Housing Target - A Threat to Elmbridge

With local elections coming up in May, a key issue will be the policy of candidates to the Local Plan that Elmbridge needs to prepare.  This plan has been under preparation for several years but has been continually delayed by an inability to agree how to develop policies to meet a very high housing target from central government.  The current target would require increased density across Oxshott and inevitably in due course, loss of Green Belt.  Oxshott, as we know it, would change profoundly and, in due course, become another anonymous outer London borough.

What the Council has not done is to challenge the basis by which this target has been calculated.  The methodology applies across the country but fails to take account of local circumstances in Elmbridge that make it inappropriate.  Action is needed now to develop arguments that support the contention that exceptional circumstances apply to reject the government target.  The target for Elmbridge should then be calculated on the basis of assumptions that recognise specific local circumstances.

AERC (an alliance of Elmbridge Residents and Civic Groups) has thrown down the challenge to election candidates and local political parties.  The paper which you can download here sets out compelling reasons why Councillors need to act now to avoid the greatest threat to Elmbridge since its creation almost 50 years ago.

Please read this paper carefully and consider how candidates in the local election intend to deal with this issue.

For more information please email us via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mike Wheeler
Director - Planning  
12^th March, 2021

Oak Processionary Moth

OPM Caterpillars16/02/2021

You have probably noticed that over the past few years there have been increasing infestations of the Oak Processionary Moth (“OPM”) in parts of Oxshott.  Some residents have had to pay significant sums to tree specialists to have OPM caterpillar nests removed from their oak trees.

The problem with OPM is the caterpillar hairs which easily detach and drift around, and cause severe skin rashes and asthmatic attacks.  The Forestry Commission has produced a very informative leaflet which can be downloaded here, and which contains links to other online sources of information. You will see that the leaflet explains clearly the problems that would be caused if this pest were to spread throughout the UK, and therefore the urgent need to control it by reporting occurrences to the Forestry Commission.

Read more: Oak Processionary Moth

Update on A244 Actions

We wanted to give you a brief update on progress on the issues raised in our petition concerning the A244 and its consideration at the Elmbridge  Local Committee  meeting on 16 November 2020.

Firstly, many thanks to all of you who supported the petition, a total of 973 signatures in just a few weeks illustrates the strength of concern about traffic problems in Oxshott.  A more detailed update including an explanation of the history to some of our roads  problems, how FEDORA is responding and the constraints within which we are operating will be published in the Spring edition of FEDORA magazine. This note summarises only the most significant activity.

Read more: Update on A244 Actions