Save Throckley's Open Places

Archive for December, 2011

Today, we added a photo gallery of the sites that have been proposed for development. Please click here to view the gallery and feel free to comment on any of the photos.

Two meetings are to be held between now and the consultation end date (4th Jan):

STOP Update (+ letter writing)
The Banktop Club, Throckley, Wednesday 14th Dec, 5.30pm to 6.30pm.

Drop-in Session With Planners (+ letter writing)
Throckley Community Hall, Monday 19th Dec, 3.00pm to 5.30pm.

Following both meetings, there will be an opportunity for you to write your letter of objection to the Council’s proposals.

As mentioned in previous posts & emails, the Council appear to be placing a great deal of emphasis on the objection letters. They have stated that they require reasons why specific sites should not be part of the One Core Strategy. It has also been said that very few letters of objection have been received to date..

It is possible that if enough letters are received, objecting to specific sites and pointing out why they should not or cannot be developed, that the Council will drop these sites from the plan. Any discounted sites will be announced in February following the consultation.

Please note that you will need to describe the location of the development(s) to which you object. If you are unclear as to which sites are proposed, click here to view a map.

So, if you have not already done so, please get writing or come along to one of the two sessions above. Volunteers will be on hand to help with hand-written or typed letters. You can even dictate your objections and someone will type out a letter out for you to sign. We’ll also provide envelopes and we will even go to the post box for you!

Groups of campaigners from across Newcastle met outside the Civic Centre as a turfed coffin with fake badgers and squirrels was symbolically processed from the Church to the Civic Centre.

Cllr. Murison addressed the group again, promising to listen and that no decision had been taken.  There was good media coverage including Tyne Tees.

     

The public gallery was packed again for the formal Council meeting, and our 550 name petition was presented, together with others from neighbouring areas. Amongst people who spoke to emphasise the importance of the issue was Pat McGee presenting our petition and Adam Vaughan from Callerton.

The Councillors have clearly acknowledged the sense of the argument that brownfield sites should be developed before greenfield, BUT in February the outcome of this phase will be that some sites will be dropped from the plan altogether, and Cllr. Murison emphasised that they would be looking at sites INDIVIDUALLY.

He commented that petitions have impact in general, but they can only use letters putting forward objections with regard to specific sites in this crucial  assessment.

SO PLEASE GET WRITING NOW!!!!

(deadline is 4th January – last posting dates are 17th & 20th December)

Local Resident Bryan Rees has kindly submitted his letter of objection for publication on this web site. Click here to download a copy. Please feel free to re-phrase some or all of his points when writing your own (which needs to be sent before 4th January). Please note that your letter need not be as detailed but the more points you include, the better. Thanks Bryan!

We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you of the (peaceful) protest on Wednesday 7th December before the next full Council meeting at Newcastle Civic Centre. The protest will take place between 5.15pm and 6.00pm and your attendance would be appreciated. Perhaps you could tie it in with some Christmas shopping? You can download a flyer here to help promote the event. After the protest, we will hand in our offline petition and there will be an opportunity to attend the public gallery at the meeting.