* {{CPC-planning|2020/1727|Harecroft, Raleigh Drive KT10 9DE|Detached garage.|Refused by EBC.}}
:EBC refused permission on the grounds that:
:* it does not allow for essential maintenance and emergency access to the River Rythe
:* the Flood Risk Assessment submitted fails to demonstrate that the current proposal is safe, does not increase flood risk elsewhere, or that the proposed development will not constrain the natural function of the flood plain.
:The Appellant claims that the Flood Risk Assessment has been clear about the way in which any potential flood risk has been mitigated within the construction detail of the building and highlighted:
:* a major flood alleviation scheme was carried out in 2006 has drastically reduced the danger of flooding to a considerable number of dwellings in the Thames Ditton and Claygate area including Raleigh Drive.
:* it would not have an adverse effect on a watercourse, flood plain or its flood defences.
:* it would Impede access to flood defence and management facilities.
:* it would not have a significant effect on local flood storage capacity or flood flows.
:* the surface water would flow to the lower land on [[Hare Lane Green]] and not towards the application site or the residential properties.
:* it is less likely that there would be a groundwater threat to the site because the subsoil lies on London Clay which has the effect of *capping" any rise in groundwater levels. Any fluvial flooding of the site would again fall towards [[Hare Lane Green]]. {{CPC-mtg-ref|PARISH COUNCIL planning meeting 28-JAN-21}}
* {{CPC-planning|2020/1727|Harecroft, Raleigh Drive KT10 9DE|Detached garage.|Refused by EBC.}}
:EBC assessed that "By virtue of its siting within 8m from the main river, it does not allow for essential maintenance and emergency access to the River Rythe. Also, the Flood Risk Assessment submitted fails to demonstrate that the current proposal is safe, does not increase flood risk elsewhere, or that the proposed development will not constrain the natural function of the flood plain. The proposal has also failed to either address Climate Change or provide SuDs in the design. The proposal is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework 2019, policy CS26 and Flood Risk SPD (adopted 2016)." {{CPC-mtg-ref|PARISH COUNCIL planning meeting 3-DEC-20}}
*{{CPC-planning|2020/2275|The Lodge 33 Raleigh Drive KT10 9DE|Part two/part single-storey side/rear extension and alterations to fenestration following partial demolition of existing house.|Condition imposed.}}
:EBC stated:
:* “due to the siting and orientation of the plots and dwellings, as well as the presence of the detached garage at Hayes Barton, it is not considered that the proposal would result in a detrimental loss of light, over and above the existing situation. In addition, given that the proposal would not be sited directly opposite the habitable windows at Hayes Barton, there would not be a considerable change of outlook from the existing situation”
:* “To protect the privacy of the occupiers of Hayes Barton, it is considered reasonable to impose a condition ensuring that no windows can be inserted in the side elevation towards this property without obtaining planning permission from the Borough Council.” {{CPC-mtg-ref|PARISH COUNCIL planning meeting 5-JAN-21}}
*{{CPC-planning|2020/2275|The Lodge 33 Raleigh Drive KT10 9DE|Part two/part single-storey side/rear extension and alterations to fenestration following partial demolition of existing house.|No Comment.}} {{CPC-mtg-ref|PARISH COUNCIL planning meeting 8-OCT-20}}
=== The area ===
==== Flooding ====
{{CPC-minute|5|To discuss the EA Flood Action Campaign.|The Clerk circulated the EA Flood action plan to Committee members ahead of the meeting. The prime focus of the EA Flood Action plan is to raise awareness of flooding with the general public. EBC had actioned a full strategic review of the flood situation in Claygate in 2019. In this review Claygate was classed as low risk for flooding from rivers. [[The Rythe|The River Rythe]] had creating some fluvial flooding on [[Hare Lane]] and [[Raleigh Drive]] historically. The EBC review noted that there is a high risk of surface water flooding in Claygate. SCC have identified the following locations as susceptible to surface water flooding: [[Oaken Lane]], [[Gordon Road]], [[The Avenue]], [[The Parade]], [[Foley Road]], [[Church Road]], [[Coverts Road]], and [[Littleworth Road]]. It was noted that SCC had been actively clearing gullies in a number of problem roads over the winter period. In particular, the work that SCC had done in widening the gullies on [[Church Road]] by the bus stop, appeared to have been a success. SCC will still need to clear out the gullies each year due to leaves but once cleared the gullies should function correctly and Church Road
should remain flood free. Finally, it was noted that Claygate Centre on [[Elm Road]] was an Emergency Rest Centre in the event of a flooding incident.
The CPC urged Claygate residents to move their cars on days that SCC are cleaning gullies to ensure SCC has the best chance in preventing surface water flooding. They asked that [[Raleigh Drive]] residents contact Thames Water in the event of flooding in that area as it was often relating to the pumping station by Hare Lane Green. CPC would continue to push that new developments in the area, such as [[Littleworth Road|Claygate House]], are taking a proactive responsibility to protect [[The Rythe|the River Rythe]] area from future flooding and that they are doing their bit to maintain the river.
The Committee agreed that EBC Strategic Flood review had identified the areas of concern and that CPC will continue to monitor the situation.
The Clerk then updated the committee on the flooding under the railway bridge on the Bridleway South of the A3. Savills had informed her that they had Freeflow on site for three days pumping water from the underpass to try and clear the drain, however they were fighting a losing battle as the water was coming off the fields and into the underpass faster than we could pump it out. They’ve spoken to Surrey County Council and H&S signage has gone up for the time being to advise of deep water and blocked access. They will then need to revisit this in April/May once the winter rains have passed to pump the water away and then either clear the existing drain or look at alternative options of providing an outlet for the surface water run-off. Savills want CPC to be assured that it is something they are taking seriously and they are looking to find a long-term solution to. {{CPC-mtg-ref|PARISH COUNCIL HT&E meeting 11-FEB-21}}
Planning Inspectorate Verdict: Appeal Ref: APP/K3605/W/23/3334391 — Land north of Raleigh Drive
The appeal is made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 against a refusal to grant outline planning permission.
The appeal is made by Claygate House Investments Ltd and MJS Investments Ltd against the decision of Elmbridge Borough Council.
The application Ref 2023/0962, dated 24 March 2023, was refused by notice dated 22 September 2023.
The development proposed is an outline planning application for up to 60 dwellings, associated landscaping and open space with access from Raleigh Drive.
PARISH COUNCIL ACHIEVEMENT 23RD MAY 2024: "Represented Claygate at the enquiry at EBC by the Planning Inspectorate into the application to build on the Green Belt: Land North of Raleigh Drive (2023/0962)."
PARISH COUNCIL ACHIEVEMENT 2ND APRIL 2024: "Liaised with EBC regarding Land North of Raleigh Drive to object to development on Green Belt Land—Planning Inspectorate Ref APP/K3605/W/23/33343391; Planning Application Reference 2023/0962."
LAND NORTH OF RALEIGH DRIVE
An outline plan to build up to 60 dwellings on Green Belt
land north of Raleigh Drive reached the Planning
Committee in May last year and the Parish Council
objected, saying that approval would set a very dangerous
precedent for other tracts of Green Belt in the village and
borough. Elmbridge Borough Council gave four reasons for
refusing the application, the first being Green Belt
contravention.
The developer has subsequently appealed and the Parish
Council has been advised that the more people showing
their opposition, the more likely the appeal is to be
rejected. The date of appeal hearing will be publicised as
soon as it is available. The appeal will be conducted via
videoconferencing software, so residents will not be able
to attend in person but can be present online.
source: Claygate Courier, March 2024 issue, page 3
Historical Notes
Claygate had several farms in centuries past. There was Beazley Farm by Littleworth Common which ceased milk production in the 1950s in favour of horses; Slough Farm had a dairy herd of Red Poll Cattle and later pigs but later had horses; Manor Farm had a dairy herd of prize-winning jersey cows but later had horses; Elm Farm had dairy cows and chickens and sold delicious cream, but later had a plant nursery business and horse-feed shop; Barwell Court had a big herd of Friesian milking cows and grew cereals, but later kept horses; Horringdon Farm had one of the last big dairy herds of Red Poll cattle and grew cereals and potatoes, but but later horses and grazes young cattle for Loseberry Farm; Loseberry Farm no longer keeps a dairy herd; it later kept a house cow and young stock for the dairy herd at Stoke D'Abernon.
From a 1984 issue of The Esher News and Mail
Titts Farm
References to Titts Farm date back to 1743, but it was likely much older than this. The farm was broken up and the land auctioned off in lots for development purposes between 1908 and 1910. It comprised some 35 to 40 acres covering the area that now contains Station Road, Loseberry Road, Raleigh Drive and Rythe Road, with the railway line, Hare Lane, Hare Lane Green and the River Rythe as its approximate boundaries. In earlier years the farm probably extended further eastwards to embrace most, if not all, of Lambs Hill, and thus one of the Oaken Lane brickfields: there are references in old deeds to the payment of an annuity of £20 during the lifetime of one owner in lieu of forgoing a one-third royalty on 'unexhausted brick earth'. It also seems likely that one or two fields lying on the other side of Hare Lane may have formed part of this farm.
Titts Farmhouse and its main barn coincided very closely with the location of what became the Orchard, Hare Lane, and the old barn in its grounds bordering Raleigh Drive. The four cottages that went with the farm no longer exist. The barn off Raleigh Drive which stood until the formation of Chadworth Way lay in a field called Barn Close in the 19th century; other fields of Titts Farm were called 'Home Close', 'Carrot Field', 'Claygate Lane Field' — on which the old Swedenborgian church was subsequently built by Charles Higby — and 'Lambs Hill'.
For many years a substantial part of the farmland was owned by John Peter Robinson of Oxford Street, London, and after he died in 1895, by the trustees of his Loseberry Estate. Tenant farmers included James Freelove (1843), William Scott (1884) and William Aspin (1900).
Part of the farmland having been purchased by Bertram White of Raleigh House, Nelson Road, New Malden, was sold by him in 1910 to Ebenezer Thorogood, a builder of Surbiton. It was from the name of White's house that Raleigh Drive got its name; Rythe Road was also part of Raleigh Drive and so named originally.
Site plans of the farm and adjoining land show that a smithy was located on the corner of Station Road and Hare Lane next to the railway bridge until about 1910.
References =
Peebles, Malcolm (1983). The Claygate Book. (Millennium edition). Stockbridge: by BAS Printers Ltd. ISBN 0-9508978-0-9.
Many thanks also for the photos, many supplied by Terry Gale, from the Claygate Local History Facebook group.
