RESIDENTS are uniting to save a treasured piece of land after an application was put forward for 102 new homes on land at Folly Hill in Farnham.

The application by Catesby Estates Ltd and Bewley Homes Plc, proposes 102 new flats and houses on 10.8 hectares of land west of Folly Hill and south of Upper Old Park Lane.

Sixty-one of these will be two, three and four-bedroomed homes, and the remaining 41 will be social rented housing – 25 of which will be one and two- bedroomed flats and 16 will be two and three-bedroomed houses.

A new roundabout has also been proposed at the Folly Hill and Drovers Way junction. The deadline for comments is Friday, July 29, and there are currently 194 objectors and only one in support.

Residents believe that should this application permission it will destroy an Area of Great Landscape Value, categorised as unsuitable for development in Waverley’s Local Plan.

As well as threatening ancient and protected oak trees including a 500-year-old Cromwell oak; it would harm wildlife including Dartford warblers, nightjars and woodlarks which live just 800m away on Caesars Camp (the SPA) and are protected by law.

Objectors also believe it will increase the risk of flooding; make existing sewerage problems worse; add to Farnham’s air pollution; increase traffic into Castle Street; cause serious road safety issues and cause isolation.

A passionate Folly Hill resident Jennifer Scott is one of many fighting to keep the history of this land alive for many more years to come.

Highlighting the historic aspect of the field, she notes that King John and King Henry VIII and James VI used the fields for hunting.

Residents are worried that this development will change the secluded nature of their homes.

“There’s no other major development - there’s only 25 odd houses in this road, The Great Park doesn’t have any major developments on it – this would be the first time they’ve actually broken into proper green grass and beautiful soil” Jennifer continued.

“I think this is terrible for Farnham. Of all the places that land could be taken why take a beautiful historic field that has horses grazing, that has beautiful views, that’s enjoyed by everybody and create this not very cute but densely occupied development?

“If they grant permission for this field to be built on there will be houses all the way from here, all the way across and then all the way down into Farnham.

“As you drive up Folly Hill at the moment and you look out on your left you see these beautiful fields that make you feel good about Farnham. It’s a lovely little town but instead it will just be this urban sprawl.”

However acting on behalf of the developers, planning consultancy Turley stated the application will help to meet an urgent need for both market and affordable homes in Farnham and the wider area.

And that the proposals will bring forward new homes needed in Farnham, including 40 per cent on site affordable housing, a new roundabout junction to Folly Hill, dedicated public open space and Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG).

According to the statement this development will provide a sustainable drainage scheme; ecological enhancements and mitigation; increased spending in the locality as a result of new residents; creation of construction jobs; while delivering a range of housing including new affordable homes in Farnham.

To view the application go to the website www.waver

ley.gov.uk/planning and search for WA/2016/1224. The plans can also be viewed at the Waverley enquiry desk which can be found at the town council offices in South Street, Farnham.