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News & Progress
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| SPAG Response
to Green Issues Letter to Streatley Residents Dated 6th
November 2006 |
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The 'scaremongering tactics which you are
being subjected to by the activists' amount to no more than
a defence of our community from those external entities whose
motives are entirely commercial. Our tactics are based on professional
advice given to SPAG by planning consultants on how best to
fight an organisation such as Green Issues/Gladedale. We have
nothing more than the common interests of the vast majority
of Streatley residents at heart – to protect our village
from any development which would irreparably damage the character
and charm of the Streatley we love – particularly the
green lung and conservation area that give it its unique quality.
This latest letter is a desperate attempt by Green Issues to
recover the situation where they have failed their client (Gladedale)
abysmally. Their spin remains consistent: "feedback …
will be used to inform the design of our proposals". Be
in no doubt, they desperately need your comments to massage
and support the imminent application to give them even the remotest
chance of success. Furthermore Green Issues' stated objective
is to maximise supporters, they see this as more important than
minimising objectors. They use written responses to carefully
chosen questions to demonstrate overall support when respondents
have only been given one development option over another. There
is no third option for them because the No Development option
means they do not walk away with huge profits. For us it is
the only responsible option as the current residents of Streatley.
They state in their exhibition report that they received 18
responses out of 276. We know from our feedback that a high
proportion of these were from Goring residents (who did not
receive our advisory messages against providing any feedback
in writing), and that one supporter is another landowner hoping
to develop outside the village settlement boundary!
Consequently, we again strongly advise that you continue not
to provide written feedback to Green Issues or Gladedale. Don't
allow them to prepare counter-arguments to your objections in
advance. Give them no chance whatsoever of success. At the appropriate
time your comments need to be addressed to West Berks Council
– not to Green issues or Gladedale.
They accuse SPAG of undermining the process of consultation.
Of course our opportunities in "the process of consultation"
comprise firstly, the excellent Parish Plan which records the
responses of residents to a survey and which has, amongst its
many key findings, priority issues and recommendations, a wholehearted
wish to retain the settlement boundary and prevent developments
seen as a threat to the village character. Secondly, we hope
to encourage a massive response by residents in the form of
letters of objection to the council - once
an application is submitted.
To assist you we will of course provide all the addresses and
information you will need at the appropriate time, both under
"ALERTS" and, by way of a hardcopy delivery, to all
Streatley Residents when needed.
It bears repeating:
EVEN 1
OR 2 HOUSES ON THIS LAND WILL CREATE A PRECEDENT FOR FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE THE SETTLEMENT BOUNDARY.
For the benefit of Goring residents who did not see our 8th
September letter to Streatley residents. It was the Morrell
family who protected Streatley from the extensive development
which occurred in Goring and it was the Morrell family who demolished
the cottages opposite Streatley house to create the beautiful
open vista that exists to this day. Since 1958 there have been
9 planning applications on the land, all were refused. Two went
to appeal, one for 48 houses opposite Streatley house and one
for 14 houses south of the High Street. Both appeals were refused
for the same grounds which exist today. We must continue to
protect this valuable Morrell legacy for future generations.
DO NOT ASSUME, BECAUSE THEY ARE
LARGE DEVELOPERS, THAT THEY ARE BOUND TO EVENTUALLY GET SOMETHING
– WE CAN AND WILL PREVENT IT ! |
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