Public Meeting Minutes

http://nopwod.createaforum.com/general-discussion/public-meeting-15th-sept-minutes/

Thank you to Paddock Wood Town council for providing me with the minutes.

PUBLIC MEETING!!

A public meeting has been announced for 15th September. 19:45. This will be held at the Main Hall, Paddock Wood Primary School, Old Kent Road. This has been called by the 4 Borough Councillors, and Tunbridge Wells Officers will be on hand to explain the process and how it related to the whole of the Tunbridge wells borough Plan.

Moved!

No PAddock wood Over development is now located at http://www.nopwod.co.uk/

Also the Forum, which has greater detail is at http://nopwod.createaforum.com/general-discussion/

Chance to have say on housing is buried

I urge everyone to use submit their views to the Planing Department.
The council might disagree how many people have submitted, but the moet important thing is you submit ypur views.
You can submit here:


Alternatively, please email me and I will email a simple form (the council's runs to 8 pages!)
OR call the council direct on 01892 554056

Regional Strategies revoked

I have reciebed a lletter from Greg Clark MP confirming The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government confirmed that Regional Strategies will be revoked

What does this mean?

As far as I have been able to ascertain, one of the main reasons the developments were going ahead was to comply with the Regional Strategies. So with no legal obligation, the developments will need to fit in with Local Development needs. There is no latent demand for houses, only 30 houses were sol in the first 5 months of the year.

In a nutshell, I am sure the councillors will argue, that Paddock Wood needs infrastructure improvments to expand. However, these inftrastructure improvements can only be affoded by private development.

Cllr Elizabeth Thomas stated at the Town Council meeting in May that written in was no development unless infracstructure is included. Of course, many residents are cynical that the im[rovments will hapen quikcly

So will the developers concentrate on easier wins?

Lets hope so, but your views matter even more now.

Mark Airey

The Letter, from Steve Quartermain, Chief PLanner for England, is detalied, along with advice. CLICK HERE

Final Stages of Public Consultation

Still want your say?

It's not too late to give your opinion via theTWBC questionnaire. Online Questionnaire here -Registration required. This is vital, as it will be used to form the "preferred option".

It takes some time to download, so you may want to type ypur responses in advance:

Question 1
Do you consider that Paddock Wood has any further development needs that should be added to the list (which you will find on pages 3-4 of the Paddock Wood consultation pack), or conversely, that any identified needs are incorrect and should be removed from the list? Please list them and provide evidence in the comments box to support your answer.

Question 2
If you feel strongly about the boundary now proposed and wish to comment further, please do so in the comments box below.

ISSUES FOR PADDOCK WOOD, INCLUDING THE TOWN CENTRE
Question 3
Have the main issues for Paddock Wood and the town centre been identified correctly?
Yes No
If “no”, please use the comments box to explain what other issues you feel should be addressed.

MOVEMENT AND ACCESS Vehicular Question 4
What problems, if any, does Maidstone Road cause for movement of traffic around the town of Paddock Wood? Please write your comments in the box provided.

Question 5
Are there any improvements that could be made to Maidstone Road that you would like to see and why?

Question 6
What are your views on car parking provision in Paddock Wood? Is it appropriately located?

Question 7
What specific improvements to public transport services that serve the town would you like to see? Please make your suggestions in the comments box.

MOVEMENT & ACCESS Pedestrian
Question 8
How do you think pedestrian links across Commercial Road could be improved? Please write your suggestions in the comments box.

Question 9
How, and where, could new and existing public areas and spaces around Commercial Road be located, improved or extended?

Question 10
Where, and between which destinations or facilities, are the most important pedestrian and cycle links? If you think that existing links require improvement, please state where.

LAND USES Question 11
What land uses would you like to see in the town and where (for example, more shops, cafes and restaurants, or more office space)?

Question 12
Do you think greater community facilities should be provided?
Yes No
If yes, why, and where do you think they should be located? Please make any additional comments in this box.

Question 13
The Council is currently undertaking an assessment to determine the best ways in which to alleviate flooding problems in the town and prevent any future flooding problems. How do you think the problems of flooding within the town could be dealt with? Is there anything specific that you think would help to solve flood risk problems?

Question 14
How do you think the employment areas around the town could be improved and the linkages between these areas strengthened?

GREEN ASSETS Question 15
Do you think that there could be more street trees and greenery within the town centre? Other than trees, what else do you think could add to the town centre to make it more attractive in terms of green assets? Please write your suggestions in the comments box.

Question 16
The town currently has limited green routes and corridors, such as green spaces, play areas, cycle routes, footpaths and pedestrian access links. How, and where, do you think green areas could or should be located and why?

Question 17
How accessible do you consider the Areas of Important Open Space and Areas of Landscape Importance to the south of the town to be? If you do not consider them to be very accessible, how do you think the links could be improved?

Question 18
Parks and areas of woodlands can provide different functions and are often used in different ways.
Do you use your local park and/or visit local woodland?
Yes No
If yes, please specify which park and/or woodland you use and for what reason you visit. If no, please state your local park and/or woodland (if known) and give reasons why you do not use these areas

SITE-SPECIFIC ISSUES Question 19
Please refer to pages 9-11 of the Paddock Wood consultation pack
Do you agree with the process by which the Borough Council has filtered out those sites that either do not need to be allocated by virtue of their size; or should not be allocated because they are unsuitable for development?
Agree Disagree
Please make any additional comments you may have in the box provided.

Question 20
Do you wish to make any comments about a specific site? If so, please write the site reference number and your comments in the box provided. Please comment, in particular, on the uses it is considered to be suitable for.

Question 21
Do you wish to submit any further sites for consideration for allocation in either the Town Centres Area Action Plan DPD or Allocations DPD?
Please note that any sites submitted after the closing date for this consultation may not be considered, as the Borough Council has made two previous "calls for sites".
Please note: if you have already submitted a particular site through an earlier process, please do not submit it again unless you want to amend your submission.
To submit a site please right-click the link to the Site Submission Form and select ‘open in a new window'
http://consult.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/portal/planning_information/spp/tcaap/ss_form_10

Question 22
It may be necessary for the Borough Council to identify additional sites to meet the Borough's development needs. Are there any areas of Paddock Wood that you think should not accommodate any further development of a particular type? Please be specific about your reasons.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? Question 23
If you have additional comments about Paddock Wood that you consider the Borough Council should take into account when preparing the Town Centres Area Action Plan DPD and/or Allocations DPD, please make them in the comments box.

Or contact Paddock Wood Town Council, who will pass your comments on paddockwoodtc@btconnect.com

Tunbridge Wells Planning Exhibitions

TWBC is planning a series of exhibitions of the developments, their poster is below.

Stop Press Council Exhibitions and Town Council meeting

STOP PRESS! 17th June 2010
Planning Exhibitions
There are a number of exhibitions by TWBC for residents. There are a number around the Borough, but the ones in Paddock Wood are detailed below
Weds 23rd June Wesley Centre 10:00-15:00
Fri 25th June Waitrose 16:30-20:00
Sat 26th June Wesley Centre 10:00-15:00
My thanks to Mrs Nichola Reay, Clerk of the Council, Paddock Wood Town Council for the info.

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STOP PRESS! 17th June 2010
The next Council meeting will be on Monday 21st June 2010, from 19:45.
There wil be an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions initially. Developers will not be present.

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STOP PRESS!!
Tunbridge Wells Council is now asking for submissions from residents as part of the Consultation.
Now is your chance to say how you feel about the developments.
This takes the form of a questionnaire.
Thisis only open from 14th June to 9th August 2010 ! so this is the main chance make your views known.
Unfortunately, but understandably, you have to register
To go direct to the Paddock wood Development Consultation page Click here
To go direct to the Tunbridge Wells Council Consultations page Click here

South East Today

A feature by Lynda Hardy on South East Today highlighted the fact that the planning laws are being revised . This gives hope that the new housing development will not be imposed.
The councils are in a state of flux, as they await guidelines to whether they have to meet the previous Government's targets, set by it's Quango.

Gallery at nopwod.co.uk

I have added a series of pictures to the Gallery section of nowod.co.uk, please click here.

It shows that whilst it might not be classfied as Green Belt, it is Green belt in all but name.
I'd welcome your thoughts on the Forum, please click here

Watch out for Department for Communities and Local government

In August 2009, Carloline Spelman , as Shadow Secretary of State wrote to a number of councils about the imposed Core Strategy numbers of houses to be built.
In a nutshell, she advised councils (especially Tory ones!) to not succumb to pressure at the time and start the process.
It is still unclear why Tunbridge Wells has started the process.

Eric Pickles has taken over, so we shall see what is proposed.
The full letter is here
Click for Caroline Spelman letter Aug 2009

Quango to go?

In effect it was SEEDA, the South East Development Agency (well it predecessor) that decided that 6,000 homes ahould be buolt in the Tunbridge Wells area., and consequently the 600 houses to be built in Paddock Wood. Despite the fact this was an arbitary figure
However, SEEDA it has survived.
Greg Clark, prior to the election said that the Government policy would devolve more power to the local level.
More informatioin is needed, think.

nopwod.blog in The Courier

The blog was featured on the page 3 of The Courier this week.
My thanks to Alistair Fraser of the Courier for contacting me.

nopwod.co.uk New website

I have created a website at www.nopwod.co.uk please take a look.

Statement from Gary Heather, the prospective Labour candidate

This morning recieved the following in an email:

Development must be controlled by planning rules that local people have a say about. But people need housing to live in. We must however have rules to protect our green space from over development. Local people must have a strong say as individuals, as collectives and via their elected representatives.

My thanks ofr the statement

A chat with Greg Clark Conservative candidate on the Paddock Wood Over Development

My thanks for Greg Clark , for taking time from his busy schedule to chat to nopwod.blogspot about the blog.
I highlight the reasons for the nopwod blog, was given a name for more info, and discussed his views on the development. Greg, perhaps slightly predicatably!, quote David Cameron and the Conservative manifesto if making decisions locally and not to fix some arbitary number and worry about the infrastructure later.
I did not expect a comiitment to block the development, nor was it given. Nor did I expect promises again none were given.

I also emailed the Labour and Liberal Democrat prospective MP's for the election. None replied at the time of this post

75% of houses built on already developed land

The Paddock Wood developments are quite rare, only 20-25% of house are built on Agricultural land.
This has implications, in that other sites may be more suiable.

Source: Government statistics. communities.co.uk website stats.

Send your views to the nopwod email at nopwod@gmail.com

Leaders Debate 3 Houses

The Guardian blog has the following quote:
9.42pm: Q6: What would you do to make more housing available?
Brown says the house-building firms have not served the UK well. He says the government has promoted shared equity schemes.
Clegg says the Lib Dem council in Newcastle has started building council houses for the first time in 30 years. He says the current system, where there is VAT on renovation but no VAT on new homes, should be changed, so that equivalent tax is paid on both.
Brown leaps on this. He says the Lib Dems are proposing VAT on new homes.

So how would a tax on new homes affect the Paddock Wood Development?

And given the number of afforable houses, how did the debate affect your thinking?

Did you know?

There are a number of facts that have emerged.

• 600 homes are planned.
• 3 Sites.
• Warrington Road is a potential access point for building traffic and Church Farm
• The Inspector has said no development without infrastructre improvements
• The Developers will pay £16,000 Roof Tax for improvements, hence could be after the Developments have been completed.
• House Sales. Best 2005 =204 homes, worst 2009=78. No demand.

Can you help nopwod.blogspot.com ?

It is said a picture says a 1,000 words.
I am looking for help from the Paddock Wood Community for the following areas:

PHOTOS
I am looking for photos for the blog for the following areas in particular, but am happy or any relevant photos. It can be from a phone even.
Please email nopwod@gmail.com

• Accidents. I know a couple at the Town Council meeting had photos of their accident blackspot
• Heavy Traffic. There are many areas, eg Waitrose queues.
• Flooding. Has anyone ggot any flooding photos
• Sewage. I know, I know!
• Other. Anything else that you think releveant.

Thanks for your help



POSTERS
Could anyone design an A4, and A3 poster for people to display in their home or in businesses around Paddock Wood?
I'd appreciate if it could have the blog address or the nopwod@gmail.com email.
I would anticipate putting this as a download.

Thanks for your help

DEVELOPERS COMMENTS

• Warrington Road as the access to Church Farm.

The Traffic Consultant stated that he might recommend using Warrington Road as the entrance for all the Construction traffic to Church farm, and for Church Farm permanently.
This was when residents pointed out the narrowness and the double blind bends.