Horror at Decimation of Horsell Public Amenity Space

*** BREAKING NEWS  ***

Public concern is growing and I have now asked the Council to stop work on this area until a solution can be found that works for residents and the project.
 
*** BREAKING NEWS  ***

Finally I have some answers on how a public amenity area at Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Horsell came to be destroyed.

Ten days ago I blogged on resident's horror at the loss of a public amenity space.

I set out the following questions and I now have some answers ...

How could this be major change to our local landscape be described as a minor amendment when it dramatically alters and renders virtually useless a public amenity area?

Council officers insist that this is a minor change and that it was clear from the original planning application what was to be created in this area.  Here is the graphic which showed those who looked at the plans online (assuming they could find a suitably old version of Internet Explorer) and people who attended Horsell Residents Association AGM, what the area would look like.

Graphic showing layout of Horsell Civic Space. Note blue/green wavy line to left of Bowls Club. Is this meant to indicate a slope?

The text to the left of the area refers to excess material being used to stabilise slopes and to creating gentle parkland landform.  I don't know about anyone else but I read this as improving the existing slope not creating a whole new, bigger, steeper peak that takes over the area.

Who took the decision to make this minor amendment and who (other than residents through the planning process) was consulted on the decision?

No direct responsibility has been taken for making the decision on this. The architects working for the Council on the project drew up the plans.  Initially they hoped to get them agreed by Planning without the submission of a planning application.  The insistence is that this was always intended.  The plans submitted for the later planning application show what is intended.  No such plans were included in the original planning application.

Statutory planning consultation was carried out on the minor amendment but only with homes on the High Street, Hill Close and Bury Lane.  The wider resident population (including this local councillor) knew nothing of this. I am unclear as to whether Conservative councillors were aware. One councillor talks of closely following progress on this project.  Was this missed or was she happy for these changes to the plans to take place?

Are any policies breached by the loss of public amenity space?

Apparently not because the space is not lost, just changed.  I am told it can still be used and Natural England "recommend slopes" for children to play on.  Children had slopes before, they enjoyed playing on the incline to the Bowls Green.  Children also had a flat area to play ball games and run around.  They don't have that flat area any more.

Diagram submitted with later application showing full extent of incline

The image above shows, from left to right = a tree from the residential boundary, then the proposed re-routed footpath, a huge slope and the hedge to the Bowls Green.

Has a safety assessment taken place?

I am told there are no safety concerns despite potential users of the footpath being surrounded by a mound 4.49 metres high on one side and boundary fences on the other side.

A new question is just why do this at all?

Retention of spoil on site will presumably save a lot of money.  Is this a way of reducing project costs?

What Next

Anger is growing in Horsell.  With schools due to break up this week parents are particularly angry and many have time available to let the Council know their views.

I am fully behind those who object to this decimation of our local amenity space.  I want to find a way forward that gives a relatively flat space back to residents as soon as possible.