Dragon Says: Tory Government Also Seems Ready to Sacrifice Guildford to Developers’ Profit

Published on: 29 Oct, 2019
Updated on: 31 Oct, 2019

Dragon reader Andrew Eacott writes: “It’s very odd that [the station] development apparently meets with almost universal disapproval yet there is no means of stopping it.”

He is right: it is strange. It is also entirely undemocratic. One man, albeit a planning inspector, overturned a unanimous decision made at a full meeting of Guildford Borough Council, comprising 48 elected councillors.

Those members know far more about this borough than a planning inspector ever will and those councillors, like us, will have to live with the consequences of his unconscionable decision.

Cllr Angela Gunning

Cllr Angela Gunning, (Lab, Stoke), points out that the new layout offers no improvement but introduces steps for passengers with baggage to negotiate. She also reminds us, if we need to be reminded, of the existing traffic gridlock, almost daily at rush hour.

And if traffic could be relieved by more of us using buses our regular correspondent, Jim Allen, rightly points out that this development scene does not allow buses to connect with trains, as any sensible plan would.

Guildford’s MP, Anne Milton (Ind), says she has had numerous meetings with ministers and those behind the development, the Keir Group and Network Rail. But none would listen even to a (until recently) senior Conservative representing a Tory heartland seat.

Rt Hon Anne Milton MP

Ms Milton adds: “I think the travelling public will be very surprised that the redevelopment includes no provision for improving train services from Guildford, nor improving access to platforms.” Ain’t that the truth?

Cllr John Rigg, (R4GV, Holy Trinity), says this will be “a blot on the landscape”. It certainly will. A huge, unwanted blot of unprecedented scale, larger than the Houses of Parliament he tells us. Worse, it will doubtless be used to justify other monoliths which the council might find hard to refuse under present planning policy.

Wise words from everyone but the government, in its craven desire for development and growth, at all costs, has dug its heels in.

Ramsey Nagaty, (GGG, Shalford), gives his party’s view: “No to the ‘Great Wall of Guildford’.”

Cllr Angela Goodwin

But perhaps it is the tweet from Cllr Angela Goodwin, (Lib Dem, Friary & St Nicolas) that sums up the situation most succinctly. She said: “Heartbreaking for Guildford…” Indeed it is.

We should all remember it is our planning system that has allowed this to happen, a system controlled by the government.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already told our MP that if the Tories need to lose Guildford for Brexit, so be it. Presumably, he does not care if he loses it over local planning either.

What a crying shame.