Save Tandridge Green Belt

ONSLAUGHT ON THE GREEN BELT - COUNCIL'S "SERIOUSLY FLAWED" LOCAL PLAN DOCUMENTS APPROVED FOR CONSULTATION.

Tandridge District Council's new Local Plan documents which claim 9,400 new homes are needed for massive inward migration from London, have been approved for public consultation despite widespread criticism from residents and some Councillors. The council has identified GREEN BELT sites throughout Tandridge.

The Plan claims that 470 houses are needed every year, almost 4 times the current requirement. It would mean a likely rise of a third in the District's population and approximately one new house built for every four existing.

The increase is not for genuine local need, but for a huge and sustained increase in inward migration from London that would require building on large swathes of the Tandridge Green Belt.

In putting forward this high figure, the Council has contradicted its own evidence given to the Planning Inspectorate at a recent Public Inquiry.

National planning policy makes clear that Councils should act to protect Green Belt land in their Local Plans yet most of the options assume that significant amounts of Green Belt will be released for new housing.

This scale of building would put intolerable and unsustainable pressure on infrastructure such as schools, health services, roads, rail services and parking which are struggling to cope with the existing demand. Other services, such as water, landfill and cemeteries are also at capacity.

Some of the contents of the Plan's infrastructure documents are worrying. For example, regarding GP services, the Council states it has written to all 10 surgeries in the District but has received no replies. It has therefore concluded that "there is no indication of any specific requirements at present." It seems wholly unjustified to come to such a conclusion based on no response.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? WRITE IN NOW AND LET THE COUNCIL KNOW YOUR VIEWS. EITHER:

1. Email your comments to: localplan@tandridge.gov.uk OR

2. Send a letter marked 'Local Plan consultation' to: Planning Policy, Tandridge District Council, Council Offices, 8 Station Road East, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0BT OR

3. Use the Council's consultation portal on this link: click here You will have to register first to be able to take part this way and it is more time-consuming.

The Oxted and Limpsfield Residents "OLRG" website has more information: www.oxtedlimpsfieldresidents.co.uk

PLEASE SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS TO THIS CRUCIAL CONSULTATION. THE MORE RESIDENTS WHO DO SO, THE MORE THE COUNCIL HAS TO LISTEN.

To support our campaign IN ADDITION we ask you sign the petition in protest.

DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS IS 26 FEBRUARY 2016*

*Thank you to everyone for your support. We have submitted the Petition to Tandridge District Council for the first Consultation. The Petition will remain open certainly until the 2nd Consultation scheduled later in the year and we urge you to continue to share and encourage fellow residents to sign and make their views known.*