Category Archives: Capel Parish Council Notes

Parish Notes For November

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At the meeting of Capel Parish Council on 19th October Inspector Hamlin attended with the latest crib figures. There have been 15 minor offences since the last meeting. 7 in Capel and 8 in Beare Green. He confirmed the attendance of Chris Cannon at all the Neighbourhood Plan meetings being held in October and November to discuss road safety matters. Leaflets on other safety matters where produced and these will be distributed to groups in the Parish.

The Chairman Mandy Schryver said that on the evening of Saturday 17th October there had been vandalism at the Capel Playground when youths had set fire to the playground surface. Two youths wearing hoodies and riding bikes had been seen riding away from the scene. The fire brigade were called to put out the fire. Although the damage was small in area it will be expensive to repair.

Paula Dale had attended a MVDC Bike Forum at Dorking on behalf of the Parish Council where cyclists and residents and horse riders were represented. She said there was a danger to horse riders emerging from bridle paths onto the roads where cyclists are racing and suggested they be made aware of the bridle paths before starting their races. Each group made their presentation and this was followed by a mainly polite question and answer session. Inspector Hamilin said nothing can be done to prevent cycle clubs holding races on public roads but suggested better advance warning information could be provided to communities.

 

Mrs Lesley Bignell 

Clerk to Capel Parish Council

01306 712447

capelpc@btconntect.com

Housing and Traveller Sites Plan Update

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On the 9th December Mole Valley District Council agreed that the preparation of the HOUSing and Traveller Sites Plan be terminated.

In order to fulfil our wider planning responsibilities, including the protection of our Green Belt, the Council takes the preliminary steps necessary to prepare a new Local Plan in line with the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Several events have occurred which have led the Council to this decision.

The first concerns the possibility that the proposed Plan would not be found sound by a Planning Inspector. This concern has been triggered by what we have seen happen to similar plans to ours. Planning Inspectors have been taking the view that housing numbers in local plans should be based on an assessment of needs, rather than figures taken from now revoked Regional Plans. The figure Mole Valley was working towards was taken from the revoked South East Plan and we are concerned that if we were to submit the Housing and Traveller Sites Plan for examination it would not get past a Planning Inspector.

Secondly. the HOUSing and Traveller Sites Plan would almost certainly have proposed some land being taken out of the Green Belt and allocated for housing development. Recent statements by Secretary of State Eric Pickles about the Green Belt have emphasised the Government’s view that when planning for new bUildings, protecting the Green Belt must be paramount and priority given to brownfield sites.

We also know from our consultation and engagement with local communities that there is a strong body of opinion that is opposed to any loss of Green Belt land for new homes.

Finally, we have seen an increase in the number of homes in Mole Valley that have been granted planning permission and the number in the pipeline is also healthy. This has reduced significantly the amount of land that might have been required. It also strengthens our ability to resist development in inappropriate locations.

These issues have resulted in the Council deciding to terminate work on the proposed Housing and Traveller Sites Plan. However we are mindful of the Government’s requirement that local planning authorities prepare local plans to provide clarity about where and what type of development will and will not be permitted in the future. Therefore the Council will shortly need to embark on the preparation of a new Local Plan that will not only address the need to provide new homes but will also look at all the other issues we face, including jobs, infrastructure and safeguarding the environment of Mole Valley.

Jackie Coke

Clerk to the Council 01306 712447 email capelpc@btconnect.com

Capel Parish Council – Notes for July

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Consultation on MVDC Housing and Traveller Sites Plan – Additional Sites ends on July 21st 2014

The Parish Council has drawn up a draft response which is able to read under ‘Council Documents’ on its web site at www.capel-pc.gov.uk . This document will be discussed at the meeting of the Parish Council Planning Committee on Monday July 7th in the  Committee Room at Capel Village Hall starting at 7:30pm. The meeting is open to the public.

MVDC is also holding a ‘drop in’ event at the Beare Green Village Hall, Merebank on Wednesday 2nd July from 3.0pm till 8.00pm when members of the MVDC Planning Policy Team will be available to answer your questions on the additional sites for Capel, Beare Green, Hookwood and Charlwood.

Gatwick

New Flight Paths: Gatwick Airport Ltd have launched phase 2 of the Gatwick Airport Airspace Consultation, their plans to redraw many of the flight paths around Gatwick. The document is at: www.gatwickairport.com/gatwickairspaceconsultation . These proposals could have serious impact on many towns and villages around the airport and will potentially affect an area from Guilford to Tunbridge Wells and from Petworth to Sevenoaks.

The 60-page consultation document is written in technical language and is difficult for the layperson to understand. The Parish Council will be drawing up bullet points to include in its response to the consultation at the meeting of the Parish Council’s Planning Committee on July 7th 2014 at 7.30pm in the Committee Room at Capel Village Hall. The meeting is open to the public so is you require further information on how to respond you are welcome to attend. The consultation finishes on Friday 15th August. Please note that the proposed new flight paths all relate to the existing runway. If ever a new Gatwick runway were to be built, all the flight paths will need to be revised, with new flight paths over areas at present peaceful.

Gatwick Coordination Group

MPs Crispin Blunt, Sir Paul Beresford, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Soames, Rt Hon Sir John Stanley, and Charles Hendry have formed the Gatwick Coordination Group following a meeting at the House of commons on Wednesday 11th June 2014.

The Gatwick Coordination Group is established to represent the serious local concern at the plan for a second runway at Gatwick Airport which has been shortlisted by the Davies Commission. Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) has made its submission to Sir Howard Davies, which is yet to be published. Sir Howard’s Commission will make its recommendation on airport capacity to the government in 2015.

The group released the following statement:

“We believe that the building of a second runway at Gatwick Airport would be a disaster for the surrounding communities and environment. The level of development, associated with an airport serving nearly three times as many passengers as it does now, would devastate the local environment and leave the UK with its major airport in the wrong place.

There is also no adequate plan yet presented to provide the necessary infrastructure, of all types, to support this development.

The size of Gatwick site only lends itself to a single runway airport, serving as a sensible, competitive alternate to London’s main hub airport. While they pursue that objective, Gatwick Airport Limited will have our support, but this proposal is not in the local interest, nor is it in the national interest, and this group will work to prove that case.”

Jackie Coke, Clerk to the Council, 01306 712447, email capelpc@btconnect.com

Just Say No!

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The Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, has included Gatwick Airport in its shortlist for potential locations for the next runway in the UK. Gatwick Airport Limited have produced a consultation paper and 17-page questionnaire about their possible runway options. After considerable pressure they have included a ‘None of these options’ check-box buried in section D.

FACTS

Heathrow is the only airport in the London area running near to maximum capacity. Stansted is only at 40% capacity and not due to reach maximum until 2040. The Government should return to the policy of NO MORE RUNWAYS and not yield to pressure from the airlines. The airlines would then begin to develop holiday services from the regional airports and so free up slots at Heathrow and Gatwick for foreign visitors and business travel.

Gatwick is surrounded by Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty which are nationally protected landscapes valued by numerous visitors for their unique flora, fauna, peace and tranquility. The Surrey Hills reach 1000 feet putting them 35% closer to aircraft above. We are plagued by the noise and pollution caused by aircraft taking-off from Gatwick from 6 am to midnight. This can only get considerably worse.

Global Infrastructure Partners have made no secret that they hope to sell their airport share by 2020. Having permission for a second runway will dramatically increase its value.

SUGGESTIONS

that you can use to object to the second runway option at Gatwick

  • New homes required to meet the demands generated by employment for a new runway and expanded facilities. Approximately 30,000 – 45,000 new houses would be needed around the whole county. This was the conclusion of a study jointly commissioned by the West Sussex CC and Gatwick Diamond Initative.
  • Road and rail infrastructure for the airport. Both are already at breaking point and could not stand the extra pressure caused by the increase in travellers and local residents on the rural and motorway networks.
  • The need for extra school places, hospitals and doctors surgeries to be able to cope with the influx of new residents.
  • The routing proposed for aircraft will only worsen already unacceptable noise and pollution levels.
  • The drainage capacity of the river network created by the new developments will impact further on the Mole Valley.
  • It will certainly spoil our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1). Gatwick Airport Limited are putting on a series of exhibitions about their second runway options. One is in Dorking, please visit and make your objections known.

Date: Thursday 1st May 2014, 4.00 to 7.30pm Venue: Masonic Hall, Dorking Halls, RH4 1SG

If you can not attend there are others at Horley, Charlwood and Horsham.
2). The deadline for submitting your response to the questionnaire is 16th May 2014.

  • Complete GAL’s online response form by going to www.gatwickairport.com/consultation and click ‘have your say’
  • Request a paper response form and post it to: Freepost RSLG ATKL LBAE, Gatwick Runway Consultation, Ipsos MORI – Research Services House, Elmgrove Road, Harrow, HA1 2QG. Capel PC have a limited supply, contact Jackie Coke via email capelpc@btconnect.com or telephone on 01306 712447
  • Email GAL at gatwickrunwayconsultation@ipsos.com
  • Be aware that you must use the channels described here when responding to this consultation. Gatwick Airport Ltd cannot accept responsibility for ensuring that responses sent to any other addresses are included in this consultation

3). LOBBY your local district and county councillors and member of parliament. Details for contacting all are on the Capel Parish Council web-site www.capel-pc.gov.uk

4). REGISTER with GACC (Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign)

GACC have been successfully fighting expansion at Gatwick Airport since the 1960’s. They have a team of experts who are running a concise and intelligent press campaign and who will also answer your questions.You can contact GACC on the following:

  • Website: www.gacc.org.uk
  • Post: GACC Campaign Office, Stan Hill, Charlwood, Surrey. RH6 0EP
  • Telephone: 01293 863369
  • Email: gacc@btconnect.com
  • Facebook: www.facebook.com/doyoucaregatwick 

The Gatwick Airport Runway Options Consultation

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Gatwick Airport Ltd has produced a 17 page questionnaire about their possible runway options. After considerable pressure they have included a ‘None of these options’ check-box buried in Section D.

Responses to the consultation must be submitted online at www.gatwickairport.com/consultation click ‘have your say’ this takes you to the questionnaire or you can request a paper response form and post it to: Freepost RSLG ATKL LBAE, Gatwick Runway Consultation, Ipsos MORI – Research Services House, Elmgrove Road, Harrow, HA1 1QG. Capel Parish Council has a limit number of parker copies of the form available from Jackie Coke (details below)

  • Making Gatwick larger than Heathrow is currently will endanger the character of Surrey, Sussex and West Kent for ever.
  • Capel Parish Council will be sending out a flyer entitled ‘Just Say no’ to all households in the Parish listing some suggestions that you may like to use to object to a second runway option at Gatwick.
  • The scale and cost of the infrastructure to support an airport potentially larger than Heathrow would mean a massive change in the character of our area, bringing urbanisation of green fields for many miles around.
  • Approximately 40,000 new houses would be needed around the whole country if a new runway is commissioned by the West Sussex County Council and Gatwick Diamond Initiative.
  • Increased risk of local flooding – the drainage capacity of the river network created by the new developments will impact the Mole Valley.
  • Road and rail infrastructure around the airport. Both are already at breaking point and could not stand the extra pressure caused by the increase in travellers and local residents in the rural network.
  • More pollution leading to possible health problems.
  • Our homes, villages and towns blighted by even more aircraft noise and road traffic.
  • The need for extra school places, hospitals, doctors surgeries to be able to cope with the extra residents.
  • The routing proposed for aircraft will only worsen an already unacceptable prevailing noise nuisance.
  • Grid locket motorways (M25 and M23) leading to more rat runs through our villages.
  • It will certainly spoil our Local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
  • Listed buildings demolished.
  • Economic benefits would be mainly for new workers moving into the area not for existing residents.

The Parish Council urges residents who have not already attended one of the public exhibitions to do so on Thursday May 1st at the Masonic Hall in Dorking Halls between 4pm and 7:30pm so that they can see for themselves the enormity of what is proposed.

Jackie Coke, Clerk to the Council. Tel 01306-712447, Email capelpc@btconnect.com 

 

Resurfacing of Capel Children’s Playground

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We hope to have the new surface down by the end of april, sooner if possible. Unfortunately conditions on the Recreation Ground have been so wet that we have not been able to get heavy machinery there to prepare the ground work but once we get the go ahead it should only take a day’s work to install.

The suface will be of ‘JungleMulch’, abounded rubber mulch made from eco-friendly recycled rubber which makes an attractive and durable safety surfacing. This will be formed around the existing equipment with the exception of the now defunct balance board which will be replaced with a timber balancing beam. The wooden retaining boards around the bark will be removed so that the whole of the playground can be surface to make a much larger play area, but still with a bench.

Proposed solar PV Development

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Proposed solar PV development on land off the A24 at Cracker Barrel Farm

TGC Renewables, the company considering a pre planning application as above, has been invited by the Parish Council to give a presentation explaining its proposals and to provide in depth detail of research relevant to the area concerned should it intend to progress to making a formal planning application.

Jackie Coke  – Clerk to the Council – 01306 712447