Letter: It Was Extraordinary That an Ipsley Stables Objector Asked to Be Anonymous

Published on: 12 Feb, 2023
Updated on: 11 Feb, 2023

From: John Ferns

In response to: ‘Disturbing’ Email Sparks Concern About Safety of Borough Councillors

I was in the council chamber for the planning meeting and was also online watching the Strategy and Resources Executive Advisory Board, which followed five days later. I was shocked by Cllr Brothwell’s statement at that meeting.

I am pleased that the residents of Ash and Ash Green have been exonerated, but we are left with a question: does this bring more insight into why no councillor volunteered to step in to chair the planning committee?

The likelihood was that the Ipsley Stables application had given rise to the perceived threat to members. The listing of public speakers hinted at the source.

It was extraordinary that one of their objectors whose statement was to be read by a council official, had asked to be anonymous. The other objector was Cllr Matt Furniss, in his role as a county councillor for the Shalford Division.

Responses to Letter: It Was Extraordinary That an Ipsley Stables Objector Asked to Be Anonymous

William Brewster Reply

February 28, 2023 at 9:21 pm

Everyone deserves a safe place to call home including Gypsies and their children. You would have to have a heart of stone to not grant planning to the families who live on the site off the Hog’s Back. Guildford Borough Council is not building homes for Surrey’s traveller community and it needs a voice.

Homes for Travellers now or we should stop complaining when they are living outside our homes.
William Brewster Reply

March 2, 2023 at 9:17 am

Our councillors had a meeting and had all the relevant paperwork and site plans of the Gypsies current homes and still decided that a site visit was needed rather then doing the right thing and giving this much needed site the green light.

Why can’t our councillors make a clear decision?