Demolition of the Redgrave 1

Farnham's professional theatre company

Demolish the Redgrave?

Urgent action needed.

Deadline for comments passed on 8 June, but your response will still be be counted.

Last year saw a planning application lodged with Waverley Borough Council to redevelop East Street, Farnham. The plans angered residents in countless ways, but perhaps the most outrageous detail was the proposed demolition of the Redgrave Theatre, an act of wanton cultural vandalism.

So, what happened to the 10,000 letters of objection that were sent to the council? We are not sure, because the council admitted that it could not cope with processing such an unprecedented response to a planning application.

New set of plans

It is gradually emerging that developer Crest Nicholson has now put in yet another set of planning applications for East Street, which are only marginally different from the others.

Legally, this means that all the previous letters of objection count for little, as they do not relate to this new set of plans. Inconveniently, we must start again and register our response to the plans afresh.

Angry about this?

Then channel your anger with Crest Nicholson into your own letter to the chief planning officer. The new plans are so little changed from the last that the main points of objection still apply.

What you might say to the council

If you wish to write to give the council your opinion on the plans here is how you might go about it.

Put the correct reference numbers at the top.

They are:

WA 2007	1055	(There are three planning applications. One is the outline plan to redevelop East Street. The second relates to Brightwell House and the demolition of the Redgrave. The third concerns the listed status of Brightwell House. The numbers opposite reflect the fact that Crest Nicholson has submitted a duplicate set of the three original applications as well as the new, slightly revised set.)
WA 2007	1056
WA 2007	1057
WA 2007	0992
WA 2007	0993
WA 2007	0994

If you wrote to object to the previous planning application

you could dust off your old letter and enclose it, with a sentence to explain that your comments on the current plans remain the same as before.

If you are writing for the first time consider including one or more of the following points in your letter

(or copy the basic proforma letter further down):

The Redgrave Theatre:

- superb auditorium and supporting facilities

- a precious community asset designed to serve young and old

- purpose-built to a design which set new standards for other theatres

- of national, historic and architectural interest

Its removal would constitute a major cultural loss to the local community and the surrounding population.

The proposals represent an over-development of the site, and do not justify the removal of this fine theatre.

A viable and professionally produced business plan is in place for the revival and future use of the Redgrave.

And perhaps add any other points that bother you about the general proposals for East Street.

Send your objections to:

Stephen Thwaites

Director of Planning and Development

Waverley Borough Council

The Burys

Godalming

GU7 1HR

(email: planconsult@waverley.gov.uk )

Proforma letter/email

Dear Stephen Thwaites

Re: planning applications numbers WA 2007 1055, WA 2007 1056, WA 2007 1057, WA 2007 0992, WA 2007 0993, WA 2007 0994

I wish to register my objection to the above plans as they are of a scale and design completely inappropriate to Farnham.

I also reject the inclusion in the plans of the demolition of the Redgrave Theatre. It is a precious community asset which has the potential to serve the town well for generations to come. It has a superb auditorium of a quality that is not available elsewhere in or near Farnham.

A viable and professionally produced business plan is in place for the revival and future use of the Redgrave. It would be outrageous if a commercial development that necessitated the demolition of the Redgrave were to be granted planning permission.

Your sincerely,