"GREEN BELT land should be protected" – that's the message from Surrey County Council's Liberal Democrats.
Councillor Ian Beardsmore will put forward a motion on behalf of his party next Tuesday calling on the county council to do "everything in its power" to safeguard the green belt.
It comes as Mole Valley District Council carries out its green belt boundary review, which is part of its bid to meet its Government target to provide 3,760 new homes before 2026.
Last week, the Advertiser backed the Campaign to Protect Rural England's fight to stop development in the district's green belt, a call now echoed by the county's Lib Dems.
Mr Beardsmore said: "Of course there must be some give and take when we come to the issue of affordable housing of which there is an extreme shortage in some parts of Surrey. We must encourage Surrey's boroughs and districts to maximise the use of non-green belt land for future developments.
"Above all we must ensure that any green belt development in the county is in line with the needs and wishes of Surrey residents.
"Once a decision is taken to rip up a section of green belt land it is never reversed; a chunk of Surrey's green belt is given up forever to concrete and tarmac. We ignore this at our peril."
Mr Beardsmore, member for Sunbury Common and Ashford Common, said Surrey County Council has a proud history as the creator of the green belt.
He continued: "The County's Countryside Estate founded by the Surrey County Council Act of 1931 was the basis of the London County Council's Green Belt Act of 1938.
"It is no accident that residents of Surrey enjoy some of the greenest open spaces in the country; the foresight of the county council back in 1931 has ensured the protection of our open spaces for generations.
"It is essential that Surrey County Council lays down a marker now to continue with that legacy," he added.
"We do not want to see any of our green belt swallowed up by retail parks, industrial developments or expansion of our motorways."
The motion will be introduced by Mr Beardsmore at a full council meeting at County Hall, on Tuesday at 10.30am. The majority of district councillors who responded to an Advertiser survey believe a review of the green belt boundary in Mole Valley is necessary. The Advertiser wrote to all 41 district councillors and asked if they agreed with the council looking to identify sites within Mole Valley's green belt for development. Only 22 replied to the survey, with 11 councillors voting 'yes', ten not giving a clear answer, and just one voting 'no'. The survey comes after the district council started its review of the green belt boundary, as it looks to make enough land available for 3,760 new homes between 2006 and 2026, a target set by Government. The council says there is not enough available land within the built-up areas to accommodate this demand, and that land outside the boundaries of the district's towns and villages, which is currently designated green belt, represents the only other source of land in the district. Independent Councillor John Northcott (Ashtead Common) said: "The use of a small amount of carefully selected green belt land is likely to be necessary if the district's housing target is to be met, and for other development needs. "Without it, prime open countryside will become more vulnerable to indiscriminate development." Liberal Democrat group leader David Preedy (Box Hill and Headley) said he opposed development in green belt other than in 'exceptional circumstances'. Paul Newman (Con, Bookham North) was the only councillor to vote no in our survey. He said: "We should do all we can to protect the green belt and maintain it for future generations. "We live on an island and do not have infinite space for building, and need to tackle the bigger problems that lead to shortage of homes. You cannot fit a quart into a pint pot."
