MORE than 800 people have signed up to a group backing squatters’ plans to take over Tyting Farm in Guildford for good.
Squatters have been living at the farm since April 26 and about a dozen remain at the site following the end of the recent spiritual Rainbow Gathering Festival.
Members of the environmentalist group the Circle Community said they were putting together a proposal to turn Tyting into a community farm with educational workshops on sustainable living.
Spokesman Peter Phoenix said he had met landscaping students from Kingston University, who were assisting with the Tyting Farm proposal as well as another one to turn Raven’s Ait in Surbiton into a community centre.
He also said talks were ongoing with an investor who was willing to plough up to £300,000 into to the plans.
“I appreciate that people think we may be circumventing procedures, but we’ve been asking for buildings for 15 years since the Real Earth Summit,” he said.
“We’ve had enough of councils and governments sticking their head in the sand.”
The squatters said they would provide allotment spaces for 450 people currently on Guildford Borough Council’s waiting list.
“There are lots of people who are very supportive of what we’re doing,” said Mr Phoenix. “We’ve had a local lady come down and give us a tray of plants.
“We have a massive network of volunteers. We just need to be given a chance.
“It makes sense that empty buildings and empty spaces are put to good use.”
"Appropriate bid"
The council-owned Tyting Farm and its outbuildings have been unused for 18 months.
In January, the authority put the farm up for sale after the breakdown of a deal to lease the land to Surrey Wildlife Trust and the Halo Project charity the previous year.
The squatters e-mailed every Guildford borough councillor inviting them to visit the farm over the weekend to discuss its future.
Cllr Sarah Di Caprio (Lib Dem), one of three councillors in the Holy Trinity ward that includes Tyting Farm, said she was unable to go.
“I’ve had calls about the farm from other interested parties and I’ve asked them to submit a formal bid to the council and that’s what this group will have to do.
“It’s a bit unfortunate the way they’ve gone about things by squatting there and then saying they want it back for the community.
“I’m not sure they’re the best people to do it and it has not gone down well with some local people. They’ve e-mailed all the councillors, but perhaps they should be leafleting the neighbours.”
Holy Trinity councillor Sarah Creedy (Con) said she was unable to visit the site owing to family commitments.
She added: “We’re very keen to find somebody that will be a good custodian for the farm and if they make an appropriate bid through the correct channels we will consider it.”
On Wednesday, the council will for the third time attempt to gain an Interim Possession Order from Guildford County Court to remove the squatters. The case has been adjourned on two previous occasions.
