Object
Revised Development Strategy
Representation ID: 55243
Received: 26/07/2013
Respondent: Ruth Johns
There is no correct evidence for the plan. If followed through, there would be too many houses in developments which would be ridiculed because they were examples of what should NOT have happened. Why? Because all the evidence was ignored e.g. the car dependency; the inappropriate road plans to 'deal' with the new traffic; serious problems of illegal levels of air pollution; permanent misappropriation of green sites etc.
[Following is Summary of letter sent to Chris White MP]
Glad you are asking big questions re the dangerous draft LOCAL PLAN.
Desperately sad that the planning of communities in the UK, and especially in England, has never advanced beyond expediency.
Little has been learned either from mistakes, or from the initiatives which have worked well for people and enterprises.
If the LOCAL PLAN goes ahead, many residents who are able will flee to locations where the air is breathable.
Ideas:
Rather than large scale developers need to encourage self-sustainable evolving communities?
* The government should encourage more local builders who are more likely to engage in small scale, sustainable but continuous programme, taking into account local housing needs. Small house builders today have unfortunately been made unsustainable.
* What is happening to the considerable land still not built on at Portobello Riverside? A few years ago, the large number of flats built for private purchase on Portobello Riverside remained mainly empty. Part of the site had been allocated for social housing and was occupied immediately after building completion.
* There is a largish site owned by a developer with planning permission still lying idle at Portobello Riverside. Should sites be allowed to remain idle indefinitely, whilst 'new' land is taken for building development as on the draft LOCAL PLAN?
* Local people might be galvanised to find out and list empty properties, and small scale available building sites, within their neighbourhoods? Might you spearhead this? So many people now feel there is nothing they can do, and yet they would be willing to help if an idea like this was given life?
Objection to New Local Plan
There is no correct evidence for the plan. If followed through, there would be too many houses in developments which would be ridiculed because they were examples of what should NOT have happened. Why? Because all the evidence was ignored e.g. the car dependency; the inappropriate road plans to 'deal' with the new traffic; serious problems of illegal levels of air pollution; permanent misappropriation of green sites etc. I attach a letter re the Local Plan which I sent to Chris White MP.