Simon speaks out in local residents' fight against polytunnel farm (South West Surrey Liberal Democrats)

South West Surrey Liberal Democrats <info@swsurreylibdems.org.uk>

Simon speaks out in local residents' fight against polytunnel farm

March 16, 2005 3:28 PM

Simon Cordon on the site of the controversial polytunnels

Simon Cordon spoke on behalf of residents at the Inquiry into the Tuesley Farm development

Waverley council chamber was packed for three days in February as residents and the Council locked horns with Tuesley Farm developers, Hall Hunter Partnership (HHP), over the use of polytunnels, windbreaks and a 250 person caravan site at the Farm.

Simon Cordon, who attended on each of the three days of the Inquiry, said that it was clear that HHP were poorly prepared and were losing the arguments. "They've paid so-called experts to appear as witnesses who seem to have spent little time in the area and have no idea of the impact of this development on the landscape. Barristers for both Waverley and the residents made a serious dent in HHP's arguments", he said.

Simon spoke on the third day if the Inquiry. In his twenty minute presentation to the Inquiry Inspector he set out a series of examples of where the Hall Hunter Partnership had treated the local community with contempt and rode "rough-shod" over the planning system and "due process".

Simon drew the Inspector's attention to the impact on the local water infrastructure pointing out that Thames Water had declared the local water system 'close to capacity' prior to the extensive development at Tuesley Farm.

He said: "The Tuesley Farm development does not only impact on the, I quote: 'close to capacity' nature of the current system, but surely impacts even more because of the intense water penetration of the soft-fruit practice as well as the usage created by a settlement of 250 people".

Simon also praised the local residents and informed the Inspector of their positive and responsible attitude to the problems created by the development, rejecting any allegation of nimbyism.

He told the Inquiry: "In twenty years campaigning in local communities I have never indulged nimby attitudes and in supporting these residents I do not indulge any such attitude now. This is about respecting the protections that exist and are well established for our countryside. It is not about nimbyism in any shape or form, not, in any event from the residents I have met and spoken with over many months".