Leicester Forest East Residents Action Group

Lubbesthorpe New Town

 

LFE RAG     LUBBESTHORPE      LFE RESIDENTS ACTION GROUP     LFE RAG

 

 

Extracted from Autumn 2010 LiFE Magazine   (November 2010)

Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell MP reports

Planning decisions are always important, but recent events mean that this is more than usually true

of those which have to be taken by Blaby DC over the next few months. The background to these decisions is clear. The previous Government required local planning authorities to set aside sufficient land for housing development to satisfy house building targets which were determined in Whitehall.

 

Following the General Election, the new Government abolished this requirement. This decision was motivated by a desire to ensure that planning decisions are taken locally by councils who are responsible to local people. Since the decision was announced, however, developers have pushed hard for quick decisions to allow several projects to proceed, including the proposal to build a new small town close to LFE. This has created a problem for Blaby DC, because they have not had time to create its own locally agreed planning policy, and it is therefore concerned that it would not be able to defend any decision it made on appeal.

 

This is a perverse outcome.

 

The Government is trying to put local people back in control of the planning system, but Blaby DC is concerned that the effect is to give control to the planning appeal system. I have therefore written to Eric Pickles asking him to clarify the Government's position. I strongly agree with the principle that these decisions should be taken by local councils; it is for ministers to ensure that this shared objective is fully delivered.

 

 

County Councillor David Parsons reports

Housing developments

I am continuing my vigorous opposition to the potential planning applications for an urban extension in Lubbesthorpe and the smaller development to the west of Beggars Lane. Both would have a dramatic impact on our community and are completely unsuitable. The infrastructure in our Parish is unable to deal adequately with current traffic levels and environmental control, and such huge proposals are completely unacceptable. I understand that BDC officers arranged for an exhibition of the Lubbesthorpe proposals to Councillors recently. This is quite wrong. If there is to be an exhibition of these proposals, they should be open to all people affected so that local residents can make their views known.

QUOTES

Extracted from Winter 2010 LiFE Magazine ... (February 2011)

 

County Councillor David Parsons reports

 

Lubbesthorpe New Town I am working with the RAG and Stephen Dorrell, MP, to oppose this proposed

development. It would put a huge strain on local services and we need to involve our neighbours from Enderby and Kirby Muxloe. It concerns me that promised extra infrastructure may not materialise. Such huge developments involve roads, transportation, and newschools – and all this would be promised in a time of great economic hardship. For similar reasons I am opposed tothe development of land adjacent to Beggars Lane, and  I am happy to join the local residents in opposing such developments.