Lib Dems force rethink on Hotel at Civic Site

8.34.37pm GMT Wed 24th Jan 2007

The controversial proposal to sell part of the Civic site to the owner of the neighbouring Guildford Hotel, to allow development of a much bigger hotel, has been sent back the Borough Council's Conservative Executive for a rethink, thanks to a 'call-in' of the decision by Liberal Democrat Cllr Vivienne Johnson, Chair of the Community Development Scrutiny Committee.

The Executive decision on 30 November 2006 to sell the land for £2.2 million was taken after a brief debate on a report originally intended to be kept confidential. However the report was leaked to local businessman Michel Harper, so was taken in public at the last minute. Cllr Johnson 'called-in' the decision because of her concern that the issue was of massive public interest, and needed a full and open public debate on both the financial aspects and the implications for the overall development of the Civic site.

Cllr Johnson commented "I was appalled that a decision of such importance for the council's finances and for the new Civic development was effectively 'nodded-through' by the Tory Executive, with no public notice of the debate, no consultation, and a totally inadequate report which skated over some key issues. It is quite unacceptable that the Executive tried to make this decision behind closed doors. I'm pleased that my 'call-in' enabled some local businessmen and residents' associations to have their say, and the Executive to think the proposal through more carefully."

The Scrutiny Committee welcomed the news that the Council were seeking a second opinion on the valuation of the site, and inviting the owner of the Mandolay Hotel on London Road to consider an alternative bid for the land, following his protest that £2.2 million offered by the Guildford Hotel was 'a substantial undervaluation'.

Cllr Johnson said "The Conservatives on the Committee seem to feel that these latest actions will merely provide reassurance and that they should not lose this "unique opportunity". Personally, I believe the right course of action would be for the council to seek bids for this site on the open market, ideally having consulted the public on a revised vision for the whole site."

Other issues of major concern included the loss of public parking (the new scheme would have 30 fewer spaces) and the implications for the provision of affordable housing. The Guildford Society and Cranley Road Area Residents Association made constructive comments to the Scrutiny Committee about the overall vision for the Civic site.

Cllr Johnson said "We need a parking impact assessment, both about the financial implications of fewer parking spaces and the potential overflow problems for neighbouring streets. Both the Civic Hall and York Road car parks are full on occasion, even with the Civic closed. An independent study is needed to show how the area could cope with a busy Civic function, a full 185-bed hotel and a conference for 350 people - with 30 fewer spaces. We need proper evaluation of the housing provision - this latest proposal would mean the loss of 23 of the affordable housing units included in the council's bid for PFI funding, with no clear idea of how they could be replaced. There is now a big question mark over whether this site should include any housing at all if it has a large hotel development. It's essential the Council should have a thorough look at the overall strategy for the Civic site, and include residents' organisations in those discussions. Local people must have a say in a development which will have a big effect on their neighbourhood."