With reference to the recent article in the September 13th issue of the Shuttle. Councillor Jim Long points out that planning permission for the former Blakedown Nurseries site went ahead before the results of a recent Housing Needs survey requested by Blakedown and Churchill Parish Council, could be published. However, a more in-depth survey of Housing Needs in the above areas was carried out approximately 2/3 years ago. I refer to this as the original survery.
This begs the question, " what happened to the original survey, and why was the data in it, ignored?" I believe the original survey was an addition to the Parish Plan at the time of the plan's conception. Data from the original survey pointed to a strong preference for Local Needs housing. Affordable, to allow young couples born in the villages, to stay in the villages, plus smaller units allowing older people in under-occupied properties, to downsize and stay in their community.
Barratt will no doubt be eligible to pay 106 monies in respect of its being granted planning permission. 106 monies is normally used to benefit the community where the development is to take place. Can we hope for a FULL and HONEST consultation for Blakedown/Churchill residents, from Wyre Forest District Council, in respect of these 106 monies?
As Al Dente posted on Facebook, someone at Barratt must indeed be clairvoyant, when a Birmingham firm had already started work on the site, before planning permission was granted. Would WFDC like to explain this to the Blakedown and Churchill residents, whom they are happy to take council tax from but in other respects ignore. The, 'we are all in it together' and 'localism' mantras obviously do not apply to the planning department.
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