Letter: Let This Be a Warning to Others

Published on: 19 Jul, 2025
Updated on: 19 Jul, 2025

The Ash site that was ear-marked for medical facility.

From John Ferns

In response to: Ash Care Home Proposal For Vacant Bewley Site Moves To Next Stage

Let what has happened in Ash be a warning to other wards and boroughs: when major developments are being considered, councils and communities must scrutinise the feasibility of developers’ grandiose promises — especially so-called “community benefits” offered as sweeteners in Section 106 agreements. Too often, these pledges unravel under minimal challenge.

Here in Ash, we’ve now seen the healthcare land lapse without delivery of a GP surgery. Meanwhile, the much-vaunted £1 million allotment provision — heavily promoted in Bewley’s publicity — has stalled over “access and utilities”, raising serious questions about whether it was ever viable.

As I argued in an earlier letter to The Guildford Dragon (Council Has Quietly Relieved Developer of £Million Obligation) this pattern is all too familiar.

The hard lesson is that communities cannot rely on vague promises. These obligations must be tested at the planning stage — and enforced rigorously — if we’re to avoid more disappointments like this.

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