By Mark Coxhead
While exploring local planning history, I came across a compelling article detailing a public meeting held at Pyrford Village Hall in May 1988. The meeting focused on proposed housing developments in the area particularly the Rowley Bristow and adjacent to Teggs Lane, and what struck me immediately was the intensity of emotion expressed by the residents. The community’s response was deeply passionate, reflecting a strong desire to preserve the character and integrity of Pyrford.
What’s particularly fascinating are the stark anomalies in planning logic that emerged during the discussion—some of which are surprisingly extreme when compared to decisions made elsewhere, such as the development of Legoland. Residents questioned why Pyrford’s Green Belt land was being considered for housing, while other areas, including commercial attractions, seemed to receive more favourable treatment despite their larger environmental footprint.
The meeting revealed not only the depth of local concern but also broader inconsistencies in how planning policies were being applied. It highlighted the tension between national housing targets and the lived realities of small communities trying to maintain their identity. The contrast with Legoland—an expansive leisure development—underscored the perceived imbalance in how land use decisions were being justified.
This snapshot from 1988 offers a powerful reminder of how planning debates are often shaped not just by policy, but by the values and voices of the people most affected. Fortunately there has been no developments on Lambert’s Field – adjacent to Teggs Lane, in the subsequent decades and so the vociferous feedback from the 1988 meeting obviously had the effect.
picture below. Left to right Dr. Yvonne Collins, Mr. Tony Hollowell, Mrs. Jimmy Walker
