Fradley Village News - 3rd July
| Published: 5th July 2008 21:11 |
Eco-town news. Fradley residents were pleased to see the majority of Lichfield District Councillors so vehemently rejecting the proposed eco-town, at the recent meeting to decide on their response to the Government.
FACT (Fradley Against Curborough Town) has now submitted its response to the DCLG's consultation document on the proposed ‘Curborough' eco-town. Along with it went copies of a petition containing nearly 2,000 signatures, and the action group would like to thank everyone who helped with signature collection.
It seems that the developers of the shortlisted site in Fradley cannot rest on their laurels because, following a report by the Government's ‘Challenge Group' of planning experts, several national newspapers have suggested that their ‘Curborough' eco-town bid is one of those least likely to proceed.
The report warned that many of the eco-town proposals represent little more than greenwashed ordinary housing estates, and Curborough's ‘eco' aspects were said to be merely add-ons to their existing application for a standard town. The Curborough Consortium was told that it needed ‘to be more ambitious as it is not yet an eco-town'; in particular, it requires much more radical transport solutions and should rely much less on the existing high-carbon employment provided by Fradley Park.
The authors of the report are also concerned that young people living in the small towns, with restricted public transport to cities and inadequate leisure facilities, may turn to drink or drugs, to the extent that they eventually become the drug capitals of their regions.
However the experts' recommendations are not binding, and it will be the Government that finally decides which proposals go through to the final list of eco-town sites. All that the advisory panel has done for the Curborough eco-town proposal is to suggest areas where it should be improved before the developers report back in July, so we should not get too excited about it.
The Local Government Association has warned in its recent report of the prospect of ‘new settlements being imposed on hostile communities', and some analysts believe that Housing Minister Caroline Flint will steamroller through ten of the shortlisted sites even if they do not all completely meet the Government's required eco-town standards.
Parish Council. The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday July 14 at Fradley Village Hall, at 7.30 pm.
From 7 pm, residents will have the opportunity to talk to parish councillors and view planning applications prior to the meeting.
On Saturday July 12, from 11 am to 12 noon, there will also be a Parish Council Surgery at the Crown Inn. Councillors will be available to meet anyone who wishes to discuss any issues concerning the Parish Council.
Minutes, monthly accounts and planning applications will be available there to view.
St Stephen's Church. The next ‘Wednesday Welcome', offering an opportunity to mingle with your neighbours and share refreshments, will take place on July 9 between 2-4 pm, in the church's new extension. Visitors are always made very welcome by the regulars.
Dangerous driving. There have been reports of dangerous driving at the Moor/Long Lane junction, with reckless drivers ignoring residents who are trying to cross and rushing straight through at speeds exceeding the 30 mph limit.
They are reminded that it is an area regularly used by pedestrians and dog-walkers and that sensible drivers should give way to them, as the law demands.
Victorian schoolhouse. The latest news regarding its impending demolition is that the building's gas supply has been disconnected and the LEA is now waiting for the electricity supplier to disconnect the power.
Should the disconnection take place during the next 3 weeks, they say it is their intention to undertake the demolition during the school's summer break.
Quite a few hearts in Fradley will sink at the prospect, as it will be like losing a very old friend.
By Jan Green
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