Topic ID 388
The public consultation on the proposals for massive housing development in the so called 'Eastern Region' has now begun - including on the 20,800 new homes to be built in East Herts by 2021, of which Hertford will be expected to take its share. All the information can be found at www.speakuphertfordshire.org.uk
Reply ID 2933
EHDC are holding several "Community Voice" meetings in relation to this - including one at Castle Hall in Hertford on Thursday 27th January 2005. http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/speakup/GetInvolved.htm See you all there (and perhaps in the White Horse for a sly one afterwards....)
Reply ID 2934
What time is it? I would certainly like to attend.
Reply ID 2941
Yes, thanks Joby. This should be open to everybody in Hertford/shire. How can it be publicised more?
Reply ID 2948
quote:The website didn't actually give a time for the meeting, hopefully this will be published nearer the time.
Originally posted by wizkid
What time is it? I would certainly like to attend.
Reply ID 2949
I've just had a look in East Hert's 'Link' magazine, and it says all the Community Voice meetings discussing this start at 7.30pm and end at 9pm. If you can't make the one in Hertford on 27 January, the one in Ware is taking place in the Prior on 13 January (same times).
Reply ID 2966
The front page of today's "Royston Crow" carries a story about how the housing plans have been temporarily shelved. It would seem that EERA have postponed the plans due to a lack of financial commitment from the government regarding transport infrastructure. Anyone have any further info on this? I expect the Mercury will carry the story tomorrow.
Reply ID 2967
Coverage of that was also in yesterday's Hertford Times. The consultation is continuing as normal, & I think the key-word in what EERA has announced is that they are SUSPENDING their support pending further discussions with the Government. See: http://www.eera.gov.uk/News.asp?cat=-1&id=SXC4E7-A77F82E0 It would be terrible if people stopped taking part in the consultation because they thought the plans had been ditched, only for EERA to lift their suspension at the end of the consultation and state that they've had little objection to the plans. Also, at the end of the day the Government could over-rule EERA's view anyway.
Reply ID 2972
quote:Now there's a conspiracy theory if ever I heard one.
Originally posted by Kate
It would be terrible if people stopped taking part in the consultation because they thought the plans had been ditched, only for EERA to lift their suspension at the end of the consultation and state that they've had little objection to the plans.
Reply ID 2975
quote:It really wasn't meant to be! I wasn't meaning that EERA members would do this maliciously, just the facts are that they've only suspended their support for the plans, not withdrawn it. The story seems to be coming across in some papers that the house building just isn't going to happen now, which is far from the case.
Now there's a conspiracy theory if ever I heard one.
Reply ID 3320
You know its going to happen. The Stansted and M11/M25 junctions aren't being expanded for fun.
Reply ID 3594
quote:Registered at the link above, and got my pack yesterday. Haven't had much time to read it all, but it seems quite informative, and a presentation of facts rather than opinion The numbers I remember from my brief reading this morning: 20,000 new homes in total 10,000 new homes north of Harlow (which encroaches on the East Herts area) 2,000 new homes around Bishops Stortford New houses built at a rate of 1,000 per year About 45,000 extra people in the area 28,000 new cars 2,500 extra people on the trains Require 30 extra doctors "at current staffing levels" (makes no reference to whether current levels are correct) Bearing in mind that there are currently 124,000 people in the area (from East Herts website), the numbers being mentioned represent a population increase in the region of 40%. Also of interest is where the other 8,000 homes will go - as Herford is the largest town in the area bar B.S, then there is a good chance we will be getting a large proportion. Definitely worth going to the meeting on the 27th (the White Horse might be a bit crowded in a few years time!) admin - before you rap my knuckles, I edited the response to sort out the ribbish spalling.......
Originally posted by Joby
EHDC are holding several "Community Voice" meetings in relation to this - including one at Castle Hall in Hertford on Thursday 27th January 2005. http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/speakup/GetInvolved.htm See you all there (and perhaps in the White Horse for a sly one afterwards....)
Reply ID 3804
Is anyone going to the consultation tonight? (27th Jan) - I was planning to, but unfortunately cannot now make it. If someone is going, would they be so good as to post a reply tomorrow saying what happened? Thanks.
Reply ID 3805
Will make every effort to get to the one tonight, and will certainly report back if I do.
Reply ID 3829
I went along & there was a reasonably good turn out, especially considering it was a miserable evening. The key message was - take part in the consultation, it's your one & only chance to have your say on what really is the future of this area!
Reply ID 3830
quote:Went along too - will post a more detailed report when I get some time this weekend. I have to disagree about the turnout - there were perhaps 50-60 people there, for a town of 22000 that is crap, whatever the weather, especially considering the massive impact the development will have on everyone who lives in the area. If anything, it will be our apathy and defeatism that paves the way for bulldozers....get writing!
Originally posted by Kate
I went along & there was a reasonably good turn out, especially considering it was a miserable evening. The key message was - take part in the consultation, it's your one & only chance to have your say on what really is the future of this area!
Reply ID 3841
quote:Yes, fair comment! I probably should have said 'compared to previous Community Voice meetings I've been to it was a fairly good turn-out'! But as Joby says: get writing!
I have to disagree about the turnout - there were perhaps 50-60 people there, for a town of 22000 that is crap,
Reply ID 3953
Kate/Joby - Was there any reference at the consultation to how much of the planned house building is as a result of projected increase in UK population? According to Government stats, the population will carry on growing until 2036, so there will naturally be an increased demand for housing for the next 30 years.
Reply ID 3955
quote:Good point. Is any of the housing identified as to meet migration demands, domestic and international.
Originally posted by Spotty Dog
Kate/Joby - Was there any reference at the consultation to how much of the planned house building is as a result of projected increase in UK population? According to Government stats, the population will carry on growing until 2036, so there will naturally be an increased demand for housing for the next 30 years.
Reply ID 3963
I think the figures given at the meeting was 40& in-migration to the district. One of the points being made at the meeting was that these new people wouldn't all be working locally, but commuting - given WAGN & ONE are barely able to cope with current numbers using their trains by the time they near the City, this could be interesting! There's some (quite frightening) local info on the issue on the council's web-site, plus a form to fill in to be sent a copy of the information pack that was handed out at the community voice meeting. http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/speakup/index.htm This whole issue contrasts sharply with the out-cry in the north of the country this week over plans to bull-doze tens of thousands of unwanted houses...
Reply ID 3967
What a complex way to respond! You need to respond to a specific policy, and also need to send in a different response for each policy you are commenting on. As far as I can see, you submit responses here: http://eera.web-labs.co.uk/eerapublicconsultation/ Policies H1 to H3 say there should be 79,600 new houses in Herts between 2001 and 2021, with a mix of size and type. I think that this is too many, but what am I supposed to be responding with???? HELP!!!!
Reply ID 3970
The complexity that EERA has made the consultation process was another thing addressed at the community voice meeting. The message seemed to be not to worry about how you respond too much - the priority is to just ensure you do respond. Evidently EERA originally said that they were only going to accept responses submitted through their web-site, but the councils protested & written submissions are now accepted! (if you do choose to use the web-site one useful point I picked up at the meeting is that you don't have to do it all in one go - you get a reference number & can log in & out to complete your response as you wish). If you are just making comments on why you don't think the number of houses is acceptable, I think you can probably get away with making them all under the policy heading 'H1', as that's the bit that sets out how many homes are to be built in total in the region, and then the break down for each county & district.
Reply ID 4089
I'm always suspicious about developments that include free construction of a building for a charity or local organisation. It tells me that the developer knows the plan is fundamentally flawed from the outset and that they know it would never get through on it's own without attaching a 'sweetener' for the council.
Reply ID 4140
Lots of new homes proposed in Prescottshire, meanwhile... 400,000 homes in North face demolition http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/07/ndemo07.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/02/07/ixportal.html Demolition will take place over the same 15-year period as John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, is planning to squeeze 200,000 more affordable homes than planners say are needed into the South East.
Reply ID 4264
Prescott is a big waste of space.
Reply ID 5263
There are only 7 days in which repsonses can now be made to this obscene proposal. If like me you are struggling timewise, there is a 30 second response form here........ http://www.stopharlownorth.com/response_form.htm
Reply ID 5268
quote:Top post Blakey - thanks for the pointer. Have just posted my response now.
Originally posted by Blakey
There are only 7 days in which repsonses can now be made to this obscene proposal. If like me you are struggling timewise, there is a 30 second response form here........ http://www.stopharlownorth.com/response_form.htm
Reply ID 5272
me too....and forwarded it (a la chain letter) to all i know.
Reply ID 5344
new homes in the area would help my business as new homes need new furniture but i moved here because i like it the way it is! i walk down the street and see people i know or recognise. ive lived in large towns befor and chose to leave i would like to stay here and settle down! so i have posted my objections.