Thursday 21 January 2016

Days Two And Three


Dear Followers
 
DAY 3 (Thursday) and DAY 4 (Friday)
Day 3 will start with Landscape (MP & FR), Historic Townscape (mainly FR), Planning (MP and FR) and Heritage (mainly FR). This agenda will roll over into Friday.

It’s a 9.30am start and will probably go onto 5.30pm.

 
PROTOCOL
If you want to speak about your town you can ask on the day you attend and the Planning Inspector (PI) will try to accommodate you at a convenient time for you and that fits into the schedule.

Everyone should show respect for all participants and remain silent unless invited to speak by the PI. No Heckling.

Members of the public can come and go as they wish.

The Inspector announces a short break mid morning and again in the afternoon. Lunch is for about an hour - when and for how long is at the discretion of the Inspector.

SHOWING SUPPORT
No banners or posters are to be taken into the Council Chamber, however, we have a small button badge which we would like you to wear....just £1 contribution please to the Appeals' fund. They will be available before the start at the Council Chamber.

So please, please join us and help us in this fight for Framlingham.





 

Tuesday 19 January 2016

Day One

WELL...
Today was mostly procedural stuff with the afternoon being taken up with Taylor Wimpey's counsel picking over SCDC's five year housing supply...for 3 hours and 15minutes. Consequently, we are now already behind schedule.

DAY 2
Day 2 will be more of the same so we recommend that unless you are absolutely determined to understand the differences between the Liverpool or Sedgefield methods in calculating future housing needs.... save yourself for Day 3 and 4 (Thursday and Friday) where the focus will be on Landscape and Planning (Mount Pleasant) and Historic Townscape and Heritage (Fairfield Road).

PROTOCOL
If you want to speak about your town you can ask on the day you attend and the Planning Inspector (PI) will try to accommodate you at a convenient time for you and that fits into the schedule.

Everyone should show respect for all participants and remain silent unless invited to speak by the PI. No Heckling.

Members of the public can come and go as they wish.

The Inspector announces a short break mid morning and again in the afternoon. Lunch is for about an hour - when and for how long is at the discretion of the Inspector.

SHOWING SUPPORT
We had a good show of support today, so thank you to those of you that came. As we say, Thursday and Friday will be an easier listen!
It would be magnificent if we could maintain a consistently strong presence over the three weeks. So pace yourselves!

No banners or posters are to be taken into the Council Chamber, however, we have a small button badge which we would like you to wear....just £1 contribution please to the Appeals' fund. Email framresidents@gmail.com and we will ensure you get one.



So please, please join us and help us in this fight for Framlingham.


 

Sunday 17 January 2016

The Appeals


WHERE
The Council Chamber at Suffolk Coastal District Offices on Melton Hill, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1AU.

PROTOCOL
Members of the public may make a statement or ask a question - HOWEVER (this is at the discretion of the Planning Inspector (PI) and the request must be lodged at the beginning of the proceedings on Tuesday 19 January. 

If you want to speak about your town please contact us so we can co-ordinate residents input (the PI won’t allow repetitions). The PI then decides whether these question/statements are to be included and when.

Members of the public can come and go as they wish.

Everyone should show respect for all participants and remain silent unless invited to speak by the PI. No Heckling.


APPEALS' TIMETABLE
from 10am - 4.30/5pm
lunch - approximately 45 minutes (to be determined by the PI when he feels it is an appropriate point in the proceedings for a break).

Currently the latest timetable is as follows. We will try to keep you updated of any changes via email.

Tuesday 19 January
Hanslip - Housing Land Supply - both sites
Housing Land Supply (TW) - Fairfield Road

Wednesday 20 January
Housing Land Supply (TW) - Fairfield Road

Thursday 21 January
Landscape (SCDC) - Mount Pleasant
Historic Townscape (SCDC) - Fairfield Road
Planning (SCDC) - Mount Pleasant

Friday 22 January
Planning (SCDC) - Mount Pleasant
Heritage (FRA) - Fairfield Road

Tuesday 26 January
Design (TW) - Fairfield Road
Landscape (TW) - Fairfield Road

Wednesday 27 January
Heritage (TW) - Fairfield Road
Planning (TW) - Fairfield Road

Thursday 28 January
Landscape (SCDC) - Mount Pleasant
Planning (SCDC) - Mount Pleasant

Friday 29 January
Design (P) - Mount Pleasant
Landscape (P) - Mount Pleasant

Tuesday 2 February
Social Infrastructure (TW/P) - both sites
Planning (P) - Mount Pleasant

Wednesday 3 February
Highways (FRA) - both sites
Highways (TW) - Fairfield Road
Highways (P) - Mount Pleasant

Thursday 4 and Friday 5 February 
Conditions
S106
Site Visit
Closings

SHOWING SUPPORT
The more people that can come to the Appeal each day, the better. No-one is expecting people to show up everyday but it would be magnificent if we could maintain a consistently strong presence over the three weeks.

No banners or posters are to be taken into the Council Chamber, however, we have a small button badge which we would like you to wear....just £1 contribution please to the Appeals' fund. Someone from FRAm will be at the entrance with them.



GETTING THERE
There is NOT going to be an Appeals bus. It would seem that everyone wants the flexibility of their own transport. Several people have offered lifts. So if you want a lift then please get in touch with FRAm and we'll try to link you up with people who are going. framresidents@gmail.com
There is a public car park behind Suffolk Coastal Offices.

So please, please join us and help us in this fight for Framlingham.

Acronyms
FRA - Framlingham Residents' Association
P - Persimmon
PI - Planning Inspector
SCDC - Suffolk Coastal District Council
TW - Taylor Wimpey

 

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Sold Out




FANTASTIC! 
What a great response...
We will make sure that you have an enjoyable evening.

The Pay Bar will accept cash or cheques, but not cards. 
Also, remember you will need change for your raffle tickets...prizes now include: champagne, whisky, wine, chocolates, biscuits, toiletries.
Thank you to all who have donated prizes so generously.


Don't forget to pay for your tickets if you haven't done so already.
We will email you confirmation your table/tickets late Thursday. 
Here's to a successful evening of Fun, Food and Facts!

Wednesday 6 January 2016

An Open Letter To Framlingham Town Council




At the Town Council meeting tomorrow evening the Council will debate (item 14 on the Agenda) what level of contribution it is willing to make to Framlingham Residents' Association (FRA) Rule 6 Participation at the Appeals for Fairfield Road and Mount Pleasant.

Below is the case we have sent to the Town Council for its consideration.


Come along to hear the outcome. 

 



5th January 2016

Request to Framlingham Town Council for assistance with funding for Rule 6 participation in the Fairfield Road and Mount Pleasant Appeals.

Summary
Framlingham Residents Association is asking Framlingham Town Council to contribute to the cost of FRA’s Rule 6 participation in the forthcoming Planning Inquiry into the proposed Fairfield Road and Mount Pleasant developments.
We show that FRA is acting in the interests of the town as demonstrated by TC resolutions and the Neighbourhood Plan and ask that the TC share the cost equally with FRA. The cost of participation is £24,200 including VAT and we are asking for the TC to contribute £12,100.
Introduction
The Planning Appeals are by Taylor Wimpey for 163 homes in Fairfield Road and Persimmon Homes for 100 dwellings on Mount Pleasant. The defendant is Suffolk Coastal District Council. At the request of the Planning Inspectorate the two appeals are being held concurrently as there is significant overlap between them.
The applications were refused on the following grounds: insufficient infrastructure in the town made them unsustainable; both were on greenfield sites outside the development boundary and the negative impact they would have on the sensitive setting and edges of the town.
In November SCDC announced that they were withdrawing un-sustainability as reasons for refusal on both applications. This left the SCDC defence as being the developments are on greenfield sites and the impact they would have on the sensitive setting and edges of the town.
SCDC will argue that they now have the 5 year housing land supply as required by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Both appellants will argue that SCDC does not have the 5 year housing land supply and therefore NPPF Paragraph 14 applies. This states that where a Planning Authority cannot demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply there must be a presumption in favour of sustainable development unless the negative impacts of the development are deemed to outweigh the advantages.
At two recent Appeals (Woods Lane Melton and Land at North Entrance Saxmundham) the Planning Inspector disagreed that SCDC does have a 5 years housing land supply.
It therefore becomes even more important to show that the developments are not sustainable and that the negative impacts do outweigh the benefits. As SCDC has already conceded the sustainability arguments FRA decided to become a Rule 6 party at the Appeals so we could put forward a case to show that in at least one area, transport, the developments are not sustainable and that overall the negative impacts of the developments do outweigh the benefits. We would have liked to have argued on other areas of sustainability but time and costs prevented this.
This is a Public Enquiry and the general public and other interested parties such as a Town Council will have an opportunity to speak but not to present a case or cross-examine evidence put forward by the developers. To do this you need to be a Rule 6 party and as this is very similar to a court proceeding it is advisable to be presented by a solicitor/barrister and have evidence presented by recognised experts.
Mount Pleasant
The SCDC Planning Portal shows this application received 249 objections, 2 neutral comments and no letters in favour of the scheme. The application was rejected by SCDC Planning Committee.
On 29th October 2015 the SCDC Planning Committee voted to accept the Officers recommendation to approve the revised Persimmon Homes application for 95 homes on Mount Pleasant. Contrary to popular expectation Persimmon did not then withdraw from the Appeal. Notwithstanding the additional strain on the Town’s infrastructure it is generally agreed that the 100 homes application is a less acceptable design than the 95 homes scheme as, contrary to best practice, all the affordable homes are set in a single area, parking is restricted and little effort is made to make the development blend in with the surroundings.
Fairfield Road
This site was the least preferred option in the recent housing site allocation consultation for the Neighbourhood Plan. In the SCDC consultation there were 136 registered objections to the scheme and 2 letters of support. The Mount Pleasant development of 95 homes means that the total number of new homes built in Framlingham in the next three years will exceed the total target for 2027 as set by SCDC. This development will result in the Town having significantly more new homes than required by SCDC and this will put even more strain on the Town’s already over-stretched infrastructure. The new build timetable proposed by the developers means that even if SCDC and SCC do make funds available for improvements in infrastructure, and they have not done so to date, it will be many years before the shortfall is addressed.
The FRA Case
The main thrust of the FRA case is the inappropriateness of the developers Travel Plans in the context of life in Framlingham. The Travel Plans submitted by both Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon propose a sustainable transport system based on the extensive use of public transport. As the preliminary report prepared for us by Railton (and distributed to Councillors in October 2015) shows this is not realistic for Framlingham and the proposals are not sustainable. The Proof of Evidence now submitted goes into this in more detail and highlights the inadequacies and potential danger in the pedestrian facilities relied upon by the developers to support their Travel Plans.
As the Travel Plans submitted by both appellants are very similar this topic will be considered jointly in order to control costs and time.
In addition to this we are supported by Suffolk Preservation Society who have provided a Proof of Evidence regarding the impact the Fairfield Road development on the long views across the town, its historic buildings and in particular the Church, Castle and College.
We will also use our local knowledge to support the SCDC defence argument on the impact on the developments on the townscape, the landscape and the sensitive settings that are the edge of the town.
As a Rule 6 participant we have access to all the statements of case, statements of common ground and supporting documents used by the defendants to present their case and we are able to cross-examine this evidence. Our legal team are experts in this field and have experience of the precedent cases used and how they can be used in the context of development in Framlingham.
If the Planning Inspector finds in favour of the Appellants then the developments will be built as unlike the Appellant, the Defendant has no right to appeal to a higher court.
We see local representation as an essential role in the Appeals where the outcomes will have a huge and irreversible impact on the town. You do not need to win every sustainability argument to be successful at the appeal. You need to convince the Inspector that the negative impacts of the development(s) outweigh the benefits.
The FRA Team
FRA has instructed the following to act as legal representatives and expert witnesses:
Legal Representation- Lisa Foster, Partner at Richard Buxton Associates. RBA are a small firm of dedicated specialist solicitors working on environmental and public law issues. Lisa will be supported by Hannah Norman, Paralegal at RBA
Travel and Transport Expert Witness - Bruce Bamber of Railton TPC Ltd
Impact of Fairfield Road development on setting of Heritage assets – Fiona Cairns, Director of Suffolk Preservation Society
Costs
Professional Fees  £22,000
Disbursements and other Expenses £ 2,200
Total £24,200
* Disbursements and Expenses are mainly printing and travel costs.  We have minimised these by the FRA committee providing bed, breakfast and evening meal accommodation for the legal team and witnesses.
Funding
To cover the costs of FRA representing the Town as Rule 6 party we propose
Framlingham Residents Association funding      £12,100
Framlingham Town Council funding                    £12,100
Fundraising
FRA launched a fundraising campaign on 7th December 2015. Framlingham townsfolk have been very supportive and to date we have raised £6,930.00. This enabled us to start the Rule 6 participation process and cover initial costs. 
Payment
The majority of the bills are due for payment in January and February 2016.
Copies of all invoices will be provided to the TC.
Payment can be made direct to the supplier or via FRA as required.
Conclusion
When we consider Station Road, Mount Pleasant and Fairfield Road, the town is facing the prospect of a huge increase in homes in a very short space of time. Additional smaller developments such as New Road and other sites identified in the Neighbourhood Plan means the town faces change on a un-precedented scale.  We need to ensure a sustainable future for Framlingham and should not be silent while the future of our town is being decided.  We need to be active participants in the Appeal process and the only way we can have an effective voice is to be a Rule 6 participant. We urge the Town Council to support our application.
Yours sincerely


Christopher Sharpe
Chairman
Framlingham Residents' Association

 

Employment Sites In Fram



One landowner has withdrawn their plot of land which had been previously considered as one of the potential employment sites available for commercial development. Therefore on 29 December, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Team asked for further comments from the public with regard to site preference. You are to put either a Yes or No answer for each of the three identified sites on the response form. You can say yes to more than one site, however, if you do say yes to more than one site, you should indicate your preference by putting 1, 2 (or 3 if required) against each.

It is important to note a few important points:

1) All this information is now in the public domain. Everyone will know about it.

2) Land off Brick Lane (
E2)
The position and extent of the site has changed since the original consultation on land allocations. Agreeing that this is a suitable Employment site would mean that the Taylor Wimpey proposed development site on Fairfield Road would become 'infill' to all intents and purposes.

3) Land west of Thomas Mills High School (E1)
Back in July 2015 this land was previously identified as potentially for Community use (C8).

4)  The updated version of the Neighbourhood Plan is due to be published on the 18th January, the Appeals inquiry for Fairfield Road and Mount Pleasant starts on 19th January.

So you can see that the timing of this is critical and it is essential that you make your views known by the advertised deadline. 
You can download a response form and a brief explanation for each site from the Town Council website: www.framlingham.com 
or from this link: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/4b7e58442edd492d51c478ba8/files/NP_SITE_ALLOCATIONS__EMPLOYMENT.pdf

Please Note, the deadline is very soon!
All responses should be completed and forwarded by this FRIDAY 8 January to: Framlingham Town Council, 10 Riverside, Framlingham IP13 9AG.
We acknowledge that sustainable growth is important for Framlingham, so if you know of other potential sites that would be better suited, please let the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Team know.

Many thanks for your continuing support.


framresidents@gmail.com

www.framresidents.com
Follow us on: Twitter: #welovefram   
Facebook: Framlingham Residents Association  
Pininterest: welovefram

Monday 4 January 2016

I'm Fighting For Fram Quiz Night



Friday 15 January 2016
6.30pm for 7.00pm start

St Michael's Rooms Church Street 
Framlingham IP13 9BQ

£10.00 per ticket
(includes a two course meal and the quiz, of course)
Pay Bar and Raffle

 Why not bring your friends and make up a table of 6-10 people
or we can make a table up for you.