Public meeting on the development at Deepcut

Along with many hundreds of others, I attended the public meeting about the potential new housing development at Deepcut. I think I got there around 20/25 minutes prior to the start of the meeting, and it the Deepcut Community Centre hall was already full. I managed to find a spot to stand at the side near the front.

I must say, I didn’t see people taking photographs, or videoing the event. So, how on earth did someone take a picture of me standing by a door. I guess I must’ve have been listening intently, which was my purpose in attending.

My quick take on the meeting is:

• Huge credit to the members of the Deepcut Liason Group for organising the meeting and getting so many people to turn up, and, along with the local police, in keeping the meeting focussed and generally good-humoured.
• I hope I’m not minimising the work of others, but I feel sure Paul Deach, borough councillor for Deepcut, must’ve put in a huge amount of time and energy into organising the meeting, helping to leaflet the Deepcut community, chairing the meeting, and organising all the follow up activity. This is a hellva committment.
• The agenda covered all of the areas of concern of local residents, the size of the development, the size and location of the supermarket, traffic provision and assessment, and gypsy and traveller provision.
• Michael Gove’s contribution was honest, informative, useful, and valued by the audience.  

My view on the value of the meeting is that the Defence Infrastructure Organisation have been presented with some well-thought through arguments against their Phase 2 proposals for the site, which they can’t ignore. I imagine they’ll need a Phase 3 proposal.

The Surrey Heath Residents website has a report , and videos of the meeting.

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