The Site Assessments

There has been something of a lull over the past few days after the excitement of last weeks public meeting but things have begun to warm up a bit in Ellesmere again. Firstly a (slightly overdue) FOI request has now produced a complete paper trail of the application to build next to the mere. There are a few interesting points and I will link the documents below:

• Assessment stage 2a states:
• The site lies "Within the buffer zone of the conservation area"
• The site is "Within buffer zone of ‘The Mere’ Wildlife Site"
• The site has "6 x single TPOs & 2 x groups of TPOs covering a total of 11 trees"
• The final tally was -4 ie 4 more points against development than in favour
• Assessment stage 2b states
• The study states that a cemetery extension would appear to be the most sensible use of the land.
• The land owner has offered a strip of land along the boundary with the cemetery that could be used to either provide a small extension capable of accommodating around 75 extra burial plots or a footpath link from Swan Hill through to Cremorne Gardens. 
• Site immediately adjacent to a Conservation Area, a 19th century cemetery and Cremorne Gardens, a designed landscape of regional significance. Development may not be acceptable on this site and a full Heritage Assessment would need to be prepared in discussion with the LPA prior to submission of any application
• This site is immediately adjacent to a County Wildlife Site and to the Environmental Network. Site design will need to take into account the need for a buffer to separate any development from the ecologically sensitive designated site. This may limit the achievable density on the site. Lighting on the site will need to take account of the presence of foraging and commuting bats.
•  TREES & HEDGEROWS WILL BE A MINOR CONSTRAINT    
• The plot immediately adjacent to The Cremorne Gardens of The Mere at Ellesmere Park. This is considered a ‘quiet recreation garden and this proposed development could impact on the park. The Cremone Gardens are registered as a historic designed parkland and therefore there are some concerns about visual impact on gardens and could be detrimental to the historic character of the park. There are also some concerns about groundwater in terms of level to The Mere and contamination of The Mere. There could be increased general disturbance to wildlife on the narrow strip between the development and The Mere. 
• Of those respondents who have expressed an opinion about the future direction of growth, the majority are in favour of development to the south and west of the town along the main transport routes with good access to employment and infrastructure.
• The impact of development on Cremorne Gardens, The Mere and the Conservation Area is a significant consideration. 

Those were the highlights, there is plenty more but most of the key points have already been covered, to my mind to environmental points overwhelmingly outweigh the argument in favour which simply consists of its proximity to town.

One of the other documents was a little more illuminating.

Letter 31 Jan 12

This is a very interesting document and lends weight to the discussion I had with one of our own town councillors this evening, the town council has never has backed this plan, the land swap is a deal which has been brokered between Shropshire County Council and the landowner with a complete disregard for the opinions of the residents of Ellesmere and the town council.

There is no green lane next to 1 Swan Hill, its a driveway with no public access, the only people who would benefit from the proposed footpath are the prospective residents of the development. Also note the all important OR, thats 75 plots for the cemetery OR a footpath. Let us just reiterate one point, there is a footpath on either side of Swan Hill and nowhere to park in-between, there is absolutely no benefit whatsoever in having a new footpath for the current residents of Ellesmere.

So I owe Ellesmere town council an apology, there was never a deal and after tonights meeting its clear that there is no support for this plan from the council, in fact its now clear that there are several members who are most anxious that this plan is properly opposed and the landowner is brought to book for the damage to the trees.

There was an agreement to raise the issue of the disgraceful deployment of barbed wire (thats barbed not barb) as well this evening. Not only has the entrance way been turned into something akin to stalag luft but the entire perimeter has now been furnished with 2 strands of barbed wire, that includes both the perimeter with the cemetery which is quite distasteful but it also lines the perimeter of a footpath through the mere park. This is particularly dangerous as it is at eye level for a 5 year old and literally lines the path through the woods.

To end it seems that we are to have another public meeting, this will be organised by Ellesmere Town Council and will afford another opportunity to hear the concerns residents have regarding the SAMDEV plan.


Stage 1 Site Assessment Stage 2a Site Assessment Stage 2b Site Assessment