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WNJPU forced to revise timetable for New development plans

Published: 13th October 2009 16:42

 The Wootton and East Hunsbury Parish Council have issued the following statement in response to WNJPU this is followed by the press release from the County Council

 

From: Wootton & East Hunsbury Parish Council

 

We are in receipt of a press release from WNJPU regarding the Joint Core Strategy which was the subject of recent consultation in the region.

Due to outstanding detail studies relating to flooding and transportation, and the volume of responses made during the consultation period it is considered that there will be insufficient time to prepare the plan for the next scheduled consultation stage.

In addition to the Parish Council response to the consultation, we understand that our Big Questions questionnaire - issued to all residents in Wootton and East Hunsbury - formed a major part of the public response to the formal consultation exercise.

Consequently, WNJPU are now developing a revised timetable for progressing the Local Development Scheme.

Wootton and East Hunsbury Parish council is pleased that JPU realises that its proposals were poorly prepared and rushed through to an unrealistic timeframe.  Furthermore it hopes that the many responses made by its residents will be considered within the subsequent revisions of the scheme. 

However, we would dispute that this has been an ‘effective consultation' as claimed within the JPU press release.  The consultation exercise was poorly administered and executed.  Indeed, the only reason its profile was raised, was through the actions of local parish councils and community - notably at the expense of parish precepts, and concerned individuals.

We would like residents of our Parish to be assured that we will be vigilant in our monitoring of the subsequent process, and will continue to represent local opinion vigorously.

 

 

Cllr Neal Prescott

Chair Planning and Environment Ctte

Wootton and East Hunsbury Parish Council

 

COUNTY COUNCIL GIVES ROBUST CONSULTATION RESPONSE TO GROWTH PLANS FOLLOWING PUBLIC DEBATE  

Northamptonshire County Council has rejected the current West Northamptonshire Emergent Joint Core Strategy saying that it cannot support the growth plans in their present form.

The county council's cabinet today gave the authority's official response to the proposals which will see the strategic development of the west of the county up to 2026 and beyond.

 

The views of the cabinet were partly based on a public debate held at Full Council on October 1, which provided a unique opportunity for councillors and members of the public to air their concerns about the growth plans.

 

The council's cabinet listened to what people had to say and today made a number of key recommendations on issues that will need to be addressed, if ultimately the joint core strategy is to be adopted.

 

Concerns centred around the proposed levels of housing growth; the impact on villages and greenfield sites; whether there would be enough investment for infrastructure; the risk of flooding; and the need for ongoing consultation with residents.

 

Cllr Heather Smith, county council cabinet member for environment, growth and transport said: "We have listened to what members of the public and councillors have had to say, and the serious concerns they have raised about the emerging proposals for the long term growth of the area, and agree that these proposals cannot be supported as they stand.

 

"The county council continues to be committed to joint working with partner local planning authorities and all stakeholders on the strategic long term plans for West Northamptonshire, but we need to get them right based on clear justification, evidence and public support.

 

"Furthermore we need to have confidence that the infrastructure and service needs to support these plans, both for the existing population and for  those people moving into the area, will be delivered in line with the housing growth and not be seen in the future as promises that were not fulfilled.

 

"I am therefore pleased to see the announcement by the West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit today, on behalf of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee, that the timetable is being reviewed to allow all the relevant technical work to be completed and analysed and all the issues that were raised through the consultation process are fully addressed.

 

"I am also keen that greater attention is paid to ongoing involvement and consultation with local communities as we move to the next stage of the process, that being the preparation of the draft submission strategy.

 

"This is a process that cannot be rushed and we need to allow as much time as required to ensure that these long term plans are sound when they come to be tested by the independent planning inspector and have been thoroughly consulted on with the people of Northamptonshire."

 

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