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To: Woking Borough Council

Save the Pyrford Green Belt

Say NO to changing the Green Belt boundary in Pyrford.

Why is this important?

Pyrford’s fields, particularly those either side of Upshot Lane, are essential to the character of our semi-rural community and fulfil clear green belt purposes as laid down by the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework).
The farmland is a rare resource in the Woking area providing a home for declining farmland birds and a natural setting for many heritage assets, which include Pyrford Court and Gardens and St. Nicholas Church.
Pyrford’s farmland provides a setting for an escarpment which provides outstanding views to the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; views which may be enjoyed by the general public from the Sandy Lane Path (Surrey Bridleway 401) where local residents planted a WWI Memorial Hedgerow in 2015.
Furthermore, the biodiversity of neighbouring Pyrford Common SNCI (Site of Nature Conservation Importance), and Rowley Bristow Woods would be damaged by the fragmentation of irreplaceable wildlife habitat.
If Pyrford’s Green Belt is lost, it will be lost forever. Pyrford residents and their supporters wish to ensure this valuable asset is saved for future generations.

Woking

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

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Updates

2018-12-22 17:40:47 +0000

On 13th December 2018 our petition to "Save the Pyrford Green Belt" was delivered to Woking Council's offices & received by the Democratic Services Manager. It was also submitted as a formal representation to the Regulation 19 Consultation on Development Sites in Woking Borough which ended on 17/12/18. Currently it's expected that the Council's plans will be examined by a Government Inspector in the summer of 2019.
The support for this campaign has been brilliant and much appreciated - thank you to everyone who signed, commented and wrote to me. I look forward to being able to contact you next summer with news of our success!! (fingers crossed)
With best wishes for Christmas and a peaceful New Year,
Marion,
22nd December 2018

At the Civic Offices:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/37644698@N02/31480288947/in/album-72157673549929881/
Delivering our petition:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/37644698@N02/45507295045/in/album-72157673549929881/

2018-11-13 15:33:26 +0000

There's promising news.. but it's not a done deal yet & your help is still needed.

Pyrford's fields have been dropped from the consultation! BUT it's probable that others, such as the owners & potential developers, will object to the Council’s decision & try to overturn it.
The "Regulation 19" Consultation, has started. It's the last chance for people to speak out before final decisions are made by an Inspector.
This petition will be closed soon, for presentation to the Council & as a formal representation to the Consultation. We'll show the Inspector how important the Pyrford Green Belt fields are, to both local residents & the wider community who care about our countryside.
Please do share this petition with friends and family. Each and every signature & comment helps strengthen the case for saving Pyrford's Green Belt fields.
Thank you once again, your support is invaluable.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37644698@N02/30191415201/in/album-72157673549929881/

2018-10-14 17:46:25 +0100

On Thursday 18th October, Woking Council will decide recommendations from Planners and Councillors on which sites should be developed in the Borough.
Randalls Field, next to Pyrford Common (SNCI) at Upshott Lane is under particular threat. Planners want to recommend it for the development of over 200 houses. This is good quality agricultural land producing local food. Once it's gone, it's gone for ever.
Would you kindly help by circulating this petition on social media? Please ask your contacts to consider adding their names and supportive comments to this petition page.
Action now will demonstrate to Woking Council that the Pyrford fields are highly valued and should remain as part of our Green Belt.
Thank you, your support is much appreciated.

Photo of Randalls Field, Pyrford Green Belt:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/37644698@N02/43500163960/in/album-72157673549929881/

2018-10-14 17:30:33 +0100

"Upshott Lane? Can't see anything wrong with building on that" Mr Ray Morgan CEO of Woking Borough Council speaking 14/3/18 at BWBP Residents Association AGM

https://twitter.com/pyrfordaction/status/974224967729545216

2018-01-22 12:17:01 +0000

Dear Supporters, here's a brief update on what's been happening... There were a huge number of responses to the first round of consultation, but then a new large site was proposed. So, more consultation as residents were asked to choose between the original sites or the new site. Effectively we were asked 'which part of Woking's Green Belt do you want to lose?' Another deluge of responses was sent to the planning department! Now we await Woking Council's response and yet another round of consultation. When this might take place is unknown. In the meantime, please share this petition with your friends and family via email or on your favourite social media. Additional signatures, and reasons for signing, will help reinforce our case to save Pyrford's Green Belt fields.
Thank you.
Save Pyrford Green Belt Photo Gallery : https://www.flickr.com/photos/37644698@N02/sets/72157673549929881

2018-01-20 18:56:28 +0000

Thanks to all of you who've supported my petition. Nothing has been decided yet, but the Pyrford Green Belt fields remain under threat from development.
For a reminder of how beautiful the fields looked, lying fallow in 2017, here's a photo of the poppies blooming in Aviary Road field:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37644698@N02/28022239429/in/album-72157673549929881/

2017-01-23 20:44:59 +0000

Thanks to all of you who have signed my petition to Save the Pyrford Green Belt. Nothing has yet been decided by Woking Council but the importance of the Pyrford Green Belt fields now needs to be restated.

News in brief: At a lengthy council meeting the Pyrford green-belt action group gave a speech and presented a paper petition. At the very same meeting yet another green belt site in our borough was proposed for future development! A new consultation has just begun, the wording of which is unhelpful, confusing and ambiguous.

What is clear is that the fate of Pyrford's Green Belt is still in the balance. Please share this petition with your friends and neighbours. Additional signatures would help restate the case for saving our green belt fields. Thank you for your continued support, it is much appreciated.

2016-10-14 08:49:45 +0100

500 signatures reached

2016-10-12 12:30:05 +0100

Thank you all for your ongoing support. Here is a gallery of photos showing Pyrford's green belt fields and surroundings:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/37644698@N02/sets/72157673549929881

2016-10-05 10:46:30 +0100

Thank you everyone for your support, it is much appreciated :)
Do please consider sharing this petition with your friends and family.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37644698@N02/29500063894

2016-06-17 23:32:34 +0100

100 signatures reached

2016-06-13 13:24:56 +0100

50 signatures reached

2016-06-11 13:28:18 +0100

25 signatures reached

2016-06-09 01:14:20 +0100

10 signatures reached