Tyting Farm - Decision on sale should be made in public, say Lib Dems

9.58.38am GMT Fri 17th Feb 2006

Liberal Democrat councillors say that any decision about the sale of Tyting Farm should be made in public by the Borough Council's Conservative Executive. This follows growing concerns by residents that the land might be acquired by speculative developers.

The decision on the sale of the land was due to be made on delegated authority on 20 February, but Cllr Gordon Bridger, the Lib Dem borough councillor for Holy Trinity, has said he believes the issue should instead be decided at a public meeting of the council's Executive Committee. (We believe that this will now happen and we welcome it.)

The Liberal Democrat Group are opposed to Tyting Farm being sold off in individual blocks and would urge that it should be retained as one managed unit, although a separate sale of the farmhouse and the lodge may be acceptable if their future use is sufficiently protected by stringent covenants as to their future development and use.

Cllr Gordon Bridger went on to say: "The main aim of the Council must be to protect the open area of the North Downs rather than just looking for financial gain. We believe that serious consideration needs to be given to amalgamating the farm land of Tyting Farm with the adjoining Council owned South Warren Farm and that part of Warren Farm - some 22 acres adjoining Pewley Downs - should then be made part of the public domain on Pewley Downs".

Surrey County Council has a stake in the Tyting Farm land, dating back to 1942 when it signed a deed of convenant with the Borough Council, after providing part of the money for the acquisition.

Cllr Sarah Di Caprio, the Lib Dem county councillor for the area which includes Tyting Farm, has been asked by SCC for her views as part of the 'consent process'. Cllr Di Caprio says "Although SCC claims not to be in a position to interfere with the sale, despite being an original signatory to the 1942 deed, I believe there are some serious questions to be answered and this issue needs much more public debate before any decision is made. This is a precious area of green belt countryside, and many residents have contacted me to protest about the sale."