Grange Site Development Decision
At a meeting of CDC on Thursday 5th August the current development plan for the Grange site was approved .
This plan has been actively opposed by many in the village, and this opposition has been orchestrated by ‘Sense4CSP’. A number of public meetings have been held and these have been well attended. At the CDC meeting a substantial group of protesters gathered, and a BBC film unit took some footage outside the council chambers. This topic has therefore received some exposure in local news programs. Inside the chamber the public gallery was packed, with many standing.
The meeting began by a member of the CDC’s Planning Dept outlining the essence of the plan. Then three spokespersons were each given 3 minutes in which to make their case. Two opposed the plan and the third represented the developer. Then individual councillors were allowed to speak on the proposal, given 5 or 10 minutes depending upon their relationship to the planning process. Those councillors who represented CSP all spoke against the plan, but others supported it. At the vote it was carried by a substantial majority.
The current plan allows for the building of 198 houses. It also has a small sports field, a care home, a wooded walking area and an existing chapel will be retained (although we were told its pews have been sold off at the 2nd-hand market in Church Lane!). Opponents of the plan would have preferred the provision of sheltered hosing to another care home.
Opponents of the plan have pointed out that the development would exacerbate existing deficiencies in the sewage system, increase the current overload on local schools and increase traffic congestion in the village. These points seem not to have carried too much weight with the Council’s Planning Dept, who recommended the adoption of the plan. Those councillors who supported the development also found the objections to have little weight, and they regarded this site as ideally suited to housing development. One went so far as to describe it as possibly the most ideal site in the whole of southern England! The CDC chairman pointed out that this development was preferable to building on green belt land. He also drew attention to a press article, published that very day, in which it was reported that our area had a higher proportion of building development taking place by infilling in back gardens than in any other part of the country. He regarded that as an undesirable thing.
It is certain that had this plan been rejected, the developer would have taken the decision to appeal. It is probable that the inspectors (who would be appointed to decide the matter) would favour the developer, not the CDC. Thus, rejecting the plan would invoke the CDC in much expense of public money (to fund counsel, etc) that would be expended in a lost cause. This consideration was also probably a factor in then CDC's decision.
Since that meeting, Sense4CSP have announced that they will seek to oppose the decision by writing to Eric Pickles, who is the government minister for Community Affairs and Local Government. They invite all local residents, who feel opposed to the planned development, also to contact that minister. This can be done by email to:
eric.pickles@communities.gsi.gov.uk
or write to:
The Right Hon Eric Pickles
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government,
Eland House, Bressendon Place, London SW1 5DU
