Established in November 2020 to protect green spaces around New Pond Farm. We have since evolved into a community group of volunteers working collaboratively with Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, extending our efforts beyond the care of New Pond Farm to include Woodhatch Park, Lonesome Lane and surrounding green spaces. 

We believe these outdoor areas should continue to serve the community, providing opportunities for informal recreation, access to the countryside, and associated health benefits.

We work collaboratively with other local organisations where possible.

A former agricultural site located along Earlswood Brook.

Farmed until the mid-20th century, becoming open meadowland over time, and is now designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest, used for public recreation.

Reigate and Banstead BC Planning Committee voted to refuse this planning application as the proposed development would be inappropriate within the Green Belt, and harmful to its openness. Other harm would result by virtue of loss of land for open recreation and the loss of allotments. In addition, the proposed development by virtue of extent of development and associated habitat loss within the designated SNCI and BOA would have an unacceptable adverse impact. (see NEWS for full Reasons for Refusal).

THE CREMATORIUM PROPOSAL

• Site approximately 4.98ha of Green Belt land
• Single storey building of around 870 sqm
• Capacity for 2 cremators, and up to 3 chimneys
• Single chapel, 120-mourner crematorium with8 memorial garden
• Able to host 8 services per day
• Circa 500 vehicle trips per day during busiest periods
• Services offered between 1000 - 1600
• Gardens of remembrance open 365 days a year
• Access roads (encroaching on the allotments)
• Car park and access (impacting football pitches and sports use)
• Service yard and parking

WE SAY NO!

More information about the planning proposal can be found at: reigate-banstead.gov.uk/crematorium

SAVE NEW POND FARM

THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ON THIS SITE:
LOSS OF GREEN BELT

Creating this crematorium will result in removal of land from the green belt, once gone it is gone forever. This is green belt land that is used and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

'Once Green Belts have been defined, local planning authorities should plan positively to enhance their beneficial use, such as looking for opportunities to provide access; to provide opportunities for outdoor sport and recreation; to retain and enhance landscapes, visual amenity and biodiversity; or to improve damaged and derelict land.'

'Inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances.'

We say NO

LOSS OF, OR HARM TO NATURAL HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITY

This is a designated Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) and the harm could be catastrophic to a large array of local wildlife. Such sites are specifically designated, according to strict criteria, because they perform a particular function, encouraging local bio-diversity and habitat protection. Extensive construction and loss of open space risks resulting in signifiant harm to the local wildlife, habitat and bio-diversity.

We say NO

HARM TO HEALTH/ENVIRONMENT

Cremations release greenhouse gases and other chemicals that may be present in the body, such as mercury, dioxins and furans.

Carbon Dioxide - '1,000 cremations per annum equals 150 tonnes per year of carbon this equals 1,229,508 car carbon kilometres annually. .' CDS Group.

It can take one to two hours to cremate a body, depending on weight or size and performance of the cremator.

There is an increasing awareness of the environmental impact of cremations, alternatives are emerging.

Exposure to potential harmful emissions and damage to long term impact on the environment -

We say NO

LOSS OF ACCESS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR SPORT AND RECREATION

Grass roots sports play a key role in our communities. Playing sport is associated with positive quality of life benefits to all layers of society, and in some cases these benefits are higher for those from socially disadvantaged groups.

Loss of New Pond Farm football pitches.

We say NO

LOSS OF GREEN SPACE

There is increasingly compelling evidence showing that access to greenspaces really matters for our health.' - Public Health England, Improving Access to Greenspace - A new review for 2020.

We say NO

INCREASED TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION

Additional pressure on Woodhatch Road, nearby junctions and access to local schools.

We say NO

LOSS OF ALLOTMENTS

Allotments are permitted use of green belt, and are impacted by this development.

We say NO

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to protect New Pond Farm from development, ensuring it is retained for community use.

We will continue to promote use of the site as green space, for health, well being, education and community cohesion.

Woodhatch Green Spaces Preservation Group will work to secure long term protection of the site, and assurance that the site will be preserved as open space, allotments an football pitches for community use.

Save New Pond Farm!

Latitude / Longitude - 51.217992, -0.190607

What 3 Words - safe.output.shins

Sponsors will receive a sponsorship certificate with details of the tree, date planted, and root stock. You will receive email updates with details of planting days and other events. Should you wich, we can include your name, as sponsor on the tree identity tag.

All trees and their produce remain for the benefit of the community. Sponsoring a tree does not give ownership of the tree or it's produce to the sponsor for their own personal benefit.

If you would like to sponsor a tree, please fill out our form.

(Please note: We will do our best to match your preferences)

51.218007,-0.190624

Woodhatch Green Spaces Preservation Group together with Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Reigate Area Conservation Volunteers and Growing Health Together, have now established an orchard in the heart of the community of Woodhatch, at New Pond Farm, opposite Earlswood Lakes car park, and close to New Pond Farm allotments.

Access can also be gained via the paths from Felland Way and Lonesome Lane.

Our vision is for the Community Orchard to remain an easily accessible Public Open Space free for all to enjoy and benefit the local community.

51.218007,-0.190624