About Us

We think YOU need HTAG

milkhouse gate

Milkhouse Court landscaped (see below)

 Without HTAG...There would have been some avoidable blots on the landscape.  Ever since 1971, HTAG has examined all planning applications affecting the neighbourhood and the town’s conservation area.  Whenever the proposals have been unsuitable, it has made well-argued cases for modifying or rejecting them.  And HTAG has encouraged and supported GBC’s efforts to enforce and strengthen its planning guidelines.  Because of HTAG...

  

  • Milkhouse Court was landscaped.  Litter was cleared from neglected sites.  The traffic islands at the top and bottom of Bright Hill were enhanced. Trees in the neighbourhood were surveyed and protected by preservation orders.  Local children were given out-of-hours access to Holy Trinity School’s play area.
  • Improved street lighting and signposting were secured, and (after 30 years of trying) a safe crossing was created at the top of Bright Hill.  A residents parking scheme was introduced.
  • There have been social events every year, some raising funds for local good causes: coffee mornings, a bridge circle, picnics, rambles, garden open days, theatre visits, barn dances, carol singing, quiz nights, canal boat and coach trips.

For more on the past, visit our Historical Website on www.htag-guildford.org.

 What is HTAG?

 Holy Trinity Amenity Group is your neighbourhood association, formed to look after the interests of residents of the ward of Holy Trinity in central Guildford.  It acts as guardian and promoter of local amenities by fostering a sense of community in the area; understanding the likely effects of proposals for change, and making residents aware of them; canvassing residents for their views, and making these known to the relevant decision-making bodies.

 What area does HTAG cover?

 While HTAG’s interests extend more widely, particularly to the town centre, its membership covers that part of Holy Trinity Ward closest to the town centre (but east of the Shalford Road and south of the High Street).  For more precise detail, please see the map  If the issues of concern to HTAG have an impact on adjacent residents associations, it coordinates its activities with them through its membership of the East Guildford Residents Association (EGRA).

What is HTAG currently up to?

  • We have responded to the consultation on Guildford’s Core Strategy, which is based on the recently sanctioned South East Plan and sets the stage for the future of Guildford.  We are watching major town centre developments (such as the Bedford Road car park, the new Friary centre, and the Civic Hall), and commenting on them as necessary.  More locally, we are interested in the fate of Bright Hill car park and the nearby buildings (the Adult Education Centre in Sydenham Road, the old Basket Works beside Poyle Terrace), and in any out-of-scale developments.  And we are working on a list of the improvements to local amenities that we wish to promote.
  • We are trying to find out what sort of amenity group best suits the needs of local residents – particularly what sort of social activities they would like to see HTAG organise and promote (and would be willing to help with organising!).  You can make your views known by by joining us or e-mailing us (see contacts page).

How does HTAG operate?

  • It issues a quarterly newsletter, distributed by its Road Representatives to households in their areas.
  • Its Social Committee organises and promotes social events for all ages throughout the year, including Coffee Mornings, Gardens Open Day, May Day Ramble, River Trip, Summer Outing, and Music Evenings.
  • Its Planning Committee meets fortnightly to examine planning and other proposals.  It publicises those having an impact on the area in the newsletter and alerts Road Representatives to them.
  • Road Representatives maintain contact with local residents.  They meet as a group four times a year to pool information and propose actions that HTAG might take.  They collect the membership fees which HTAG needs in order to function.
  • Information and proposals put forward by Road Representatives are reviewed by HTAG’s committee of elected officers.  Where appropriate it makes representations and if necessary mounts campaigns.

We hope that you agree HTAG is worth preserving, because ...

Now HTAG needs YOU

Join us and help us help this locality.  The annual household subscription is just £2.00.  To join, complete the application form and return it with your subscription to your Road Representative or simply email HTAGChairman@googlemail.com.

Get involved... we need ‘new blood’Several of our committee members have served for a long time – for their health and HTAG’s we need new people to take over.  Naturally, all the outgoing officers would provide their successors with as much support as they required – and butt out if it was not!  In particular we need:

  • A new Planning Secretary.  Bob Bromham has declared that this year must be his last.  The Planning Committee in principle meets once a fortnight but, with plans now available online, issues can sometimes be dealt with by email instead.  Its work is of prime importance, since it enables HTAG to consult widely and then to influence development in a positive way.

And we are always on the lookout for people to share the work of the Road Representatives, who are absolutely essential to HTAG.  In addition to delivering a newsletter four times a year and collecting the annual subscriptions, they act as our local eyes and ears, finding out what concerns the residents in their areas.  They are invited to four meetings a year, held in the evening, at which they can find out what is going on locally, can voice concerns raised by their members, and make suggestions for social activities – and meet lots of other people from the Holy Trinity ward.

 

If you are interested please email HTAGChairman@googlemail.com.

 


A Personal View
by Jean BridgerJean Bridger

1970 was a year when major developments were taking place in Guildford and the town was described by a Council Officer as a "building site ready for redevelopment".

In 1971 concerned residents in our Holy Trinity Area put out a flyer suggesting that an Amenity Group could be formed if there was sufficient interest. About 80 people turned up at the Friends' Meeting House and HTAG was fledged.

The aim was to form a group that would be non-political and non-sectarian. It would be run by a small group of officers and Road Representatives  who would meet quarterly to decide policy.

All planning applications for our area, which borders roughly the Pewley Area and Charlotteville, Warwicks Bench and the High Street, would be inspected regularly and, when appropriate, representations would be made to the Council. Small domestic extensions are not included as they are generally a matter for neighbours to settle.


HTAG is respected by the Council as a moderate and well balanced group, and we are consulted regularly on important developments in the town. We take pains to inspect all planning applications in the High Street for shop fronts and advertisements. We comment on unsuitable proposals and back up the admirable guidelines that the council produces.

Apart from all this, a very important part of HTAG's function is to encourage a community spirit. To this end we hold regular coffee mornings, rambles, open garden days, carol singing, theatre outings and outings for our "seniors".

Click here to view our constitution