Last night (Wednesday 30th) at the later meeting at Tomlinscote, I questioned Surrey CC's (SCC) figures on future children coming through the Secondary School system and that I had found higher predicted figures on Surrey Heath's website and SCC's website. Their response was that they could not answer my questions on the spot without further research. My question was "Why are there less children predicted to come through secondary schools locally compared to their predictions last year?"
However this evening (Thursday 31st), given more time to think this through they suggested for the first time that they had got their predictions in 2010 wrong. Very convenient in my view. Why was this reason? "Because we thought that Deepcut Barracks would become available from 2011 and it has been delayed due to the economic downturn"
I have researched this in the media and below is a quote from the BBC news site from 8th January 2008: "Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth announces that the Princess Royal Barracks at Deepcut are to be sold off but not until 2013."
Surrey Heath Borough Council has always worked on the basis that the site would not be passed to developers until late 2013 with the site being occupied from 2015. Their Local Development Framework and Deepcut planning guidance is based on this.
My view is: "It is clear that Surrey CC are driving this forward and providing the evidence base to Governors at Tomlinscote and the wider community. If they can make such fundamental errors on new development and are clearly not effectively communicating with Surrey Heath Council, how can we believe anything that they say moving forward"
You decide for yourself but please ask the relevant questions to Tomlinscote Governors and Councillors at Surrey County Council. In particular ask Andrew Povey, the Leader of Surrey CC andrew. Equally ask why Surrey Heath Borough Council Councillors and professional staff may not have been consulted prior to the proposals..
SCC have consistently said that the education of children is their primary concern. That may be the case for the Education Department but they also have other statutory functions including that of being the Highway Authority. There is no statutory requirement for them to consult with colleagues and seek the view of the Highway Authority prior to the proposals moving forward. If the merger went forward then the outcome could be gridlock on the local strategic highway network during peak periods (e.g. A325 Portsmouth Road and Frimley Road) due to additional car traffic and pedestrian crossings being used more frequently.
You all need to be aware that unlike a planning application for a new development, the Highway Authority has no say on whether it is acceptable, nor does Surrey Heath as Planning Authority. Therefore the only 'checks and balances' are down to pressure from the community on Governors at Tomlinscote and County Councillors at SCC. Don't assume that some professional in the planning department at Surrey Heath is looking after your interests.
Therefore you have to make your view known to all in power. Otherwise you have no right to complain in the future if it becomes reality.
Good luck!
Martin Knowles
However this evening (Thursday 31st), given more time to think this through they suggested for the first time that they had got their predictions in 2010 wrong. Very convenient in my view. Why was this reason? "Because we thought that Deepcut Barracks would become available from 2011 and it has been delayed due to the economic downturn"
I have researched this in the media and below is a quote from the BBC news site from 8th January 2008: "Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth announces that the Princess Royal Barracks at Deepcut are to be sold off but not until 2013."
Surrey Heath Borough Council has always worked on the basis that the site would not be passed to developers until late 2013 with the site being occupied from 2015. Their Local Development Framework and Deepcut planning guidance is based on this.
My view is: "It is clear that Surrey CC are driving this forward and providing the evidence base to Governors at Tomlinscote and the wider community. If they can make such fundamental errors on new development and are clearly not effectively communicating with Surrey Heath Council, how can we believe anything that they say moving forward"
You decide for yourself but please ask the relevant questions to Tomlinscote Governors and Councillors at Surrey County Council. In particular ask Andrew Povey, the Leader of Surrey CC andrew. Equally ask why Surrey Heath Borough Council Councillors and professional staff may not have been consulted prior to the proposals..
SCC have consistently said that the education of children is their primary concern. That may be the case for the Education Department but they also have other statutory functions including that of being the Highway Authority. There is no statutory requirement for them to consult with colleagues and seek the view of the Highway Authority prior to the proposals moving forward. If the merger went forward then the outcome could be gridlock on the local strategic highway network during peak periods (e.g. A325 Portsmouth Road and Frimley Road) due to additional car traffic and pedestrian crossings being used more frequently.
You all need to be aware that unlike a planning application for a new development, the Highway Authority has no say on whether it is acceptable, nor does Surrey Heath as Planning Authority. Therefore the only 'checks and balances' are down to pressure from the community on Governors at Tomlinscote and County Councillors at SCC. Don't assume that some professional in the planning department at Surrey Heath is looking after your interests.
Therefore you have to make your view known to all in power. Otherwise you have no right to complain in the future if it becomes reality.
Good luck!
Martin Knowles
Perhaps we should provide a demonstration of the impact 800+ children using the two pedestrian crossings on the A325 between Frimley Park and the Waitrose roundabout would have on the traffic during rush hour. If they all walked across singly with a two second gap between each child, and assuming it took each child 8 seconds to cross the road, then it would take 26 minutes for them all to cross the road. And that's just one way!! I am happy to assist in a demonstration of this should anyone care to join me.
ReplyDeleteI think this is an excellent idea and would be happy to join you. Also, everyone that would need to drive to school should also make the journey at the same time to show the impact on traffic !!
ReplyDelete