South Woodham Focus
SOUTH WOODHAM
Issue 732 Welcome to a special issue! This week we are pleased to highlight an exciting new initiative in Woodham. In a groundbreaking collaboration between our town council and the City council the Living Closer Together Co-operative has been established. This new 'Development Corporation' has the task of tackling the local shortage of housing. Many of us are concerned that the town is now too unaffordable for the younger generation. This new scheme will help provide the new homes our area needs in a way that celebrates Woodham - not ruins it! To find out more and to get involved - read on!
1
15th June 2018
2
South Woodham Focus
A Warm Welcome to this Issue! A Word From Our Editors...
Do you have many spare rooms in your house that you don’t need any more? The Living Closer Together initiative is helping homeowners turn this “spare space” into a little extra income and - most importantly - new homes for our town. Chelmsford City Council are proposing a new estate of 1000 homes on North Field. In response, this new scheme is being trialled to find a better alternative to expanding the town, making use of the space we don’t need. If you’d like to find out more, don’t hesitate to contact the Living Closer Together Collective, or to contact one of the many local companies featured in this special issue!
South Woodham Focus
LETTER FROM YOUR COUNCILLOR
3
Cllr Murrough O'Brien writes, "we've all seen the City council proposals for a new estate on North Field (pictured top right). By building new homes north of the B1012. Many of you voiced your concerns, shared by myself, that the new estate wouldn't add to the town, but would make a 'Middle Woodham Ferrers'. I am glad to announce this new initiative that will help South Woodhammers work together to provide a better alternative to the Chelmsford City Council proposals. In partnership with our re-started Neighbourhood Plan, this will give Woodhammers more say over how and where we build the houses our area so desperately needs. It will also help us to put the money from development where it needs to be - with our community, where we can use it where our town needs. Please join with me to start this very exciting new chapter of our town's life. Any questions, don't hesitate to contact me. *This is not a direct quote and is only based on actual statements.
Site location 7: proposed location of 1000 new homes
4
South Woodham Focus
A RECIPE FOR SHARING Whether you want to share a couple of rooms upstairs, or build out a whole new dwelling at the end of the garden or next door, the Living Closer Together Scheme has a handy collection of products to help you SHARE!
South Woodham Focus
HOW WOULD IT WORK?
Where's Spare? A Guide
Here's a handy guide for the spaces you could share! - Have you converted your attic yet? - How many spare bedrooms do you need? - Are there any 'pocket spaces' in your neighbourhood that need some more love? - What alternative travel methods could you use? What if you could free up your garage? - Could you spare any of your garden?
5
6
South Woodham Focus
Sharing your space:
A Checklist
Thinking of joining the scheme and sharing your 'spare space'? Here is a helpful step-by-step guide from the Living Closer Together Collective of everything you need to get started! For more advice or information, contact the Collective or one of the many local companies featured in these pages!
"A Better Future for South Woodham Ferrers"
We talked to Kevin Green, Woodhammer since 1986, dad of five and leader of the local a nt i - d e ve lo p m ent campaign group South Woodham Action Group (SWAG), about their work in the town. "SWAG is totally opposed to the Chelmsford City Council development. We recall the promises made when the town when the town was sold: that the town would not expand, and would stay within the natural boundaries, namely the river and the ring road, the B1012. We think the town is big and small enough. It has a nice community feel - we think if the town gets bigger we might lose that. I've got children of my own, I understand the need for housing. I have no personal beef with development, my only concern is that residents should be listened to, that the democratic voice of the people be listened to. I think there's a general feeling that development is what's required for the town." Now that the Living Closer Together scheme has put the control of the town's future development truly in the hands of Woodhammers, perhaps SWAG can retire and finally lay down their leaflets! Interview conducted 3rd December 2017. All words in quotation marks are direct quotes.
South Woodham Focus
7
OVER TO YOU* "I WISH MY KIDS COULD LIVE HERE" Local resident Alan Brunning would like to voice his support for the initiative, voicing concerns that despite his four children hoping to move to the town, it is simply too unaffordable to be an option. "They have good jobs, but houses in the town are too expensive for them, even though they want to live here".
"IF ONLY OUR HOUSE WAS SMALLER"
The Dempseys have lived in Woodham for decades and are looking to downsize - but they can’t find a suitable property in the town. “What a great idea” commented Meg on the scheme, "now we can share our spare space we can stay in Woodham, and if we need the space back when my dad gets older, we can take him in".
REAL PRO-DEVELOPMENT CAMPAIGN GROUP IN THE TOWN
* These are real people and real scenarios discovered through interviewing town residents during fieldwork.
8
Would you like to get more involved in the campaign for MORE and BETTER housing in our area? Why not check out the People's Front of Woodham - a 'YIMBY' (Yes In My Back Yard) campaign group set up by some of our enterprising young people! "This account has been set up by a few of the students of South Woodham Ferrers who have had enough of the "I'm alright Jack" residents who feel that we don't need new housing for the town. Some of us would like to get on the housing ladder and their attitude lacks foresight and wreaks of NIMBYism. We are not some sleepy little countryside town anymore, we are the 2nd most populated area in the Chelmsford borough.
Let's support our future generations not hinder them!" Find them on Facebook and Twitter!
South Woodham Focus
South Woodham Focus
9
MALDON CONSTITUENCY IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE LIVING CLOSER TOGETHER SCHEME JOHN WHITTINGDALE OBE MP Will be holding ADVICE BUREAUX FRIDAY 8th JULY 5.00pm CLUB WOODHAM 5-7 BARON ROAD SOUTH WOODHAM FERRERS, CM3 5XQ RING 01621 855663 FOR AN APPOINTMENT
Check us out on... Facebook www.facebook.com/swfocus
BUY YOUR PRINTING ONLINE
www.maypolepressdirect.com or download the latest issues of the Burnham Focus, SW Focus, Danbury / Ingatestone Journal
10
How SHARE Do YOU Dare?
There are different lengths you can go to to share your spare space, from ADAPTING your home as it is, perhaps for a shorter term solution, through to creating a new plot from an area of your garden and erecting an entirely new dwelling to welcome residents to our town. For more advice and for a free assessment, don't hesitate to contact the Living Closer Together Initiative or one of the agencies listed in this issue.
South Woodham Focus
South Woodham Focus
levels of intervention
11
12
South Woodham Focus
South Woodham Focus
WELCOME TO WOODHAM!
13
In this new weekly feature, we welcome new Woodhammers to our town. Here we meet some of the hopefuls looking for new homes in our town. If you have any 'spare space', why not think about sharing and welcoming them into a new home! For tips on how YOU can help provide new homes, see some of the helpful articles in the rest of this issue!
The Bells are on the hunt for a house big enough for all three generations to call home!
Octavia, 26, and her friends Alex and Joe, both 28, are looking for a 4 bedroom shared house near the town centre. Logan and Marie are newlyweds hoping to start a family and want an extended home to share with Marie's parents.
14
South Woodham Focus
How Can I Share - Your Questions Answered
This week our guest Agony Aunt took questions from residents keen to share - but not sure how. Are you in need of a few ideas for how to get sharing? Read on as Emma Twine, member of the Living Closer Together Collective, doles out some useful thoughts on how we can all welcome new Woodhammers...
Dear Emma, I've lived in Woodham since I was a kid and all my family are here. I don't want to move, but since my kids grew up and my divorce I have far more space than I need or want - two living rooms and four spare bedrooms! I'd love to share this space but I have health issues so can't cohabit - what can I do? Janice, Longfield Road* Dear Janice, wow what a lovely home you have! There's definitely the opportunity to do something big here - if you sited a hall to the rear of your property, you could share your spare space both upstairs and downstairs with new Woodhammers, without impacting your enjoyment of your garden. Income from the renovation could help you improve the lower floor of your property to better suit your needs. Get well soon!
Dear Emma, I really like my house and like that it gives me so much space for my hobbies, but I do have a couple of extra bedrooms. Is this enough space to be useful to someone? I know my neighbour feels the same. John, Fennfields Road* Hi John, certainly! Every little helps. Since you have a small garden, I'd recommend using your driveway as the location for a Hall, as it is much longer than your car needs, and that way you don't lose any green space. It's definitily worth having a chat with your neighbours too, since placing the hall between your homes could open up much more space - and make a home for a much bigger household! * These are true scenarios encountered during fieldwork. Names and addresses have been changed. The house plans are real houses in the town.
South Woodham Focus
CARE2SHARE ESTATE AGENCY
THE SHARING SPECIALISTS CALL US TODAY!
15
16
South Woodham Focus