Response from Mrs Beryl Mansbridge, Helsington Parish Council
1. Mrs Beryl Mansbridge, Helsington Parish Council : 16 Apr 2012 07:40:00
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Policy/Site No.
LA1.3 Housing Allocations - RN213-mod BRIGSTEER LAND OPPOSITE THE WHEATSHEAF
2.1 Do you consider that the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD is sound?
No
2.2 If NO please identify which test of soundness your representation relates to by selecting the relevant option(s) below and completing section 2.3.
The DPD is not justified in that it is not founded on a robust and credible evidence base and/or is not considered the most appropriate strategy when considered against the reasonable alternatives.
2.3 Please give details of the change(s) you consider necessary to make the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD sound, having regard to the test you have identified at question 2.2 above.
It would be helpful if you could state your proposed change to the DPD and the reasons why you think it is necessary.
An exceptional allocation has been made for site RN213 in Brigsteer on the basis of 'the degree of community involvement and support for this proposal'. This is considered unsound for the following reasons:
1)In an opinion survey of local residents in March 2011 where over half of Brigsteer residents responded, 78% were opposed to the development and the Parish Meeting agreed with this opinion.
The results of this opinion survey were included in a response from the Helsington Parish Council which gave conditional support for the development of RN213. The parish council said it would prefer smaller scale alternatives and use of existing buildings and that the development should take place after Phase 1.
2)A Parish Meeting of Helsington Parish was held on April 10th 2012, in accordance with the Local Government Act of 1972. This was to receive a proposal from a member of the electorate in order to respond to South Lakeland District Council on the 'soundness' of the plans for development in Brigsteer. The proposer spoke to the agenda item proposing the motions. A representative of Helsington Community Land Trust Ltd. as the intended developers of site RN213 also spoke regarding the proposals. Then questions and contributions were taken from members of the electorate. The electorate then voted.
Two motions were in exact response to the DPD proposed allocation as follows:
'This Parish Meeting supports the proposed development on site RN213' - 20 votes in favour.
'This Parish Meeting opposes the proposed development on site RN213' - 31 votes in favour.
The electors had the opportunity to cast additional votes on two further motions which however are not strictly responding to the land allocation proposed by SLDC. They are noted here for completeness:
'This Parish Meeting supports the development on site RN213 only if it takes place after 2015' - 17 votes in favour. (Note that this vote was taken because the 2011 Parish Council response was that development should not take place until after Phase 1).
'This Parish Meeting requests the Parish Council to respond to South Lakeland District Council in accordance with the voting at this meeting.' - 55 votes in favour.
The outcomes of the Parish Meeting indicate that development of site RN213 does not have sufficient community support to justify exceptional allocation. Accordingly, the conclusion is that Brigsteer would like to be treated the same as the other villages and hamlets in the District and that the development land allocation is removed from the DPD.
3.1 If your representation is seeking a change, do you consider it necessary to participate in the oral part of the examination?
NO, I do not wish to participate at the oral examination
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