The three motions mentioned in Full Council 2, were defeated, despite support from the Liberal Democrats, Independents and the Labour group.
The only way of avoiding mass development in Chineham, Basing and Bramley is to consider Manydown – and everyone knows it. If you live in these parishes you would have hoped your Councillors would have stood up for you – you’ll be disappointed.
Only one Conservative from Bramley, Chineham and Basing had the courage to vote in line with their election promises. Had the rest of them done so, the Council would have been committed to include Manydown for public consultation.
Of Course the reward for the only Conservative to put people above party was suspended from the party for doing so!
Councillors would do well to remember they’re elected by the residents, not their party. Your first loyalty should be with those residents.
I supported the call for Manydown to be discussed, it is my residents who purchased it.
I supported the call for it to be included in public consultation, because I think it is right for the public to have a real say in the future of the borough, especially as the Manydown land was purchased with their money.
I also supported the call for scrutiny. I have questions over the process. Even if I didn’t it was clear residents do. There questions should have been answered.
There were two other motions moved by opposition councillors. One was to ask the County Council to not promote land at Down Grange for development. This small piece of land is used as casual public open space. Whilst Down grange already offers open space this is formal and laid out for pitches and an athletics track. This small piece of land is not only used now, but if in the future we wanted to create a centre for sporting excellence, this site offers that potential. I supported this motion, but it was blocked by the Conservatives.
The final one was about tightening up the Councils existing policies to protect the towns green open spaces from future development. Again I supported this, but it was defeated by the Tories. The Portfolio holder seemed to argue that he supported this motion, but as existing policies were similar, he wouldn’t vote for it. That may seem a strange argument but doesn’t make it into the Top 3 Ridiculous arguments offered on the night, they will be in the next post.
At the start of this year I agreed to sit on the planning and Infrastructure Overview and scrutiny committee. It's rubbish
I quickly realised as members of the public warned of infrastructure issues, that we were not for discussing planning around that at this stage.
Planning and infrastructure overview and scrutiny It seems committee doesn’t do planning,
it doesn’t do infrastructure.
When we got to selecting sites, we were presented with, not options but the selection.
Far from taking an overview we had a single view, a Tory view.
Manydown was not up for discussion, when this was challenged and scrutiny called for, we were pretty much told it wasn’t our job to do scrutiny either
So much for the committees title
If I’d known it was the “Tory view and don’t question it” committee I wouldn’t have bothered. I would joined a golf club instead. As right now paying members of a golf club appear to have more influence over the future planning than elected members of this chamber.
As things stand the public face a farcical consultation. “We have to build this many homes on these sites whether you agree or not – we would welcome the opportunity to ignore your view”
That can’t be right. The LDF process should be open, fair and transparent. This motion delivers that.
We have spent millions purchasing Manydown,
Thousands having site assessments, landscape studies and sustainability studies, if that was all we had wasted it would be terrible, but actually it is worse.
It could be argued that Manydown offers an opportunity,
the true cost to the people of this borough of ignoring it is as much as £500,000,000, yes £1/2bn.
This site would not only provide homes for the future but could fund so much more. Perhaps a new ring road connecting the A339 to an upgraded junction 7 of the M3. Taking pressure off Roman Road Basingstoke and Oakley to end, once and for all the threat of Oakleystoke. It could provide more public open space for the people of Winklebury, Buckskin and Rooksdown along with the other services needed to support both new and existing communities. Enough change to secure the boroughs finances for the next generation. We own it, we control it.
The benefits and profits will belong to local people. The site is big enough to offer its own reserve.
Or of course you can wreck the Loddon Valley
That is perhaps a one sided view. There are challenges too, but you won’t hear them as we appear forbidden to mention Manydown. This motion changes that.
I am not asking for Manydown to be built on. I am asking for it to be considered.
For far too long our residents felt they have had little say in housing and future development.
If you campaigned at any election for local people to have more say in homes for the future,
Tonight you can deliver that commitment
it is exactly what this motion delivers
A public consultation with options, where the public can truly influence what is put before the inspector and then built.
This decision is the biggest many of us will ever make, it will be our legacy. This is about how our children live, where our children live, where our children work and the borough we leave to them.
I know we don’t get on. Nationally our parties are heading for a quicky divorce in 3 years.
but like any other divorce, we should still work together for the sake of the children
and I ask you to support this motion.
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