The East and West Horsley Forum

[ThinkandPonder]

I was just thinking . . . . . .

The current request for more of our money to purchase a tract of woodland possibly targeted for development is an interesting one.

It would seem that two residents of The Highlands have purchased the land to prevent it falling in to the hands of speculative investors.

Now, we , the general public of East and West Horsley, are being asked to purchase the land from those residents.

Sums of just £1000 each were being suggested in one leaflet I saw!

From a quick look at the map on the leaflet, it appeared that the woodland in question doesn't have any easy access with houses or "The Forest" (that bit of woodland "We" already own) effectively making the Highlands Wood an island.

If that's so, how would a would-be developer gain road access to the plot? Perhaps by also buying one of the adjacent houses for a large sum . . . .

Another thing that make me think was there are approx 20 houses directly bounding the woodland. These houses would be directly affected by any building on the land in question. This would no doubt lead to a drop in their value. Indeed, I would think that any purchasers currently carrying out searches would unearth something to concern them.

However, if the wood were to be "rescued" and virtually guaranteed free from development in perpetuity, I would imagine the value of those 20 houses would rise.

So, £130,000 divided by 20 houses is "only" £6,500 each.

Given that just two have been able to find £130,000 between them and that the houses in The Highlands look to be some of the most desirable and expensive in the area, I would think that each and every one of the houses would be able to find enough money between them to rescue this little patch of woodland after all, once income tax (no doubt at 40%) is taken in to account, it would only cost each one £4643 each

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of preventing widespread and inappropriate development in our little corner of this green and pleasant land but this little scheme made me think and ponder . . . . .
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We were just thinking and pondering . . .

[NeilFuller]

Some interesting ideas there ThinkandPonder though I'm not sure I entirely agree.

The combined woods of "The Forest" and "Highlands Wood" would make a large area of woodland safe from development.

If it were purchased by the local parish council etal it would place it in the hands of a managing body to make sure it continues to flourish.

If the woods were purchased by the residents bordering the woods, I presume they would have to pay for the on-going upkeep?

I wonder what others think about this proposal??

[Harry]

I am pleased to say that the appeal was a success. Think and Ponders thoughts on the property prices may well be correct and I would imagine that the largest donations will have come from those residents most local to the site. However, quality of life may have been higher on their agenda than any effect on house price. Living next door to a nature reserve that you know has a secure future is worth a lot. Unfortunately, not everyone who lives next to open space seems to appreciate what they have and there are instances around our villages of householders fly-tipping their garden waste over the fence or even extending their garden area. I wonder if they would like it if the owner or manager of the open space dumped green waste onto their gardens.