Sessions to allow people to comment on Bath core strategy homes blueprint
Eleven public events are being organised to allow people to have their say on a development blueprint that is likely to usher in housing on green belt land around Bath.
Bath and North East Somerset Council is asking people to find out how its core strategy document - setting out where homes can be built up until 2029 - affects their neighbourhoods.
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The authority has been forced to increase the number of homes it accommodates, earmarking land at Weston for 300 homes, with another 300 scheduled for land between Odd Down and South Stoke.
It is also envisaging an extra 120 homes at Lansdown and hundreds more in Keynsham, Whitchurch and the Somer Valley as it finds room for a total of 12,700 properties.
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Residents in Weston have already pledged to fight the idea of new homes on land near Primrose Hill, and there is likely to be opposition to the inclusion of the land at Odd Down.
All the consultation documents, including a comment form, are available on the council’s website at www.bathnes.gov.uk/corestrategy or its offices at Manvers Street in Bath, The Hollies at Midsomer Norton, and Riverside at Keynsham, and at all libraries.
People have from Tuesday until 5pm on May 8 to submit their comments to the council, which will pass them onto the planning inspector who is assessing whether the revised document is legally sound.
Council cabinet member for homes and planning Councillor Tim Ball (Lib Dem, Twerton) said: “Everyone at Bath and North East Somerset Council appreciates the strong feelings that local people have about the core strategy. This is the chance for residents to have their say about the future of their community. We are putting on a wide range of engagement events for people to find out more and submit informed comments to the council to pass onto the inspector.”
Weston politician Councillor Colin Barrett (Con, Weston) urged his constituents to have their say at an event at the All Saints Church Centre on April 11.
He said: “I would urge all local residents concerned about the Weston development plans to go along to the All Saints Centre to gather information and give their views. It’s important that the council is made aware of the difficulties of developing this site and the concerns of residents in the area. I would also encourage residents to sign the petition I have distributed in the village to demonstrate to the council the feelings of local residents. I hope that once the council have listened to local concerns, they will look to see if other more appropriate sites can be earmarked for development instead.”
The sessions are on:
• Monday April 8, 4.30 - 7pm, Whitchurch Village Hall
• Wednesday April 10, 4.30 - 7pm, South Stoke Parish Hall
• Thursday April 11, 4.30 - 7pm, Weston All Saints Centre
• Monday April 15, 4.30 - 7pm, Kingswood School
• Tuesday April 16, 4.30 - 7pm, St Gregory's College
• Thursday April 18, 10.30am - 12pm, Westfield Methodist Church
• Thursday April 18l, 2 - 3.30pm, Radstock Methodist Church
• Thursday April 18, 5.30 - 7pm, Midsomer Norton Town Council
• Monday April 22, 1.30 - 3pm, Key Centre, Keynsham
• Monday April 22, 4.30 - 7pm, Wellsway School, Keynsham
• Tuesday April 30, 6 - 8pm, Bath One Stop Shop, Manvers Street
Inspector Simon Emerson is expected to resume a public inquiry into the core strategy in June or July.
The council said its proposals aimed to support economic prosperity, provide choice in the homes market to local people, and prevent unplanned development.
2 Comments
by Michelle_1234
Sunday, March 24 2013, 9:53AM
“We do need homes, but let's not turn this into a black and white argument, it is about building houses in the 'right' place,that takes in to account the needs of residents and environment too.
One of the proposed areas is one of 33 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the whole of England. These areas are offered the highest level of protection as they are classed as having significant importance to our countries landscape, and designating areas in this way is intended to protect our rural landscapes, which we all have a right to enjoy. This area also has a number of protected species living on it, undisturbed for many years. Hence why I say it's about the 'right' place, that takes into account all factors, not just we need homes, let's build them anywhere we can.
There is a need is to build affordable homes so that locals can live in their local community and not be priced out. However, these developments are not that. A minor proportion are meant be, but on the whole most wont be and are likely to be expensive homes.”
by mhelenmary
Thursday, March 21 2013, 5:45PM
“You should say, the first to complain.
We need these homes, and I hope that most of them will be built.”