HAVE YOUR SAY ON LOCAL CONSERVATION AREAS

The local community is being asked for their views on the council’s analysis of what makes three of Guildford’s existing conservation areas special.

The Government has stressed that it is important  for the Council to have documentation setting out what constitutes the special character and interest of its conservation areas so that it can lend more weight behind planning decisions, especially those which aim to protect areas from damaging development.  The Council has therefore embarked on a review of all its conservation areas and the first three areas,  Charlotteville and Warren Road, Onslow Village, and Waterden Road, will be featured in exhibitions open to the public. At each exhibition there will be information and displays illustrating the special character of each area together with details of what the council believes to be the main threats to retaining that character and the possible opportunities to enhance the areas.  Questionnaires will be available to gather comments from the local community.

Councillor Jenny Wicks, Lead Member for Environment said…

“This is an important opportunity for local people either living in the conservation areas or near them to air their views on the value they place on the areas and how they wish them to be treated.  It also gives everybody an opportunity to learn about the history of each area as the appraisal documents set out the historical development of the areas under review and highlight interesting facts about particular buildings or streets.  The Government encourages production of these conservation area appraisals but they are also useful simply as a means of pulling together local knowledge about how the areas developed over hundreds of years in some cases.”

The exhibitions will be held at Holy Trinity School in Addison Road Monday to Friday from the 15^th to 26^th September 8.30 am until 6 pm, in Christchurch Hall foyer in Waterden Road Monday to Friday from the 15^th until the 19^th of September 12.30 pm to 5 pm, in Onslow Village Hall Monday to Saturday 9 am to 5 pm from the 15^th to the 26^th September. All three exhibitions can also be viewed at the Council’s offices in Millmead between 15^th and 26^th September 8.30 am until 5 pm and until 4.30 pm on Fridays. Comments are invited by e-mail, telephone or in writing.

For more information, please contact Simon Went (for Charlotteville and Warren Road) on 01483 444676, Mariana Beadsworth (for Waterden Road) on 01483 444667 or Lucie Tushingham (for Onslow Village) on 01483 444665 or click on the hyperlinks to send an e-mail.