Town Council response to the Draft Core Strategy

Sam Skirton our Town Clerk has sent the WW a copy of this letter which was written in November after the SSDC consultation meeting. It gives the Town Council's view that it fears there may be an imbalance between the number of houses built and local opportunities for employment.

The letter was sent to Councillor Ric Pallister, the Portfolio Holder for Planning Economic Development and Transport, South Somerset District Council and was sent on 24th November 2010.

Dear Mr Pallister,

I am writing to you on behalf of Wincanton Town Council to comment on the Draft Plan (Core Strategy).

After your public consultation regarding the plan and a full Council meeting discussing the options, Council agreed the following comments should be delivered as a formal response from the members:

Council understand the need for development within South Somerset, yet has a duty to the current and future residents of Wincanton to seek a balance between retaining its standing as a Market Town and planning for the future. Council strongly oppose the 350 residual additional housing provision for Wincanton as the 703 housing commitment has yet to be completed, we cannot assess the impact such an increase in the population would have on the infrastructure, services and quality of life within the Town. Council agreed no further housing developments should be considered for at least 10 years to fully assess the impact of the current developments at New Barns Farm and Deanesly Way.

Council also have concerns regarding the comments of paragraph 6.111 of the document stating the growth will provide employment opportunities and community benefit. Whilst members would welcome more employment land with employment opportunities in Wincanton, the longer standing members have seen past employment sites destroyed and used for 121 dwellings, (all constructed after the 2006 deadline). This in turn forces residents to find employment outside the Town. 50% of the present work force travel outside Wincanton to work, with no current increase in employment opportunities this percentage will only increase. We need to establish why a Town with the advantages of position, labour market and excellent road network has not attracted business interest or progressed in the modern industrial world. Therefore, Council would like to see the evidence you based your comment on regarding employment opportunities. We fear there may be an imbalance of housing to business and employment.

Residents in Wincanton wish to keep the little open space we have left within the Town and even though the document states "the requisite amount of open space via planning obligations will provide new and existing residents the opportunity for access to an increased level of informal recreation" the area suggested by option one is already used by many residents as a walking area and the preference would be to leave it as just that. The New Homes consultation paper, Rural Proofing, Green Belt (PPG2) suggests local communities should have greater control over where units are delivered.

Council heard the views of several residents at the last Full Council meeting and agreed to vote against supporting any further development in Wincanton at this time. Should hard evidence suggest employment opportunities will increase in Wincanton and the current developments are not suffice to accommodate people wishing to move into the area and as suggested in the document quantitative expenditure which does exist is directed towards the town centre, then Council may reconsider its decision.

I await your reply. Yours sincerely

Sam Skirton. Wincanton Town Clerk

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