ACTION FOR SUSTAINABLE GROSMONT
STOP PRESS
The detailed submission for Action for Sustainable Grosmont was handed in to Monmouthshire County Council on Friday 18th November 2011.
The council will not finish consulting on alternative sites before the New Year.
WATCH THIS SPACE
For further information contact us through the website.
This cross-village group has, over the last few months, been working to fight the proposals in the Monmouthshire Local Development Plan that:
1. Define Grosmont as a major village.
2. State that all major villages should have a quota of 15 houses built regardless of situation.
3. Identify a site to the west of the village as the preferred site with access through one of three cul-de-sacs.
The group argues that:
We are not a major village - according to the Council's own criteria - having neither public transport (one bus a week for shopping in Abergavenny!) nor any significant full time employment.
As a village we have already expanded by over 50% in the last twenty-five years with houses being built at the moment and planning permission for several more. This has resulted in problems of access to the village and parking within it, and pressure on the electricity and sewage systems.
The proposed mix of housing is based on out-of-date data and would not meet the current needs of the local population. We have conducted our own survey of all households in the village to ascertain these needs.
The proposed site (PVO5) and an alternative proposed by the Council (PVO5A) are "Greenfield" sites and have wholly inadequate access. A further alternative site has been rejected on, what we believe, are inadequate grounds.
As a result of our successful lobbying of the Chief Planning Officer, our local Council member, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and the Deputy Leader of the Council - all of whom we persuaded to visit the site - the alternative site (PVO5A) has been abandoned.
However, on Friday 1st July our representatives went to a meeting of the full Council to put their case, along with representatives from towns and villages all over the County. At the end of the meeting, that lasted over 12 hours, the draft Local Development Plan was carried in full with one exception - with members voting on party lines.
The Plan now goes out for official consultation for six weeks starting in September. If, during that time, any town or village puts forward an alternative proposal, this has to be considered by the Planning Department over the next six weeks after that. The Plan then has to be referred to an inspector appointed by the Welsh Assembly.
The group are seeking professional advice and will be presenting a full case:
Against the proposed site
For an alternative site
For the quantity and type of housing needed by the local community.
RELEVANT DOCUMENTS
Speeches to the Full Council - 1st July 2011
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Site PVO5 Sustainability Appraisal
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Site PVO5A Sustainability Appraisal
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Site Map
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Deposit Local Development Plan (page 194 on screen and map at back)
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Sustainability Appraisal Report (Appendix 5-13 page 171 on screen)