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.

Local Children sow Poppy seeds at the Avenue of Remembrance

On Tuesday 24th April 2018 over 30 children from St Andrews, St Matthews, Royal Kent and Cobham Free Schools sowed poppy and wildflower seeds around the beautiful new blossoming cherry trees on the Avenue of Remembrance in Cobham.

Both the cherry trees and poppies will maintain the memory of those Cobham men who fell in the Second World War. The children were supported in this task by Elmbridge Leisure Services and Cobham Conservation & Heritage Trust, and had a wonderful time raking in the seeds. Their teamwork was impressive and the children and parents expressed pride to be involved with a project the results of which will be appreciated by Cobham residents, and those driving through, for years to come.

Re-dedication of the Avenue of Remembrance, Cobham

Despite the rain more than 120 Cobham residents attended the re-dedication of the Avenue of Remembrance on Sunday 8th April 2018.

The Avenue of Remembrance is an important memorial to those who lost their lives during WWII and lived in and around Cobham.

A community initiative to restore the Avenue of Remembrance Cherry Trees in Cobham was launched by Elmbridge Borough Council and local organisations in September 2017. The much-loved and admired memorial was originally created and dedicated in 1946 by the Cobham Womens’ Institute who planted the cherry trees in commemoration of local service people who lost their lives in WWII.

Over the last 70 years the avenue had lost its impact, due to some trees becoming diseased, and replacement trees not thriving. A consultation carried out with Cobham and Stoke D’Abernon community in September 2017 highlighted a wish to restore the avenue to its former glory.

A recommendation to renew the Avenue of Remembrance to protect it for the future was approved by Elmbridge Borough Council who also financed the project. Works started in earnest in February 2018, culminating in a "Topping Out" ceremony on 15 February to mark the planting of 46 Cherry trees to replace the original ones. The replacement trees were grown by Barcham Trees from Cambridgeshire. They are now in place to mark the centenary of the end of WW1, and will hopefully be fully mature for the WWII centenary commemorations in 2039-2045.

This project is a fantastic testament to the dedication and commitment of local organisations to look after and nurture their environment, in partnership with the Borough Council. The organisations involved in this initiative are Cobham Cedar Club Women’s Institute, Royal British Legion Cobham Branch, Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust, Cobham and Downside Residents’ Association, Stoke D’Abernon Residents’ Association and St Andrew’s Church Cobham, together with other churches in the area.

View the photo gallery      View the re-dedication programme