THE Haslemere Society has slammed Waverley Borough Council planning officers for recommending a "cramped and very uninspiring" development in the town should be approved. Members of the society, which aims to protect and enhance the town and surrounding villages by challenging changes which could be detrimental to the area, were "utterly dismayed" when officers raised no objections to designs for 43 houses on land at Midhurst Road, Haslemere. Although the society accepts some form of development on the site, it believes the final scheme "pays no regard to local traditional design". Society representatives spoke out against the designs of the houses at Waverley Borough Council's development management committee in February, when councillors went against officers recommendations and refused the plans. However, the application was later approved on appeal by a government planning inspector and the society believes Waverley officers recommending the design in the first place was "a material fact" which influenced the decision. In a letter to The Herald, David Smith, chairman of The Haslemere Society, said: "Residents of Haslemere will soon be able to judge for themselves just how bereft of inspiration the design really is as the houses are now being built. "This example is a recent instance in a series of high profile construction projects in the town where good design has been lacking. "We feel that most will agree that Haslemere deserves better town planning standards than this". The society was also becoming increasingly concerned this was not the first time poor designs had been given the green light by Waverley officers. Mr Smith told The Herald poor designs for the pavilion and a "massive brick wall", both at the High Lane estate in Haslemere, had also been approved. Members of the society have now become so frustrated at what they see as a "remarkable lapse in standards" at Waverley Borough Council, that they have decided to withdraw sponsorship from this year's Waverley Design Awards in protest. Mr Smith added: "The Waverley planners are in a very strong position to influence design and have a great responsibility to the community for whom they work. "We are looking to them to apply the same high standards of design that they look for when making awards. When this happens we will be happy to reconsider our sponsorship." The Waverley Design Awards are given out every two years to architects and builders for good design and to schools for designing environmental projects and The Haslemere Society has sponsored the project from the outset. In his letter Mr Smith said encouraging and rewarding good design "is very important to the society", particularly with government pressures to provide more housing. The categories for the Waverley Design Award Scheme are New Buildings, Alterations and Conversions, Sustainable Design and Construction, the Contractors' Award, Environmental Enhancement and Schools' Practical, Art and Academic projects. A Waverley Borough Council spokesman said: "It's regrettable that the Haslemere Society has withdrawn its support for good design through the Design Awards. "Waverley Borough Council refused permission for the application because of its poor design. Permission was then granted by the Planning Inspectorate (not Waverley) on appeal." In May this year members of The Haslemere Society urged Haslemere town councillors to work with them to help preserve the character of the town. Society member John Greer made the plea at a meeting of Haslemere Town Council's planning and highways committee. At the time Mr Greer said the society was concerned at the apparent lack of concern for character and heritage being displayed by Waverley Borough Council when considering planning applications for the Haslemere area. He said the society wanted to see the borough council "be more forceful" in opposing some applications and said there seemed to be little sign of challenges. He also admitted that the society needed to be more active and said membership numbers were increasing to help deal with planning issues. Mr Greer said he accepted the town council would not always agree with the society. In April this year Mr Smith also backed calls for a 'masterplan' to control development in Hindhead. He called on Waverley Borough Council not to grant planning permission for developments in the Hindhead crossroads area until the plan had been drawn up. His comments came after repeated calls for a comprehensive scheme to manage the future of Hindhead, as work began on the £371m A3 tunnel scheme earlier this year. Waverley borough councillors responded by approving the 'Interim Planning Statement for Hindhead' in May. The document was prepared to act as a brief for developers making applications in the Hindhead crossroads area before the new A3 tunnel opens.
