councillor for The Horsleys, said: “I hope they will use the opportunity to show they have listened carefully to local residents and parish councils.

“A fundamental problem lies in the lack of any significant off-site infrastructure improvements which are vital to the local neighbourhood if the additional 4,000-plus cars from the site are to be catered for.

“The changes to Ockham roundabout and the Wisley Lane bridge over the A3 that joins it, pose many more questions than answers, so far.”

The Taylor Wimpey webinars are set for Wednesday, May 19 between 6pm and 8pm and on Saturday, May 22, between 10am and 12pm.

More information is available at www.wisleyairfield.com/engagement and anyone hoping to join or review previous chapters of engagement should click the link on the website to register.

The webinars will be published on the website and links to the recording will also be available on request by emailing consultation@wisleyairfield.com.

For further information contact formerwisleyairfield@cratus.co.uk or 07735 136371.

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