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Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - Martin-Dog walker (5th Aug 2014 - 17:07:00) Just got back from our daily walk on Weavers Down and across the fields proposed for the new golf course.There is a survey in progress to count the number of people walking the area along the Shipwrights Way the fields and footpaths down to Langley. They are interested in your reasons for being there, how often you use the area and concerns about areas being fenced off during construction of a new golf course. We did ask whether he had seen many people today?Not unexpectedly he had only surveyed a handful (one hand) of people. Well done to Old Thorns for collating the survey and how very clever of their Planning Agent to conduct it during the holiday high season when most walkers, riders ,cyclists and users are away on holiday. Happy walking.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - JP (5th Aug 2014 - 18:29:27) They are relentless and wait until they think people will not notice when the Strike for yet another attempt at grabbing this ground for selfish purposes. This is yet another poor attempt at looking for weak spots in objections and I personally find it a very sad way to breaking down the locals who care for this environment and it's wildlife for pure financial gain. planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/... Shame on you Old Thorns !!!!!!!

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - Martin (5th Aug 2014 - 19:57:52) It is being conducted all this week and maybe next week but I am not too sure about the second week. Happy walking

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - Pitchfork waver. (5th Aug 2014 - 20:45:30) Isn't this piece of land common ground ? If so, I'm taking my goats, pigs and cows to graze there !

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - bdavies (6th Aug 2014 - 06:27:17) I work for a company that uses Old Thorns a lot for overseas visitors and meetings. I have sent them an enquiry e mail, accessed from their website, to advise them that our patronage will be actively reconsidered as a result of this.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - JP (6th Aug 2014 - 08:16:59) Liphook is already being attacked by housing developers taking the countryside and this Golf Course will be the last straw. This is I think their 3rd or 4th attempt over many years and every other time has been turned down. They are persistent and trying to wear the locals down.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - P Weyland (6th Aug 2014 - 08:21:10) If there are rights of way across the land proposed for the new Golf Course then surely the public use of these can't be taken away? There are plenty of Golf Courses with public rights of way running through them

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - A local (6th Aug 2014 - 10:06:44) Old Thorns (Martin Shaw) have never been turned down for ANY planning permission, they always get what they want and this will be no different. They do however apply for planning permission and then withdraw it before a decision is made. A cynic would say this was to either make people think they had already objected when it comes up a second time and to be able to know what people objections will be. And also why has this taken so long? This latest application was put in in May 2013.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - ellie (6th Aug 2014 - 13:32:51) Common land can be privately owned, it does not have to be publicly owned, but commoners rights would only apply if you were a local with commoners rights attached to your property when you bought your property. I would need to be a lawyer to explain it properly.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - pitchfork waver (6th Aug 2014 - 20:40:23) Busy researching Commoners Rights.......and my goats are very hungry ! You'd better hurry up with your golf course plans you caterers to the idle pastimes of corporate tax-dodgers !

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - fenella (9th Aug 2014 - 12:24:45) This is a challenging situation for all parties. One - The land owner who needs to return on their investments and satisfy the commercial liabilities/responsibilities. Two - The ecology, local people, commoners, interest parties and of course SDNP. The application sets out the positives of the proposal in that it creates employment and by actually developing a Golf Course the ecology will be improved etc. Other interest parties argue the contrary of this. Perhaps Old Thorns and the interest parties/stakeholders could meet or at least set up a line of positive communication to discuss the pro\'s and cons of the proposal and seek a solution which satisfies everyone/majority. This may be that the GC is the best proposal however through open discussion it may lead to other alternative ideas and uses of the land. The solution needs to be a long term plan of which the community and land owner/s are working together. If the answer is a GC then how can the community get behind this and ensure the enjoyment of the land and preservation of the ecology is continued etc. If its an alternative use how can the land owner return on their investments etc? I am sure cohesively working together has to be the best approach.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - liz (11th Aug 2014 - 08:55:30) Whatever you may think of yet another golf course I'm afraid it is nonsense to say it will improve the ecology. If the present Old Thorns course and associated infrastructure is not sufficient to provide a decent return - then perhaps it needs new management!

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - David (12th Aug 2014 - 07:09:59) I find myself agreeing with you Fernella, the problem has always been the complete lack of respect the "current" owner shows for the local community. This attitude, (and that of his "henchmen") has resulted in a complete lack of trust between all parties.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - A local (12th Aug 2014 - 08:10:31) As this article about Martin Shaw shows it's all about the money. www.golfbusinessnews.com/news/...

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - liz (12th Aug 2014 - 13:32:32) .. And no interest in Liphook or its landscape/ecology, just churn and burn in the property market.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - fenella (19th Aug 2014 - 10:44:14) As from my previous post its disappointing that nobody could put forward any pro's and cons of suggestions for alternative uses of the land that answer the catch 22 position. I take all of the points raised however always believe there is an answer/solution if only people would discuss rationally. I am certain that with all the intelligent and passionate people living in Liphook a win win situation can be achieved.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - A local (19th Aug 2014 - 11:00:55) Fenella, What's wrong with the land staying as it is? If we all went around buying common land and then applied to change its use there would be nothing left. When the golf course was purchased the owners knew this was the case and they only sees £ signs when they look at it. We'll have to see if the new directors Yew Phang and Zhenxin Zhang have the same attitude to our beautiful country side.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - JP (19th Aug 2014 - 11:25:30) If you want to save this beautiful site, you MUST register your concern on the SDNP site below and also look at previous comments. This needs to be done ASAP and please let others in Liphook know: planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications/... Liphook is already being over developed so stand your ground !

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - Fenella (20th Aug 2014 - 12:18:10) Perhaps the new directors may be a benefit to the local area. Investing money into the area may have benefits? I think we all need to embrace change however engage along the process ensuring any change is done with the future and sustainability in mind that works for all. I agree with another post that there is nothing wrong with leaving things alone/the land however inevitably over the next decade and century things will change. It is up to us to manage that change in the best way possible. Please do not get me wrong I'm not for or against the proposal. I would just like an outcome to be the best possible scenario given the history and circumstances faced by all interest parties.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - helen (20th Aug 2014 - 13:19:36) The present owners of the site were well aware obviously that the land was in the SDNP and adjacent to other designations, before they bought the land. Any solicitor would point this out to the prospective buyer, all the possible constraints of that piece of land. The land was put up for sale unsuccessfully separately some years ago, so obviously everyone else decided it would not be a good thing to buy it. Any proposal would have to first and foremost benefit the park and the public.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - liz (20th Aug 2014 - 13:26:44) Investing money in the local area for a new golf course may provide a few more jobs but at the loss of a large portion of countryside which is for everyone. Golf courses would seem to perform very badly on a jobs provided vs countryside lost scale! From one of the links (no pun intended) in this post, it seems investors are rather short term and are unlikely to have any long term interest in Liphook. If we want to see more jobs, how about finding someone to update the derelict industrial buildings near Countrywide for a start.

Re: Old Thorns Survey on Weavers Down - JP (20th Aug 2014 - 13:58:45) This and other applications will impact your house value so it is up to you to either way. Just hope you all like golf and willing to pay the penalty in many ways as there is no going back once the decision is made.

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