Following the publication of the Draft Wilmslow Vision, a group of local residents have come together to help raise awareness of the proposed plans which could result in hundreds of homes built on Green Belt land in the Dean Row area.
Friends of Dean Row has been established to represent the views of people living near Dean Row, as local residents feel the future of the area has been put into doubt by the proposals in the draft document.
The Draft Wilmslow Vision, which is currently on display at Wilmslow Leisure Centre, and available to view here, sets out the potential development of Wilmslow over the next 20 years.
The most controversial element of the Vision is the suggestion that 1500 new homes should be built in Wilmslow by 2030. A map is included in the proposal which identifies a number of potential sites to be considered further. More land has been identified than is required to deliver 1500 new homes and the options for Dean Row alone could provide 1525 homes on what is largely Green Belt land.
Speaking about the newly formed resident's group, Martin Lewis said "Our aim is to spread awareness of the plans. For reasons not yet clear, Wilmslow Council has chosen not to post information (even a leaflet!) to homes in Wilmslow to let residents know of the plans. This is despite there being clear precedents in other East Cheshire towns going through similar processes, where all residents have quite properly been informed about the ideas for their town, and their views sought. Friends of Dean Row is therefore working hard to ensure that people know about these plans.
"We aim to ensure that local residents' voices are heard. We understand that several Wilmslow Town councillors have serious concerns about the proposals, and are very keen to hear the views of local residents. Thirdly, we intend to protect the area of Dean Row and to retain the Green Belt status of the area in its entirety."
The Friends are urging residents of Dean Row to have their say by completing the questionnaire, either on-line or using the form which is available at the Leisure Centre.
Martin Lewis added "The sheer scale of the potential development has shocked many people across Wilmslow. The Wilmslow Vision appears not to recognise the value which residents place on Wilmslow's precious green spaces. Nor do the proposals recognise the vital function of the Green Belt, which protects the town from incessant development, at risk from becoming a suburban sprawl, and thereby a dilution of what makes the town special.
"If you live in the Dean Row area, the potential development sites of B and H will be particularly close to your heart, and many residents here are concerned that any extra development in this area is not sustainable. This is following significant expansion already over the last 15 years leading to over-used roads etc, which is only going to get significantly worse once the 1,000 houses on the Woodford Airfield site are built."
The deadline for submitting the questionnaire is Monday 30th April. One questionnaire can be submitted per person, it is not restricted to one per household and anyone with an interest in the future of the area can submit a form.
Friends of Dean Row has organised a meeting with local councillors to provide residents with the opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns. The meeting will be held at Dean Row Village Hall at 7pm on Friday 20th April.
One of the issues they will be asking about is the Advisory Stakeholder Group (ASG) whose opinions have helped shape the Draft Wilmslow Vision document.
Martin said "Both the Council and Broadway Malyan, the private planning consultants used to help put the plans together, have sought to distance themselves from the proposals. If we take that claim at face value for now, then the ASG has clearly wielded a huge amount of power in this process, including: setting the draft target number of new houses at 1,500 (rather than the minimum of 500 as requested by Cheshire East); setting the areas proposed for potential development and setting the form of the questionnaire and consultation process.
"Given that the non-elected ASG apparently wields such power to frame the whole debate, it seems only fair to understand: what is the composition of the ASG, who are the individuals who contributed to the process, what are those individuals' credentials for being selected and what was the process for ensuring that no conflicts of interest exist within the ASG, and can we see the output of this?"
Friends of Dean Row will also be arranging an online petition. Email them at [email protected] if you wish to participate or visit www.friendsofdeanrow.blogspot.co.uk if you want be kept informed.
Martin added "I am assured that local residents can control the outcome of development in our area. Please discuss this with your neighbours, the future of our area is in our hands."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
We need to protect our Green Belt. Dean Row is an established rural community and the natural beauty of the Bollin Valley and its environment is not only a vast habitat for flora and fauna, the Bollin Valley environs are the 'lungs' for the active, upwardly mobile town of Wilmslow. To flourish the area must be allowed to breathe.
Development should only be allowed to take place if it is not sited in an area that holds the key to the balance of rural, semi-rural and urban life in Wilmslow.
I urge you to support "Friends of Dean Row", use your public right, use your voice and have your say in the questionnaire. Say no to the development of housing in designated Green Belt areas that will see the collapse of the "lungs" that allow Wilmslow to breathe!
1. How was the figure of 1500 new houses arrived at?
2. Who is the developer who owns one of the two proposed sites off Dean Row road?
3. How long has he owned it for and how much did he pay for it?
4. How much (roughly) will the site be worth with planning permission?
5. Has anyone from CEC discussed the proposed redevelopment of the Leisure Centre with Waitrose. If so, did those discussions include the subject of money (our money)?
6. What exactly is a "culture corridor (question for councillor Jones)
7. What will happen to the Rectory Field under the new plan? Might they become either a car park or a housing estate?
8. If the existing library is demolished will the site be used for housing or as an extension to Sainsbury's car park?
You might respond by claiming that these proposals are at such an early stage the this request cannot be answered. Such a response would be profoundly mistaken. Plans like these which involve vast amounts of our money and cause profound changes to our community must be open to public inspection right from the outset.
I will keep you all informed once I have a reply (which must be sent within 20 working days).
As Kay White said, the greenbelt around here and I include the Summerfields sports field and childrens play area is the lungs for Wilmslow.
I will be objecting whole-heartedly to these proposals and support Friends of Dean Row!