An application from Sainsbury’s of Redding Way, for the installation of a single-story, standalone, dry-cleaning pod to the front of the store has been rejected by Woking’s Planning Dept. The main reason for this decision was that the proposal from Sainsbury’s, if given the go ahead, could have meant potential harm to the vitality and viability of independent businesses in the centre of Knaphill.

Waterers Rise we have just been informed that the Council has published an amendment to their plans to demolish 11 garages and build 3 houses. At the time of writing the details of these amendments are not yet available to the public but residents have only been given until 24 December to comment.

A new planning application has been submitted to build a two storey block of flats (4 x 2 bedroom units) at 1 Sussex Court, High Street 1 Sussex Court is the address of the block of flats opposite the junction of Sussex Road and the High Street. The application is to build this block of flats behind the current two blocks of flats.

The KRA have now been officially informed that New Vision Homes are appealing the decision of Woking’s Planning Committee to reject the plans to build a three storey block of flats on the site. Residents’ have until 15 December to contact the Planning Inspector if you think the Councillors were right to reject the plans. At this point in time we do not know the grounds of the appeal and I suspect the statement from New Vision Homes outlining their grounds for the appeal will be withheld until after the 15 December. There is nothing about transparency when it comes to planning and Woking.

On 26 November the Planning Committee approved the building of a one bedroom house in the rear garden of 48 Lower Guildford Road. The new dwelling will in fact be in Wood Lane. This was the fourth attempt by the owner of 48 Lower Guildford Road to build in their garden. The last attempt in 2013 was rejected and an appeal was overturned. This time round Katie Dunk, a Planning Officer from WBC, recommending approval. In her report to the Planning Committee the Planning Officer had selected a number of points from the decision of the Planning Inspectors report that had rejected the last proposal and outlined how the developer had made changes. One such change was the fact that the height of the building had been reduced by 0.4m, or 15 inches in old money.

Cllr. Saj Hussain proposed that their had been insufficient change from the plan rejected and that the new proposal remained out of character and was an overdevelopment of the area. Saj proposed that the application should be rejected but he was in a minority and got little support from his fellow Councillors.

According to the website of Woking’s Planning Dept. an appeal is in progress against the decision taken by the Councillors on Woking’s Planning Committee who, after listening to all the facts rejected the proposal of New Vision Homes, on behalf of Woking Borough Council, to build a three storey block of flats on that site. A block of flats without any vehicle access or dedicated parking.

If the proposed block of flats are given the go ahead by an independent Planning Inspector then the garden at the front of the old library where yesterday we stood in remembrance of those who had fallen in conflict will virtually disappear.

We keep being told by Eric Pickles and other Government Ministers that local planning decisions should be taken by local people. In this case a decision was taken by local councillors but those in higher authority in Woking didn’t like the decision so they have gone to a Planning Inspector, probably from Bristol, to come in and tell us what is best for our community.

It makes planning a joke in this area.

On Tuesday 4th November Councillors on Woking’s Planning Committee will discuss the latest plans for the development of Woking town centre. This is the land from the old market ground down to Toys r Us, including land currently used for the fire station. The Council presents this as good news as it will bring M & S back to town plus a new large hotel, restaurants and apartments. What Councillors have failed to communicate is the impact this development will have on commuters, shoppers and anyone else who uses our buses to travel to and from town.

The development requires the closure of Cawsey Way (the road that goes past Toys r Us, Wolsey shopping centre and the side of Boots) and the High Street, that will go across the old market ground, becomes a one way road down from the railway station.

So the buses from Knaphill (28, 34, 35 & 91) on reaching Victoria Way will turn left travel along Victoria Way to the roundabout, at the far end, up Chertsey Road and Stanley Road to reach the bus stops on the Broadway (next to the railway station). Please note officially this is not a bus station. There will be a new bus stop on Victoria Way,this will be the one nearest to the shops, and it will be near the Lightbox, close to the junction of Victoria Way and Chobham Raod.

The so called transport experts state that the journey time to the railway station will only be extended by 2min 86 seconds. This may be true on a sunny Sunday afternoon but on a wet Friday morning in the rush hour the extension in time will be nearer 10 minutes.

[pullquote]The elderly or anyone slow on their feet are going to find it much harder to reach the shops.[/pullquote]Commuters can alight at the Lightbox and then hot foot it through town. The elderly or anyone slow on their feet are going to find it much harder to reach the shops.

We are told that this is progress but what it demonstrates is that in the eyes of Woking Borough Council and the County Council bus passengers will be treated as third class citizens. What happened to the idea of an integrated transport system or Woking having a public transport hub?  Just words.

Surrey County Council are concerned with the level of subsidy they pay to Arriva the bus company. This redesigning of the road network in Woking is not going to entice more commuters out of their cars and on to the buses. Then there is the added congestion on Victoria Road as the nearside lane becomes a bus only lane.