‘BESS’ scheme leads to concerns about nature depletion and fire risk
A planning application for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on Green Belt land to the north-west of Barnett Wood Lane has caused considerable concern in Ashtead and its surrounding area.
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The application (MO/2024/1544) is expected to go to Mole Valley District Council’s Development Management Committee in May.
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Objections to the application have been raised by more than 150 local residents, environmental campaigners, conservationists, local ward councillors, Andy Smith and Patricia Wiltshire, and by the Chairman of the City of London Corporation Commons Committee (Benjamin Murphy) as well as countryside groups such as the Surrey Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
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It is planned for the BESS to be linked by underground cable to the electricity sub-station at Chessington and this means that a very great length of Ashtead Common would be negatively affected, particularly the trees along the length of the road between the site of the BESS and Chessington. There would also be unacceptable disruption to local traffic during construction.
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Continue reading HERE
ERMYN WAY DEVELOPMENT
13 February 2025
Mole Valley District Council has received the long-awaited planning application for development of land South of Ermyn Way, Ashtead. The planning application (ref. MO/2025/0033) is for up to 270 dwellings, a community building and three Travellers’ pitches.
Ashtead Independents have delivered leaflets to households in the vicinity of Ermyn Way and surrounding streets, and all properties that physically adjoin the site should have already received a letter from MVDC. Also, anyone who has signed up for planning alerts from the Council should receive an automated email about the application. You can view the full planning application at the Council Offices, Dorking, on the MVDC website www.molevalley.gov.uk and at Ashtead Library. This application particularly concerns the access using Ermyn Way.
If you do have concerns and want your views considered then we would urge you to make formal representations to MVDC. Individual representations are essential, rather than signed petitions or social media posts. The deadline for representations is 20 February 2025.
We can assure you that your Ashtead Independent Councillors will be doing everything possible to mitigate the impact of any development. If you need any further advice or assistance on this, or any other local matter, please do not hesitate to contact one or more of us.
Gerry Sevenoaks councillor.sevenoaks@molevalley.gov.uk 01372 277080
Mary Cooper councillor.cooper@molevalley.gov.uk 01372 273489
Garry Stansfield councillor.stansfield@molevalley.gov.uk 07544 102119
Chris Hunt councillor.hunt@molevalley.gov.uk 07725 174146
Patricia Wiltshire councillor.wiltshire@molevalley.gov.uk 01372 272087
Andy Smith councillor.smith@molevalley.gov.uk 07737 271676
You can also contact us at www.ashteadindependents.org
A proposal from Waites the builders showing the possible development of the Ermyn Way site - tucked up against the M25 orbital motorway
Wheels of Surrey move slowly
3rd October 2024
On September 23rd 2024 Officers from SCC held a session with Councillors on the Mole Valley Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructue Plan ( LCWIP).
Stage two of the process is now underway, this will involve developing feasibility designs and carrying out public consultation in the identified Phase 1 cycle corridors and walking corridors in the district.
The meeting was outlining the key stages in stage 2 of the process post publication and adoption over the coming months.
The Phase 1 cycle corridors are :
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Leatherhead to Great Bookham/Effingham via Lower road
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Leatherhead to Great Bookham/Effingham via Guidlford Rd
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Leatherhead to Epsom( Northern Corridor)
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Leatherhead to Kingston Boundary
Phase 1 walking corridors & zones are:
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Dorking
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Leatherhead
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North Leatherhead​
The scheme must adhere to new guidelines which require pedestrians to be separated from cycle users where feasible. Councillors questioned how feasible this could be considering the narrowness of sections of the current roads ( i.e. Barnett Wood Lane) , we were informed this would form part of the stage 2 process now underway. The scheme will have to operate to new guidelines devised by Active Travel England (ATE) formed in 2022 .
ATE Manage the national active travel budget, awarding funding for projects which meet the new national guidance
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Inspect finished schemes and ask for funds to be returned for any which have not been completed as promised
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Inspect and publish reports on Highway Authorities for their performance on active travel and identify particularly dangerous failings in their highways for cyclists and pedestrians
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A RAG( Red, Orange , Green) rating system will be used to evaluate scheme feasibility in the design process.
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Mitigation measures will be considered. Schemes with critical issues are very unlikely to be approved by ATE and receive funding without reasonable and compelling justification.
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Walking corridors appear to be focused on following current main road routes not anticipated to be prettier alternative routes.
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Here is the timetable.
Task1: Review of initial proposals - August 2024 Traffic surveys - November 2024
Task 2: Optioneering & initial design investigation - December 2024
Task 3: Design development - March 2025
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Develop ‘feasibility plus’ designs for each corridor / CWZ
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Prepare draft sketches â–ª Supported by review of potential issues and mitigation measures related to (noted in annotations, technical notes):
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Drainage
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Structures
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Geotechnical
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Lighting
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Junction modelling
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Environment (including ecology, heritage)
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Further liaison with relevant stakeholders (e.g., ATE)
Task 4: Final feasibility design outputs - May 2025
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Prepare final feasibility design drawings:
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Annotated general arrangement
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Standard signage and road markings
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Indicative location of primary traffic signals and lighting
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Service location (utilities) based on C2 searches
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Swept path analysis (if required)
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Cycle swept path analysis (if required)
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Drawings accompanied by reporting, including:
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Design strategy technical note
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Designer’s risk assessment
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Compliance / non-compliance technical note
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ATE Route Check assessments
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High-level cost estimates
It appears that the main Public consultation timetable will occur in Spring 2025.
Your Ashtead Independent SCC Councillor Chris Townsend questioned the process with regard to the scheme delivery should sections of the route / communities not support the proposed changes necessary in their area to deliver the route , the response received was we will have to wait and see how the design process evolves and this would form part of the consultation feedback – whether it could stop a scheme being delivered was unclear .
The link to the project : https://www.molevalley.gov.uk/planning-building/the-local-cycling-and-walking-infrastructure-plan/
Ashtead Independents are committed to listening to local views and representing our area.
We have already heard from a number of residents. What do you think of these plans in principle?"
Representing the two Ashtead Wards on Mole Valley District Council and Surrey County Council ... ... and with good reason!
Ashtead Independents
Ashtead Independents are registered with the Electoral Commission to enable them to be identified and use a logo. Our Constitution and Rules make clear each vote independently with no whip.
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We, the majority of Ashtead residents and the Ashtead Residents’ Association, consider that National party politics has no place in local councils. It creates unnecessary antagonisms and divisiveness, and tends to prevent a proportion of members of the Council from being able to exercise full influence on behalf of their constituents.
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