Object

Local Plan 2040 Draft Plan - Strategy options and draft policies consultation

Representation ID: 3898

Received: 28/08/2021

Respondent: Mrs MARGARET TURNER

Representation Summary:

The validity of the consultation is in doubt due to the classing of Staploe Parish as brown field or under utilised land
Bedford would no benefit from a settlement of this size 13 miles from Bedford as everyone would shop in St Neots
There are no green transport options for residents wanting to go to Bedford

Full text:

Our Parish Council objected to question 4 of the Issues & Options document on our behalf stating: “Staploe Parish Council object in the strongest terms to the suggestion in the brown option that our parish is a brownfield site or under utilised land." For planning purposes the whole parish is classed as open countryside . In the Local Plan 2030 definitions the three hamlets of Duloe, Honeydon & Staploe are not even classes as small settlements. To suggest that the parish is the brown option of brown field or under utilised land is misleading and this compromised the validity of the consultation.
A development of 10,000 plus homes 13 miles from Bedford would be of no benefit to Bedford. Residents would be far more likely to shop in St Neots because of the proximity or if they did travel to Bedford would need to use cars as no-one is going to cycle 13 miles to go shopping and buses are non existent.