What We've Been Up To.

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Housing in the Green Belt at West Parley.

As we all know, the unelected Regional Assembly at Exeter has proposed around 1000 high density houses to be built in the green belt at West Parley - opposite the shops at Parley Cross, and in the fields by Dudsbury Rings.

This plan is nearing the end of a long series of bureaucratic hurdles. Together with the rest of the so called Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West, it is now out for public consultation to the Secretary of State, by October 24.

She will publish the final R.S.S. about Jan/Feb 2009. Despite our protests, it is quite likely that she will approve the green belt housing proposals.

Is that the end of it?

Not at all. It is still down to our own District Council, E.D.D.C., to comply with this Ministerial guidance. E.D.D.C. has to go through a long process of making a new plan (called their Core Strategy) before any detailed planning applications can be approved. They have to consult you on it. Until this Core Strategy is completed, sent up to the government and OKed by them, existing planning law forbidding housing in the green belt still applies.

East Dorset District Council would have to vote on a new Core Strategy which gets rid of some of our green belt for housing. This would take some doing, in the face of strong public opinion. Previously, E.D.D.C. voted in August 2006 against housing in the green belt. They confirmed this by another vote - also unanimous - on 3 September 2008.

If EDDC did vote, as we expect, against a new Core Strategy containing houses in the green belt, the Government could overturn this eventually - if they are still in power. But the complex process of assembling a new Core Strategy on Government lines, bringing it to a vote, and sending it to the Government may not be completed before May 2010. This is the date by which a General Election has to be held.

The Conservatives have said that they disapprove of both Regional Assemblies and housing in the green belt.

So it is all to play for, and all in the hands of the East Dorset District Council.
Support and encourage your local Councillors.

East Dorset District Council Vote - Again -

Against Housing in the Green Belt

The 18 Councillors of E.D.D.Cs influential Policy & Resources Committee (Chairman Cllr Spencer Flower) met on 3 September 2008 to consider recommendations by their officers.

These recommendations asked them to reverse their opposition to building in the green belt at West Parley, Wimborne and Corfe Mullen.

The public gallery was full. The Councillors refused - unanimously - to agree with their officers recommendations.

Hats Off to our District Councillors!

Public Rally

No Housing in the Green Belt

11:30 Sunday 14 September at the Square, Bournemouth

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (C.P.R.E.) and the 7 Action Groups threatened by Green Belt Housing Plans are combining to protest to Secretary of State Hazel Blears.

Her plans to Invade Our Green Belt - Wimborne, West Parley, Corfe Mullen, Lytchett Minster, Lytchett Matravers, Upton, Throop and Holdenhurst - are Unsustainable and Unwanted

                                                Preserve Beautiful Dorset
                                    Be There On Sunday to Show You Care
                                                    Wear Something Green

Click Here for link to Echo story

Echo article - Green Belt U-turn bid a 'Bombshell'.

Click Here for link to Echo story

Letter to residents from WPRA Chairman.

West Parley Residents Association

   Chairmen Richard Heaslip 2 Longfield Dnve     Secretary Paul Timberlake 8 Brierley Avenue
                                      West Parley                                                West Parley
                                                BH22 8TY                                                   BH22 8PE
                                      Tel: 01202 594982                                       Tel: 01202 573213

Dear Fellow Residents,

                                               Regional Spatial Strategy
      Changes to Green Belt in East Dorset to accommodate thousands of New Houses

As you may have seen in the latest Stour and Avon Magazine, Hazel Blears, the Secretary of State for Communities, has recently published her response to the South West Regional Spatial Strategy proposals for a massive increase in the number of houses to be built in East Dorset, 900 of which are proposed for West Parley.
The West Parley Residents Association will be addressing the various issues included in the Report in due course but the fundamental issue, and one of immediate concern, is that of the proposal to reduce the area designated as Green Belt, supported by Hazel Blears.
We need to fight this proposal and get it overturned and it is important that as many as possible of us should attend two events concerned with this issue in the immediate future:

1. The E.D.D.C policy and resources committee meeting in the Council Chamber at Furzehill at 10am Wednesday 3 September, when they will be debating whether or not to change council policy on the green belt from their decision to keep the present boundaries or to reverse this policy and reduce the area of Green Belt to accommodate Hazel Blears.
If the EDDC members remain committed to keeping the current extent of the Green Belt, and they are under pressure from their own Council Officers to agree to a reduction, then there is every chance that the Green Belt can be preserved and the houses fought off until a change of government in May 2010.

2. The All Action-Groups/All Councils Green Belt Protest March starting at Bournemouth Pier at 11.30 Sunday 14 September.
This march will be supported by many residents and other action groups and local council groups and is designed to show the overwhelming opposition to any reduction of the Green Belt in South East Dorset. It will be well covered by press and TV. This is not a strenuous march just from the Pier to the Bandstand in the Lower Gardens.

Please do your utmost to attend at least one of these events and also spread the word about these events to your neighbours and urge them to attend, too. This Newsletter only goes out to the 200 or so residents whose e-mail addresses we have and we need to reach as many residents as possible. If you can relay this e-mail to your own local e-mail list it will reach many more residents.

Details of the Protest March on Sunday, 14 September will almost certainly be posted in the local press. If there are to be any changes to the arrangements we will do our best to inform you.
We look forward to seeing a very large gathering of West Parley residents at the council chamber on Wednesday and also at Bournemouth Pier on Sunday, 14 September.

Richard Heaslip,
Chairman
WPRA

Echo article - Housing plan 'tragic attack on green belt'.

Click Here for link to Echo story

Echo article - Homes Pledge (Green belt safe in Camerons hands).

Click Here for link to Echo story

Echo article - Parties unite to fight plans for new homes.

Click Here for link to Echo story

Echo article - Parties unite to fight RSS.

Click Here for link to Echo story

Echo article on Heathland near St Leonards.

Click Here for link to Echo story

Letter from leader of EDDC to Hazel Blears.

East Dorset District Council leader Derek Burt opposes the Regional Spatial Strategy and talks of a Judicial Review.

Please click to see the full text

Council in surrender mode over proposals.

Click Here for link to Echo story

Public Meeting with guest Christopher Chope MP

WPRA held another public meeting at West Parley Memorial Hall, our special guest was Christopher Chope M.P.

More than 200 people crammed into the Hall to hear Chairman Dick Heaslip explain the next steps of the Regional Spacial Strategy now that the E.I.P. (Examination in Public) has given its approval for all the sites identified for housing development in the area.

Click Here for link to full report on SWRA's website.

WPRA demanded that EDDC use its power to ensure that all necessary infrastructure improvements to support such a development be made before any
building of houses is commenced.

Our M.P. Christopher Chope backed these sentiments and confirmed that a future Conservative Government would scrap Regional Assemblies and would hand back decision making regarding housing targets to local people.

A letter from Eric Pickles M.P., Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which was distributed at the meeting, confirms this intent.

Mr Chope has been an invaluable ally in our fight to preserve our village and green spaces against the SWRA proposals to build 900 houses in our green belt fields. He recently highlighted our case in parliament and used our survey results to demonstrate the depth of feeling against the plans.

Click Here for Hansards record of the debate. [Debate starts half way down page and runs onto next page]
Click Here for details of debate from www.theyworkforyou.com

Click Here for link to Echo coverage of the meeting.

Bill Bryson visits West Parley in fight for Greenbelt.

Click Here for link to Echo story

Residents Association members Dick Heaslip and Paul Timberlake accompanied Bill Bryson as he viewed the fields under threat of development in West Parley.
Paul took the opportunity of getting a few photos on the day.

WPRA launches our first newsletter for residents.

Click Here to view in PDF format. Free Adobe PDF viewer available Here.

Protest at scheme to double size of village.

Click Here for link to Echo story

WPRA Survey Launch

The Residents Survey results are to be made public with a presentation of our findings to local MP, Mr Christopher Chope.

The presentation will take place at West Parley Memorial Hall at 10:00am on Monday the 26th of February.

Local press, radio and TV have been invited to attend the launch which represents residents views on local issues such as the proposals to develop the Greenbelt, the airport, traffic concerns and waste facilities.

There was a fantastic response rate to the survey, and we would like you to continue showing your support by attending on the day. We are sure that the results will be of interest to everyone.

Click Here for the results

Morwenna Blake has written the following article in the The Daily Echo.

Click Here for link to Echo story

Petitions Against Regional Assemblies

A E-mail petition has been posted on the governments website calling upon the Prime Minister to abolish the Regional Assemblies in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The South West Regional Assembly is the unelected body planning to place 900 houses in West Parleys Greenbelt fields despite opposition from our Parish and District Councils.

Click Here to electronically sign the petition online at the government site.

Biomass Burner Proposed at Eco-Composting site, Chapel Lane

Plans are in progress to site a Biomass burner in Chapel Lane at the Eco-Composting site. This plant is not part of Dorset County Councils waste plans to site an MBT (mechanical biological treatment) plant and RDF (refuse derived fuel) incinerator on land off Chapel Lane near to Bournemouth Airport but is in addition to them.

Representatives from the West Parley Residents Association will be visiting the site to obtain more information on this proposal.

Click Here for link to Echo story

WPRA Survey

The survey is well underway thanks to volunteer distributors who have delivered around 1500 surveys to West Parley residents. So far we have received over 1100 responses but if you still haven't completed the questionnaire yet please fill it in and return it in the prepaid envelope provided. Your views really will count!

The Daily Echo covered the survey in an article by Andy Davey.

Click Here for link to Echo story

Public Meeting 26 September at West Parley Memorial Hall

The WPRA Committee gave the latest information on the 900 houses project to a crowded audience of 175.

Paul Timberlake showed the developers intended plans, with a minimum of 900 houses, on each side of New Road, and going all the way up to Dudsbury Rings, with new access roads on to Christchurch and New Roads.

John Cullen talked about increased traffic flows leading to congestion and reduced air quality; Della Edwards told what we had achieved so far, including the organisation of the largest crowd ever to attend an EDDC meeting, with presentations from our Association and our local District Councillors, which made EDDC change their minds and decide to oppose this housing project.

Chairman Richard Heaslip explained that this was a good win, but only the first in a long process - the whole SW Region plan would be examined by Government for the next 2 or 3 years. If houses were ever to be built, the first would not be until 2010/11. There would be changes, and other vital meetings, and we had to keep up with events. W.P.R.A. would keep the public informed and focus the opposition.

He said we were very very hopeful, indeed quietly confident, that as long as we kept our eye on the ball these houses would never happen. We are not going to sacrifice our green belt; we are not going to let a thousand year old village become a suburb of Greater Bournemouth.

There followed a lively audience discussion. District Councillors Barbara Manuel and Ron Daw were praised for the strong stand they had taken on our behalf at the EDDC. Many were concerned that Dorset District Council still favoured the housing plans, and asked why there seemed to be little representation on our behalf from our County Councillor, John Wilson - who said he was opposed to a 900 house plan without sufficient roads and other infrastructure, but left the impression that he would be content with some smaller housing plan in the green belt.

Many of those present signed up to support W.P.R.A. with leafleting, letter writing, committee work and donations. A collection raised the useful sum of 291 for our work. Many thanks to all who contributed and have offered support.

Council votes against 900 house plan for West Parleys Green Belt

In November 2005 the East Dorset District Council had voted in favour of the South West Regional Authoritys plans. On Wednesday 9 August 2006, under intense public pressure, they reversed this decision.

The meeting of their Policy & Resources Committee was shifted to the Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne. Over 300 of the public were there - by far the largest attendance at any meeting since the Council began.

KeepWestParleyGreen, together with the campaign groups from Corfe Mullen and Wimborne, and Councillors Barbara Manuel and Ron Daw from West Parley, all made presentations. Della Edwards spoke for KeepWestParleyGreen and was well reported in Thursdays Echo. (see elsewhere on this website)

The vote, recommending to the Public Inquiry Panel that the projected housing sites in West Parley, Corfe Mullen and most of Wimborne are deleted, was confirmed by the full East Dorset District Council on Monday 14 August.

This is a victory for KeepWestParleyGreen and for all the people who have supported us, written letters, attended meetings, and made their views known.

But, it is only the first lap in a long race. The procedures and hearings will go on for at least two years, maybe more. There is a Public Inquiry, then the Government, the South West Regional Authority and the Dorset District Council will all come into it.

KeepWestParleyGreens public meeting at 7pm Tuesday 26 September in the West Parley Memorial Hall will explain all this, and what we are doing to keep on top of it, and seek your views and your help.

In the end it is down to you - public opinion won this Wednesday, and will always win if it is strong enough, loud enough, and well focussed.

'A recipe for chaos'

Click Here for link to article

At a meeting of the West Parley Parish Council on the 19th of July it was formally agreed that the Council would oppose the major development South of Parley Cross.

WEST PARLEY ACTION GROUP

KEEP WEST PARLEY GREEN

You have probably heard of the proposal to build 900 houses on our Greenbelt fields, South of Parley Cross and East of Dudsbury Rings, made by the South West Regional Assembly (Taunton).

This will change the face of West Parley as we know it and turn the traffic problem from bad to worse.

When the East Dorset District Council looked at the whole South West plan in October 2005, they approved it. Now there is another chance to voice objections when the EDDC meet to discuss this plan:
10am Wed 9 August (postponed from 12 July)
Queen Elizabeth School Hall,
Blandford Road, Wimborne.
Please come if you can, and help make the publics voice heard on this issue.

And why not write to your West Parley EDDC Councillors - Mrs Barbara Manuel and Ron Daw - c/o East Dorset District Council, Furzehill, Wimborne, BH21 4HN

Please note that the West Parley Action Group will be holding a public meeting on the:
26th of September at 7.00pm
At the West Parley Memorial Hall

Keep West Parley Green
Phone: 07877 964632
Email: contact@keepwestparleygreen.org.uk
Website: www.keepwestparleygreen.org.uk

WEST PARLEY ACTION GROUP

KEEP WEST PARLEY GREEN

You will all know by now that the unelected South West Regional Assembly (SWRA) in Taunton are planning to put 900 houses on our Green Belt fields. Fortunately, there is a lot of bureaucracy to be got through before the developers can get busy - and so a lot of chances for us to fight it.

The next chance is when the East Dorset District Council (EDDC) looks at the plan again. So far they have approved it. Their Policy and Resources Committee will meet in the Council Chamber at 10am on Wednesday 12 July to consider their recommendations to the SWRA.

Also, we need to write to our Councillors. Remind them how we value the Green Belt - how 900 houses will affect the traffic - how another 2000 people will swamp West Parleys present 2000 - how we would need roads, schools, health centres and youth facilities to cope with all this - how all this building would close the gap between us and Kinson. The ancient village of West Parley would become just another suburb of Bournemouth.

Your representatives on the EDDC are Cllr Mrs Barbara Manuel (Vice Chair EDDC) 80 Cammell Road, West Parley BH22 8SD and Cllr Ron Daw, 2 Lone Pine Way, West Parley BH22 8LU
The EDDC Chairman is Cllr Alex Clarke - the leaders of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 12 July are Cllr D.F. Burt and Cllr D.J.Durley, all of whom can be written to c/o East Dorset District Council, Furzehill, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 4HN

Details of the West Parley Action Group can be found on the Parish Notice Board at Parley Cross.

Our phone number is 0 78 77 96 46 32.
Our email address is contact@KeepWestParleyGreen.org.uk
Our website (coming soon) is www.KeepWestParleyGreen.org.uk

We have 225 local supporters on file so far - and will be holding a public meeting quite soon.

Let them all hear from us Lets go to it!