The Local Development Framework and the future of Pippbrook
Mole Valley District Council met on the 30th October 2008 to decide whether to implement the new Local Development Framework. However the Liberal Democrat voted against the plan, saying that it threatens the Green Belt.
Conservative Councillor Chris Hunt, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning said:-
"This vote was about setting the overall theme for the future of planning in Mole Valley. It was not about allocating individual sites.
The Liberal Democrats defy reality. The Local Development Framework was put together by Liberal Democrats, Independents and Conservatives on an all party committee, and after a lengthy consultation with the people of Mole Valley. Now when it comes to getting the plan ready for approval by central government, the Liberal Democrats decide to vote against it."
We are required to put forward sites for new houses in accordance with Government targets. There’s no getting out of this. This really is politicking of the worst sort.
The Pippbrook site is included within the Local Development Framework that we are developing for Mole Valley. This is an area of open land, including tennis courts and bowling areas and I think it is right to take into account the setting of Pippbrook House and its gardens. Any development would only be on the current council office and/or the conversion of Pippbrook House, which is a listed building in any event and currently occupied by Surrey County Council as the library - which they have said they are leaving anyway!!
At the same time, we are considering a number of options, particularly in light of the worsening economic climate and the need to give council tax payers, value for money."
The council offices at Pippbrook were built in the mid eighties and are at present, Mole Valley’s "town hall". The gardens behind Pippbrook were originally the grounds of Pippbrook House, the listed Victorian Gothic style building that now houses Dorking Library. The grounds contain an interesting selection of trees and shrubs, some newly refurbished mixed shrub and herbaceous beds, and a number of seats as well as tennis courts, managed by Dorking Sports Centre, and the Bowling Green and pavilion of Pippbrook Bowling Club.
Malcolm Johnson – Communications Officer – Conservative Group of Councillors for Mole Valley
3rd November 2008