At the Shalfleet Parish Council meeting on Wednesday the SPC stated that they would be arranging a public consultation, public meeting and Parish Council Meeting (all on the same day) in order to get the SPC comments to the Planning Department by 30th May, as required. Please note, the SPC's comments do not carry a great significance in a proposal of this size. Residents, statutory bodies (English Nature, Environment Agency) and other organisations representing conservation are equally important (Campaign for Protection of Rural England, for example).
What is significant at this stage is the 'need' for this building. Since the estate would be built on green-field land, the developers must show a need. The need is based on the Parish plan and 'Affordable Housing Survey' issued by the SPC over a year ago. I, along with many other residents, consider these plans to be deeply flawed yet they have been used as justification for proposed large-scale development planning applications by West Wight Alpacas (Wellow), The Ashlar (Ningwood), Bouldnor Meads Estate and now the proposed Warlands Lane Estate.
If there is no proven 'need' the application will fail the most vital requirement, and will fail.
At Wednesday's meeting I asked the Parish Council to table an agenda item for the next Parish Council Meeting to discuss the validity of the Housing Survey. The Chair, Mrs Pam Broadhead, somewhat surprisingly refused to commit to that saying that they would 'take it away'. When I asked what that meant, she said that she didn't know! The meeting was well-attended by local residents and everyone who expressed an opinion said that they did not accept the Affordable Housing Survey was a valid proof of 'need'. The Parish Council were asked for the 'figures' used for the survey.
Yesterday, I wrote to Cllr Broadhead asking her to table the matter for the next SPC meeting. I also wrote to the Clerk to ask for the figures. If you want to express your democratic right to your say then you are going to have to say it! Please write to the Shalfleet Parish Council asking for the matter to be tabled at the next meeting. Remember, if there is no 'need' then developers may not build on green field land. Period.
I am hoping to hear shortly from the Council. They are looking for a venue and date for the consultation/meetings session and we won't hear until then. You can leave comments here on the blog - no need to register and no records are kept.
Best wishes, David
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