The National Trust has confirmed the date of the 2015 Annual Meeting for River Users for the River Wey. 

It will be held at the Dapdune Centre at Dapdune Wharf on Wednesday 4th November at 7.30pm.

For more information and to confirm your place, please email riverwey@nationaltrust.org.uk. 

Your objection will have more effect if a number of people write in to object, but do not be tempted to organise a petition; it will not carry any weight and is a waste of time. Also avoid using a ‘standard’ letter. Objectors should use their own words and write, type or word process their letters themselves. Objections will not carry the same weight if they are seen to have been written or produced in a standardised form.

The following are the grounds on which planning permission is most likely to be refused(although this list is not intended to be definitive):

• Adverse effect on the residential amenity of neighbours, by reason of (among other factors) noise*, disturbance*, overlooking, loss of privacy, overshadowing, etc. [*but note that this does not include noise or disturbance arising from the actual execution of the works, which will not be taken into account]
  
• Unacceptably high density / over development of the site, especially if it involves loss of garden land or the open aspect of the neighbourhood (so-called ‘garden grabbing’)
• Visual impact of the development
• Effect of the development on the character of the neighbourhood
• Design (including bulk and massing, detailing and materials, if these form part of the application)
• The proposed development is over-bearing, out-of-scale or out of character in terms of its appearance compared with existing development in the vicinity
• The loss of existing views from neighbouring properties would adversely affect the residential amenity of neighbouring owners
• If in a Conservation Area, adverse effect of the development on the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.
• If near a Listed Building, adverse effect of the development on the setting of the Listed Building.
• The development would adversely affect highway safety or the convenience of road users but only if there is technical evidence to back up such a claim.

The following points, on the other hand will not be taken into account in deciding on the acceptability of the development in planning terms:

• The precise identity of the applicant;
  
• The racial or ethnic origin of the applicant, their sexual orientation, religious beliefs, political views or affiliations or any other personal attributes;
• The reasons or motives of the applicant in applying for planning permission (for example if the development is thought to be purely speculative);
• Any profit likely to be made by the applicant;
• The behaviour of the applicant;
• Nuisance or annoyance previously caused by the applicant [unless this relates to an existing development for which retrospective permission is being sought];
• Concerns about possible future development of the site (as distinct from the actual development which is currently being proposed);
• Any effect on the value of neighbouring properties

Last week the BCA attended the second monthly road forum held by Guildford Borough Council. The purpose of the forums is to discuss community concerns about the roads with a particular focus this month on the Clay Lane Link Road.

The forum was chaired by Matt Furniss, lead GBC councillor for infrastructure, and attended by representatives from the BCA and Worplesdon Parish Council.

For those who are unaware of the Clay Lane Link Road, it’s GBC’s plan to build a road from the back of Slyfield Industrial Estate across the fields between Jacobs Well and Burpham to join Clay Lane. They’re hoping it will alleviate some of the traffic problems on the A320 by providing an alternative route for traffic.

GBC are launching the second round of pre-planning application consultation on this project on 25th September and it will last for 6 weeks. As part of this, GBC will run events for local residents to update them on the plans and give us the opportunity to provide feedback. We have been assured that there will be an event actually held in Burpham and every household will be informed of it through direct leafleting, posters and social media.

The BCA will of course provide feedback to GBC as part of this process but we encourage anyone with an interest in how this will impact Burpham to comment individually as well. GBC will then, informed by our feedback of course, decide whether to submit a planning application in early 2016.

GBC maintains that the link road is not written in stone yet, though they did say that the currently published route is their recommended route should they decide to proceed with a planning application. They insist that the Slyfield traffic problem needs to be solved and making changes to the A320 is not an option.

Environmental assessments of the impact of the link road are currently ongoing, and we are waiting on a date from GBC of when they will be published. This includes emissions, noise, lighting, vegetation, safety and flooding. The link road will be included in the Environment Agency flood model to determine any necessary flood defences or storage. GBC have confirmed that the model includes the 2013/14 flooding.

The proposed roundabout on Clay Lane has been reduced in size on the latest plans from 45m to 40m, and shared crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists have been included.

GBC is getting back to us with revised costings for the link road, the height of the new road and how long Clay Lane will have to be shut if the project goes ahead.

GBC recently surveyed Clay Lane and determined that there are 2 points where it is tight for 2 HGVs to safely pass each other so road widening at those 2 points has been included in the latest link road proposal.

The October forum will have a tighter focus on general Burpham road problems.

For more information on the link road including a map of the proposed road, a timeline for the project and the latest engagement report search for Clay Lane Link Road on the Guildford Council website and it’s the first link in the search results. You can also sign up for updates on link road project from GBC.