We are disappointed that this imaginative development was turned down on appeal. The argument that increased vehicle movements would be excessive for this rural area was the overriding consideration. If it had been approved then undoubtedly plans would have been developed to improve the local roads. The problems did not seem to be insurmountable.

It was unlikely that the Minister would overturn the Planning Inspector's decision. The Inspector has made the detailed analysis and so reversal of the decision would only happen in very special cases. The fact that the proposed eco-town would have been one of the most advanced in Europe and the possibility of new public transport options arising during the fifteen years of the development have apparently carried no weight.

Tories say NO to more affordable housing.

Labour's submissions to the Public Inquiry from
1. Keith Chesterton
2. Lynda MacDermott

 The future of Cranleigh Hospital

Affordable housing

Waverley Borough Council says it has affordable housing as one of its two top priorities. Yet it has fought against this scheme to provide 910 affordable homes out of 2600 in this proposal . Waverley's own figures given at the Public Inquiry, show there is a need for 622 affordable homes a year - after allowing for re-lets, and so on. When the cheapest housing in Waverley costs ten times the low end average wage a year, you can see why there is such a need.

Its housing officer admitted at the Inquiry that only 80 affordable homes a year have been built over the last few years. And when asked if the council's plans would be better over the next few years, the answer was "No, they wouldn't".

So Waverley has a gap of 542 affordable homes a year, no plans to do anything about this gap, and then turned down a scheme that offered 910 affordable homes.

Waverley's Housing Officer would clearly like to do more, but the Conservative councillors of Waverley won't let him. They say that affordable housing is a top priority but refuse to do anything about it.

Actions speak louder than words

Both Ann Milton and Jeremy Hunt, our two local Conservative MPs have opposed the scheme and spoke against it at the public inquiry. Yet they also say they want more affordable homes!

Obviously they don't want them anywhere near their most ardent supporters in the rural areas. They are both Shadow Ministers and therefore we can assume that they reflect the attitudes of the Shadow Cabinet on affordable housing.

The future of Cranleigh hospital

Action on a new hospital and health centre is getting closer. NHS Surrey has been consulting the public on the facilities required and there is some concern that the hospital will not have beds, commissioning them when required in local nursing homes..

Lynda MacDermott, on behalf of Cranleigh Labour Party, says "The most important thing is that all the people of Cranleigh need a new health centre."  With new services promised she said it would be wonderful for hundreds of people who currently have to travel to Guildford for X-rays and scans to be treated on the spot in modern surroundings. "I appreciate how wonderful it was to have these beds in the old hospital, but they have been closed for a long time and medicine has moved on."

Describing Milford as a "centre of excellence", she said it was important that there was a decent bus service for the families of people who could not be cared for locally and she acknowledged that it was good for people in the later stages of life to be treated at or close to home. "Knowle Lane with a nursing home would, I think, please everybody, but if that became a stumbling block my main aim would be to get a totally new health centre."