NEWSFLASH.....NEWSFLASH.....NEWSFLASH

Elmbridge Councillors give a RED-STOP-SIGNAL to Hampton Court Station's part-demolition.

HCRC is celebrating! We can report that the inexorable progress of the 'Jolly Boatman' development.....is halted.

On 18th February, Elmbridge Councillors of the Planning Committee were asked to review an Application to partially-demolish Hampton Court Station. The proposals required Conservation Area consent to allow for the destruction of parts of the 'locally-listed' building designed by the renowned Victorian Railway architect, Sir William Tite. The valued heritage of the Victorian Station was to be sacrificed to make way for Gladedale's now infamous house-building and Hotel development.

The public's response to the Demolition Application was unprecedented. 900 letters of objection were sent to Elmbridge's Planning Officer opposing the proposals, not just from the UK, but from around the world. This time, bolstered by the overwhelming volume of opposition, Councillors on the Planning Committee rejected the Planning Officer's recommendation to permit the Application. In a very close result and greeted by loud applause from the public gallery, the demolition Application was refused by a single vote, 5 to 4. The Councillors' decision was significant and far-reaching, because without the Station's partial demolition, Gladedale's wider development, approved by Elmbridge in 2008, could not be progressed.

HCRC's Co-chair Prof. Bryan Woodriff remarked " Given the sensitivity of the historic Station and our diminishing Railway heritage, this last minute decision is brave and very welcomed"

The jeering and cheering continued in the Council chamber as Councillors judged the Application for the development's accompanying Travel Plan. Hampton Court Bridge, already a well known traffic bottle-neck was the subject of heated discussions that exposed some serious shortcomings of the proposed new Highways layout. Councillors complained that the Plan's designers, Surrey CC's Transport Planning Dept. had been able to have a series of radical changes ratified by EBC Officers, without any consideration by the travelling public or consultation with residents.

Furious Molesey Resident Assoc. Ward Councillor, Ian Donaldson remarked that since 2009, when Officers signed-off the Traffic Plan in its binding S106 agreement, 'Four and a half years have gone by and still no consultation" adding that "Residents, road-rail-users, local businesses and even us Ward Councillors have been ignored"

The Chair of the Planning Committee also declared

"excluding the A3, this is the busiest stretch of road in the Borough.... that imposes a high standard. Any reasonable person would question whether the Travel Plan was 'fit for purpose'"

Councillors agreed that the imposition of the new layout at Hampton Court Station would have far-reaching affects, in Elmbridge Borough and beyond. The Developer's suggestion that during the construction phase Hampton Court's Rail-users could find alternative parking at Esher and Surbiton Stations, was simply laughed at. The public gallery again erupted with applause as the Travel Plan was convincingly rejected, this time by all but one Councillor, John Sheldon from Hersham South.

After the decision, in a later BBCRadio interview aired on Wednesday 20th Feb., HCRC's Ray Townsend explained: Click this link http://youtu.be/hQiA3qzt4qw

The impact of these two important refusals will test whether Gladedale's wider scheme is deliverable. The approval given in 2008 for the comprehensive redevelopment of the 'Jolly Boatman' and Station sites is due to expire in June, 2013. Whether Gladedale can return to EBC with renewed plans for the Station and Surrey County Council can agree a new Travel Plan within the three months that remain - is debatable.

Please may we use this opportunity to thank you for taking the trouble to send your letter of objection, it made all the difference. For the moment at least, 'People-power' has saved a piece of the country's Railway Heritage from the wrecking-ball.

With sincerest thanks for your continued support

Mary Brook

HCRC Communications

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