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Thurnby & Bushby Society
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THURNBY & BUSHBY SOCIETY KNOWN COLLOQUIALLY AS 'TABS' EXISTS TO PROMOTE VILLAGE INTERESTS BOTH ENVIRONMENTALLY AND SOCIALLY
Scroll Down for latest Eco Town News
Click on Neighbourhood Watch for latest 'Alerts'dated 26/27/28 08 08
Click on Parish Council News for minutes dated 12 07 08
Please note that the PC:IC will reopen Tuesday 16th September, 9.30am
This page updated 28 08 08
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For Centre Stage Tickets call 0116 241 2629
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CENTRE STAGE
"Country Voices"
Centre Stage is coming to Thurnby on the 14th October 2008 - 7.30pm Memorial Hall, Main Street, Thurnby
COUNTRY VOICES
A feast of stories from the turn of the Twentiety Century to the first World War, some hilarious, some tragic, but each one breathing life back into the words, songs and stories of a Northumbrian farming family, part of the last generation to work the land by hand, horse and steam
Comment: Just wonderful
"A vigorously comic dip into a grandparental world of farm workers. The struggle for survival is never far away and neither is the wit that made it bearable.
The Guardian Review
Tickets for this important event are now available from Sheila 241 2629 or Mandy 241 4455. Tickets will also be on sale at the village Fete 6th September 12 noon - 4pm St. Luke's School, Main Street, Thurnby
Thurnby & Bushby will be holding its "Traditional" Village Fete on Saturday 6th September 2008 from 12 noon to 4pm at St Luke's School, Main Street, Thurnby. It will feature Lisa Lolly, Children's Entertainer,
Brass Bands, Morris Dancers, Trampolines, Children's Rides, BBQ, Games, Stalls, Crafts Refreshments
Do come along, have a fun day and at the same time support the Rainbows Hospice and the Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Rutland Air Ambulance who will benefit from the proceeds. Adults £1 no charge for children
Please remember to check Neighbourhood Watch for latest alerts
Our new Police Community Support Officer is Matt Kiff 6090
Our New Beat Officer is
PC Paul Faithfull, collar number 1309.
Both officers can be contacted by phoning 0116 222 2222 and leaving a message quoting the relevant collar number when prompted or by emailing mktharb.lpu@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk
Click on Parish Council News for July 2008 Minutes
Please note that the PC:IC will reopen after the summer break on the 16th September
Mobile Library
Please note that the next mobile library van visit to Thurnby & Bushby will take place Thursday 4th September
For more information phone 0116 256 6988
or go to www.leics.gov.uk/libraries
Tennis coaching being served up
Tennis fans, inspired by the recent Wimbledon championship, can sign up for coaching sessions.
The four-week course, for adults aged 16 and over, is being offered in Thurnby and will be run by a qualified tennis coach.
The initiative is being provided as part of Harborough District Council’s Active Together Project that is providing more opportunities for adults to become more physically active in rural locations.
The cost is just £10 per person for the full four weeks coaching at Thurnby community tennis courts.
The sessions start on Thursday, July 31, at 7pm, but places are limited so people are advised to book in advance.
To sign up or for more details, contact Marianne Boyle on 01858 828282 or email m.boyle@harborough.gov.uk
For more comments use the Guestbook facility at the bottom of the pages list on the left.
Voluntary Action South Leicestershire
Good Companions and Mental Health Befriending Schemes
There are many people across the South Leicestershire who are living alone and feeling isolated. Some of them are housebound and sit alone in their lounge all week not seeing a single person or maybe only a paid carer that pops in every morning to help them get up. The days seem very long and each one the same so you can imagine how much these people look forward to seeing our Volunteer Befrienders who offer them companionship and relief from the loneliness.
Befrienders are volunteers who have an hour a week to spare to visit someone in their own home for a chat and a cup of tea. Some of our befrienders have built up wonderful relationships with the person that they visit and these relationships have lasted for many years.
If you get on well with people and enjoy a good chat over a pot of tea you may really enjoy being a befriender. It is very rewarding and for one hour of your time you could become a valued person in someone’s life. We offer all our befrienders as much support as they need and pay out of pocket travelling expenses.
Or maybe you know of someone who is isolated and would benefit from a visit from a befriender in which case please refer them to us, with their permission of course.
We offer two befriending schemes:
1) Good Companions Befriending Scheme for people living alone in their own homes who are over 65 years of age and feel isolated and lonely
2) Mental Health Befriending Scheme for people who have become isolated and lonely due to having experienced mental ill health
If you would like to find out more about either of these schemes, you are interested in becoming a volunteer befriender or you would like to refer someone, please feel free to call Hilary Dunsmore on 01858 439269 or call into The Settling Rooms, St Mary’s Place, Market Harborough. LE16 7DR (the building in the middle of Sainsbury’s car park, the kettle is always on so just come for a no pressure chat and find out more) or email hdunsmore@vasl.org.uk
For message from Web Site manager click on Web site manager
Eco Town News
23 08 08
Latest news from Dr. K. Feltham, Chairman 'Cascet'
FINAL WALK
Next Tuesday - 26th August - sees the last of the evening walks that have been so popular since the late Spring and have been organised by Clare Miller with her friends, so a huge thank you to them. To date the walks have seen over 400 people taking part and walking along rights of ways across and adjoining the threatened eco-town location near Stoughton.
On this coming Tuesday, the last walk of the season starts from outside the Black Horse in Houghton-on-the-Hill at 7pm (please park considerately in the village) and will be 5 miles in length. Clare reminds people to wear approproiate footwear, bring water and a torch (as the nights are drawing in). There will be 2 groups to allow for different walking paces.
BEACON LIGHTING
We are also hoping to join with other eco-town campaign groups by lighting a "beacon" or something like it, near the eco-town location on the evening of Wednesday 24th September. This is the 1 year anniversary of Gordon Brown's speech on teh 10 eco-towns project and coincides with the final day of the Labour Party conference. We would aim to get some good publicity both for the alliance of eco-town groups but also our own event. Please keep the date in your diaries and I will send out further information when details have been confirmed.
BAND CONCERT
Finally we are hoping to hold a fundraising band concert next Spring near the proposed eco-town location. It will take a lot of organising as we would hope to attract well over 2,000 people. We have contacts with some good bands and music acts and will be planning the event carefully over the winter. So anybody with skills (free) or contacts we can use for event production (staging, sound, lighting), stewarding, first aid, refreshments, security etc. will be very welcome. Once a date has been agreed, I will put out a further news update with details of the specific jobs we need help with. This promises to be a massive event and has huge potential for raising funds but also for good publicity.
Regards,
Kevin Feltham (Dr)
Leicestershire County Councillor - Gartree Division
Chairman of CASCET: Campaign Against the Stoughton Co-op Eco Town
Mobile: 07771 967323
Website: www.stopthecoopecotown.org
Email: kfeltham@leics.gov.uk Skype: kfeltham
16 08 08
Eco Town comments via email
Dear Mr Ramsbottom
I am forwarding my comments below on behalf of the Thurnby and Bushby Society.
These are generalised comments, as the limited space on your internet reply box does not provide any realistic opportunity for the public to respond in any detail.
Jeff Rosenthal
Chairman
Thurnby And Bushby Society
Dear Dr Feltham
I have just tried to put my comments into Your Views as suggested. However, the space is limited to only allow a brief summary - mine is approx 70 words!
1 There is no natural demand for this development - it as an artificial imposition of development in an area of open countryside, driven by financial motives.
2 The plan ignores the traffic disruption that will be caused to the residents of the many villages in South East Leicestershire.
3 The proposals ignore the potential problems of water supply and disposal, and the risk of flooding.
This is not a realistic opportunity for the public to make comments.
Jeff Rosenthal
Chairman
Thurnby And Bushby Society
Dear All
Please find attached the latest spatial option proposed by the Co-op. This makes four in total! The Co-op have to inform the Government which of the options is their preferred scheme for the purposes of assessment and costing. Apparently we will be consulted on this option at some point, but it won't be for very long because we think they have to let the Government know by the end of the month.
Compact 50 is different in a number of important areas from the other Compact option. For example, the development would come closer to Thurnby and Stoughton because more land would be required if they built at 50 dwellings to the hectare instead of 70.
Regarding the three park and ride sites, two of which are not on Co-op land, we assumed they had discussed their plans with the landowners, but found out this morning that James Coles had no knowledge of a park and ride site on his land
Simon Galton
Amanda Burrell
Dear Dr Feltham
You may be interested in the following replies to my Comments.
Do you have any suitable rebuttal to these replies?
Jeff Rosenthal
Chairman TABS
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:53 AM
Subject: Co-operative Group eco-town consultation
Dear Mr Rosenthal
Thank you for your email. As landowners, The Co-operative Group is the masterplanner for the site working in conjunction with English Partnerships. A financial assessment of all eco-town sites is being undertaken by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) on behalf of CLG.
It is too early to say how much money will be made because we do not know. As a business we are entitled to make a profit on development but it is what we do with this profit that makes us different. We are owned by our members, ordinary people in communities the length and breadth of the UK. Any financial gain from this development will be invested in our business ultimately for their benefit and that of the communities in which we trade - we are in the area for the long-term and can take a long-term approach to the development. We will not be selling up to the highest bidder and walking away.
The eco-town allows for new public transport options to be delivered. This will offer genuine, sustainable choices for residents and those in surrounding settlements. Modelling work suggests that through design, residents can walk to their destinations or will
be with in walking distance of accessible and efficient public transport. Through providing employment and services in the town many people will not be driving elsewhere to work and by increasing footpath access and cycle ways, links will be created with existing settlements and other transport hubs.
Any eco-town bidder has to deliver the relevant transport infrastructure and our intention is to also help solve present challenges with the network such as congestion on the main routes into the city, for example with park and ride sites. There is no likely investment from existing sources for this at present but we have the land and can help fund solutions.
We know the land very well and know also that flooding risks are very low. The area is not on a flood plain and receives relatively little rain. Through Sustainable Urban Drainage systems and improvements to the River Sence itself we can ensure that there are no negative consequences in terms of flooding for surrounding communities.
We are aware that there is an existing flood problem in Great Glen. Given the Government's targets for water use in the Code for Sustainable Homes, water must be considered as a valuable resource and its management carefully designed to maximise its collection, use and re-use on site, while still maintaining appropriate water flow levels in existing rivers and streams to protect
biodiversity. Our proposal would manage the water run off from the site to deliver predictable and controlled flows into the River Sense, thereby protecting Great Glen from both existing and future flood risks events.
Yours sincerely
The Co-operative Group eco-town team
Jeff
Some familiar points being made by the Co-op spin machine.
So no idea how much profit will be made for shareholders - but also one can presume, no idea how big a loss could be made ! We have had some inside information that the C-op Board are beginning to have cold feet for two reasons: (1) negative effects on Co-op's green reputation, and (2) the potential costs of the project. I have asked for contact details of Board members (which I will circulate) and also Edward Garnier as agreed to send some key points to Board members too. The Co-op are a business and must have some idea of the business plan for this project incl. financial risk.
The Co-op only own the area either side of Gartree Road to Shady Lane. They do not own any land further into Stoneygate/Evington, so transport solutions that need more width for bus lanes or tram lines, will require compulsory purchase by the local authorities along Stoughton Road and London Road. The Co-op may be asked to contribute towards some transport infrastructure improvements, but much of the costs would be passed to us taxpayers.
Flooding - would the Co-op be prepared to sign a perpetuity guarantee that their eco-town will not cause flooding downstream? I think not. What are the actual alleviation measures? You could ask for more detail so our environmental experts could check their sums. In addition, Severn Trent Water have acknowledged there could be a difficulty providing sufficient clean drinking water after 2020 in the Harborough District - and this is without any data for Pennbury being included.
Regards,
Kevin
07 08 08
Eco Town up-date from Cllr Dr. K. Feltham
Dear campaign supporters
After the massive pile (nearly 700 pages) of on-line spatial options paperwork with three different eco-town design options (Network, Archipelago and Compact) released by the Co-op last month, they were asked to submit a single design option by the Department for Communities and Local Government with a deadline of 31st July. They just about squeezed into the deadline and have now released their 4th option - known as Compact 50 because it is based on the Compact design and the housing density has been reduced from 70 to 50 to the hectare. This has meant taking up 40% more farmland to accommodate the more spaced-apart housing (270 hectares now instead of 193 hectares).
You can see the 10 page Compact 50 document for yourself on the Co-op Consultation page of their eco-town website: www.ecotownforleicestershire.coop It is called "31 July Assessment Spatial Option Compact 50 v3.pdf" and is just under 2Mb in size.
The Co-op are also asking for comments on their options to be back with them by 22nd August. We don't know what they are going to do with the responses, or why the rush. I have written to the Co-op, copied to MPs and DCLG, asking these questions, but no response to date. Their principal question upto this week has been "Which of the three options do you prefer?" A sneaky question, because presumably most of us don't want any of them !! Now they have had to come clean with a single "preferred" design, it is perhaps easier to respond to some of the contents, rather than selectively pick bits out from the previous three options.
Although we have not gone through the new Compact 50 document exhaustively, here are some concerns you might wish to use in your own-worded response on the Co-op website under the Your Views page. We don't want the Co-op to claim support for any of their designs because nobody responds to their invitation, no matter how short their consultation timescale.
According the the Compact 50 press release from the Co-op, a detailed layout for the eco-town will be submitted to the Government before the end of August, along with further technical studies. There will then be a second full phase of consultation from September - so you are warned!
1. The new lower housing density figure means the Co-op are now eating into more farmland - 40% more greenfield space needed for this design option
2. The tram route is still included with the route down to the Oadby Racecourse and then along London Road, but no further details or timescales mentioned
3. Freight distribution at a Great Glen station is mentioned again - so far we are not aware of any agreement by Network Rail nor any actual timescales about whether this will actually happen. I have asked the Co-op for proof they are able to construct this freight terminal before the first roads or houses are built - nothing back from them yet
4. The area used for roads increases from 52 hectares to 64 hectares - 23% more greenfield space pinched
5. Mere Lane (Great Stretton to Houghton) has vanished and Gartree Road to be closed as a through route (it becomes a Green Lane for walkers competing with rapid bus services or trams) - so where does traffic go and how much of it is closed? - rat runs via Great Glen, Stoughton etc. - and don't forget it is not only the residents who might need to travel outwards, but also the service vehicles delivering to the new town. Did you know that white van deliveries have increased by 47% over the past 10 years nationally?
6. Construct new link road through to A6 from Junction of Shady Lane with Gartree Road - the dreaded former Eastern District Distributor Road (EDDR)
7. The other end of the EDDR appears to stop in Evington village on Spencefield Lane creating huge traffic problems
8. No information about the construction or destruction requirements of the rapid transport service (bus or tram) along the London Road and frontage properties
9. A lot of attention is given to the 600 hectare publicly accessible "Great Park" which is supposed to ensure the main development is separated from the surrounding villages (by a few metres anyway - Glen Rise is surrounded, Thurnby is still very close to the northern edge of Compact 50 as is Little Stretton to the east, but Great Stretton finally appears to be left alone with a piece of green community land surrounding it! - for now). My idea is for the whole 4,000 acres to be a huge country park not just a bit of it.
10. No mention of the problems expressed by Severn Trent Water in a recent report about their concerns about sufficient drinking water not being available for Harborough area in a few years - and the water availability report had no mention of an eco-town of 36,000 inhabitants either!
11. They mention a power station based by Great Glen station site - likely to be Combined Heat & Power (CHP) or energy from waste (incinerator) supplemented by wind energy - but there has been no discussion with the Waste Authority (Leicestershire County Council) about how their plans fit in with the county's own far-advanced plans for Waste disposal. They indicate the CHP plant is to be at Great Glen station, so all waste would need collecting and transporting from the new town down to the station via new link road adjacent to Glen Rise and then via Great Glen by-pass - that is going to do a lot for helping congestion at peak times!
12. There will be three park & ride sites - one at the corner of Shady Lane and Gartree Road for the transport hub and presumably for eco-town inhabitants because who else can get to it? A bigger one (1,000 cars) on the Oadby racecourse so much further in along the A6 than originally indicated, and the final one (also for 1,000 cars) appears to be in Coles Nurseries field they use for growing trees on the A47 on the edge of Thurnby and the City.
You may find other comments to make, but it is worthwhile as many of you as possible responding on their website with your own points of view to ensure the Co-op don't take silence as a presumption of acceptance. The Co-op's Stoughton Estate is the "lungs" of Leicester, so lets keep it that way.
Off for a short break tomorrow to Norfolk - with my laptop of course!
Regards,
Kevin Feltham (Dr)
Leicestershire County Councillor - Gartree Division
Chairman of CASCET: Campaign Against the Stoughton Co-op Eco Town
Mobile: 07771 967323
Website: www.stopthecoopecotown.org
Email: kfeltham@leics.gov.uk Skype: kfeltham
08 08 08
Comment from Jeff Rosenthal Chariman Thurnby & Bushby Society re latest Eco Town
News
"Dear Dr Feltham
I have just tried to put my comments into Your Views as suggested. However, the space is limited to only allow a brief summary - mine is approx 70 words!
1 There is no natural demand for this development - it as an artificial imposition of development in an area of open countryside, driven by financial motives.
2 The plan ignores the traffic disruption that will be caused to the residents of the many villages in South East Leicestershire.
3 The proposals ignore the potential problems of water supply and disposal, and the risk of flooding.
This is not a realistic opportunity for the public to make comments.
Jeff Rosenthal
Chairman
Thurnby And Bushby Society
01 08 08
Eco Town Up-date from Cllr. Dr. K. Feltham
Dear campaigners
Site Visit
As you will be aware from the media coverage, the Housing Minister, Caroline Flint and the lead civil servant, Henry Cleary, visited the site of the proposed eco-town last Monday (28th July). Following some arrangements facilitated by CASCET, they went to the Airport with Sue Smith, HDC Chief Executive, and were able to view the wonderful east Leicestershire countryside from the control tower, by kind permission of the aero club. They then drove to the Council offices in Market Harborough for the promised meetings through Great Glen.
Some key comments, observations and questions from the Minister, as noted by Sue Smith, while on site, are shown below.
Proximity of the site to Leicester city
Height of the site in relation to the surrounding area (and she asked about the anticipated height of buildings and proposals for screening)
The “greenness” of the site - although in the subsequent meetings she referred to "just scrubby grass"
The extent of the landholding by the Co-op and English Partnerships (commented that it was the largest she had seen so far)
She asked about any proposals for water features. This led to a discussion about the issue with supply to the site.
She asked about access to the site, both for private cars and for the tram and buses as she had noticed the narrowness of the current road.
There were several references to the limited rights of way and the issue of public access. - she referred to this again in the subsequent meeting
The proposals for park and ride provision and for a freight terminal were raised.
She asked about the planning history of the site and where the growth would go if Pennbury didn’t happen. Also about the current levels of congestion and whether people worked locally (no evidence of employment) or travelled out of the area.
Henry Cleary mentioned on several occasions the need for growth in Leicester and how Pennbury could help deliver against the sub-regional targets. The Minister asked questions but on the whole did not comment on the response, although did refer to aspects at the later meetings.
The first meeting in Market Harborough started late and was attended by 4 representatives from each of the 4 councils (Harborough, City, County, Oadby & Wigston), and 2 people from Leicester Shire Economic Partnership and Shelter, plus a representative of Government Office of East Midlands, Edward Garnier MP, and 7 people from the Co-op. CASCET had two representatives at this first meeting in Kevin Feltham and Simon Galton through their council membership. Simon had suggested that the Regional Assembly should be invited, given their strong stance against the eco-town but as far as we know this was not taken up. The minister chaired this meeting.
The Co-op started the meeting with a very long slide presentation of their proposals, which was followed by a series of questions from Caroline Flint. The presentation was superficial, glossed over Pennbury's weaknesses and at times was pure fantasy. Part of the presentation was based on what life would be like in the eco town in 30 years time and was based on a fictitious character called Mike Jones and his family. They also attempted to rewrite history by telling Ms Flint that their earlier proposal for an urban extension had not really been rejected in the Regional Plan! An hour into the 1 hour 20 minute meeting, the Leaders of the 4 councils were asked to give their views. These included concerns about the town growing even bigger in the future if the Co-op excluded some of their land from the planning application, a range of technical concerns relating to transport and water supply and a comment by a City Council officer (the Leader had not turned up) that they would want more involvement in the governance of the town if it went ahead! Each point was then put back to the Co-op to provide an answer / response which gave them more of the limited time.
Eventually Edward Garnier MP was asked for his views. He told Ms Flint that this was not possible within the time left and summed up the scheme as risible. Just before the meeting ended, Simon butted in to point out that as one of the local members for the site, he had come to the meeting in the expectation of being able to put questions and cross examine the Minister and civil servants on the process being followed and why this site had been shortlisted. He also objected to the way the Co-op had been allowed to dominate the meeting. Ms Flint suggested that unanswered questions should be sent to her civil servants for a response and we intend to take this offer up given the lack of opportunity at the meeting. The County Council have already started sending in their additional questions and points at odds with the Co-op's view of things. All in all, the meeting was a real let-down and we learnt nothing new.
Caroline Flint then attended a second, half-hour, meeting with around 25 representatives of CASCET, Parish Councils and Parish Meetings affected by the proposed Co-op development. She invited questions which were readily forthcoming and direct, and covered most of the issues which concern the villagers who would be most affected by any development. She appeared to listen to the points being made and gave a number of well-rehearsed responses. She assured us that her decision would not be influenced by who the applicant was (referring to links between the Co-op and Labour) but would be arrived at after careful consideration of all the factors involved e.g. transport links, communications, proximity to Leicester etc. She acknowledged that for the Co-op to talk about re-opening train stations (for freight) and establishing tramways was far too far in the future to be realistically included now. It appeared that her civil servants would be very busy in the next few months. The meeting was very useful in that she learned at first hand, the strength of feeling against the Co-op's ideas and the fact that they were essentially a larger resurrection of the Stretton Magna application of 15 years ago. She seemed to imply that if this application was unsuccessful, the Co-op would try again. She confirmed her decision on whether Pennbury would be on the final short list would be made in early 2009. Edward Garnier thanked her for attending the meetings.
Half-way through this second meeting, the sounds of the protest demonstration outside on Adam & Eve Street started. An HDC officer hastily closed the double-glazing but the sound, although muffled, could still be heard. It was a hot day so the room was stifling and one wag remarked, as several HDC officers brought in air coolers and electric fans, that this would be the largest number of fans Ms Flint would see today! One loud shout from outside made the minister stop in mid-sentence - "Caroline Flint, estate agent for the Co-op"; at this she shrugged as if to say this was different, a wry smile crossed her lips, and she carried on.
Time was pressing and the Minister had to give an interview to Midlands ITV before coming out of the HDC offices to walk the few paces to her waiting car for the journey to Warwickshire and meetings with councils and BARD protesters. As she emerged, she was greeted by a cacophony of shouts and boos and a huge crowd standing around her car as the attached photos clearly show. She literally scuttled to the car and slumped into the back seat. She had bottled the chance of speaking to the crowd, which was disappointing for those who had waited for nearly an hour in the sun on one of the hottest days of the year so far. CASCET had invited the media, and so the protest demonstration received good publicity on both BBC and ITV channels and radio stations as well as newspapers. That was really the main objective, so we succeeded thanks to many of you.
Sorry for the length of this email, but we felt it important that you all read about this important phase of the campaign. A huge thank you to all those people who attended on Monday. I am taking a short break now (albeit still in touch by email) and will return refreshed for more revelations and campaigning later in August. We will be in touch again to tell you of some other exciting opportunities to demonstrate your opposition.
The Co-op have said they will be running a series of workshop consultations, as opposed to previous exhibition events, so we will keep you informed so you can go and give them your views at the venues when announced. If you hear of any private workshops where specific groups are being targeted please let me know. I already know of one.
Also thank you to those who have donated over the past 6 months. We haven't reached our initial target of £50,000 yet, but we are now well over half-way.
And remember, if you want to be removed from this CASCET News Update distribution list, just email me.
Regards,
Kevin Feltham (Dr)
Leicestershire County Councillor - Gartree Division
Chairman of CASCET: Campaign Against the Stoughton Co-op Eco Town
Website: www.stopthecoopecotown.org
Email: kfeltham@leics.gov.uk Skype: kfeltham
More than 200 protesters congregated outside the Harborough District Council Offices in Market Harbourough to demonstrate against the 15,000-home Pennbury eco-town proposal near Great Glen.
Mrs Flint heads the Government`s Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) which will make the ruling on which eco-towns get built.
Earlier in the morning she visited the site, which is owned by Co-operative Estates and English Partnerships.
Members of the Campaign
While inside the council`s headquarters, she met with Harborough District Council and other local authority representatives.
Leader of Leicestershire County Council, Cllr David Parsons, said: "It was a quiet meeting and we explained that we were not against eco-towns but the site itself is wrong.
"There are poor communication links to the site and I`m very concerned that a huge housing development with no infrastructure is being considered." When Edward Garnier MP, Simon Galton Dist. Councilor and others emerged from the talks they were greeted with loud cheers. When the Minister eventually came out she was greeted with loud boos. She disappeared rapidly into the ministerial car without making any comment.
The Co-op have issued a set of on-line documents giving more detail of their proposed "Eco" town. These can be downloaded from
www.ecotownforleicestershire.coop/consultation.html under the heading Spatial Options Documents (bottom left of page). The main document includes the 3 option maps published in the Leicester Mercury. In one of these options housing is shown at the bottom of Court Hill. In all three options there is a Park & Ride proposed at the bottom of Thurnby Hill, just outside the City boundary.
Some other email comments
Dear Mr Ramsbottom
I am forwarding my comments below on behalf of the Thurnby and Bushby Society.
These are generalised comments, as the limited space on your internet reply box does not provide any realistic opportunity for the public to respond in any detail.
Jeff Rosenthal
Chairman
Thurnby And Bushby Society
Dear Dr Feltham
I have just tried to put my comments into Your Views as suggested. However, the space is limited to only allow a brief summary - mine is approx 70 words!
1 There is no natural demand for this development - it as an artificial imposition of development in an area of open countryside, driven by financial motives.
2 The plan ignores the traffic disruption that will be caused to the residents of the many villages in South East Leicestershire.
3 The proposals ignore the potential problems of water supply and disposal, and the risk of flooding.
This is not a realistic opportunity for the public to make comments.
Jeff Rosenthal
Chairman
Thurnby And Bushby Society
Dear All
Please find attached the latest spatial option proposed by the Co-op. This makes four in total! The Co-op have to inform the Government which of the options is their preferred scheme for the purposes of assessment and costing. Apparently we will be consulted on this option at some point, but it won't be for very long because we think they have to let the Government know by the end of the month.
Compact 50 is different in a number of important areas from the other Compact option. For example, the development would come closer to Thurnby and Stoughton because more land would be required if they built at 50 dwellings to the hectare instead of 70.
Regarding the three park and ride sites, two of which are not on Co-op land, we assumed they had discussed their plans with the landowners, but found out this morning that James Coles had no knowledge of a park and ride site on his land
Simon Galton
Amanda Burrell
Dear Dr Feltham
You may be interested in the following replies to my Comments.
Do you have any suitable rebuttal to these replies?
Jeff Rosenthal
Chairman TABS
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:53 AM
Subject: Co-operative Group eco-town consultation
Dear Mr Rosenthal
Thank you for your email. As landowners, The Co-operative Group is the masterplanner for the site working in conjunction with English Partnerships. A financial assessment of all eco-town sites is being undertaken by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) on behalf of CLG.
It is too early to say how much money will be made because we do not know. As a business we are entitled to make a profit on development but it is what we do with this profit that makes us different. We are owned by our members, ordinary people in communities the length and breadth of the UK. Any financial gain from this development will be invested in our business ultimately for their benefit and that of the communities in which we trade - we are in the area for the long-term and can take a long-term approach to the development. We will not be selling up to the highest bidder and walking away.
The eco-town allows for new public transport options to be delivered. This will offer genuine, sustainable choices for residents and those in surrounding settlements. Modelling work suggests that through design, residents can walk to their destinations or will
be with in walking distance of accessible and efficient public transport. Through providing employment and services in the town many people will not be driving elsewhere to work and by increasing footpath access and cycle ways, links will be created with existing settlements and other transport hubs.
Any eco-town bidder has to deliver the relevant transport infrastructure and our intention is to also help solve present challenges with the network such as congestion on the main routes into the city, for example with park and ride sites. There is no likely investment from existing sources for this at present but we have the land and can help fund solutions.
We know the land very well and know also that flooding risks are very low. The area is not on a flood plain and receives relatively little rain. Through Sustainable Urban Drainage systems and improvements to the River Sence itself we can ensure that there are no negative consequences in terms of flooding for surrounding communities.
We are aware that there is an existing flood problem in Great Glen. Given the Government's targets for water use in the Code for Sustainable Homes, water must be considered as a valuable resource and its management carefully designed to maximise its collection, use and re-use on site, while still maintaining appropriate water flow levels in existing rivers and streams to protect
biodiversity. Our proposal would manage the water run off from the site to deliver predictable and controlled flows into the River Sense, thereby protecting Great Glen from both existing and future flood risks events.
Yours sincerely
The Co-operative Group eco-town team
Jeff
Some familiar points being made by the Co-op spin machine.
So no idea how much profit will be made for shareholders - but also one can presume, no idea how big a loss could be made ! We have had some inside information that the C-op Board are beginning to have cold feet for two reasons: (1) negative effects on Co-op's green reputation, and (2) the potential costs of the project. I have asked for contact details of Board members (which I will circulate) and also Edward Garnier as agreed to send some key points to Board members too. The Co-op are a business and must have some idea of the business plan for this project incl. financial risk.
The Co-op only own the area either side of Gartree Road to Shady Lane. They do not own any land further into Stoneygate/Evington, so transport solutions that need more width for bus lanes or tram lines, will require compulsory purchase by the local authorities along Stoughton Road and London Road. The Co-op may be asked to contribute towards some transport infrastructure improvements, but much of the costs would be passed to us taxpayers.
Flooding - would the Co-op be prepared to sign a perpetuity guarantee that their eco-town will not cause flooding downstream? I think not. What are the actual alleviation measures? You could ask for more detail so our environmental experts could check their sums. In addition, Severn Trent Water have acknowledged there could be a difficulty providing sufficient clean drinking water after 2020 in the Harborough District - and this is without any data for Pennbury being included.
Regards,
Kevin
08 07 08 Click on Eco Town Consultation Papers for Leicestershire Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England comments on the proposed 'Pennbury' Ecotown.
For more information on the Eco Town protest contact
Kevin Feltham
Chairman of CASCET: Campaign Against the Stoughton Co-op Eco Town
Mobile: 07771 967323
Website: www.stopthecoopecotown.org
Email: kfeltham@leics.gov.uk Skype: kfeltham
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This page updated 23 08 08
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