The following was E-mailed to Cllr.Melanie Whitehand concerning lack of planning notice at the site.....

Greetings Cllr. Whitehand ... I have heard from the Development Control department that the SCC applicationfor the Old library site has been granted, ( not that many in Knaphill seem to be aware of much to do with the application ) we have not noticed the appearance of any notice at the site.... WBC state that their minimum requirements to qualify for display at the site are that it be a "major" development. Those I have spoken to are of the view that a proposal whichhas aroused so much public interest and debate and involves, for instance,an underground car park, (something new in the village?), a high density of development,(implied by the former !), and a highly impacting position, must be a surely be major development. When implemented, it brings to an end any community oriented use on a site which has hosted it over many decades and under different owners, the establishment of it as such being marked by the notice boards and benches to the front .....A major change of use .... Also, .., to look to precedent, correct me if I am wrong....we have all seen these notices at relatively small developments, involving, for instance, the addition of an eating area to a pub....... may I ask exactly what are WBC's criteria for "major" development...... thank you for your time ....Simon de Groot

Favourable response to pre-planning enquiry from WBC

Woking Borough Council have indicated to us that a planning
application for a small market event taking place twice a
month, would probably be granted...
The market would comprise of around six stalls and be
acredited farmers and art/craft type events in rotation ....
Any plans for expansion of the market into the building
were also be likely to be accepted in principle, as A2 use has
already been established by the recent granting of
Surrey County Council's application for shops and flats
on the site.....

Planning enquiry made....

The FOR SALE sign has been removed, it had been badly vandalised, and the SCC are replacing it after their planning application for development is complete....... (QED ?)

We have submitted a planning enquiry to WBC for a regular market event, primarily involving six stalls on the frontage. Any music events would require a special one-off events license from WBC .... This follows suggestions that market events start in a limited way on the front garden area as a pilot project......

Answer at KRA meeting frustrates hopes of WBC support .....

Hopes that Woking Borough Council would support the campaign/s for community use
were frustrated by a response given by Cllr. Richard Sharp at the meeting on Tuesday.....
In total contrast to Cllr. Melanie Whitehands posting on the Knaphillian website forum, indicating that she would help ensure the site remained in community use, in accordance with the wishes
of Knaphill residents. Cllr. Sharp said that the WBC were resigned to honour the deal that
they have apparently been party to: ie allow the sale of the site in return for the new library.
One tends to assume that the planning consent, currently under consideration by WBC, is also a "done deal.....
Cllr. Sharp also claimed that the "deal " was well publicised. We could only find one reference to it in an old WOKING NEWS & MAIL article, which stated that Surrey County Council were treating the Old Library as a "Cash Jackpot", to fund the new library....... but with no apparent wide polling of views. Looking back, it would appear that after very long negotiations over many years, about much needed new library facilities, frustrated campaigners were willing to agree to almost anything, and this was pushed through without apparent opposition, apart from those who wanted a new, purpose built, library on the old site.
Some have asked why the SCC did not apply for a lottery grant or similar, to improve or replace the library on the old site, if their funds were insufficient .....we cannot anwer this one.....
When Eileen Martin asked the panel for general comments on the state of the community at
the end, panellist Rev. Nick Grew commented that coming together and buying back the Old Library Site might be a good idea, to general applause ! ........

Market Proposal Popular With Knaphill Traders

Knaphill centre traders,when spoken to about the market proposal,were universally in
favour with many showing strong support and enthusiasm. Those asked their views
included shops, hair salons,pubs,charity shops,eating places, solicitors and financial
service providers etc. They saw the proposed market as a way of attracting people to the
village centre,especially at weekends, which they feel would result in improved trade,
which many feel is currently poor. Many were very cynical about Surrey County Council
and their intentions however,and thought it unlikely the proposal would be accepted......

Renting Back of Site......

It would appear that,for the moment anyway,our most practical way forward,which is to rent the site from the SCC, or for them to let it to a market operator, is being given a distinctly "cool" reception...... They are legally obliged to raise money on the site, by either letting it or selling,
ie.they cannot give it away or keep it indefinately !

ARCHITECT CONSULTED.......

In connection with the farmers market proposal,a local architect has had an informal look at the site. He was of the opinion that,whilst a new market building would be desirable were the finance
available, the existing buildings could be saved and converted to a "shell" to cover various activities including a market..... This could be relatively inexpensive and include a new roof and a wide porch, which would make the building far more attractive...... A bonus I like would be retention of local history,this is supposed to be the old wartime NAFFI to support service personnel.....I remember being fascinated myself at such curiosities, so might many in the future.......