Letter: We are Looking at Options to Increase Community Use of Burchatt’s Barn

Published on: 30 Mar, 2019
Updated on: 30 Mar, 2019

A community event at Burchatt’s Barn

From Paul Spooner

In response to: We Will Consider Our Options In Our Search For Suitable Premises

The letter from the owners of the Guildford Chiropractic Centre perfectly demonstrates that there are two sides (and sometimes more) to be weighed in the decision making process.

We undertake at GBC to do all we can to assist Philip and Annie in finding a suitable location for their business. Some of the “campaigning” by activists in relation to Burchatt’s has significantly overstepped the mark.

We are now looking at the options for significantly increasing community use and the subsidy required to support it.

Responses to Letter: We are Looking at Options to Increase Community Use of Burchatt’s Barn

Jim Allen Reply

March 30, 2019 at 8:49 pm

Lowering the hire cost would be a good start.
Colin Cross Reply

March 30, 2019 at 9:20 pm

That would seem a significant change of direction, after a significant setback at the GBC planning meeting, due to significant misjudgements from significant people who hold significant positions of power at GBC.

Colin Cross is the Independent borough councillor for Lovelace (Ripley, Wisley and Ockham).
John Perkins Reply

March 31, 2019 at 10:15 am

What other businesses will GBC do all it can to assist? Why is any business so important that it merits assistance? The council’s purpose is to provide local services without interfering too much. They should not stand in the way of enterprise, but they should not subsidise it either.

The owners of the chiropractic centre are merely trying to improve their business, as any sensible and industrious business people might. Yet there is surely no reason why others in the community should pay to assist them.
- John Redpath Reply
  
  March 31, 2019 at 3:08 pm
  
  In reply to John Perkins’ response.
  
  I don’t think for one minute Cllr Spooner will start making a habit of assisting businesses around the town. Trouble is the council has completely messed up on this one and should do all they can to help this business that they haven messed about, compensation might be fairer.
  
  It’s rather sad that “activists” and “politics” are being blamed. In a well run democracy you don’t get activists as everyone’s views are listened to and taken into account.
  
  Election looming or not, I would have campaigned to save Burchatt’s Barn for community use, I used to use it before the prices were ramped up and look forward to using it again as soon as it’s open again.
  
  Maybe for a post-election party!
  
  John Perkins is a prospective Independent candidate in the forthcoming borough council elections.
Jules Cranwell Reply

March 31, 2019 at 2:55 pm

Expect that this is kicking an unpopular decision into the long grass, as there is an election in the offing.

As soon as the election is over, then expect a reversal. We still remember “Tories say green belt to stay” at the last election, only to plan the wholesale ruin of the green belt, once returned to power.