The Knaphillian

Below is a transcript from an open letter by Melanie Whitehand in response to Olly Wells' website posting.....

"I have been alerted to the comments that you have posted on your web site, about my ’written representation in favour’ of building on Green Belt land in Knaphill and reference to actions of some members (who are these members?) of the Conservative Party that give rise to your ‘worries’ of potential development of Green Belt land in Knaphill. These comments of yours have also been posted, I note, on The Knaphillian website!

Firstly,

I think you need to have some facts explained to you.
My ‘support’ of the development was the result of close consultation with the residents in Barrs Lane; I organised a face to face meeting between them and the current owner and his architect as I  feel in my role of Councillor it is to encourage the voice of residents to be heard and listened to.
The meeting was held on site and although not all of the residents attended, the vast majority did, and I also had a telephone conversation with a resident who was unable to make the meeting. There was also attendance by Mizen’s Railway representatives.
The meeting proved useful to all involved. Subsequently following further personal visits to the Barrs Lane residents to be assured of their position on the matter and having allowed them time to reflect on their initial decision, I submitted a letter outlining the reasons for approval of the planning application with the residents FULL SUPPORT.

Secondly,

The need for you to add that a letter from, as you put it a ‘former conservative councillor’ is a first class example of ‘being economical with the truth’ as you carefully chose to not include that the author of the letter is in fact on the committee of Mizens Railway and it was in that position that he supported the planning application. Not from a political standpoint!  Yet another example of misleading the public.
Just to state a relevant point, Mizens Railways were keen to approve the development as they are experiencing vandalism to their section of the site and welcomed the opportunity to have the area secured as it would have been if residential use could have been made of the land.  

Thirdly,

My understanding is that the residents of Barrs Lane had received no contact from you on the matter. Also, no other resident of Knaphill, except for Mrs.Pauline Marshall who did attend the meeting and Mr B Woodford, who I had called in, raised concerns about the development with me. In fact some residents of Barrs Lane were of the mind that it was long overdue as it was Brown Land falling into decay due to its former use being retail/industrial. Given that a month has passed since this planning application was heard I am curious as to why you now choose to step in and broadcast to the residents of Woking your disingenuous interpretation of my actions via a web site blog. 

Finally,

These are all examples of the Lib-Dem Party continuing to be economical with the truth for what I can only perceive to be in the hope of gaining some political benefit during the run up to the County Elections.
‘’Let’s paint the Conservatives as anti- green belt, we won’t bother too much with the detail; we may gain votes!’
So let’s hope your mind has been put at rest as you state you are ‘worried about the views of some members of the Conservative Party’ as I DO NOT INTEND TO SUPPORT development on Green Belt Land unless it is in response to what the residents are requiring me to do.

Please stop these unnecessary, not to say misleading, comments. It is unfair on residents in the first degree and can be construed as being deceitful and we all wouldn’t want to be accused of that now would we !"

- Melanie Whitehand        

[07 01 09]                              

Cllr Whitehand,

"Thank you for your email expressing your concerns about a posting on my blog. I welcome dialogue on this matter with you. I am glad to hear you do not wish to support development on the green belt.

While I truly wish to see Mizen's Railway thrive in Knaphill. I was not and am not able to support over development in the green belt.
Where we differ appears to be that I do not want to see development on the green belt for current and future generations of Woking while you appear to suggest it is only a matter for those who currently live near a green belt site.

I do hope a solution can be found that satisfies the need to prevent theft at Mizen's and secure car parking without extending the size of the plot developed in the green belt.

It is a fact that I am sure you are aware of that members of the planning committee must judge a plan on its merits and cannot change the plan to make it acceptable. As the plan was I could not support it as it extended development into the green belt. I visited the site prior to the meeting with another councillor and met with the architect and representatives of Mizen's railway.

I note in your three part reply you do not mention that the Deputy Chief Executive made the point of attending the planning meeting where this decision was made and stated that the development would set a dangerous precedent. Possibly you do not know this happened as you were not at the meeting.

I welcome your point that you are representing residents with your position. I would assert that I am also representing the views of Knaphill residents by protecting the green belt and avoiding setting dangerous precedents.

Regarding your belief that I made my post for political advantage in the county council elections, I think you are aware that the posting was made outside of election time, over 5 months prior to the polling date. I made it prior to the most recent planning committee yesterday as I felt that it should be made in the context of the most recent planning meeting and not in the context of an election.

I do not feel that the other written representation was worded in such a way as to make the focus of the author’s authority to be his role at Mizen's above his previous role as a Conservative Councillor. He mentions several times that he was a councillor and not that he is on the committee of Mizen’s. If you feel being on the Mizen's committee is a more significant role that is your decision.

Should you wish to discuss this matter further my telephone number is on my blog".

Regards,

Olly Wells

To see Olly Wells' original blog entry on the Liberal Democrats' website - Click Here>>>

"I do know of Douglas Spinks’s attendance at the meeting and have spoken to Adrian Bishop in depth on the issue.

According to Adrian Bishop this was a normal procedure as Douglas Spinks is trained in planning and his attendance was in an ‘observing’ role of which from time to time he does do, and again according to Adrian Bishop, his comments were included as he ‘happened to sit in on that meeting!!

So I take issue with your comment that Douglas Spinks ‘made the point of attending’ perhaps you wish to clarify that with Adrian Bishop.

As you are now  ‘glad to hear ‘ that I do not support development on the Green Belt, would you now detract on your web site the accusation made against me that you placed previously and set the matter straight?

I have no argument for your reasons for not supporting the application, my grievance is your misrepresentation of me on your blog site.

As for your claim that the posting was made outside of election time, it is interesting that the recent ‘Focus’ editions being delivered around Woking seem to target Surrey County Council and not so much Woking Borough.

Or am I being too cynical?

I look forward to having the record set straight on your accusation concerning the rationale behind my letter.

As for your telephone number, I have no need to source your blog, it is readily available, as is mine, through the normal channels". 

Dear Cllr Whitehand, 

Thank you for your email.

I will not be removing my post on my blog as I was surprised you supported the development in Barrs Lane and I remain concerned about the views of some members of the conservative party on development in Knaphill. 

I remain concerned because of your comment in your first email ‘I DO NOT INTEND TO SUPPORT' development on Green Belt Land unless it is in response to what the residents are requiring me to do.’  Whereas I do not support development in the Green Belt unless the necessary very special circumstances required for development in the Green Belt are met, it is supported by residents and there will not be an unacceptable loss of the Green Belt for future generations.  In the case of the development in Barrs Lane the very special circumstances required were not met. 

I will place a reference to the Knaphillian website on my blog below the posting to alert readers to the fact that there is more information on this story available to read there.  I stand by my right to express my views in my blog.

Regards, 

Cllr Olly Wells

[10 01 09]