“Save This Field”: Residents oppose Future Mole Valley plans to build on SA48 green belt land adjacent to Leatherhead Common Meadow

With the #FutureMoleValley consultation deadline coming up on 23rd March we look at how residents are organising to protect another contested green belt space: “SA48”, adjacent to Leatherhead Common Meadow.

The Leatherhead Common Meadow has been described as “one of the most enduring features of the geographical division of land in Surrey”. An 1968 article for the Leatherhead & District Local History Society describes its evolving status as a commons from the Saxon period to the eighteenth century to modern times — including for animals to graze, as a recreational space for people to play cricket and other games and as a nature path for people to walk along. After reviewing how the site has periodically been challenged and defended, the article concludes:

“The objective now is to preserve for the public at large the continuing right of unrestricted access to a delightful riverside meadow very conveniently situated near to the town; one of the few such open spaces remaining in the parish of Leatherhead.”

Once again residents are organising to protect land by the River Mole. Recent #FutureMoleValley plans propose that green belt land adjacent to the cherished Common Meadow — site “SA48” – is developed into 150 dwellings and two gypsy and traveller pitches. A habitat regulations assessment undertaken by the Mole Valley District Council in 2019 highlights that the site “lies approx. 6.8km from the Thames Basin Heaths SPA” and that “LSEs [Likely Significant Effects] of SA48 on the SPA cannot be excluded”.

According to assessments by the council the green belt site is “identified as Woodpasture and Parkland Priority Habitat by Natural England”. The official definition of such sites characterise them as “mosaic habitats valued for their trees, especially veteran and ancient trees, and the plants and animals that they support” and “ frequently of international historic, cultural and landscape importance”.

Like other proposed development sites in Mole Valley, SA48 has seen various community and citizen-led initiatives to oppose development over this green belt land. This includes physical signage around the space encouraging residents to write in.

“The field you are about to enter is known to the Planners at Mole Valley District Council as “Site SA48”. It is on the Developers’ target list to be declassified from its Green Belt protection and be concreted over, as part of MVDC’s push to build hundreds more homes in the Valley.

Imagine the field you are about to enjoy with a hundred and fifty houses on it and two travellers sites as well. No more grass, no more trees, no more lovely views, no more opportunity to walk your dog off the lead. In the summer no more blackberries, no more wild flower meadow alive with bees and butterflies. In the winter nowhere to walk locally without getting into a car, no more bird watching or deer spotting. It doesn’t bear thinking about does it?

We can stop this development happening. We have done it before. But this is what we need YOU to do to help.

Visit the website at www.futuremolevalley.org, under “Current Consultation” and complete the “Respond to the consultation” section.

Contact the MVDC Planning Department, either by e-mail to: planning.policy@molevalley.gov.uk or write to them at Planning Policy Team, MVDC, Pippbrook, Dorking, RH4 1SJ.

Please tell them that “Site SA48” must be protected from development. They need to hear this from you. If you want to save this field, please don’t rely on everyone else contacting them, we all need to act NOW.

Local resident David Woodhead comments:

“SA48 is one of the most important areas of open, accessible Green Belt in the District. Attempts to build on it over the past 50 years have failed largely because it fulfils the purposes of Green Belt to such a high degree: two of those were thwarted as a result of Planning Inspectors’ decisions following public inquiries. If SA48 is built on, no Green Belt in Mole Valley can be considered safe from development.

“Protection of the site is even more vital now because of the number of dwellings — particularly flats — which have been built in North Leatherhead over that period and more than 750 dwellings already have planning permission in addition to however many result from the local plan.

“Building on SA48 would add to the serious local problems of traffic congestion and air pollution (which are particularly bad in Randalls Road) as well as pressure on infrastructure such as medical/dental provision and schools. It would also worsen the regular flooding problem, as rainwater would no longer be absorbed on SA48 but would run off on to the adjacent Common Meadow, which in turn has a knock-on effect on the nearby Crematorium (closed because of flooding again this year) and Fetcham.”

In a recent blog post Leatherhead Living has shared a letter circulated by and amongst local residents encouraging them to write in and providing reasons why the green belt land should be protected.

The site has been raised as a concern by members of the Leatherhead Residents’ Association. Leatherhead Poor’s Allotment — who are fighting to keep their site — have also provided a further list of reasons why SA48 should be protected:

Site no. SA48 Rear of Randalls Road
This is Green Belt and so should be respected as such.
It separates L’head from Fetcham
It is the only truly open space in North L’head
Its only access road is Randalls Road, already well known for major traffic bottlenecks morning and night
Development would exacerbate run-off into the River Mole and thus cause flooding elsewhere.

Site SA48 is included in numerous guides for the “Riverside Walk” by the River Mole. The river corridor in this area is said to be “one of the South East’s most celebrated and attractive”, providing a home to “100 species of birds, 20 species of mammals, 20 different butterflies and 15 species of dragonflies”. Here are excerpts highlighting where site SA48 is located on the walk.

If you or your community would like to share your perspective on the #FutureMoleValley plans you can write to hellomole@protonmail.com.