YOU ARE INVITED TO RESPOND TO THE CORE STRATEGY ...

South Gloucestershire have now published their final version of the Draft Core Strategy and are inviting you to submit your views and objections (if any!)

If you click on this link:

https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/CoreStrategy/consultationHome

it will take you to the relevant page where you can download your response form.

It's not for the faint-hearted. And be sure that you are very clear why you are objecting, or else your response may not carry much weight. We will shortly be publishing a summary of possible objections that you may wish to use (keep an eye on this blog).

If you still find the form too intimidating, you're invited to contact the Spatial Planning team on 01454 863469 for advice/help.

Still baffled? (What sort of a consultation is this, when responding to it is so difficult?) We will shortly be making our own response sheet available - watch this blog for further details.

PLEASE MAKE THE EFFORT TO DO SOME SORT OF RESPONSE - THIS IS THE ONLY WAY OUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD IF ENOUGH PEOPLE MAKE THE EFFORT.
YOUR TOWN NEEDS YOU!
Deadline for responses is 6th August 2010

PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS re. CORE STRATEGY

If you want to find out more about South Gloucestershire's Core Strategy relating to new housing developments, click on this link to find out when and where public exhibitions are being held by South Glos.

http://www.southglos.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/86963B0D-0680-48DA-968D-93EE2E0A8675/0/PTE100105.pdf.

Go along and find out more from the South Glos perspective.
Let them know what your perspective is too!
Dates in Thornbury are:

Thursday 17th June 11am - 3.30pm in the St. Mary's Shopping Centre.

Thursday 8th July 3pm -7.30pm at Turnberries

Letter to Councillors

After several days of researching and digging around in local government reports, we have finally come up with an initial response to South Gloucestershire's proposal to include a major housing development on the NW edge of Thornbury in its Core Strategy.
It points the finger of blame at both South Glos and Thornbury Town Councillors for a lack of genuine consultation, and for a raft of flimsy arguments that smack of a behind-the-scenes done deal between landowners, developers and local business interests rather than consideration of the feelings of local residents, the real beating heart of Thornbury.
If you would like to read this letter and get a flavour of the sorts of issues we are up against, click on the tab at the top entitled: FACTS - An Open Letter.

As we embark upon a hopefully promising period of political dialogue under our new coalition government, let these words of David Cameron, spoken this week, ring in our ears:
"WE know that when we give people and communities more power over their lives, more power to come together and work together to make life better - great things happen."
Be a part of these great things.
Keep an eye on the "What can YOU do?" Tab at the top of this page for ideas on how to make your voice heard.

LINKS to Documents

What have South Gloucestershire and our very own Thornbury Town Council been planning, in terms of new housing developments for Thornbury's green and pleasant surroundings?
You may have your own ideas on what is being mooted, and so did we .... until one morning when we spotted the Surveyors out in force in the fields and roads adjacent to the Park Farm Estate (Parklands Way).
Having trawled our way through the maze of documents on the South Gloucestershire website, we were deeply disturbed to find that all is not well - that plans are afoot, and indeed rather well-developed, after minimal if any consultation with the people of Thornbury who will be impacted by these plans.
If, like us, you're shocked to hear that the developers are poised to descend, even before any green light has been given, why not visit our "LINKS to Documents" page. On this page you will find a simplified guide to some very important documents showing just how far Thornbury Town Council and South Gloucestershire have commited themselves to a major development of up to 500 houses on some of our Heritage fields, apparently on our behalf.

Thornbury Heritage Site - the MEDIEVAL FISHPONDS

Take a virtual walk around the Medieval Fishponds, and enjoy them in their serenity while you still can.