Background.

There has been a rash of activity recently by groups representing residents and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) regarding the recent announcement by Guildford Borough Council (GBC) that it intends to consider the site of the disused tip at Stonebridge as one of a number of possible sites for travellers in the Borough.

The Atkins report commissioned for the Wey & Arun Canal Trust (WACT) recommended that the provision of moorings at the northern end of the canal would encourage usage of both the Wey Navigation and the Wey & Arun canal.

I want to make the position of the Trust clear on this matter.

Our position

WACT is neutral on the provision of travellers sites in Guildford except insofar as it affects the ability of the Trust to fulfil its objectives.

The Stonebridge site, adjacent to Gun's Mouth, is probably the only site at the northern end of the canal that is suitable for the provision of 'off-line' moorings.

It is not currently the intention of the Trust itself to provide such moorings. The funding for such work, even if the site was not contaminated, would be beyond the resources of the Trust at present. We have a canal to restore first. Were such facilities to be made available by another party in future there would obviously be potential advantages to the Trust and we are keen that the option of providing these moorings on this site be kept open for future consideration and use.

We have made this point to GBC both by letter to the Leader of the Council and in a recent meeting with the Head of Planning.

Sally Schupke
Chairman, Wey & Arun Canal Trust