This will be posted to the Shipston Blog in the next day or two. I have spoken to the Town Clerk and he agrees that the letter is in the public domain and is not confidential. I post it here, without comment, for information - but I, Richard and Bob would clearly welcome your comments. Please use the ‘report a problem ‘button on the left, or contact us directly, click on a name for contact details.

Philip

Reference to: Local Development Framework
Your Reference:
Date Prepared: 16 September 2008

Karen Johnston
Stratford On Avon District Council
Elizabeth House
Church Street
Stratford Upon Avon
CV37 6HX

Dear Ms.Johnstone,
This is Shipston On Stour Town Council’s response to LDF document.

Whereas Shipston On Stour Town Council would look to support the national need for additional housing stock, particularly affordable housing, the Council has identified 4 major issues relating to any large scale housing development for the town, as identified specifically within the draft LDF proposals put before the Council on the 20 August 2008. The issues identified are as follows:

Issue 1: Employment and access

Shipston on Stour is not particularly attractive to new employers due to it’s geographical location and the access difficulties that exist. Indeed, rather than attract new employment, the town has seen in recent times the exit of major employers, particularly emphasised by the relocation of the Norgren works.

The lack of principal transport links to the town makes it an unattractive to new potential employers, given that there are no local rail links to Shipston, and access to major road arteries are an hour away for heavy vehicles.

The recent housing development within the town has led to an influx of commuter workers who are forced to travel vast distances to their places of employment. It is not uncommon for commuters to travel to Birmingham, London and Bristol. This has led to the increased in use of private motor vehicles as the main form of transport for work, aggravating the use of the rural road network and adding to the adverse impacts on congestion and global warming.

Issue 2: Impact on the Natural Environment – Visual Impact

Shipston on Stour borders The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and could be seen as one of the gateways to it. Indeed, the open countryside surrounding the town could be seen to augment this and could in itself be considered an Area of natural beauty. The current setting of the town does not encroach on such natural settings, it being nestled in a natural hollow formed by the Stour Valley which does not detract from the natural vistas of the surrounding country side. It is felt that any proposed development on the Camden Road would detract from the distinctive rural setting of the town, especially when encroaching the 80m contour line, and would fundamentally alter the sharp contrast between town and countryside readily apparent in views when approaching and leaving the town from the East and West.

This view was supported by Inspector Sheppard in the 2005 Local Plan Review, where he thought that the site would be harmful in visual terms.

Issue 3: Support infrastructure

The Council feels that recent large scale housing developments in the town have already stretched the support infrastructure, and although section 106 provisions had been sought from developers, this money has either not been used or used ineffectively to improve local services in support of the increased population. In particular, the council is concerned about the needs to improve current services, including: Heath Services, Education services, social care services, leisure services, policing and emergency services.

The Council is also aware of the issue that despite it’s rural location, Shipston does not present many opportunities for it’s residents to enjoy green space.

Issue 4: Environmental Impact

The recent floods of July 2007 have provided a timely reminder of the devastating impact that flooding can have on the town. Localised flooding has occurred on numerous occasions before and after the July floods, and although the environment agency are taking some measures in an attempt to reduce future risk, part of the reason for the July 07 floods has been attributed to local drain off water. The council is therefore obviously concerned about the impact any new developments would have on aggravating potential flooding risk.

There is also concern regarding the Natural Springs that are evident on the proposed site, both with regard to the effect these might have on the development, and the effect that might be caused by altering their natural flow.

The Town Council would fully support small scale housing development within the parish to satisfy local demands, and has identified the Renault site off Tilemans Lane and the Robinson Goss building on Camden Road as possible locations for such future developments.

This all being said, the Town Council is aware of the national housing needs, and if the District Council through the LDF is of a mind to allow for large scale housing development either on the Camden Road site, or indeed any other identified site within the town, the Council feels that there are areas of support infrastructure that are already stretched, and would need to be addressed to support any additional development. These include:

- Medical centre to be either enlarged or relocated to a larger site
- The local schools would need to be enhanced
- More affordable housing would need to be included within developments. These to be managed by a local housing association with a local link as a requirement to access these dwellings. This local link to be confirmed by the Town Council.
- Where development is to be sited the Town Council preference would be to utilise brownfield sites in preference to greenfield sites.
- All road infrastructure within the town and its immediate environment would need to be improved should further development take place
- Problems of water run off to be fully addressed and the Town Council to be a full partner in this process
- Where the solution is deemed to be holding tanks, then the Town Council would need to be made aware of other areas where the tanks have been the successful solution, and the maintenance processes of these tanks.
- The Town Council to be fully involved in all maintenance proposals.
- All remedial flooding actions to be completed before construction commences.
- There should be open spaces for recreation within the development.
- There should be additional leisure facilities.
- More public transport within the town, and also between other local centres.
- A further major food store to be encouraged adjacent to the development.

Yours sincerely

W.J.Robinson.

Just to get off the politics for a while, I ‘enjoyed’ a nice trip to Twickenham on Saturday. I strongly recommend not going to a match against Australia and being surrounded by Aussie supporters! Good game (except for the result), we looked promising, especially if we can cut down on the unforced errors…..

Philip

The new committee for Shipston Lib Dems was elected at our recent AGM. The officers are:

Chair: Councillor Richard Cheney
Secretary: Councillor Philip Vial
Treasurer: Maurice Ribbans

Many thanks went to Sheila Ribbans, who this year stepped down as secretary.

Richard Cheney also thanked the many people who had worked extremely hard in his election campaign in May, and also the residents of Shipston for supporting him at the ballot box.

Philip

With the county council elections coming up in June, several people have asked me how to get a postal vote, as they will be away and unable to vote in person.

It’s easy to apply, the application form is here (the address for return is on the form).

Philip