Object
Publication
Representation ID: 23923
Received: 16/03/2021
Respondent: Mr Malcolm Pim
Legally compliant? No
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? Not specified
We write as Aylsham residents who are astonished at the process which appears to have been followed in the progression of the GNLP as it relates to this area. We know, of course, that Aylsham is an attractive town which is also popular because of its location midway between Norwich and the north coast. We moved here nearly 40 years ago and are fully aware of how fortunate we have been in being able to raise our children here and, now, to enjoy our retirement here. We understand that many other people will wish to live here and that some growth has been necessary to enable that to happen. However, in the time we have lived here, there have been FOUR major developments - Norfolk Homes, Hopkins Homes, Willow Park and Bure Meadows - which have placed enormous pressure on the local infrastructure as well as a number of "infill" developments.
We do not believe that the proper processes around Regulation 19 have been followed by Broadland District Council and that, as a result, the current proposals are not legally compliant, nor do they satisfy the “soundness” criterion. The LPA’s Statement of Community Involvement and Para 155 of the National Planning Policy Framework require that genuine engagement and community involvement must occur. Apart from any other details, how can that criterion be satisfied if there has been no contact with Aylsham Town Council regarding Regulation 19 and no attempt at proactively engaging with the local community? To propose an increase of over 80% in the number of new houses suggested - compared with the proposal under Regulation 18 - without engagement with the local community or its local representatives is a gross dereliction of the Council’s duties.
As for the “soundness” criterion, we have seen no evidence that the impact on education, health or social care facilities has been taken into account. The proposal for a “new” school actually appears to relate to a replacement for an existing school with no indication of increased capacity. Nursery provision in the town is severely limited and the closure of Children’s Centres by the County Council has only contributed further to the reduction of supportive facilities for young families. No attention appears to have been given to these factors. Similarly, Aylsham’s road network is already under enormous pressure and its historic layout gives limited scope for expansion or alteration. Parking is already a very significant problem - shortage of parking tends to drive people away from shopping in the town, going instead to Norwich or other nearby towns where it is easier to park. This has a very damaging effect on the viability of local shops. More broadly, no proper attention has been directed towards “whole town” solutions to traffic and parking issues.
Issues of sustainability and the impact of climate change appear to have been ignored. An increase in housing at the level proposed in Regulation 19, with new houses at the extremities of the town, will result in a significantly greater use of cars leading to an increased, rather than decreased, carbon footprint. This seems grossly irresponsible at this time.
Finally, it has to be said that the Town Council and the local population thoroughly engaged in the work leading up to the Aylsham Neighbourhood Plan, signed off in 2019. To proceed in the ways now proposed by the District Council entirely flies in the face of that engagement and will destroy local faith in those democratic processes. It seems to us that the ONLY beneficiaries of the plans now proposed by the District Council will be developers who have already benefited greatly from planning decisions over the past 40 years. It is now time to prevent further damage to a beautiful town and strong community.
We write as Aylsham residents who are astonished at the process which appears to have been followed in the progression of the GNLP as it relates to this area. We know, of course, that Aylsham is an attractive town which is also popular because of its location midway between Norwich and the north coast. We moved here nearly 40 years ago and are fully aware of how fortunate we have been in being able to raise our children here and, now, to enjoy our retirement here. We understand that many other people will wish to live here and that some growth has been necessary to enable that to happen. However, in the time we have lived here, there have been FOUR major developments - Norfolk Homes, Hopkins Homes, Willow Park and Bure Meadows - which have placed enormous pressure on the local infrastructure as well as a number of "infill" developments.
We do not believe that the proper processes around Regulation 19 have been followed by Broadland District Council and that, as a result, the current proposals are not legally compliant, nor do they satisfy the “soundness” criterion. The LPA’s Statement of Community Involvement and Para 155 of the National Planning Policy Framework require that genuine engagement and community involvement must occur. Apart from any other details, how can that criterion be satisfied if there has been no contact with Aylsham Town Council regarding Regulation 19 and no attempt at proactively engaging with the local community? To propose an increase of over 80% in the number of new houses suggested - compared with the proposal under Regulation 18 - without engagement with the local community or its local representatives is a gross dereliction of the Council’s duties.
As for the “soundness” criterion, we have seen no evidence that the impact on education, health or social care facilities has been taken into account. The proposal for a “new” school actually appears to relate to a replacement for an existing school with no indication of increased capacity. Nursery provision in the town is severely limited and the closure of Children’s Centres by the County Council has only contributed further to the reduction of supportive facilities for young families. No attention appears to have been given to these factors. Similarly, Aylsham’s road network is already under enormous pressure and its historic layout gives limited scope for expansion or alteration. Parking is already a very significant problem - shortage of parking tends to drive people away from shopping in the town, going instead to Norwich or other nearby towns where it is easier to park. This has a very damaging effect on the viability of local shops. More broadly, no proper attention has been directed towards “whole town” solutions to traffic and parking issues.
Issues of sustainability and the impact of climate change appear to have been ignored. An increase in housing at the level proposed in Regulation 19, with new houses at the extremities of the town, will result in a significantly greater use of cars leading to an increased, rather than decreased, carbon footprint. This seems grossly irresponsible at this time.
Finally, it has to be said that the Town Council and the local population thoroughly engaged in the work leading up to the Aylsham Neighbourhood Plan, signed off in 2019. To proceed in the ways now proposed by the District Council entirely flies in the face of that engagement and will destroy local faith in those democratic processes. It seems to us that the ONLY beneficiaries of the plans now proposed by the District Council will be developers who have already benefited greatly from planning decisions over the past 40 years. It is now time to prevent further damage to a beautiful town and strong community.