WHERE DO WE STAND

1st March 2006

1. We oppose the sale of Tyting Farm by Guildford Borough Council (GBC), particularly if it is for purposes other than farming; we want the farm to remain in public ownership and in agricultural use.

2. Fragmentation of Tyting Farm into small plots will lead to inappropriate development, land deterioration, and landscape harm. It would be much better if the farm remained intact and was under the responsible stewardship of a single (public) organisation.

3. We believe that GBC should more actively demonstrate its role as custodian of this sensitive countryside on the outskirts of the town’s built-up area, originally acquired with public funding for Green Belt protection.

4. We expect GBC, as an active member of the Surrey Hills Partnership, to protect and enhance this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and of Great Landscape Value on a permanent basis rather than sell it off hastily in an opportunistic manner.

5. Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) is willing to investigate managing and conserving Tyting Farm. Surrey County Council (SCC), GBC and MoD have concluded successful long term leases with SWT for much of their land holdings in the interests of good stewardship. We believe that GBC should fully investigate a similar arrangement with SWT for Tyting Farm.

6. Additionally, local farmers are interested in farming the land. It would appear that GBC made little or no effort to discuss this site with any farmers before marketing it they say, "as a last resort" and at a price well above agricultural values.

7. If the above options involving SWT or local farmers fail, then we support finding a permanent solution that is clearly seen to be in the public interest; e.g. consideration could be given to the setting up of a charitable Landscape Trust to which the local authority and the general public could contribute funding to save Tyting Farm for agricultural purposes.

8. We are extremely concerned at the way in which GBC have made decisions regarding Tyting Farm without wide public debate or open discussion to examine all the options. Because of its landscape and setting and its easy access from the town, Tyting Farm has enormous public amenity value and public opinion should have been sought much earlier in the decision making process.
Note: The Save Tyting Farm Campaign, together with local Residents Associations and Environmental Groups were given an opportunity to voice their opposition to the sale at the GBC Executive Committee Meeting on 6 Apr. As a result the Executive Committee agreed to defer a decision pending investigation of other options

9. If after proper consultation it is agreed by the community and its representatives that no other solution is available except sale, GBC must ensure that the most "watertight" covenants are drafted (to which the residents living in the vicinity of Tyting Farm are made parties) including ones to stop fragmentation on re-sale. GBC should also issue a written undertaking that enforcement will be rigorously implemented should any environmental policy or covenant infringements take place after carefully selecting the best agricultural option available from the bidders.

10. The response from the Guildford public has indicated just how much it values Tyting Farm as open countryside within easy access of the town for outdoor recreational amenity. Its close proximity to the beauty spots of St Martha’s Hill and to Chantry Wood reinforces the importance of Tyting Farm as a key element in a beautiful stretch of much frequented countryside leading to Newlands Corner.

11. The community at large does not want to see this land leave GBC ownership and put at risk of development. Saving Tyting Farm is to do with Guildford’s quality of life, not only for us but for our children and future generations.

We simply ask that Guildford Borough Council think again.