Dear [Forename],
As usual, it’s quiet for a time and then several things seem to happen at once.
We’ve responded to two planning consultations from the Government in the last few weeks. Both were relatively technical and took time to understand.
- The first was about changing the way that the number of homes to be built is calculated and putting the priority for affordable housing into “First Homes”
- The second was a Government white paper which promises a completely new planning system which is “simpler, clearer and quicker to navigate”, in fact the published proposals would undermine local democratic control by allowing planning consent to be granted on most new developments at the time that the local plan is written with little opportunity for detailed consultation
MPs on the House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, are seeking a range of views from the public on the housing and land use planning system in England. The deadline is 12 November and anyone can response. The survey is available here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=nt3mHDeziEC-Xo277ASzSsBc9hscYRNFrbfHBkcg0ANUOE0xVzEzWkU5MDVWTE1OVFNJSzFSOFlNTy4u
I mentioned in the last email that the developers in East Challow on the Park Farm Developer wants to increase the density of the development again. They want to add an additional 13 houses to the north west part of the site. This will go to the Planning Committee for discussion on 11 November at 6pm – the meeting will be broadcast on YouTube and you can watch it via this weblink: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTj2pCic8vzucpzIaSWE3UQ
The planning application for the next phase of the Crab Hill development is available. Taylor Wimpey will be building 171 dwellings and providing some public open space. For details see https://data.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/java/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P20/V2756/RM. So far St Modwen has just about finished the patch behind the cricket pitch (Phase 1a) and is building another 102 homes on the site near the trees off the A417 (Phase 1b). Bellway are building 82 homes near to the A417 (South East A), Cala are building 174 homes just south of the new primary school (Centre West) and now Taylor Wimpey will be building to the east of the Cala site (Centre East). To see a map of where these sites are go to https://www.wantageandgrove.org/images/CrabHillMap.jpg
The Town Council survey asking for views on the pedestrianisation plans for Wantage Market Place has now closed and the initial report is being discussed at the Town Council meeting next Monday at 7.30pm. You can listen in to the meeting via Zoom using this link https://wantagetc-gov-uk.zoom.us/
Newbury Street Practice Patients Group is holding its AGM next Thursday 12 November at 7.30pm, via Zoom. Dr Carrie Ladd will talk about ‘Delivering Healthcare in a Pandemic - how Covid19 has transformed Primary Care in the short, and long term’. You can join the meeting at https://wantagetc-gov-uk.zoom.us/j/92553999592 and the AGM booklet is available on the Newbury Street Website at https://www.newburystreetpractice.co.uk/ppg.aspx
You may remember that back in July we mentioned that the District Council made minor changes to its parking fees. Now it wants to add electric charging spaces in it's car parks (reducing the number of spaces available for non-electric cars). You can participate in their consultation until 19 November 2020 at https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/vale-of-white-horse-district-council/parking-roads-and-streets/parking/parking-policy-consultation-have-your-say/
Don't forget that you can access information about roadworks around here at https://one.network/.
By the way, if you don't get the Herald and would like to read our columns, we include them on our website at https://www.wantageandgrove.org/columns.php
That's all for now.
Stay safe and if there is anything we can do to help you then please get in touch.
Thanks for reading,
Best wishes
Julie
Julie Mabberley
Campaign Manager
Wantage and Grove Campaign Group
www.wantageandgrove.org