EASTLEIGH’S DRAFT LOCAL PLAN
To all of those concerned,
As you might have already seen, next Thursday (18th October) the Cabinet of Eastleigh Borough Council will meet to discuss the results of the consultation over their proposed Local Plan.
Having read the report, there are a number of points that I have noted that I thought I would bring to your attention:
- Despite thousands of responses to the consultation, and a clear demonstration of objection to Policies S5 and S6 of the Strategic Growth Option (SGO) – with close to 90% of respondents objecting to each of these policies - Eastleigh Borough Council are planning to move forward with these proposals.
- Similarly, 76% of respondents stated that the Local Plan that has been presented by Eastleigh Borough Council is unsound. The motion before the Council next Thursday will call on Councillors to agree to move the draft Plan forward, regardless of these views.
- While Eastleigh Borough Council acknowledge that ONS figures highlight that there could be a reduction in Eastleigh’s housing need, Eastleigh Borough Council could decide to approve the bloated housing figures in our area, citing an ‘unmet need in the wider housing market area’.
- Officers are continuing - even after the consultation has been completed – to sign off a range of technical updates surrounding key issues such as Air Quality, Employment Needs, Infrastructure Delivery and Landscape Sensitivity.
Considering all of the above, it would seem to me, and I am sure to many of you too, that the administration at Eastleigh Borough Council are again set to completely ignore the views expressed by us all.
Instead, they will push ahead with yet another Local Plan that fails to have the support of local people, adding to already poor air quality, adding an unnecessary number of extra vehicles to our already congested roads, and concreting over our green spaces and ancient woodland.
All in all, it’s a whitewash! The Chief Executive at Eastleigh Borough Council has himself confirmed that ‘there are no significant changes to the Local Plan that was debated at Council in December 2017.’
HOWEVER, there is one last opportunity to make your views heard! Eastleigh Borough Council have confirmed that they will ‘allow’ speakers a total of 1 hour, with a maximum of 5 minutes per speaker, to share their views on the 18th October, and I would urge you to do so.
I appreciate how deeply many of you feel about this issue, and this was demonstrated by the hundreds if not thousands of emails and letters that I have received from you in relation to it. Therefore, I would urge you to put in to speak at this meeting, and ensure that Councillors present are aware of just how unhappy local people are with the proposals that they are bringing forward.
If you would like to speak at the meeting, I understand that you should contact the Senior Specialist at Eastleigh Borough Council, Laura Johnston, on 023 8068 8041 or email laura.johnston@eastleigh.gov.uk.
Within my role as Eastleigh’s MP, I will always stand up for my constituents, including on the multiple occasions that the administration at Eastleigh Borough Council ignore the views of our community, such has been demonstrated throughout this process.
As ever, should you wish to write to me regarding this or any other matter, please don’t hesitate to do so by emailing mims.davies.mp@parliament.uk .
Kind Regards,
Mims
Mims Davies
Member of Parliament for Eastleigh
I send out a regular email newsletter to update residents on my work. If you would like to receive these then please do visit my website www.mimsdavies.org.uk