Great Austins Area Preservation Group AGM
Wednesday 30th April 2025, 7pm
Held in the Centenary Rooms, St Thomas on the Bourne
Introduction
Tim Young welcomed those attending, with a particular welcome to four guests: Carole Cockburn, George Murray, John Neale (all past/present councillors) and Simon Bradbury (Farnham Society). There were over thirty attendees.
The Committee members present introduced themselves: Edward Emblem (Treasurer), Tim O’Dell, Claire Macland (Comms), Jane Elliott (Minutes) and Chris Bennie (Planning Applications)
Apologies were received from Debbie Young (Membership Secretary), Jeremy Newton, Martin Quicke and Lindsay Williams (Planning Applications).
Tim Young then outlined the five areas of the Committee’s activity: first, to study planning applications to conserve the character of the area; secondly, to develop a sense of community with such activities as the October ‘clear up’ day; thirdly, to research and document the history of the area. There is considerable historical information on the website (where, for example, ownership of the properties up to the 1970s can be viewed): remembering the past potentially fosters an interest in conservation. The fourth strand is to continue drawing in members: the membership currently stands at about 50% of the eligible households. Finally, we have forged links with other local groups such as the South Farnham Residents Association, The Bourne Conservation Group and The Farnham Society.
Finance
Edward Emblem spoke about finances: currently £720 is held in the current account. The main expense is the website. Funds would also be needed if inappropriate applications needed to be defended against.
Planning Updates
Chris Bennie then commented that there had been very few planning applications of late. Three committee members trawl the planning applications regularly: the decision is made to comment on some, successfully at times. He then asked a question of Carole Cockburn about the Blackwell Farm Solar Farm application on the Hog’s Back which had been turned down at judicial review, largely because it was at the time a candidate site within a proposed extension to a National Living Landscape (previously known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). He wondered whether, had this precedent been established at the time of the Wates appeal, it too would have been quashed because it was also a candidate site within a proposed extension of an AONB. Carole Cockburn was not sure but would like to look at the detail of the Plan Inspector’s decision, as would Chris.
Edward Emblem and Chris Bennie both wanted to emphasise that the Committee does not want to be seen as solely policing applications: help with design has been appreciated.
Election of Officers and the Committee
The Election and Re-election of Officers followed
Tim Young was nominated by Edward Emblem and seconded by Chris Bennie: he agreed to serve as Chair for one more year, after which Edward Emblem has agreed to take over.
Tim Young then asked for a vote to re-elect the current slate of Committee members: Edward Emblem, Chris Bennie, Jane Elliott, Claire Macland, Tim O’Dell, Debbie Young, Lindsay Williams, Martin Quicke and Jeremy Newton. This was carried from the floor.
Wider planning issues
Tim Young then asked Carole Cockburn, George Murray and John Neale to comment on wider issues affecting planning in the locality.
HMG proposes abolishing the 12 District and Borough Councils and Surrey County Council itself and replacing them with larger ‘unitary’ authorities. It might be North/ South or East /West and either one, two or three. HMG will decide later this year. All three were unanimous that this would diminish local influence: all Conservation Areas would go into the unitary and local voices would be lost or at least very diminished. It is only the Neighbourhood Plan that protects such areas now and, by reducing localism, this is under threat.
John Neale hoped that a Community Board might promote local voices, but he was not optimistic as HMG is concentrating on the subdivision and not on localism.
Any Other Business
Tim Young commented that a Greenhill Road member had raised the question of security after a recent burglary. This is a matter for Neighbourhood Watch representatives in the roads.
Middle Avenue residents had raised the question of conservation area yellow lines: this would be discussed at a future Committee meeting.Claire Macland spoke about the inconsistency over large gates (refused in Middle Avenue, allowed elsewhere in other roads). Carole Cockburn agreed that there should be consistency. She said that large gates accompanied by high fences (as opposed to hedges) meant that conservation areas quickly lost their distinctive appearance.
Simon Bradbury, representing The Farnham Society, then spoke about the Heritage Open Day week, which has been an annual event in early September since the 1990s and is overseen by the National Trust. The theme this year is Architecture. He wondered if GAAPG might be interested in organising a walk around the Falkner houses. This possibility would be followed up in Committee discussion.
Tim Young thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting at 8 pm.
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