Knowle Hill Park Footpath Improvement Works Completed - Sept 2018

We are pleased to report that the resurfacing of the Knowle Hill Park footpath was completed in early September 2018 and the path has been re-opened.

The footpath work was enabled by a grant from Elmbridge Council's Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fund and a contribution from Cobham Heritage. It has proved to be a great example of the local community working together with both Elmbridge and Surrey councils as the work was coordinated and managed by Surrey County Council's Countryside team who have done an excellent job.

The footpath will now allow local residents to use the path all year round as the new surface will ensure that the path remains usable in all weathers, it also allows local residents to walk side by side up the path - something that was not possible before due to the narrowness of the path and the vegetation overgrowth. Surrey County Council have also changed the stile at the top of the footpath to a kissing gate, making this more accessible for people of all ages and will be installing a Radar gate at the bottom of the path allowing disabled access - both of these have been funded by Surrey CC.

It should also be emphasised that cyclists are not permitted to use designated footpaths and so new signage has been installed to this effect. 

From this - Knowle Hill Park Footpath Winter 2017

To this - Knowle Hill Park Footpath Resurfaced Sept 2018

Knowle Hill Park Footpath Closure - August 2018 for 2 weeks

The public footpath that borders the Knowle Hill Park fields and runs parallel with Lodge Close (up to the stile by Polyapes Scout camp) is being resurfaced and will be closed for approximately 2 weeks. This should begin in the first week of August 2018.

The work is being jointly funded by Elmbridge Council and Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust and was one of three successful applications that Cobham Heritage made for footpath improvement works using CIL (Communities Infrastructure Levy) funding.

The work will clear the overgrown bushes and resurface the path with a material in keeping with the rural nature of the path resulting in this popular route being usable and easily walkable throughout the year.

Cobham Heritage have worked closely with both Elmbridge and Surrey County Councils on this and it is Surrey CC who have commissioned the work as they are responsible for the ongoing maintenance.

As can be seen from the photograph taken in 2017, this footpath is almost impassable during the winter.

We understand some local residents have been concerned about the surfacing work and Surrey County Council have been kind enough to allow us to publish their recent letter sent to the residents who live nearby. This gives more details of the work to be done and the materials to be used. We hope this will address the concerns raised.

View SCC Letter

Listed building at 49-51 High street and land behind – 2018/0903 and 2018/1937

We are very concerned about a planning application recently submitted to Elmbridge Borough Council. 

The building in question is the quaint Jacobean looking shop at the eastern end of the High Street which used to be “Katie James” dress shop. There is land behind this building which lends itself to development and some development on this site would be acceptable. But as usual the developers are trying to cram a quart into a pint pot. Our full objection is now posted on this website which can be found by clicking here.

What we particularly object to is that:

• It is proposed to demolish the rear part of the “Katie James shop and put a new build right up against the remaining frontage. This will destroy the integrity of an important listed building for the sole reason of getting a few more square feet of useable space. But as it is proposed that this extension be higher than the existing building the view of the front of the shop from Church Street will be overpowered by the new build, thus not only damaging the building itself but also the amenity of the conservation area. 
• The height of the new building has been matched to the height of the highest building adjacent – the building to the east – instead of the building it abuts to – Katie James -.
• A minimal number of car parking spaces are provided for the seven new dwellings as they are considered as town centre developments. But there will in practice be at least one car per dwelling and there is no other place for people to park. Cobham now has no available parking spaces and until these are created no development should be given permission unless the appropriate number of spaces likely to be needed are provided and this should be as an absolute minimum of one per each dwelling.

Time is not on our side on this one as the formal consultation process comes to an end on 16th July 2018 – but late letters will be considered.

Three Farms Meadows/Former Wisley Airfield Development Appeal Dismissed

We are very pleased to report that the Secretary of State has dismissed the appeal by the developers who want to build over 2000 houses on Green Belt land on the former Wisley Airfield site also known as Three Farms Meadows.

The original application made by the developers in April 2016 was refused by Guildford Borough Council.

The developers appealed and the planning proposal went to the Planning Inspectorate. The planning appeal hearing took place in September 2017 where interested parties were able to take part. The Cobham Conservation & Heritage Trust took part as a Rule 6 party, entitling it to cross-examine the developers witnesses. Other local interest groups including the Wisley Action Group (WAG) and Parish Councils, appointed barristers to further the case against. After the four week hearing the Inspector upheld Guildford's decision.

The developer appealed once more and the development was sent to the Secretary of State. After much deliberation the appeal has been dismissed today (13 June 2018) by the Secretary of State.

It will be interesting to see what effect this may have on the proposed Guildford Local Plan which is currently being examined by the Planning Inspectorate, the result of which is expected in July 2018.