Parish Saddened As Borough Moves Ahead To Sell Historic West Lodge

Published on: 24 Feb, 2018
Updated on: 27 Feb, 2018

A parish council is saddened that Guildford Borough Council will continue with its plans to sell off West Lodge, the Grade II listed gatehouse to the historic Gunpowder Mills site in Chilworth. It also questions “what other heritage assets will be under similar threat in the future?”

Despite councillors at its Executive meeting on Tuesday this week (February 20) hearing strong appeals from both the Guildford Heritage Forum and a member of St Martha Parish Council, they agreed to take the next steps towards selling the building.

West Lodge in Blacksmith Lane, Chilworth.

In a statement, St Martha Parish Council has said: “GBC was not persuaded that selling an important heritage asset, immediately adjacent to the scheduled national monument site of Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, was a significant heritage loss to the borough.

“It was argued that as custodians of the future of the borough the council should do whatever it can to retain such buildings. Alas this persuasive argument fell on deaf ears.

“The borough will now be advertising its intention in the local press to appropriate the property for planning purposes and seeking consent from the Secretary of State to dispose of it.

“The disposal of West Lodge would amount to divorcing it from the Gunpowder Mills Site to which it belongs.”

St Martha Parish Council added that the pre-planning advice it received on West Lodge led it to believe that there would be severe planning and parking restrictions.

Therefore it says it will be “monitoring carefully any possible future planning applications for West Lodge and will also be looking to see that there is no over-development of the area”.

The parish council added: “It is a very sad day for heritage in the borough and one wonders now what other heritage assets will be under similar threat in the future?

“Heritage doesn’t seem to be viewed as particularly important where Guildford Borough Council is concerned.”

A further reference to West Lodge can be viewed on the Chilworth2gether website – www.chilworth2gether.org.uk under the tab: ‘Chilworth Gunpowder Mills Heritage Site’.

Responses to Parish Saddened As Borough Moves Ahead To Sell Historic West Lodge

Gordon Bridger Reply

February 25, 2018 at 9:03 am

It is important, that the selling price is related to its current use and it should be made quite clear in the sales brochure that it cannot be altered to make it larger. Clear planning restrictions need to be stressed.

I would urge the parish council to seek this assurance as the reported selling price of £180,000 sounds far too high for this property.
David M Ramsey Reply

February 28, 2018 at 11:59 am

This property, I am afraid, will make in excess of over £300,000, so not sure how Gordon Bridger has got to the valuation of £180,000. I know the property and it will sell quickly.