buryflyer_sept09.qxp
19/08/2009
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Local Matters - views from our MP and Local Councillor David Ruffley MP
I believe that local people know what is best for their community. The Council's consultation is open until 7 October Proposals for development growth and I would urge residents or local groups with concerns to submit their representations. The consultation document and Development affects everybody, whether it response form can be accessed at: is on your doorstep or where you shop, work www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk. The document can also be or spend your leisure time. Carefully viewed at council offices and local libraries. planned development can bring many David Ruffley MP advantages and have a positive effect on the local economy and the vibrancy of the Local Development Framework consultation area. But we need to get it right.
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Cllr Trevor Beckwith
Bury St Edmunds has been designated a key centre for development and change. Who says? Our masters at Westminster of course, who have decreed that the St Edmundsbury should take more and more housing and as always, when central government says jump, local government jumps.
In every area of significant development we must be sure to get guarantees that the infrastructure will be in place when the houses are built - and that means roads, public transport, schools, doctors' surgeries, shops, employment and leisure facilities. We must not allow developers to drag their heels on these vital community services.
The local media have reported that the Local Development Framework consultation is upon us. So what and who cares, is probably the first thoughts of most but I hope that enough people pick up on the implications and respond. It's not just about how much housing and where it should go but that's the element most likely to get people's interest.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council has published its preferred areas for strategic growth in and around Bury St Edmunds in the period up to 2031 and is currently consulting on the final draft of its Core Strategy which will guide future growth in St Edmundsbury in that period and become part of the Local Development Framework.
We must also be sure to maintain the identity and integrity of Among all the jargon and gobbledegook, it seems that the villages surrounding Bury St Edmunds by providing a sufficient- borough is required to build about 550 dwellings per annum ly wide buffer zone between developments. For example, the until 2031. Some accuse me of trying to prevent much Mildenhall Road/Tut Hill area identified for development is needed housing. That simply isn't true but I'll fight this causing concern to my constituents in Fornham All Saints who because, yet again, the east of the town is targeted with are concerned that the development will be too close to their another 500 proposed for Moreton Hall and further down the village. line, over 1200 for Compiegne Way. They have conveniently forgotten that despite taking its full allocation over a period of 30 years, Moreton Hall recently got lumbered with another 270 plus houses made possible by the urban cramming so favoured by those charged with our governance. They say the house building won't happen until the link road to the Rookery crossroads is built but that certainly won't alleviate the traffic problems in trying to access the town or the A14 westbound. All this on top of the schools reorganisation where the planning guidance that housing should only be built where adequate schooling is available is conveniently forgotten. They don't know where the reorganised schools will be so this is folly upon folly. Ask the parents who can't get their children into their preferred school what they think.
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There are viable alternatives but they just go for the soft option, disregarding existing communities, aided and abetted by an administration that supports the proposals en bloc. When people buy houses, they have reasonable expectation of what the future holds for their chosen area and that expectation is worth defending. I hope enough of those I represent are angry enough to respond to the "consultation." because decisions made in the next few months could blight whole areas in the years to come. There will be of a few "drop-in" sessions around the town where the planners will be available but they won't be holding any public meetings. Now, there's a surprise.
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As a postscript, I have just read that government has cut the funding for supporting infrastructure by ÂŁ800,000. Says it all really doesn't it?
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Cllr Trevor Beckwith Moreton Hall Ward - St Edmundsbury Borough Council
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