West Byfleet Recreation Ground – letter to Marstons 03/07/18

The WBNF today sent the following letter and accompanying plan of the Sheer House development to Marstons.

 

Mr. E. Hancock,                                                                                                                      3rd July 2018

Group Estates Director,

Marston’s PLC,

Marston’s House,

Brewery Road,

Wolverhampton,

WV1 4JT

 

Dear Mr Hancock,

 

West Byfleet Recreation Ground

 

Thank you for your letter in response to mine to your Chairman. Your consultation has now taken place and you state that you will “take their views”. You did not state “into consideration”. I presume this is because you do not want to use what was an overwhelming negative response.

One of your colleagues said that the Forum does not represent the community. We did extensive consultations as required to produce our Plan and its policies. The Examiner of our Plan, appointed by Woking Borough Council confirmed we had done this properly.

I agree it is important that we stay in touch with our residents. We want to ensure they agree with what we do for them. We have launched a questionnaire to ask if they want a pub in the recreation ground. We have received over 250 responses of which only 2 are in favour of a pub. An online petition which is against a pub has been launched and so far 1,949 people have signed it. A facebook petition “Save our Rec” has reached 900.

I attach plans of the ground and first floors of a scheme for the redevelopment of our village centre. It has received outline planning permission. You will see that a large two storey pub/restaurant site with outside seating is planned for the building closest to the recreation ground.  I think this would be an ideal site for you.  It would involve minimal capital outlay. Construction is due to start next year. If you do not take the site a competitor will.

The residents here do like pubs and Marston’s would be welcome in our village centre. We do not though want to lose our precious, cherished and irreplaceable Local Green Space.

In the interest of transparency I shall publish this letter on our website.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Wade Pollard,

Chairman West Byfleet Neighbourhood Forum,

Ardeen Cottage, Highfield Road, West Byfleet, Surrey KT14 6QX

Cc by email;-

Councillor David Bittleston, Leader of the Council, WBC

Councillor Colin Kemp, Portfolio Holder for Cultural and Community Development

Ray Morgan, Chief Executive, Woking Borough Council

 

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