Dear all,
A massive THANK YOU to all of you who came to the Local Plan Adoption (Extraordinary Meeting) at Saffron Walden on 25th March. Several residents spoke to the Planning Committee and from the comments that they made it was evident we made an impact and Councillors did listen.
We expected that the Plan would be adopted. At this stage, no individual site could be removed from the overall plan, but a significant number of Councillors abstained, more than expected. We consider this to be positive. We need them to be uncertain about this decision.
You can download copies of the public statements to the Committee (view here).
If you listened to Wednesday’s meeting and what we had to say, you may have noticed that we quoted from a Quality Review panel document (view here). This document is worth the read and shows how the Planning Application does not reflect what the Developer has been told by Officers. It also claims that there are no houses to the South of Takeley Street.
We now need to work to ensure the best possible case is put forward when the Planning application is heard – and decided – at the Planning Committee. Agendas are not published until a week before, so we do not know when that will be, although it will not be at the April Planning Committee. We will need to watch out for the Committee date and for the Officer’s recommendation and report to the Committee.
When the Application is heard at Committee, we want the Committee to see the strength of feeling and want to fill the Council Chamber so encourage as many people as possible to attend. We would also like to fill the public speaking slots, so please let us know if you are prepared to stand up and speak. You get 3 minutes. We are happy to chat about this if you are not sure what to say.
We now need to increase pressure on Officers and Councillors. We want this application refused. We will be submitting more documents to Planning and inviting the media to speak to us.
We are actively exploring appointing a King’s Council to represent us at the Committee hearing. If anyone can recommend someone that would be even better. Please let us know.
We have three District Councillors for Takeley Ward.
Please contact them and make your feelings known.
Cllr Bagnall – cllrbagnall@uttlesford.gov.uk – He was not allowed to vote at the meeting, but was allowed to make a public statement that supported Takeley and mirrored our concerns before he was told to leave the room.
Cllr Coletta – cllrcoletta@uttlesford.gov.uk – He was on holiday but sent a prepared amendment in advance concerning the B1256 access and the possibility of providing access via the A120. Cllrs voted against this amendment.
Cllr Sutton – cllrsutton@uttlesford.gov.uk – is in favour of the plan and voted for the plan.
We do not know when the planning application will be heard, but we need to increase the pressure and make our Councillors (elected representatives) and Officers know how we feel.
Thank you for your continued support.
Takeley Street Action Group (TSAG)
Representing residents of Takeley and neighbouring towns and villages