SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
Cossham Hall was packed to the rafters on Thursday night, the occasion being a special town council meeting called to consider their response to the recently revised Core Strategy for South Glos, as required last year by the planning inspector. Albeit, despite his requests, very little had been changed with regard to Thornbury.
Residents from North West Thornbury had turned out to speak in defence of Park Farm and the need for a proper consultation for the whole town, but without doubt the majority of people attending were from the Morton Way. Apparently three Lib Dem councillors (including our own district representative Clare Fardell) had leafleted that area with what has been described as ‘partisan and scaremongering tactics’, ‘designed to play on their fears of being surrounded by thousands of houses’.
As you can imagine they were rightly concerned and spoke passionately in defence of their neighbourhood and its surroundings. It should be pointed out that at present Morton Way is not included as the council’s preferred site for development in the Core Strategy and was not on the agenda for discussion at the meeting. For the three councillors involved with the leafleting to raise such disquiet and concern unnecessarily, whilst ignoring other sections of the community, hardly seems in keeping with the requirement for them to represent constituents democratically, fairly, ethically, and in an open minded way. Ironically these Councillors are in fact offering a dis-service to Morton Way residents. By failing to engage with the big arguments that clearly render Park Farm the least suitable of all Thornbury’s potential greenfield sites, they are putting at risk all other identified sites including Morton Way.
As the meeting progressed other proposals were made such as the town council not supporting the plan for Thornbury as it stands today, but instead to carry out a proper assesment of all potential brownfield sites available for development, and by using these they would consequently protect all greenfield sites outside the existing footprint of the town. It became increasingly evident that residents from all parts of Thornbury were warming to such proposals regardless of the agenda they had arrived with. It was a pity that such welcome ideas acceptable to almost all those attending fell on stony ground when it came to the council vote. As predicted by one Independent Councillor the Lib Dem group voted en-masse to support the Core Strategy as it stands, regardless, as it is now becoming increasingly apparent, of the wishes of the town as a whole.
At the meeting Independent Councillors put forward the following for the town to consider:-
- Maintain the current footprint of the town and protect all greenfield sites from major new housing developments.
- Adopt a policy of brownfield site development (currently no assesment has been carried out) to meet the needs of the town.
- Carry out a comprehensive green belt review as required by the planning inspector, and protect valuable assets in the process.
- Engage in a Community Plan which will achieve all the foregoing and address the real needs of Thornbury in the forseeable future.
The case they made was rational and documented, with all supporting evidence in place, it offers a measure of protection for the future. It is a great folly by the majority on the town council to disregard such well thought through proposals and fail to recognise the full consequences of their decision. Would it have not been so much better for everybody if the town council had accepted the Independent proposals and include those in the Core Strategy instead of the risks they are currently taking. It does make you wonder what their motivation is.
For all those concerned with the way these issues have been dealt with there’s still time to address your opinions about the Core Strategy to the Independent Inspector. The deadline for writing to him is Friday 17th February. But don’t be fooled into thinking that he will have much regard for views and opinions that are not backed up by hard evidence. Later this week we will be publishing on this blog 5 strong reasons why
By Email: planningLDF@southglos.gov.uk
By letter to: Strategic Planning Policy and Specialist Advice Team, South Gloucestershire Council, PO Box 2081, South Gloucestershire, BS35 9BP
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