Castle Donington Community Forum Hijacked Over New Housing Development
| Published: 20th January 2008 23:35 |
The first Castle Donington Community Forum on Saturday 19th January held at Orchard School was hijacked by angry residents campaigning against the new housing development outlined for land off Park Lane.
Tim Hulse - Local Police, Chantal Lester - Council for Voluntary Services, Helene Brown -
Neighbourhoods Programme Manager and Tony Saffell - Parish & District Councillor at the
Castle Donington Community Forum on 19th JanuaryThe proceedings started a little later than planned due to the number of arrivals, but at around 10.30 am Helene Brown, Neighbourhoods Programme Manager from North West Leicestershire District Council, got the event underway.
Understanding the depth of concern over the new housing development proposed for Castle Donington Helene announced that Chris Elston, Head of Planning at North West Leicestershire District Council, would be attending between 11.00-12.00 to explain the current situation, listen to concerns and to answer any questions.
Once the aims of the Neighbourhood Forum had been fully explained Helene handed over to Shaun Ambrose-Jones, Chairman of the Castle Donington Parish Plan, who presented a summary of the findings of the Castle Donington Parish Plan Questionnaire and proposed action plan.
A copy of the Castle Donington Parish Plan presentation can be seen here.
Helene then announced a refreshments break allowing everyone to browse the displays set up by local key agencies, including AboutMyArea/DE74, during which time Chris Elston, Head of Planning, arrived and was mobbed by the crowd so everyone was asked to take their seats so Chris could address the whole forum.
Given the strength of feeling Chris Elston stood at the front of the hall to explain where this planning application was in terms of process and then take questions from the 60 or so local residents in attendance.
Chris Elston, NWLDC Development Control Manager
addresses the Castle Donington ForumOne of the first points he made was that although the letter sent to some bordering residents said that the cut-off date for raising objections was 18.01.08, local notices had not been displayed until 9th January meaning that the earliest official deadline date could not be earlier than 30th January. He also explained that with such a large contentious development it was unlikely to reach the monthly planning meeting until April and that residents' views would be considered up to that point.
Mr Elston explained that although outline planning permission was being sought, central Government had instructed all land identified in local plans for future residential development be released for such. This land was identified in the Local Plan for Castle Donington as the next section for residential development. Initially identified for approximately 200 houses central government guidelines called for much greater density of 35 to 45 houses per hectare. This proposal is at 38 houses per hectare!
Two legal points raised; the first concerned the validity of the local plan that technically only ran to 2006 meaning that it might now be out of date; the second that the development was supposed to be dependent on the creation of a new access road which has not been mentioned. Mr Elston committed to look into both these points.
Many other points were raised including:
- The massive density being inappropriate for the edge of a rural village and not in keeping with neighbouring properties.
- 2½ and 3 storey properties being inappropriate for a rural edge of village, intrusive to neighbours and out of keeping with adjoining properties
- The creation of a rat run from Park Lane to Back Lane
- The development should never be a through road
- Pollution limits already being exceeded on Park Lane
- The unsuitability of Bentley Road as access
- The danger of sun blindness exiting Bentley Road creating a death trap
- The narrowness and obstructions around the junction between Bentley Road and Queensway
- The absolute need for access via Short Lane
- The need to widen Back Lane to 7m
- Major flood risk concerns land at the North side of this development was flooded this day, additional buildings and concrete can only exacerbate this
- Letters had only been sent to residents on Fox Road, Bentley Road and the end of Park Lane when the impact of 350 more houses affected the whole village and wider community
- The Doctors surgery is already not coping with the current population how can it bear a 15% addition?
- The lack of emergency services, police and fire
- Has anyone considered whether the schools can cope? Consider Kegworth is also growing with house development and their children attend CDCC from years 6 to 9. On top of this the local population desires local education up to ages 16/18.
- The village is already crying out for a leisure centre and youth facilities, increasing the population further will only lead to more teenagers on our streets
- The absolute need for joined-up thinking when considering the development as a whole
To view full details on the outline planning application to-date click on the link.
Chris Elston answers many questions at the ForumMr Elston encouraged people to write in and express their concerns. On many points he answered with sympathy that the density may well be inappropriate and that the road access does need careful consideration. He explained that all departments and interested parties, Severn Trent, Highways, Emergency Services etc, would look into the plans and pass their comments. He was encouraged to send in a précis of all village concerns so that each was aware of the wider implications.
As he closed Tony Saffell, a Castle Donington Parish Councillor and a District Councillor, said that he would call a Public Meeting to discuss the matter when the other parties such as Highways, Severn Trent etc had considered the plans. He also recommended that the petition being raised by the community should be presented at a Full District Council Meeting in Coalville as this could only add to the gravitas of local concerns.
The forum attendees were then invited to join in a buffet lunch whilst given a further opportunity to browse the stands and have further informal discussions about any issues about the Castle Donington area.
Claire MacRory and Ruth Sherwin, Street Environment Managers for NWLDC exhibiting at the
Forum pictured with Louise Handley of Castle Donington
Helene Brown will provide AboutMyArea/DE74 with a summary of the day's events and all issues that were raised during the forum later this week. See Helene's review in Clubs & Organisations.
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