Introduction
This is where you can tell us what you think about the Local Development Framework for Westbourne.
The planners are at it again. You only have a short time left to tell them what you think about their ideas, as published in the Local Development Framework (LDF). Click the Chichester DC link in the side panel, then peruse the LDF DDO North.pdf document there and use CommentsForm.doc there to record your comments.
Chantry Farm
60 houses maybe
Finding Westbourne in the LDF Document
Click on email version LDF DDO North.pdf
Westbourne starts on page 55, referring to Chantry Farm and a site across Cemetery Lane. There is a plan on page 57.
Read on pages 61 to 64 about proposals for gypsy and travellers.
What can you do to influence what happens to Westbourne?
The easy option is to do nothing. Then we shall be at the mercy not only of the planners but also the developers, whose prime aim is to take as much profit as they can. They achieve this by building as many houses as possible, all of similar design. You can express your own views and read the views of others on this site.
You can obtain from the email version LDF DDO North.pdf a copy the Downs and North District Local Development Framework document and Comments Form.doc is a copy of the Comments form on which you can express your views direct.
What is happening next door in Hampshire?
A similar exercise is on-going in Hampshire. There is a large reserved site to the west of Westbourne and you can see the plans and read about their ideas by following the link below.
Local Planning Authorities
About Me
- blowest
- Westbourne, West Sussex, United Kingdom
- Sometime resident concerned about the village and its character.
4 comments:
I received the flyer that went around the village and I went to attend the evening meeting, although I must admit I did not see as many there as I would have hoped.
I was not happy with the flyer at all as it was written in a manner that did not seem to evoke discussion of both sides of the argument.
I am also concerned that this Blog has been written in the same vein.
There is no requirement for red text to highlight a viewpoint that makes it appear that "BAD" things are going to happen.
I am very concerned that your blog does not put ANY counterpoints. If you want people to respect what you write then you have a right to present both sides of the argument and encourage all concerned to make an informed decision.
I spoke to others at the meeting, and I listened to the responses from the council representatives that were present. I did not feel that anything was being hidden from the people present.
Cheers
Chris Eaton
Very recent citizen of Westbourne
Fair comment, Chris. The prime object of the Blog is to try to get people to take an interest. Glad you have found it.
Every village has a duty to ensure that it is doing what it can to produce (wherever possible) affordable housing stock. Having said that, there is also a duty to ensure that the quality of life for those who already live in the village is not destroyed. New houses HAVE been built in Westbourne and lots of them. If they are not affordable then this is the fault of the planners and developers and the Council, but certainly NOT the fault of the residents of the village. If quality of life is to be sustained, then the village has 'grown' just about as much as it is able to grow without radicle new measures eg a new and bigger primary school, a new and bigger nursery school, safer roads with proper pavements and car parking facilities for people using the village centre to shop, go to the doctor's, the hairdresser, the osteopath, the church, the activities at the village hall. The village grew up around the few existing main roads, some of them without foot paths. These roads are physically just the same, but they are now choked with parked vehicles and a hazzard with traffic travelling far too fast. Even 30mph is excessive for the conditions, but many drivers travel far faster than this and parts of the village have become very dangerous indeed, especially at peak times of the day with cars rushing down the centre of the road. Yet no car parks exist and none is planned! It is foolhardy, therefore, to build more and more houses WITHOUT providing the necessary resources for people to remain safe. Those who make money out of land development are using an emotive subject (lack of affordable housing) in order to gain acceptance of plans which, under different circumstances, would not see the light of day. What is worse is that our Councillors seem hell bent on supporting them. We need to remember that high rise flats were the 'affordable housing' of the inner cities in the 60's and look what happened. The previous environment was destroyed, became overcrowded and lacked the necessary facilities. Society as a whole has suffered as a result and continues to suffer. If we care for the next generation, we must ensure that the same thing does not happen in our village.
Some brief thoughts:
Generally
Many thanks for the website and for the letters. Hopefully this will ensure that the statement “there was no response from the general community about the issues at Westbourne” as set out in the existing document, is avoided. The site prompts discussion both for and against the proposals and the issues surrounding them, however to ensure that Westbourne’s voice is heard the Informal Consultation Delivering Development Opportunities form needs to be submitted to CDC by as many individuals as possible. (submit by 4.30 on 2 March 2007).
Housing
· For a development to go ahead, it a requirement that the relevant infrastructure is first put in place. Other contributors have commented on this, however what is equally important to the previous comments is that any visible infrastructure must be in keeping with the historic nature of the village. This will need some careful thought bearing in mind that many of the village’s listed buildings, and buildings and features of architectural interest, immediately abut, or are adjacent to the main village highways.
· Any comment made on the Informal Consultation Delivering Development Opportunities form, should where at all possible be positive. I think it is correct to say that the requirement for CDC to provide housing is “shaped” by Central Government policy and will go ahead, to a greater or lesser extent (this needs to be checked). Bearing this in mind, comments should seek to ensure that any area ear marked for future development is sensitively sited and to an appropriate scale, to help minimise the impact on the village and provides the appropriate mix of housing. (Social, shared ownership, private ownership etc.)
· The village school, and all of the primary schools in the areas surrounding the village, are over subscribed. It would be extremely difficult to increase the number of places available at Westbourne School, particularly bearing in mind the limited additional space available on the existing site. Additionally the roads surrounding the school are already overcrowded with parked cars during the school run times.
Meeting the Needs of Gypsy and Travellers
· The existing document sets out the sites within the Chichester area that have been considered and rejected. The number of sites that have been rejected far outweigh those that have initially been put forward. One of the reasons given for rejection of a majority of the sites is that they have been rejected because they are not adjacent to existing sites. This reason bears no reference to any policy.
· Both of the proposals relating to the land adjacent to existing Westbourne Caravan Site have the same constraints set against them (size, impact on character, no obvious boundaries, access) At the meeting on 6th Feb 2007, the Planning Officers were quite uncomfortable with current proposals and the possible effect of the proposals on the existing site and also the impact on community. They agreed that additional resource needed to be made available to ensure that a greater number of better placed sites, within the whole of the Chichester area, were considered.
· The document sets out that any site should have good access to the A27. Westbourne Village is perhaps one of the most distant and difficult places within the CDC area from which to access the A27.
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