HASLEMERE MP Jeremy Hunt and Guildford MP Anne Milton have joined forces to fight the Dunsfold Park plan, which has just been declared valid by Waverley and will be open for comments next week. The two South West Surrey MPs held a public meeting on the issue last November, at which the vast majority of attendees voiced their opposition to a large development at the former aerodrome. Working with local parish council representatives, they have also opposed Dunsfold Park Ltd's bid to become one of the government's 10 eco-towns, and wrote to the communities secretary to highlight local people's concerns. The bid was unsuccessful. Mr Hunt said: "I am very concerned about the scale of the Dunsfold Park 'masterplan'; 2,600 new homes would have a significant detrimental effect on the villages surrounding the site, by adding pressure to the area's already over-stretched roads and public services. "The government did not see Dunsfold Park as being suitable for an eco-town, so I hope the developer will realise that local people just don't want a new large-scale community being forced on the area. " Mrs Milton added: "The developer is fully aware of local people's views on these plans and I am disappointed that they are still pushing ahead. A development of this size would have a massive impact on the countryside, the roads and our infrastructure. Our villages simply cannot cope with the impact this would have. An outline application for the airfield development was submitted on April 4 and includes the homes, schools, shops, restaurants, a health centre, church and hotel. Building will take place in 12 phases over 10 years. If approved, a new link road will be built to connect the community to the A281. However the developers pledge car use will be discouraged, and a vehicle levy will help fund a fleet of electric or bio-fuel buses. Waverley has had to check the 22 supporting documents, filling 35 cases to declare the application valid. John Anderson, head of planning, said: "This is the largest application in Waverley's history. New settlements have been off the agenda since the 1970s but they are very much back on the national agenda with the government's desire to increase housing and its support for eco towns. "These proposals are contrary to both the South East Plan, which is in draft form, and the local plan. "The presumption is that Waverley will refuse them on that basis, but we need to look at the arguements they are making in terms of sustainability and housing supply to see whether there are material considerations that might out- weigh regional and local policy," he added. Dunsfold Park say the benefits, which will outweigh any policy objections, include 910 affordable homes addressing an acute shortage in the borough. The plans are for an environmentally friendly and self sustaining community with homes, work and local services all within walking distance, all surrounded by 350 acres of newly created parkland. Many of the 6,000 people will work as well as live there. The site is known as the home of the BBC's Top Gear race track, but the former airfield would be closed. However the plan will retain a heliport used by Surrey Air Ambulance. Members of the public will be able to add comments and will be able to see the outline plans – from Monday – via Waverley's website: http://www.waverely.gov.uk">www.waverely.gov.uk The two MPs can also be contacted by letter at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA or by email at [email protected]">[email protected] or [email protected]">[email protected]
