Plan for submission evidence base

Comment

Representation ID: 10094

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Wilshamstead Parish Council

It is clearly incorrect that Wilstead remains included in the Local Plan as a “Key Service Centre”. There is a clear and obvious error in the evaluation because in the Settlement Hierarchy document (“Settlement Hierarchy 2030 with Addendum (2022)”)Wixams is shown as a Rural Service Centre despite having significantly more facilities than Wilstead and with many more promised to service the 4,500 houses already planned for Wixams prior to 2040. Wixams is currently shown with no secondary school which is incorrect and clearly over the period of the Plan, with a station and Town centre, Wixams will have many more facilities than Wilstead has today and in the expected near-future.

This is then contradicted by wording within the Local Plan document (Page 86 and Page 139/140) which describes both Wixams and Wilstead as Key Service Centres. Nowhere in the remainder of Bedford Borough are two key service centres located next to one another. This is clearly wrong.

Wilshamstead Parish Council have consistently advised the local authority that it is a mistake to class the village as a Key Service Centre. To reiterate again - its facilities are suited to the existing size of the village – not to any expansion, given there is no Primary School capacity, no GP/Health Centre, only one small shop and the bus service only covers part of the village and passes more than 800m from most residents. In addition, facilities like the Bowling Green, Allotments and Community Centres were provided for the size of the village at the time not for an additional 5000 residents. The chemist, public houses and post office already provide a service for the surrounding areas – particularly Wixams, so they should not count “against” Wilstead in the evaluation of areas suitable for development. At the lest they should be shown shared with Wixams and the scores for Wilstead halved as a result.

It should be noted that the Settlement Hierarchy gives an incorrect picture of the size of the village anyway, as it quotes a population size from the 2011 Census which, at the time, would have included all those residents living in what is now Wixams. Should the correct figures be used, the allocations would likely be calculated in a very different manner and this need to be reviewed before any further actions are taken; should this not take place there is compelling evidence to launch a more formal challenge against the 2040 Local Plan due to the incorrect nature of the data.

The above should mean that Wilstead be given Rural Service Centre status.

The Parish Council wish to highlight again, that Wilstead is in a similar situation to Oakley, which is considered to be a Rural Service Centre, that sits in open countryside between Bromham and Clapham, both Key Service Centres.

Comment

Representation ID: 10096

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Wilshamstead Parish Council

In light of the disproportionate strategic growth being focused on the south of Bedford area, Wilstead Parish Council feel it is important to comment on the subsidiary policy document, South of Bedford Policy Area Topic Paper.
Paragraph 3.1 states that “following consultation on the local plan strategy in the summer of 2021 a development strategy based on option 2b has been chosen as the preferred option”. Option 2b showed only 1,500 houses shared between Wootton, Kempston Rural, Elstow, Wilstead, Shortstown and Cotton End. The new draft Plan is therefore not based upon Option 2b as there are now 3,100 houses proposed in Wilstead and Shortstown alone.
Paragraph 4.3 makes no reference to the planted community woodland which covers an expansive area situated at Duck End in Wilstead parish, this appears an omission and the Parish Council joins with Elstow Parish Council in seeking the same level of designation for this woodland as any others mentioned. It is particularly concerning that development under HOU16 is proposed right alongside it.
Map 5 shows an extensive flood zone classified as 3a going right through the HOU16 Land at “East of Wixams” (i.e. North Wilstead) , which reads therefore that the flood implications in this area are currently very high. This would not be expected for an area allocated for 1,800 houses.
Maps 8 and 9, along with the accompanying Paragraphs in this part of the document are confusing. It is difficult to understand the point of all the different mapping particularly as the fields North of Wilstead are shown with no combined environmental biodiversity opportunity which is clearly incorrect.
Map 11 key Item 5 – Elstow South. This states that there is an application for infill. Subsequently in Appendix A it states that “This is an old brick pit for which a final restoration scheme is currently being considered which involves the filling of the site to original ground levels and restoration primarily to agriculture.” This sounds to be a plan despite the considerable objections raised by Elstow and Wilstead Parish Councils to the application based upon the enormous water expanse at this location which if it were no longer to be there would impact the local watercourse network management hugely and is already a site of environmental value and great recreational activity (course fishing).

SECTION 9 : MARSTON VALE SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT

The Parish Council support the principles within the Developing in the Forest of Marston Vale Supplementary Planning Document which is the planning policy document being prepared by both Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough Council local authorities.

The Parish Council also feel it is important to emphasise that tree planting should be within the open space aspects of development sites and remain on site for the benefit of those living at the development.