Letter: CIL Victims Deserve an Apology and Their Money Back

Published on: 18 May, 2025
Updated on: 18 May, 2025

From Jane Austin

leader of Waverley Conservative Council Group and member of the CIL Injustice Group

In response to: Angry CIL ‘Debtors’ Thanked for Their Patience by Waverley Council

We’ve seen no evidence of Waverley lobbying government to date, as claimed by the council spokesperson. It is our Waverley Conservative Council group, Sir Jeremy Hunt MP and Greg Stafford MP who have taken the lead on this, and it was our borough council group who brought forward a motion for a discretionary review for victims back in January. I have urgently raised the issue with the Local Government Association.

Waverley Council saying it has no latitude to do the right thing is simply not correct – many many other councils across the country who apply CIL are not charging residents these extortionate sums.

If WBC’s Executive is stating it has made changes so people can avoid the charges – why then are people coming forward to us who have been charged only in the last two weeks?

These victims have been treated terribly by the council and in some cases their pleas ignored ignored for months, even years. They deserve an apology and their money back.