There are new proposals from Surrey County Council for development at the Oxted Sandpit in Barrow Green Road and for continuing activity at the nearby Oxted Quarry in Chalkpit Lane.They are contained in a draft document just published for consultation called the 'Surrey Minerals Plan.'
The Plan proposes extending the Sandpit for further sand extraction and, in addition, making it into an aggregates recycling centre for construction and development waste. This waste would be brought in to the site by HGV where it would either be dumped as landfill, or recycled and driven away again - by HGV.
It seems inevitable that if either the extension and/or the recycling centre goes ahead it will mean a large number of extra lorries on our roads. These will be as well as the lorries using the Chalkpit site. That site is only referred to in the Plan as a continuing source of chalk. The main problem, the huge number of HGVs already involved in the landfilling going on there, is not mentioned. In fact the Plan makes no attempt whatsoever to address the HGV issue, nor does it consider the cumulative impact on the community and the environment of this new plan to operate the two sites together.
The Plan can be read here: click here
There has been a consultation process and both Tandridge District Council and East Surrey MP Peter Ainsworth have strongly objected to the proposals.
The residents' group was not notified of the consultation but did find out about it at the last minute and managed to submit a few comments. Surrey County Council has apologised for leaving us out and has allowed further time for the group to give its views - until 22nd January. If you have any comments that you want the residents' group to submit, please email them to oxted.residents@btinternet.com as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency is still considering whether to issue a permit for landfilling at the Sandpit. It had been originally expected to make a decision by the end of June.
News that the Agency was likely to issue a permit for a second landfill site close to the Chalkpit one prompted widespread protests because of the increase in lorries and the serious risks of yet more environmental damage from noise, HGV traffic and dust pollution (see headlines)
Mercers Farm, Nutfield
The Minerals Plan also names Mercers Farm, Nutfield Marsh as a preferred site. This is totally unsuited for access by large numbers of HGVs. It is in the Green Belt and is a Site of Nature Conservation Importance. The site is important for great crested newts and over-wintering lapwings - their habitat would be destroyed if the proposal goes ahead.
The County Council says that if anyone wants to be sent updates on the Plan they should email mdf@surreycc.gov.uk with their name and address - and email address if they want to be updated by email.
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Back Garden Development in Tandridge
The Core Strategy Policy, CSP3, which restricts uncontrolled back garden development has now been reinstated by Tandridge Council. It was brought back into operation on 1st December.
The policy was dropped last April because the Council's housing supply figures showed a surplus of less than 20%. CSP3 is triggered when the surplus goes above 20%. The residents' group and others queried these figures and, as a result, the Council agreed to carry out a review. That review has now confirmed a surplus of 25%.
The figures will be reviewed again in April. We still have queries about some of the sites that are not being counted in the total and will be pursuing these.
Policy CSP3 says that, if the surplus is more than 20%, the Council will not permit the development of residential garden land where the proposal is for 5 units or more or where the site is larger than 0.2 hectares (about half an acre) or smaller sites where these form part of a potentially larger development.
The Council's latest statement on Policy CSP3 can be read on its website click here
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Green Belt
The adoption of the Tandridge Core Strategy in October 2008 made sure that the overall policy for development in Tandridge did not rely on Green Belt sites to fulfil the housing targets imposed by central Government. Unfortunately that wasn't the end of the process.
The next stage is drawing up 'The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment' (SHLAA) which is going on now. Its aim is to identify all the potential housing land in the district.
It is up to the Council to carry out a thorough and careful investigation which will ensure that all suitable sites in the built up areas are identified, brought forward and used to their full development potential.
The residents' group is doing all it can to assist with this and to demonstrate that it is not necessary to build on the Green Belt. With this in mind, it is taking part in the consultation panel which is overseeing the SHLAA.
It is very important that all suitable sites are identified so if you are aware of any site within the built up areas that may be suitable for housing please let us know or call the Council's Planning Policy Team on 01883 732764 or email planningpolicy@tandridge.gov.uk
Details about how the assessment is being carried out are on the Council's web page click here
And finally: The residents' group is quite large, currently 869 members, but bigger is better if it wants to stand a chance of being heard on planning issues. Please encourage people to join. All they need to do is email oxted.residents@btinternet.com
or, if they don't have or like email, write to: Oxted & Limpsfield Residents Group, P O Box 233, Oxted Post Office, Station Road West, Oxted, RH8 9EH and we'll keep in touch by post.
Most members are from Oxted & Limpsfield, but there are others from across northern Tandridge and anyone in the district is welcome to join. The group is solely concerned with planning matters.