Letter: Joss Bigmore Overstates My Influence

Published on: 30 Sep, 2021
Updated on: 30 Sep, 2021

Cllr Joss Bigmore in his interview with The Dragon

From: Julie Iles

Former Conservative county councillor for The Horsleys

I have just listened with interest to Cllr Bigmore’s interview Council Leader Says He ‘Understands the Anger’ Over the Local Plan which he gave yesterday [September 29] to The Guildford Dragon NEWS.

Most of what he said was considered, measured and accurate. However, toward the end of the interview he talks about Mole Valley councillors having contacted him to request that Guildford allow them to use some of the allocated sites in Effingham. This would help Mole Valley deliver on their housing numbers. He suggests that Sir Paul Beresford, myself and the rest of “our crew” may have promised them something because Mole Valley is our constituency.

This is pure make-believe. I have never had any responsibility for or influence over planning. I am no longer a councillor nor do I serve as an officer in the Conservative Association at local or area level (I am president of the Conservative Women’s Organisation until March of next year but I think we can all agree this has nothing to do with planning).

I live in Effingham and local residents will know that I have battled against too much housing going into the village, including the enabling development by Berkeley Homes for the Howard of Effingham school.

Last time I looked, Mole Valley was controlled by the Liberal Democrats. Why on earth does Cllr Bigmore think that I would have any input to their Local Plan?

Maybe he doesn’t like me keep needling R4GV about their election promise to amend the Guildford Local Plan but it is unconscionable to make things up in order to undermine my integrity.