Torrington Lodge Car Park

The challenge of the Marks and Spencer proposal has dominated: a village meeting was organised by Claygate Parish Council, and Elmbridge Borough Council was encouraged to work more closely with both the Parish Council and Claygate Village Association (CVA) to define a way forward and vision for Claygate. The Parish Council fielded hundreds of emails, consulted with Elmbridge, and challenged all parties concerned. The CVA played a significant role and used its considerable people resources to produce an excellent website and galvanise the help of a large number of residents.

The Parish Council, the CVA, and residents, working together, secured a consultation which kicks off in the spring, with a CVA survey, announced in this newsletter (Pages 1 and 2), informing that discussion. Parish Councillors are collaborating with stakeholders to ensure that it has a positive outcome for Claygate.

source: Claygate Courier, March 2024 issue, page 4

CAR PARK SHOCK SPARKS CO-OPERATION

The proposal for a supermarket on the site of the Torrington Lodge car park has been the most contentious planning issue in our village for a very long time. Claygate Parish Council began monitoring events in November 2022, although at that time Elmbridge Borough Council said it would reveal only the barest outline until commercial confidentially allowed.

Real information only came to light last summer and it quickly became clear that many residents were not happy. The Parish Council held a public meeting on July 21, at which the extent of unhappiness became clear: the Council responded to more than 500 letters of objection and also heavily lobbied Elmbridge Borough Council, asking several times for proper consultation. At the same time, a “Claygate Can Do Better” campaign was created.

In the face of this opposition, Elmbridge said at its Cabinet meeting on September 27 that it had decided to withdraw from negotiations with Kilo Properties Ltd and Marks and Spencer plc. It further undertook to engage in a broad consultation with Claygate residents. Since then, “Claygate Can Do Better” has become “Claygate: The Way Forward” and has also been engaging with Elmbridge. Claygate Parish Council undertook at its meeting last November to work with Claygate: The Way Forward. Both organisations are waiting for the Borough Council to bring forward the details of its proposed consultation.

source: Claygate Courier, March 2024 issue, page 3

The price of parking

iii) EBC Car Parks

It was noted that the minimum charge for Claygate’s car parks was now 90p for one hour. Cllr Sugden noted that the effect of abolishing the 30-minute free parking would lead to cars parking in the roads and that the abolition did not support local businesses. (PARISH COUNCIL HT&E MEETING 11-FEB-21)

Planning Issues

AP91 Cllr Herbert to send details to the Clerk of EBC Torrington Lodge Car Park residential development proposal to circulate & Clerk to add to 3/12 Planning Committee agenda. DONE. (PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 14-JAN-21)

14	Torrington Lodge Car Park - EBC Potential Residential Housing Project.
	No updates at present. (PARISH COUNCIL PLANNING MEETING 5-JAN-21)

14	Torrington Lodge Car Park - EBC Potential Residential Housing Project
	Nothing new to report. (PARISH COUNCIL PLANNING MEETING 28-JAN-21)

The committee noted that EBC planned to increase Village car parking charges in car parks from a minimum 40p for 30 minutes to a minimum of 1 hour for 90p. There will no longer be a 30-minute option. This will affect Torrington Lodge Car Park and Hare Lane Car Park by Champions. (PARISH COUNCIL H&TE MEETING 10-DEC-20)

14

Torrington Lodge Car Park — EBC Potential Residential Housing Project

The Clerk circulated the minutes of the EBC Cabinet meeting on the 18th November prior to the meeting. They state that there are a number of potential projects, where additional residential developments could be considered on council owned land. Work has been undertaken by parking services, pre-covid, to look at the underperforming car parks in the borough. There are a number of carparks that are under-performing but not all of them are necessarily suitable for residential development. There are several car parks which are worth focussing on in the short-term to establish whether residential development is a possibility, a couple of the carparks already have high level capacity studies done, albeit they are a few years old. Torrington Lodge Car Park is situated in the centre of Claygate with good access to facilities and transport options. A high-level capacity was done in March 2016 which demonstrated several options for the land. One option showed 15 houses could be developed, a second option demonstrated 16 flats could be developed. As the capacity study was undertaken over four years ago, the site potentially could hold additional units. CPC will continue to keep an eye on any developments made by EBC on this subject. (PARISH COUNCIL PLANNING MEETING 3-DEC-20)

96/11	To note the minutes of the Planning Committee and decide any action arising.
	The Chairman of the Planning Committee raised that Torrington Lodge Car Park had been selected as a possible EBC residential housing project with the possibility of 15 houses or 16 flats being put on the land. (PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 19-NOV-20)

62/9	To receive the report from the Parish Clerk and decide any action arising
	... It was noted that the Covid-19 mobile testing unit at Torrington Lodge Car Park would remain in place from Sunday 6-19th September 2020. It is there due to Public Health England requesting a mobile testing unit to be put in place due to the increase in Covid-19 cases within the borough. (PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 17-SEP-20)

Environmental issues

AP23 Trimming shrubs Torrington Lodge Car Park > Clerk to notify PQ that a tidy up of the entrance way into the car park is required as a priority. DONE. (PARISH COUNCIL HT&E MEETING 3-SEP-20)

See also

• Hare Lane