Letter: Why Are the Interests of Developers Being Given Priority?

Published on: 29 Nov, 2021
Updated on: 29 Nov, 2021

From: Adam Aaronson

In response to: East Horsley Road Closure During Christmas Trading ‘Beggars Belief’

This road closure and diversion will also adversely affect businesses in the Epsom Road, such as my Glassblowing Studio, Squires Garden Centre and all the businesses based at Open Tree Farm, as well as the Crossroads Stores, and it will also disrupt the journeys of parents and teachers at Cranmore School.

In addition, at a time when delivery drivers and post office drivers are likely to be stretched with pre-Christmas deliveries, it is going to make their lives extremely difficult as they have to work around these diversions. It will undoubtedly mean that many people won’t get their deliveries on time.

I’m interested as to why Cllrs Matt Furniss and Tim Oliver seem to be putting the interests of one developer over the whole of the business and residential community of the Horsleys. It can’t be anything to do with the fact that their political party is largely funded by developers, can it?

Responses to Letter: Why Are the Interests of Developers Being Given Priority?

Graham Vickery Reply

November 29, 2021 at 11:33 pm

Cllrs Tim Oliver and Matt Furniss ought not be permitted to escape a public explanation of the basis of their inaction. Surely, by any reasonable code of political and bureaucratic conduct they owe that to the residents and taxpayers of East and West Horsley. If they do not do so, then evidently there is something quite wrong in County Hall.
Ian Stronge Reply

November 30, 2021 at 5:02 am

Simpler than a conspiracy, Surrey Highways just grants any developer’s request to close pavement/cycleway/road, and never inspects the results. It’s just lazy.

Cllr Furniss (@mpfurniss – he reads his Twitter messages) needs to get a grip on his officers’ default behaviours

Meanwhile, I suggest residents “blizzard” borough and county councillors and the shared SCC/GBC Local Committee (Guildford) with photos showing how the developer could manage perfectly well without closing the road

They wouldn’t allow this in London.