About a dozen local residents attended last night's Annual Town Council meeting, several of whom used the public participation slot to raise questions or make comments regarding the Draft Wilmslow Vision consultation.
Derek Altoft, of Chesham Road, mentioned the article 'Wilmslow Vision process: thoughts of a stakeholder' which Pippa Jones published on wilmslow.co.uk last week. He told town councillors that is was "quite revealing, if not shocking for us" and asked if the Town Council could provide more information.
Derek asked "Could it be made public what the process was? To what extent did the stakeholders and other representatives have an input?"
Another of the speakers, Professor Caroline Rowland, urged the town council to consider the importance of Greenspace in any plan and focus on a brown field solution for providing future housing.
Caroline Rowland, of Wilmslow Park, said "Wilmslow Council and Cheshire East are to be commended for their promise to protect our Greenbelt and prevent any building on it. This is in accordance with the wishes of the electorate and is a good example of local democracy at work.
"It is now imperative to consider Greenspace and not to conflate this with the already protected Greenbelt. Greenspace is essential in any vision or plan for Wilmslow's future. There is a compelling raft of evidence both from National and International research that Greenspace is essential with regards to the wellbeing and sustainability of both humans and wildlife.
"Sustainability of community and sustainable housing must both be considered and the relationship between both is crucial. As yet, there is no evidence to prove that the council or Cheshire East have considered the importance of the essential element of Greenspace in any vision or plan. Wilmslow is distinct and distinctive –people choose to live in Wilmslow because of its character and quality of life. Once Greenspace is built on (that is to say on reserved green fields and water meadows) our borders will merge with other communities; for example: Poynton and Woodford and our character will be enveloped in urban sprawl. There are well established correlations between both physical and mental wellbeing and Greenspace. Additional burdens on local health facilities must be considered as a hidden cost in any decision to build on this space. The lack of Greenspace also has a well- documented relationship with the rise in crime rates. Resulting financial implications such as criminal damage, theft and residents leaving for more "desirable" locations will also have an impact on local services and quality of life.
"Woodford/BAE systems is due to be developed and the understanding is that Cheshire East owns a large proportion of this land. There is potential for a build of 1,500 houses. This will have a significant impact on the services of Wilmslow as people will use our shops, library, healthcare centres and schools. In addition if adjacent reserved land in Wilmslow is also used the community will merge, lose distinctiveness and red kites, owls and other wildlife will disappear from the Wilmslow landscape.
"The concern for valid and reliable data is a major worry. Broadway Malyan seems to have focused almost entirely on where to build houses rather than to present an objective analysis and has ignored a sustainable green agenda. At last week's meeting at Dean Row it was impossible to gain meaningful data from them concerning brownfield sites. A balanced evaluation of a complex dynamic environment dealing with issues such as: declining local business including the closure of BAE, possible economic impacts from the recession on other major employers (net inflow and outflow of jobs); declining birth rates; unlet office space; and unsold lower cost residences- such as the flats by the station received no consideration.
"To be a viable sustainable community Wilmslow needs leadership at local and county level. It needs to maintain a community that has quality of life, and a distinct identity so that people will wish to remain and contribute to the local economy. Wilmslow needs to remain special to achieve this. It is essential for our future that our councillors make decisions based on reliable and valid data. They need to follow the localism agenda by focusing on the strongly voiced wishes of the electorate to use brown field sites for any demonstrated building needs.
"Innovation and imagination are the way forward for sustainable and viable communities in the 21st century and Wilmslow should be a leader not a follower!"
Speaking about brownfield sites Cllr Gary Barton said "Empty houses will be taken into account by Cheshire East when they draw up the local plan. This (the Draft Wilmslow Vision) is the highest, broadest level look before we narrow it down to the draft local plan."
He added "Area of natural beauty and scientific interest will be taken into consideration. Areas like that will be absolute no go areas. It looks like we haven't taken these into account but we will do."
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