Letter: Councillors Need to Wake Up and Smell the Coffee When Updating the Local Plan

Published on: 21 Mar, 2024
Updated on: 21 Mar, 2024

Angela Richardson posing her question to the Prime Minister BBC Parliament

From: Ramsay Nagaty

chair of the Guildford Greenbelt Group (GGG)

In response to: Guildford’s MP Raises the Issue of Unpopular Housing Developments at PMQs

Whilst we appreciate Angela Richardson raising the over-development of the villages and the removal of green belt protection we need action not just words.

Changes in planning rules need to be better defined as use of vague words such as “exceptional circumstances” and unclear messages regarding the use, or otherwise, of the standard method for calculating housing need.

The local Liberal Democrats’ election leaflets stressed they would stop the urbanisation of the villages. The only way to do so is by a thorough review and update if the Local Plan. But despite this, Guildford borough Council’s Lib Dem Executive member for Planning stated we need to minimise the public’s expectations. The Lib Dem administration has shown little appetite to correct the vagaries of the Local Plan 2019.

Councillors need to listen to their residents, parish councils, local resident associations and the Guildford Society. Instead they appear to be officer-led. GBC already has issues due to lack of councillor control with the HRA overspend and criminal investigation over the housing maintenance work.

It’s time for GBC councillors to wake up and smell the coffee.