Reflecting strong local opinion, Waverley Borough Council Conservatives proposed a motion at Full Council on Tuesday 13th December requiring the Lib Dem led Waverley Borough Administration to abandon plans to close most of Godalming’s Crown Court Car Park, to build houses on the car park and to build an expensive multi-storey car park at its Godalming HQ site. The Administration and its coalition partners refused to accept this clear-cut proposition.
Godalming Councillors Peter Martin and Steve Cosser led the attack. They pointed out that residents were 6:1 against in Waverley’s own recent consultation of nearly 1,000 residents. The Godalming Chamber of Commerce are deeply opposed. At the same Full Council, the Save Crown Court Action Group presented a petition of over 4,000 signatures of residents and visitors who oppose the scheme.
Commenting on the situation, Councillor Stephen Mulliner, the Waverley Conservative Group Leader said: “This Lib Dem led Administration is not listening. Local public and business opinion clearly reject the proposals which, to make matters worse, will generate significant losses for many years”. The Conservative Group cannot begin to consider supporting further options until the Administration accepts public opinion and agrees to terminate its current proposals.
