If you actually read the SAMDEV document you can pick out quite a few interesting oddities. Firstly the field adjacent to the conservation area in question is not currently within the development boundary as shown left. It seems that in return for a small strip of land to extend the Cemetery the town council has agreed to move the development boundary to include this field. It seems fairly pointless to define a development boundary if you are going to move it!
I suppose the other question which needs to be looked at is whether its a right and proper way to decide planning applications on the basis of a land swap, Is it even legal? It just adds to the potential conflicts of interest involved in this plan.
The second statement regarding the plan for Ellesmere is bullet pointed:
- The adjacent Mere and the Llangollen branch of the Shropshire Union Canal attract significant numbers of visitors
It seems this has not been deemed significant enough to prevent the proposed development, surely if its been identified as a key attribute of the town we should be protecting it with this plan.
It must be said that of the 730 plots allocated in the SAMDEV it seems pointless to risk the most significant attribute of the town for a mere 22 houses. There is currently planning permission for nearly 400 houses on a brownfield site across town which is only just underway and will provide ample housing for some time to come and most of the other areas identified are perfectly sensible options. I would question the wisdom of the developments in the blue areas though, why build in places which you know are prone to flooding.
I'd just like to say that contrary to what we were told at the meeting on May 3rd there are still no questionaires in the library. I seem to remember they were promised in a matter of days. It is now 8th June. A very long few days.
ReplyDeleteI found the online form very longwinded and difficult to complete - I wonder what proportion of Ellesmere residents use a computer/will fill it in???
My guess is this is purposeful obstruction. Shropshire Council are still trying to limit community consultation, probably because they realise they've been rumbled. We might have hoped this sort of total disrespect of the opinions of town council and residents alike would end when the Council became a Unitary Authority and "our friends" at Wem were largely go rid of. But no. This stinks.
I agree and I thinks its a disgrace that Shropshire Council have in effect disenfranchised an entire section of the community who through no fault of their own, have not got or have no wish to get a computer and get online. Although I spend a fair amount of time online I can absolutely appreciate why some people would chose not to!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your suspicions about the extent to which SCC are actually prepared to listen to the community. There have been a succession of people trying to dismiss the clear message which was given by Ellesmere residents at the public meeting - nearly 200 people and a unanimous show of hands in opposition. Disappointingly the Mayor - Cllr Alan Clarke - has now come out in support of this absurd plan which as he sees it is in the best interests of the town due to the paltry extension of the cemetery on offer.
A 4 meter strip does not even kick the can down the road, it barely nudges it. As he sees it 3 years worth of reprieve justifies putting 22 houses on the boundary of the cemetery. I would love to know what his plan is for when the 3 years are up and he has been involved in spending what small budget there was on this farcical extension.
It genuinely brings into question where some of our town councillors affiliations lie in my opinion, the residents of Ellesmere have sent a clear message and I have yet to hear a single voice, except Cllr Clarke, raised in favour of this plan.
Well I have had a response to my email re no response forms in the library and here it is:
Delete"Thank you for your e-mail. A paper copy of the response form has now been placed in Ellesmere library. Although we are very much looking to promote the use of the electronic online response form as a resource efficient way for people to respond to the consultation we will of course accept all forms of written response whether by letter, e-mail or online. Kind regards ...."
And here is my reply:
"Thank you for your email. I hope there is a stack of response forms in Ellesmere library because, as you must be aware, for a number of reasons a large percentage of Ellesmere inhabitants do not choose to use computers, many because of age. There are after all very few jobs in the town, and it has a high percentage of retired and elderly folk.
Which is why I consider "Although we are very much looking to promote the use of the electronic online response form as a resource efficient way for people to respond to the consultation . . . . " is a sure fire method of preventing many of the inhabitants from making their views known. Not advertising the meeting was another good way of disenfranchising the population of the town.
What are the criteria for a "public consultation" I wonder? Is this SAMdev business classed as public consultation? Are we represented by our local council and unable to comment individually? (Our local council is not known for the wisdom of its decisions in planning matters.)
I don't expect a reply as we all know the planning application is a fix, or why would Ms Claire Wild have fenced the field, made an access and cut down/maimed trees? She wouldn't have wasted her money unless she (thought she) knew something. As I understand it she sits on the central planning committee? Or maybe this is just a rumour circulating in the town, and she is only Chairperson for Berrington Parish Council? In which case, with all due respect, she should still know how to behave honourably as a councillor.
I don't know how to sign off, as none of the usual courtesies seem relevant here, so let's try this:
Here's to transparency in local government"
Am I going over the top here do you think, and can anyone else answer any of these questions? Lastly what is the best way of letting people know they can now make their views known using a form in the library? (Why hasn't the council circulated everyone in the town, it could have gone in with the electoral register forms that arrived this morning?)