To answer any questions received from Members of the Council in accordance with Standing Order 47.
Minutes:
A question was received from Cllr Ernest Mallett. The question and response below were tabled at the meeting:
Question from Cllr Ernest Mallett
The 'Wetlands' water provision and resculpting of the Chelsea/Lambeth/Molesey Reservoirs has been complete for some 2 years but there is no sign of the section 106 provisions for a Visitors Centre, an associated Car Park and Limited Public Opening which is a requirement of the Section 106 agreements. What is the position and likely progress time to completion and the site being regularly open to the public?
Response:
Background
The Molesey Reservoir site was originally worked for sand gravel with a wet restoration for nature conservation purposes. While the physical works are largely complete, the aftercare requirements are still in progress over about two thirds of the site. The site will not be finished for the purposes of planning control until the aftercare requirement is discharged.
Thames Water, the site owner, is to enter into formal management agreement with Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) to manage the site as a nature reserve. SWT may take over the remaining aftercare work however this is still the subject of negotiation with the former operator Island Barn Aggregates (IBA).
A section 106 agreement and a planning agreement provide for a long term management plan and it has been informally agreed (some 2/3 years ago now) that SWT would progress this on taking up management of the site.
Car Park
A car park has been provided in accordance with the approved plans, but is not visible from outside the site. It should be stressed that this is not a public car park, but purely for the use of activities on the site, for example educational parties, work parties, etc.
Public Access
There is no existing or proposed public access over the site. A permissive footpath (dawn to dusk) between Hurst Road and the River Thames has been laid out on site. The permissive route is unavailable at present as gates at either end of the route remain locked. Neither Thames Water nor IBA are currently prepared to open them for reasons to do with site security and staff resource. County Officers continue to lobby for this benefit.
Visitors Centre
The original intention was that an old staff house in the south west corner of the site be used for this. However, SWT would like to construct a purpose built centre by the entrance to the site and existing car park. Discussion is on going with Thames Water on this matter. The development of a visitors centre would assist with the supervision and use of the permissive footpath. A new visitors centre will require planning permission. While the site is in aftercare the County Council would be the determining authority. Accordingly, the completion of a new operational visitors centre could be two or more years away at present.
Supplementary Question from Mr Mallett
How are you going to get a visitors centre on site within a reasonable timescale?
The Planning Manager explained that under S106 certain things needed to be completed at certain times which were binding. However, the Council had to be ‘reasonable’ on what could be achieved and that whilst the work was taking longer than preferred it was going in the right direction.
Action
a) That a letter, on behalf of the Committee, be sent to the developer requesting details of when further development would be seen regarding the Visitors Centre.
b) That the Chairman would take forward a Member proposal to restart the liaison group and for the Wildlife Trust to be invited to take part in that.