WyeWeb

A Point of View

 When Mrs. Pound urged restraint on even incremental planned development in and around Wye she may have received sympathy from the audience of the Wye Public Meeting but what she was suggesting may have seemed disconnected from the plans of Imperial College, ABC, WwHPC and even central government. As the parish council urged some kind of compromise for the development her plea may have seemed even futile. I would like to offer support for a local approach to Wye’s future. Continue Reading »

Well done Wye parishioners! Working together, the Wye Future Group’s ‘The Village has Spoken’ leaflet, Wyeweb’s 50-tick campaign, the ‘Concerned Ladies Group’ campaign at Saturday’s Farmer’s Market and the Parish Council’s flier and posters,  ensured a tremendous attendance at the Public Meeting held in Wye Parish Church. The Parish Council, headed by Parish Council Chairman Tony Shoults, laid before an attentive audience the development of the Neighbourhood Plan and the Imperial College Masterplan consultations.

Mr Shoults warned the village that the only way that the village can keep control over its planning destiny is to get behind the Neighbourhood Plan. Mr MacFee, another Parish Councillor, gave the same message and ended a carefully scripted account of the possible conflicts between the Neighbourhood Plan and The Imperial Master Plan. Mr Mark Hanton, a consultant hired by the Parish Council to advise them on the development possibilities in the village suggested that, in addition to the 45/50 houses allocated to WYE1 and WYE2, a reasonable figure for the village to aim at in WYE3 would be 8 houses per year up to 2030. It might appear therefore that some 136 houses are a reasonable compromise with Imperial College. Supposing that building would not start for a couple of years a 15 year span with 8 houses per year on the WYE3 site would mean 120 houses.

The comments and questions from the floor were lively and often fierce. Ben Moorehead, chairman of the Wye Future Group, reminded the Parish Council and Borough Councillor Steve Wright, that Imperial College had form in saying one thing and doing something else. Dianna Pound again emphasised that growth of a community should be organic and not simply incremental. The latter would lead inexorably to Wye becoming a town and losing all its valued and endearing aspects of a historic rural community. Ann Sutherland questioned the notion of the council absorbing the Grade I listed building as a community hub and was dismayed that it had appeared in the Master Plan. On business issues Mike Copland queried the enthusiasm of the Parish Council for supporting Wye businesses when it clearly backed the idea of moving Wye Bugs and BCP which would cost up to a quarter of a million pounds for his business alone. Linda Cobb reiterated the village’s wish for no more than fifty houses. Simon Gunnel talked about the level crossing problems.  Transport, as Barbara Bushnell reminded the audience was the Achilles’ heel of the Imperial development plans. Previous planning applications in and around Wye had foundered on transport issues of a much smaller scale than the Free School and a new Butt End housing development.

Article submitted by Peter Sutherland.

On the Parish Council poster advertising the above meeting, it says ‘What does it mean for Wye?” Well what it means in my view, is “No compromise”, “No negotiation” and “No more questionnaires”.

At a sounding board meeting in February, Mr Rummy [Rummy Designs Master Planning Co] was asked “Have any deals been done regarding the Wye 3 process?” He replied ‘not as far as I am aware.’ 

It is felt by some that our Parish Council would be hampered in any discussions due to their support for the Free School and their interest in the Grade one Listed building for a Community Hub.

This Monday’s Public Meeting concerns the most important situation to hit Wye since Imperial’s original vision.

Perhaps it may not appear to be so devastating at the moment, as in 2005. But 200 houses or 300 houses (and who knows how many more?)may be planned. It will change the village for ever.

With the 45 houses already agreed before the Neighbourhood Plan and already in the DPD, 95 houses plus wind fall are more than enough for the period up to 2030.

Please everyone make the effort to be at Monday’s Public Meeting 20th May 7pm for 7.30pm in the Parish Church.

Remember the village has spoken, no more than 50 houses up to 2030!!

Jasper Bouverie has made available on his website http://jasperbouverie.wordpress.com/  the plans by Mark Hanton at the NP workshops and exhibitions. He has published them so that they can help discussion at the Parish Council’s Public meeting on Monday 20th May at Wye Parish Church 7pm for 7.30pm.

In addition to the 50 houses which is the number voted for, there are also 45 which were already agreed in the Development Planning Document.

Collect a copy of the 50-tick poster from Ticketyboo

The Wyeweb and Wye Future Group’s campaigns to highlight the village’s wish for no more than 50 houses to be built up to the year 2030 is growing. 84%  who voted for this in the Neighbourhood Plan questionnaire. The proposed number presented by Imperial in their Master Plan is 300. If you want to join the growing numbers by displaying your vote in your window, print off the symbol from here or…..

Collect a copy of the 50-tick poster from Ticketyboo.