The re-scheduled consultation meeting for the recent planning
proposals in the Matlock area to build 270 new houses on green filed sites went
ahead as planned yesterday evening at 7.00pm.
This time the venue was big enough (just) and the local residents
turned out in force with approximately 400 people present.
Surprisingly
the meeting was quite orderly and dealt with in a professional manner by the local
council with both Mike Hase (Planning Policy Manager ) & Paul Wilson (Director
of Planning and Housing Services) fielding questions.
The
overall atmosphere indicated that the residents of Matlock were united against
developing on these green field sites, in particular areas of natural beauty
and open spaces currently used by residents for recreation.
Other
interesting points raised included:
a) Scepticism about the projected figures regarding the quantity of
housing needed. Apparently the figures were based on old data from 2004 and as
we know major economic changes have happened recently affecting not only employment
but also banks and mortgages etc. <Population Figures (page 83)>
b)
Concerns about the statistics on population growth in the Matlock
area, in particular the fact that the Matlock population is actually in decline
and that any new houses would mainly serve Migration which meant mainly retired
people moving to the area not young families.
c)
Concerns on local employment, which is already under pressure, and
the fact that creating new houses doesn’t create long term employment.
d)
Major concerns about the road networks and impacts on traffic with
approximately 2000 extra car journeys per day. In particular access issues on
the Mat 1 & Mat 2 sites.
e)
Points were raised about developing on Brown Field Sites in
preference to Green Field Sties, in particular the Hall Dale Quarry area which
is large enough to take the entire capacity. <all proposed sites in addition to the ones on the documents>
f)
Points were raised about the High Fields school campus being on
one site and that part of the proposed plan is on land earmarked for that. Also
that if the school were on one site the Starkholmes site would become available
for residential development.
g)
It was also raised that there was a large area of land owned by the
golf club that was available for development.
h)
Major concerns were raised about the Mat 1 location being a local recreational
area and an area of natural beauty with an abundance of wildlife including
protected Badger Sets.
On
the whole all questions from the floor were answered in a professional
objective manor by the speakers and the meeting could be concluded as a success.
One
interesting point raised by Mr. Wilson (Director of Planning and Housing Services)
was that the meeting carried no weight regarding the decisions of the council,
no attendance figures or minutes of the meeting were recorded and that the only
way to make a difference was to write in, in person to the council with your
views before 30th of August.
So
we urge everyone to write in to the council with your views.
In
particular your views on:
a)
Questioning quantity of hosing proposed in Matlock, is it really necessary?
b)
Impact on the road networks
c) Impacts on the character of Matlock
d)
Impacts on wildlife and natural beauty spots
e)
Decimation of Matlock’s open spaces and recreational areas
f)
Preference of Brownfield Site development (eg. Hall Dale Quarry)
g)
Concerns about migration (retired people coming to the area) being
the major need for these developments.
Please send
written responses (before 30th August) to:
Derbyshire Dales District Council
Housing Options Consultation
Town Hall
Bank Road
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3NN
Housing Options Consultation
Town Hall
Bank Road
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3NN
