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GGG was formed when residents came together to share expertise to protect Surrey's countryside and its Greenbelt.

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What do we stand for? 

 

We believe the damage to our environment is the most important problem facing us - both globally, and at a local level.

 

Everyone has a responsibility to act locally to protect our global environment and reduce climate change. Our countryside matters

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• Our woodlands, fields, hedgerows and soil all capture damaging carbon.

•  Our wild spaces and open countryside encourage biodiversity and provide a home for our wildlife.

• We benefit from the clean air generated by the plants in our open spaces. 

• Open land and floodplains prevent flooding in residential areas.

• We all need access to open countryside for leisure, mental health and well-being.

• Local food production reduces food miles.

 

How can we complain about cutting down tropical rain forests in Brazil when we cut down our own ancient woodland and concrete our green fields?

 

Green spaces matter. They are not just potential building land.

 

Green Belt benefits everyone - including those in the cities and towns.

 

We recognise the need to build some new homes, particularly affordable homes for local need.  We think that the homes should be genuinely affordable, mostly homes for rent (“social housing”) and not just those marketed by developers at 80% of current values, which is the government definition of “affordable”.

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But we oppose building on greenfield sites and think we can build homes for local need without spoiling the character of Guildford's town centre or the beautiful rural or semi-rural villages in the borough. All new housing must be sustainable and environmentally responsible, minimising its carbon footprint and not increasing urban sprawl and commuter driven pollution 

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We want to protect our whole environment.

 

We should build on brownfield land before green fields and regenerate empty homes and neglected sites as a priority. Offering greenfield sites before all brownfield sites are developed prevents much-needed regeneration.

 

Locally we must protect our countryside, our Green Belt and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.