Well, that's my cover blown after last night's meeting. Thank you everyone who said nice things to me about this blog. Unfortunately now that everyone knows who I am and some of them know where I live I can't be quite so rude about Chichester DC.
So what happened?
An excellent turnout - about 30 people turned up plus the Parish Councillors, a couple of district councillors and the well known county councillor 'Tex' Pemberton. I have to ask, does anyone know where his first name came from? I digress but it was a good crowd for a freezing cold Tuesday evening. Sylvia McC was in the chair and did a fine job - adjusting the agenda so we didn't have to sit through hours of stuff and making sure everyone got to have a say, and in one case a bit of a swear.
Key themes:
1. General agreement that communication from Chichester DC has not been good. The informal consultation meetings last week were not considered to have been well done. There was general bafflement that the DC was under the impression that there had been 'no response' from residents to the proposal as none of us knew about it until the recent press articles.
2. Unanimity on all sides that the thought of building on the rec is A BAD THING and that IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.
3. After a bit of a rant about John Prescott's department wanting to concrete over large parts of the south east, there was (I thought) a remarkable sense of agreement that like it or not we are going to have to put some more houses somewhere and a number of good alternatives were suggested. One possibility might be the National Trust field next to the roundabout. I have to say I've never understood why it's an NT site. It's a nice enough field and sometimes a few sheep are grazing there but er, that's it. Nobody could understand why the Syngenta site at Fernhurst had been discounted as it seems to be a prime piece of real estate, the development of which would not be greenfield. It seems that the DC isn't really being imaginative about it as a possibility.
4. There were lots of good reasons why building on the rec would be wrong e.g. utilities such as roads and sewage pipes couldn't cope, the destruction of recreation grounds is contrary to public policy in other fields e.g. children's health and so on.
The Parish Council appears to be determined to put forward a robust response to the proposal, setting out why the rec is a bad idea for building and suggesting alternatives. Hurrah! But everyone is also urged to write individually to Chichester DC planning department by March 2nd - so please, please do.
But, now is not the time to think that it won't happen. The issue needs to be kept on the boil so that the council understands we won't go away. Personally, I think a steady press campaign might not be a bad idea. Perhaps a mass dog walk (bring poo bags please) one day? Possibly a rally on the rec with the local MP invited to speak or even a village fete. Post your thoughts and ideas about last night's meeting here and about anything else to do with saving the rec.
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7 comments:
Regarding the development of Haslemere by Waverley from the other side: Has anyone managed to navigate the Waverley Local Development Framework document? As far as I can tell they are only building on currently developed sites - is that right?
There is also something about it being shelved for the moment.
village fete gets my vote!!!
Are you going to be able to be on the Parish Council? You could then communicate more efficiently with Parishioners - I have sent an e-mail to the Parish Council several days ago and am still waiting for a reply! Maybe we can then get out a leaflet to all Parishioners via the Internet and. the Lantern network also.
P.S. we can't do a fete before March 2nd!
I am very encouraged that some heat has been stirred up about the possible sites for development in Camelsdale, and I want to do as much as possible to ensure everyone in the village makes their views known. I think notices thru doors is an excellent idea, who designs them, who pays for them, who delivers them??? CDC officers are very willing to hold another meeting if it would help. We can identify a time/place and ensure a good turn-out. There is no time to get a fete going, we MUST respond by 2 March. I think we need a working party to get this moving, it may be a working party of one of course if you have the time to go it alone?? I would welcome the opportunity to meet you informally, get involved etc. etc. Please contact me via hcaird@chichester.gov.uk or 01428 642003 Regards Heather Caird District Councillor. PS I know perfectly well the rec is extensively used, and I have no idea where the "not fully used" comment came from, except it wasn't from me!!
I have just found out about this proposed destruction of an essential amenity. I am a resident of Marleycombe Rd and I am sure there are a number of Camlesdale/Hammer residents who know nothing about this. I think a leaflet explaning what is proposed and how to complain and who to complain to is a great idea. It needs to be done ASAP. I would be only too pleased to offer my help in design,printing and delivering. I include my e mail weq@onetel.com.
please let me know how I can help.
Have just discovered this website and didn't know anything about the Parish Council meeting.
I am very alarmed to read the suggestion that the National Trust fields next to the roundabout should be an alternative site! That would be
almost worse than building on the rec! Can you imagine how awful it would look!
I have heard that the income from the animal grazing of those fields goes towards maintaining the ponds. Anyway, it would need an Act of Parliament to allow them to be built on.
Don't you think that it would be a good idea if Camelsdale Rec was given to The National Trust, so that it could be protected for posterity?
I don't think that we should be complacent and just accept that our country village should become a concrete jungle. We should have a campaign to keep 'Camelsdale Green'.
According to Waverley Borough Council there are already existing 700,000 empty houses in the U.K. In Waverley there are 850 empty houses. We do not need anymore houses to be built, especially on our green lands. It's the Developers who are out to make £money with bloated government in their back pockets. No more houses, not in Camelsdale, nor Hammer, nor Fernhurst!!
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