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Report from Menston Public Meeting 7th September 2011
The meeting was attended by some 300 residents: there were 200 chairs set out, in addition to which standing attenders were packed down both sides and the back of the main room at Kirklands, into the entrance lobby and into the area adjacent to the kitchen. An exact number could not be ascertained, as some people were not visible from the front of the hall, and we did not create sufficient Attendance Sheets to cope with the unexpectedly high level of attendance. Grateful thanks to all who made the effort to be present.
On the first matter discussed – proposed changes to the Neighbourhood Forum – there was a ‘position statement’ from Alan Elsegood outlining the proposal in expanded detail, and an explanation and clarification from Cllr. Chris Greaves. Alan Elsegood, Julia Bateson and Peter Finlay had attended a meeting earlier in the day with representatives of Shipley Area Coordinator’s Office, when it had been confirmed that Bradford Council would only fund two Forums annually for Menston, that District Councillors would determine the draft agenda and permit one item of local interest, and that District Councillors would also have a veto on the inclusion of any specific item. A vote on whether Menston should have the option to call, determine and operate its own Forum (along the lines which already operated, by MCA and the Parish Council) was carried by an overwhelming majority (approximately 250:5). Shipley Area Committee has now over-ruled this agreement with its officers.
The main business of the evening was to provide information to residents concerning the 60+ amendments to the Derry Hill and Bingley Road Planning Applications, which had been submitted AFTER Menston residents and community groups had responded and AFTER the first Report of the Planning Officers had been published, and to call for opinions. There were several speakers: Alan Elsegood for MCA, Gordon Metcalfe for the Parish Council, Steve Ellams for MAG (in relation to the Village Green Application for Derry Hill fields), followed by Chris Greaves (Ward Councillor or the planning procedures and how to make objection. Graham Booth and Philip Moore then finalised matters with a request for contributions to a Fighting Fund. All the village representative bodies support this request.
Matters of information
Bradford Council has now (since the above meeting) brought forward the Planning Panel which will hear these Planning Applications. This looks like a deliberate attempt to stop us presenting the expert evidence which is being prepared. There is no time left for you to send letters of objection. What is VITAL is that your representatives, and as many residents as possible, attend the Planning Panel at Kirklands on 27 September commencing 10.00am and make sure members of the Panel are left in no doubt that these proposed housing developments are unsustainable in this village.
Alan D Elsegood, Chairman, Menston Community Association
Source
The meeting was attended by some 300 residents: there were 200 chairs set out, in addition to which standing attenders were packed down both sides and the back of the main room at Kirklands, into the entrance lobby and into the area adjacent to the kitchen. An exact number could not be ascertained, as some people were not visible from the front of the hall, and we did not create sufficient Attendance Sheets to cope with the unexpectedly high level of attendance. Grateful thanks to all who made the effort to be present.
On the first matter discussed – proposed changes to the Neighbourhood Forum – there was a ‘position statement’ from Alan Elsegood outlining the proposal in expanded detail, and an explanation and clarification from Cllr. Chris Greaves. Alan Elsegood, Julia Bateson and Peter Finlay had attended a meeting earlier in the day with representatives of Shipley Area Coordinator’s Office, when it had been confirmed that Bradford Council would only fund two Forums annually for Menston, that District Councillors would determine the draft agenda and permit one item of local interest, and that District Councillors would also have a veto on the inclusion of any specific item. A vote on whether Menston should have the option to call, determine and operate its own Forum (along the lines which already operated, by MCA and the Parish Council) was carried by an overwhelming majority (approximately 250:5). Shipley Area Committee has now over-ruled this agreement with its officers.
The main business of the evening was to provide information to residents concerning the 60+ amendments to the Derry Hill and Bingley Road Planning Applications, which had been submitted AFTER Menston residents and community groups had responded and AFTER the first Report of the Planning Officers had been published, and to call for opinions. There were several speakers: Alan Elsegood for MCA, Gordon Metcalfe for the Parish Council, Steve Ellams for MAG (in relation to the Village Green Application for Derry Hill fields), followed by Chris Greaves (Ward Councillor or the planning procedures and how to make objection. Graham Booth and Philip Moore then finalised matters with a request for contributions to a Fighting Fund. All the village representative bodies support this request.
Matters of information
- The representative bodies of the village (MCA, MPC and MAG) are all agreed that the proposed dwellings are too many, in the wrong place, unsustainable in the context of this village and its narrow roads, and that village roads and facilities cannot support the proposed houses and intended 700 new residents.
- The plans, as submitted, did not comply with the Village Design Statement nor with Bradford Council’s own Highways Plan to take traffic around the village instead of through it.
- An overwhelming NO was given to the plans to build at the Local Referendum.
Bradford Council has now (since the above meeting) brought forward the Planning Panel which will hear these Planning Applications. This looks like a deliberate attempt to stop us presenting the expert evidence which is being prepared. There is no time left for you to send letters of objection. What is VITAL is that your representatives, and as many residents as possible, attend the Planning Panel at Kirklands on 27 September commencing 10.00am and make sure members of the Panel are left in no doubt that these proposed housing developments are unsustainable in this village.
Alan D Elsegood, Chairman, Menston Community Association
Source
