This is a member post by your local Cheshire East Councillors.
We are writing to update you on the ongoing Wilmslow Vision consultation process.
Firstly, we must agree that the way communication has been handled for the Town Vision project so far has been disappointing and we apologise for that. However, the consultation is producing the feedback we need from residents to help us safeguard Wilmslow. We are aware that some confusion remains and we are writing to you to give more information and to clarify the process
The number of new houses 'required' for Wilmslow is estimated based on Government formulae that Cheshire East has no choice but to work to. More importantly, this is also the same formulae that developers will try to use to justify applications for large house building schemes. The figure of 1,500 mentioned in the Wilmslow Vision documents is clearly too many for Wilmslow, but we want residents to be aware of what developers will be arguing for if planning applications are submitted. 500 is a much more realistic number that matches house construction rates in Wilmslow over the last 20 years. We cannot either practically or legally block all growth in Wilmslow. We can, however, seek to minimise and control it. Your local Conservative Councillors want to protect Wilmslow as much as local residents. After all, your local Councillors are local residents too. But, we also have to acknowledge that Wilmslow will continue to grow and new houses will be needed. Even aside from population growth, the average number of people living in each house is continuing to decrease, meaning that we would need more houses for the same number of people.
The Wilmslow Vision is the first of a three part consultation process that will contribute to the development of a new Local Plan for the whole of Cheshire East. The Cheshire East Local Plan is the guide for planning policy (e.g. where houses, offices, schools, new roads etc, can or can't, should or shouldn't be built) for all towns and villages in Cheshire East. This Local Plan will be the best defence we can have against unwanted development. Wilmslow Vision is designed to highlight areas around Wilmslow that are either currently privately owned (often by developers) and that the landowners have expressed an interest in building on, or areas that may well be the subject of applications for building housing developments in the future.
The Local Plan is not a plan for where Cheshire East wants to build. Cheshire East does not build houses. However, we are the Planning Authority and we do need the input of local people to let us know which areas are most important to local residents.
Under the Government's new localism agenda in planning, if we can show through representation (e.g. the Wilmslow Vision process and responses to it) that there is strong public opinion against developing in the highlighted areas, then it puts Cheshire East in a stronger position to keep these areas in the green belt and protect them from development.
We are also aware that there has been confusion between the Local Plan and any proposals for town centre development including suggestions around a 'Culture Corridor' that would involve the Leisure Centre and Library. We can now confirm that consultation on any proposals for redevelopment of the town centre will be handled separately at a later date.
Residents can view the Wilmslow Vision documents via the Cheshire East or Wilmslow Town Council websites and at the Leisure Centre until 31st May 2012. Responses can be online, by letter to Cheshire East or by the questionnaire form.
Your local Cheshire East Councillors
Gary Barton, Wesley Fitzgerald, Rod Menlove, Don Stockton and Paul Whiteley.
Photo: (l-r) Cllr Rod Menlove Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, Cllr Jim Crockatt Chairman of Wilmslow Town Council, Cllr Ruth McNulty, Vice-Chairman of Wilmslow Town Council and Cllr Gary Barton.
Click on the 'Wilmslow Vision' tag below for all the previous articles on the Draft Wilmslow Vision.
