From Ben Paton
In response to: Old School Demolition Caused By Poor Planning Policies
I sympathise with all those who are dismayed by the loss of this building. If this destruction can be stopped, it should be.
In many respects, Victorian buildings were better built. With appropriate investment in modernisation, its useful life could have been extended indefinitely.
It is a bit rich though for these councillors to try to blame the current administration.
Didn’t those councillors vote for the disastrous Local Plan shamefully forced into law in the dying days of the last Conservative Administration?
Where was their concern for our heritage, countryside, environment and villages then?
I can see perfectly why they don’t like this medicine. So why did they force it down everyone’s throats by voting in this Local Plan?
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Martin Elliott
December 15, 2020 at 1:15 pm
I don’t remember the voting for the Local Plan being unanimous. If I remember it correctly, a Conservative majority pushed it through.
I would be surprised if the Stoke Labour councillors voted for it.
Let’s go back to the automated voting system installed in the Millmead Council Chamber and see what the recorded individual voting was?
Or go back to the decision by the Planning Committee meeting in February and see what practical, social and economic alternatives were offered by the developers and objectors.
Editor’s comment: The two Labour councillors who represent Stoke Ward did vote in favour of adopting the Local Plan in April 2019. See New Local Plan Adopted at Extraordinary Council Meeting – How They Voted
Howard Smith
December 15, 2020 at 1:19 pm
I’m sorry to burst Ben Paton’s bubble, but who tried to save this building and is dismayed at its destruction? Clue: a Labour councillor.
And who didn’t try to save it, isn’t at all dismayed and just said that “green belt sites and great historic buildings like this” will have to be sacrificed for development? Another clue: a R4GV councillor.
You might want to revise any misconceived opinions about who is actually there to safeguard Guildford’s heritage.
Howard Smith is a former parliamentary candidate for the Labour party.