Ravensthorpe News
10 Year Joint Anniversary
Both the Woodland Trust and the Playing Fields will be combining forces to celebrate their 10th anniversaries on September 4th.
The Woodland Trust will be displaying examples of their work programmes on the playing field and the Pavilion will be open for refreshments. There will be family games laid on along with a band in the afternoon of 4th September.
In the evening there will be another live band, licensed bar and barbeque - tickets will be on sale soon priced at just £5.00.
Rubbish in our streets
The amount of litter in our streets seems to be increasing. It appears to be due the covers not being properly secured on recycling bins - please check yours.
Deepening Problem of Potholes - Report Them Now
According to Endsleigh Insurance a survey has found that one in two motorists
have met with an accident or near-miss while trying to avoid a pothole.
However, almost seven in 10 motorists did not report a pothole to the local authority, the survey by Guild of Experienced Motorists (GEM) Motoring Assist revealed.
Nine in 10 drivers said their council was doing very little to repair damaged roads, which have been further deteriorated by the recent cold snap.
Problem potholes can be easily reported via the Northamptonshire County Council website. The reporting of these dangerous holes could then assist motorists with subsequent claims if the local authority has not made efforts to repair the roads and pavements.
Although many cars have been damaged by potholes, only 5% of drivers have claimed for a compensation against their local authority, the study noted.
It emerged that 88% of motorists did not know the procedures to make a claim, while the rest were unaware that they could claim for compensation.
David Williams, chief executive at GEM, said: "Often motorists will not spot a pothole until it is too late and as the survey worryingly reveals either swerve out of the way, which could result in a crash, or cause damage to their car.
"Local councils need to take swift action in alleviating this nationwide problem, but it is also important for motorists to play their part in reporting potholes to local councils."
Housing Development Will Not Happen
It is understood that the local land owner has written to West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit (WNJPU) advising them that they have made an error in including the land at Ravensthorpe in their plan. In turn WNJPU have advised that the site will be removed from their website following the period of consultation which will be in approximately 3 months time.
Ravensthorpe set to Double in Size in 6 Years? - Probably not!
West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit has published details of a proposed site for the potential development of 759 houses. The report suggests that development could start as soon as 2012 and would conclude by 2018.
The site is shown as including Hawtoft Farm and the land directly behind it. The report states that there are no identified environmental constraints and that the development will have a low impact on Strategic Roan Network (SRN). It goes on to say that the "site is available for development as it is actively promoted. The site is considered suitable, available and achievable."
There does appear to be a huge gaff here as we believe the land owner does not advocate this plan and very upset by the published report.
Cllr Chris Miller says "It
does not mean that any development will ever be agreed on this land -
certainly a bold proposal for a village of Ravensthorpe size!!
I do not believe there is any cause for concern at this stage but if that
changes I will advise you immediately - site specific sites will form
part of the next consultation stage at which time you will see any potential
development threats to your village!"
http://www.westnorthamptonshirejpu.org/shlaa/site.aspx?site=124
Location
map of the proposed development
Tell us what you think... editor@ravensthorpe.me.uk
Your Responses...
|
Editor: This report is probably a result of desk based research and it should be noted that a landowners permission does not have to be sought prior to publishing such a report. It is NOT a planning application but part of a process to identify potential development areas. The Parish Council and landowner are believed to be vigorously opposed to this proposal. |
| Just a few quick thoughts: Without employment
being planned, this new estate will just be a dormitory with everyone
having to travel to work. Traffic: There are already major problems with lorries passing through the village, despite the “no lorry” signage. Where are all the lorries for the development going to drive? 750 new homes equates to at least 1500 cars – this is a very large development normally only allowed next to main (A) roads due to the greatly increased traffic levels. Aggregate: Aggregate, no matter how poor a quality, has to be removed from areas that are to be developed, so as not to lose them. There is some low grade gravel around the north end of this site, which would have to be strip quarried. The valley in the centre of the site could be arranged with settling tanks, etc. to limit the environmental objections to a washing operation here, and to uses of the aggregate e.g. concrete mixing. Aggregate extraction, adjacent to an area where it could be used (i.e. new developments) side-steps almost all planning restrictions. Further extraction of the low grade deposits in that area would be almost inevitable. If development is scheduled ‘correctly’ then half of the valley could be strip quarried for aggregate to serve the building. And the other half, on the basis that the valley has already been ruined! Sewerage: There would need to be a new sewerage treatment works to serve this development. The site for this would be interesting to contemplate, but I’m sure would not be within the bounds of the proposed development. Utilities: These would all have to be upgraded. 750 homes would double the water requirements from the reservoir (which can get close to drying up in some summers already). 750 homes would require a doubling of the capacity of the East Haddon telephone exchange (they claim not to have sufficient space to add extra capacity already) 750 homes would require extra electricity supply capacity i.e. extra overhead lines to the village Community: The mature, compact village centre (Post Office, Shop, Pub, Village Hall, Church and Garage) would be supplanted by something amorphous and way outside the current village boundary. Small villages have a unique community that has evolved over centuries, full of like minded ‘country’ people. There would be two distinct communities formed, the existing one, on the top and south side of the ridge, and the ‘outsiders’ one in the new estate on the north side. There is likely to be only one entrance into the new estate isolating them still further. Planning: There is a Village Design Statement produced in conjunction with Daventry District Council. Its over-riding message is the conservation of the village, through maintaining the current character and infrastructure, and limiting further expansion to that in keeping with the rest of the village. Posted: 16/02/2010
09:16 |
| I
have to agree with everyone I have spoken with so far, NO ONE I know
wants this development.
This would destroy village life in Ravensthorpe as we know it, we cant stand by and let it happen. I agree we do need more housing, but it has to be affordable housing so that our children stand a chance to stay in the village if they so choose, not more large detached houses which young people can't afford. This
should be decided by the villagers and not by West Northamptonshire
Joint Planning Unit, whoever they are. Posted: 30/01/2010 11:16 |
| You asked for views. At first mine would not be printable, now I am calmer i can tell you how I feel. What do i do to help fight this? We are a small village not a town. We do not have the infrastructure to support a town, it would ruin our lives with the building and is not the resaon I moved here many years ago. If I wanted to live in a town I would be there not in our lovely village. Posted: 28/01/2010 15:11 |
| What
is proposed is contrary to a number of points on the village design
statement which was approved by Daventry District Council Posted: 28/01/2010 14:00 |
PROPOSED VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT
- No cause for concern - says local councillor
Cllr Chris Miller has said "It does not mean that
any development will ever be agreed on this land - certainly qa bold proposal
for a village of Ravensthorpe size!!
I do not believe there is any cause for concern at this stage but if that
changes I will advise you immediately - site specific sites will form
part of the next consultation stage at which time you will see any potential
development threats to your village!
Hawtoft Farm and the land behind it has been assessed by the West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit as being "suitable and available" for 759 houses.
The report indicates that the development potentially could start in 2012 with building continuing for six years!
The Draft SHLAA (Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment) has been published by the Joint Planning Unit (a partnership of Daventry District Council; Northampton Borough Council; South Northamptonshire Council; and Northamptonshire County Council) to seek additional information or evidence about the potential sites identified.
The SHLAA is NOT a plan for development, but simply a part of the technical evidence base required to inform the plan making process. Please click here to access the data. The data will be available for viewing and technical comment until 5.00p.m. on the 11th February 2010.
The following link takes you directly to a copy of the report held
on the West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit website:
http://www.westnorthamptonshirejpu.org/shlaa/site.aspx?site=124
Village Website
Editor: Martin Wilkes