Millenium party

The Parish of Guarlford

Noticeboard - additional

Report of Special Board meeting of the Malvern Hills Trust to discuss the Chance Lane/Jackpit Lane Easement

Date: 19th March 2019

Guarlford Road

 

The Board of the Malvern Hills Trust met at the Gryphon Room, Malvern College, Thirlstane Road, on 19th March 2019 to decide the Chance Lane Easement application by the Rose Farm Partnertship (RFP).

 

The partners were named as Martin, Emma, Doreen and Mark Wilesmith.

 

About 150 members of ther public attended the meeting filling the hall.

 

At the start of the meeting there was a discussion about whether any member of the Board had a conflict of interest. Then the applicant and members of the public were invited to speak. The RFP did not send a representative.

Mr Mike Huskinson, Dr Graeme Crisp, Katharine Harris, Angus McCulloch, Clive Smith (a past chairman of the Board) and John Watts spoke for refusal.

Public questions were asked reflecting several important matters that should be clarified before any decision was taken.

A presentation about the application was given by the officers to the Board members and a strenuous debate followed. Board members did not want to approve the application because of the lack of information about the impact on the Malvern Hills and Commons. Concern was also expressed about possible Reputational damage to the Trust.

 

After a lengthy debate the application was refused unanimously except for one abstention.

The meeting closed at 10:45 pm

 

During the meeting it emerged that the RFP had submitted an application to the SWDP Review offering Rose Farm for development, on 12th December 2018. In this it was stated that an Easement had been negotiated with the MHT; this was incorrect and this misrepresentation may now result in this parcel of land not being considered further by the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review.

 

Many thanks to members of the Residents' Association and other supporters for attending the meeting. Thank you also to members of the Board of the Trust for continuing to protect this attractive gateway to Malvern.

 

Archive

Special Board Meeting of the Malvern Hills Trust to discuss the Chance Lane Easement on 19th March 2019

Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Please do come along with your friends to this very important meeting to show your support for refusing this application to build a large access road across the common adjoining the Guarlford Road.

Directions: from Court Road turn into Thirlstane Road, proceed under the railway bridge and immediately turn right for the Gryphon Room and Sports Complex.

Click for map of Malvern College

Click to view Malvern Hills Trust Calendar

Click to view Residents' Association poster

The meeting papers can be found on the MHT website.

Background

The Malvern Hills Trust plans to hold a Special Board Meeting either to approve or refuse an application by the Rose Farm Partnership, believed to be connected to The Wilesmith Trust, for a large access road across the Guarlford Road Common adjoining  Chance Lane.

Permission for an emergency access crossing Jackpit Lane into Hall Green Close is also being requested.

Approval could damage the attractive open grassed approach to Malvern along the Guarlford Road forever, and facilitate the building of two and three storey houses in the field opposite the Green Dragon.

 

This meeting was originally planned for 20th November 2018 and then 28th February 2019. It is believed the delay has been caused by legal issues raised by residents which the Trust appears to have spent thousands of pounds responding to - which might make one think there are those in the Trust intent on approving this Easement come what may.

 

Archived report

Residents up in arms about Rose Farm Easement

 

TELL THE MALVERN HILLS TRUST WHAT YOU THINK

 

The Rose Farm Partnership wants to obtain outline planning permission to build a housing estate in the field opposite the Green Dragon on the Guarlford Road and to facilitate this they have asked the Malvern Hills Trust (formerly the Conservators) for:

an easement across the Common from Chance Lane consisting of a wide road and pavements;

and secondly an easement for an ‘emergency access crossing the ancient Jackpit Lane into Hall Green Close .

Access

Site of proposed road joining Chance Lane

‘The Friends of the Commons of Malvern’ is a Residents’ Association set up to persuade the Trust not to grant these easements, as this would destroy the beautiful approach to Barnards Green and the Malvern Hills, plus amenity areas much loved by the local population. To contact the 'Friends' please email:

 

focom.org@gmail.com

 

You can also look at their page on Facebook.

 

The tag is:  @FriendsCommonsMalvern

 

What partly concerns the Residents' Association is that:

 

  • the officers appear to be washing their hands of responsibility for the consequences of any planning application that might be linked to the granting of an easement, whatever its potential effect on the area;

  • the Trust has said that they must balance financial gain against care for the countryside, because if the land were developed The Trust could, in return for the easements, receive at least £2M pounds.

Rose farm and Malvern Hills

Rose Farm and Hills viewed from Chance Lane

 

More information about the Residents' Association can be found at: www.the-malvern-hills.uk