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LAND OFF CARSONS DRIVE, GREAT CORNARD
Summary
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At the public meeting of 18th January , one of several organised by Babergh in addition to its statutory consultation requirements, Babergh officers explained the recommendation of the Local Plan Inspector to site 170 new houses, including up to 59 low-cost homes for local families, off Carsons Drive, instead of a development off Shawlands Avenue.
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The aim of Babergh’s consultation is both to listen to the views of local people and explain the features of the Inspector’s recommendation.
The purpose of this note is to address a number of inaccuracies that have crept into the debate;
- Claim: “Shoved into the Local Plan through the back door”
The Facts: The Carsons Drive site was submitted by a developer as early as October 2001! It has, therefore, been an option in the public domain for over 4 years and as part of the Local Plan process was preferred to the Shawlands Avenue site by the Inspector.
A number of SGCAG representatives took an active part in the Inquiry, where their viewpoints were debated in public and were they were able to make direct representations to the Inspector on these issues.
- Claim: “Now the officers are trying to rush this through on an accelerated timetable”
The Facts: Babergh District Council is required to provide a 6 week period of consultation on all significant modifications arising out of the Inspector’s Report. This period begins on 18th January 2006. Far from ‘rushing’, Babergh is strictly adhering to the timetable required of it.
Furthermore, Babergh is going beyond what is needed in terms of consultation, by organising extra public meetings, including the one at Great Cornard on 18th January.
- Claim: “This area was protected by a Special Landscape Area (SLA) designation”.
The Facts: The SLA is not yet in existence, but is included as part of this Local Plan. The Carsons Drive development would result in a small wedge of land on the western extremity of the proposed SLA being excluded. The boundary with the new development would be separated from the SLA via alternating tracks of open space and trees.
- Claim: “Yet another major housing development dumped in Great Cornard”.
The Facts: Overall, Babergh is required to take far fewer new houses, on far fewer sites, than any of its surrounding districts. Furthermore, Babergh is striving to allocate those sites where there is greatest housing need – ie Great Cornard, Sudbury and Hadleigh. There is no ‘dumping’. In the case of Great Cornard alone, there are an estimated 430 residents on the Common Housing Register – ie who are actively looking for somewhere affordable to live.
Babergh hopes that local people will be able to formulate their views about this issue on the basis of the facts.
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Last updated on: 30 June 2009 | Date of next review: 30 June 2010
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