New Chantries Campaign Group Accuses Council of Dissembling Over Campsite

Published on: 2 Mar, 2019
Updated on: 4 Mar, 2019

New campaign website

A new campaign group, “Save Chantry Woods Campsite”, is accusing Guildford Borough Council of dissembling over their plans for a local amenity.

Cllr Geoff Davis (Con, Holy Trinity) circulated a statement from Hendryk Jurk, the countryside manager at Guildford Borough Council, to Holy Trinity residents hoping it would “calm matters down”.

Mr Jurk wrote: “No proposal has been made to restrict access to the area that is currently used as campsite. We are proposing to lease the facilities (storage barn, toilets and use of the fire pits) to a Forest School operator.

“The operation of the campsite allows booking the area including the facilities for camping. When the campsite is occupied, there are restrictions of access due to the presence of tents and campers.

“No new restrictions are proposed.

“I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding groups of children visiting public open spaces, which may have caused the assumption that the area of land will be handed over to a private company for sole use. This is not the case.”

Kevin Rye an organiser within the group, commenting on a statement, said: “[there is] no mention whatsoever of the key problem with their plans: that families, children, community groups and tourists will no longer be permitted to use the site as a campsite, which is the whole point of the #savechantry campaign – and the efforts of all those who we’ve spoken with since launching earlier this week.

“We can only assume that the council Executive have either forgotten to include this in their clearing up of ‘misunderstandings’, or they’ve done it deliberately, in which case, they are clearly dissembling.

“Our advice is: don’t be fooled. Keep up the campaign, and keep writing to your councillors. We’ve been approached by other groups who want to collaborate, and we’re always open to people who either have ideas, or want to get involved.”

See other articles and letters on this subject here.