THE consultation on Waverley’s Local Plan Part 1 finishes at 5pm on Friday, October 20. Before that residents of Farnham have an opportunity to voice their concerns about the main modifications to the plan, writes David Howell, chairman of the Farnham Society planning committee.

“Leaflets were handed out in the Lion and Lamb Yard on Saturday, October 7, and residents expressed their anger at Waverley’s proposed main modifications. A frequently used word was ‘respect’ - “why couldn’t Waverley respect the democratic decision of the residents of Farnham ?”

“Other borough councils would, and in fact have, respected ‘made’ Neighbourhood Plans. Not Waverley.

“During the last two weeks over 11,500 leaflets have been delivered or handed out by volunteers wanting the Neighbourhood Plan to be given a chance, as it was prepared following consultation with the residents of Farnham and voted for by them. We hope you have received a leaflet and will be responding to the consultation.

“So, what would the impact be if the proposed main modifications are included in the Local Plan? The main modifications require a further 450 houses in Farnham (over and above the 2,330 houses already allocated) and the location of the additional houses to be allocated immediately.

“The Farnham Neighbourhood Plan would be deemed out of date because it’s policy allocating houses would be superseded by the Local Plan. Developers are already telling the Secretary of State this, hoping to get their developments approved. Waverley Lane, Lower Weybourne Lane, Monkton Lane, Folly Hill, Green Lane Farm and, still to come, Farnham Park Hotel.

“Obviously not all of the plan would effectively be out of date but the housing policy, the most controversial and difficult one to agree within the town, would be.

“The modifications would require either the town council to start reviewing the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan immediately or Waverley will decide where the developers will build their houses. Five years of discussion wasted. Hundreds if not thousands of hours wasted.

“Waverley don’t care though. The allocated sites for housing development in Farnham were selected by a defined methodology with carefully prepared criteria, challenged unsuccessfully by both the examiner of our plan, and in the High Court by a consortium of, guess who, developers whose sites were not included.

“The plan and the selection of sites were found to be fair, sound and robust. No other sites exist in Farnham now which meet these criteria. More sites will come forward in the future, everybody knows that, but the immediate review of our plan and addition of new sites would question the whole process that has taken place. It would be wrong. Uncle Tom Cobley and all could build houses. Areas adjoining Farnham Park, Waverley Lane, areas in the Bourne, all totally at risk.

“And to make matters worse Farnham is about to enter a period of the greatest upheaval and the most continual congestion ever, with East Street/Brightwells and the Woolmead redevelopment all starting and continuing for a number of years. Add the Hopfields site and other allocated sites that are likely to come forward and, well, you can see the chaos that is likely to reign.

“The Neighbourhood Plan sought to bring in 2,361 houses into Farnham in the next 10 years. The plan was going to be reviewed in the period 2022 to 2027. Let us tell Waverley and the Inspector that is what we want. Not have our hard work thrown away.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

“Please take the time to respond to the Local Plan consultation. Look on the Farnham Town Council’s website page at www.farnham.gov.uk or our website www.farnhamsociety.orguk for more details. Respond, and respond now.”