Residents of Burton,
To update you all, and following the consultative questionnaire and analysis of responses from village residents regarding a Neighbourhood Plan.
The details below are an extract from the minutes of Nettleton Parish Council meeting on 10th December 2015. The impact of the council vote means that a Neighbourhood Plan is not to be pursued any further.
Neighbourhood Planning
10a – Motion proposed by Cllr Wright: The Parish Council takes no further action in preparing a Neighbourhood Plan for all or part of the parish of Nettleton.
Chris Bennett spoke to say that 77% of people who had returned the survey were in favour of adopting a plan and that he would be happy that the community would have a greater say in planning decisions if they adopted a NP. Roger Brack stated that he was not of the opinion that as many as 80% of the surveys were returned and that the figures showed the amount of people, not properties. Cllr Minney also pointed out that anyone 12 years old and over could vote for a NP.
10b – Cllr Kerr read out a note from Cllr Pearce (who was unable to attend due to illness) who opposed the above motion for two reasons, summarised as follows; firstly, some items supported by the survey, such as more social housing, need a NP plan to promote them and, secondly, the financial and staff support for preparation of NP’s currently provided by Wiltshire Council may not continue. Cllr Kerr noted that he agrees with these points.
Cllr Wright and Cllr Minney said they had questioned many Burton residents regarding the NP and had found no-one to be in favour.
Cllr Wright proposed motion as above, seconded by Cllr Beare. Vote in favour Cllr Minney, Cllr Flint, Cllr Bush; vote against Cllr Kerr.
Motion proposed by Cllr Pearce: NPC to hold an Open Meeting to discuss NP. Motion fails as Neighbourhood Plan not going ahead as per Item 10a) above.
4 Comments
Missy Rivers Sell · 01/18/2016 at 12:36 pm
I find it odd that Wright and Minney questioned “many” residents yet I’ve never spoken to either of them nor has anyone I know in this village (and I know a damn good chunk of people here). This is a stellar example of how the interests of Burton and the majority of its’ residents are not even on the radar of the NPC.
Mr C Ainger. · 01/18/2016 at 9:20 pm
I assisted Cllr Minney in the local Parish Council Election Campaign and was party to comments from residents of the village regarding the Parish Plan. I am a new comer to the village and have lived here for nearly 30 years and have never seen the village so divided over this issue with the majority feeling that this Plan is a waste of time. I have never spoken to Missy Rivers Sell but probably have spoken to a much larger
‘ damn good chunk’ over the years than she has. I wonder how long she plans to stay here. When my family and I arrived in the village we decided to live in our Village as the local residents have done for many years, we raised our children here and have spent many happy times with them at village functions and get togethers all of which have been arranged by residents of the village without a ‘ Parish Plan’ or Residents Association. Both Gen Minney and John Wright are both elected Parish Councillors and deserve a little respect in their titles! Burton lies in a Parish of three villages all of which have a right to have a say in a so called Parish Plan. We need also to remember that Cllr Minney was recently elected with a large majority in the Local Parish Election – she obviously spoke to some of our village residents!
Amanda · 01/19/2016 at 3:01 pm
Mr C Ainger (Chris?),
I couldn’t agree with you more when you write all three villages have a right to a say about the Neighbourhood Plan. Unfortunately, only the Burton representatives of the Parish Council’s working group voiced this opinion – hence only Burton was consulted.
Having read the results of the Parish Council’s consultation, I’m less convinced by your assertion ‘the majority feel… that this Plan is a waste of time’. But this is immaterial given the Parish Council’s decision not to proceed with a neighbourhood plan.
It’s great you fitted in so well to village life when you arrived thirty years’ ago. I suspect the village population and dynamic has changed since you moved here. It seems likely to change further as the village continues to grow (the NPC’s rejection of a neighbourhood plan suggests this growth will be without recourse to residents’ opinion). Not everyone wants to be part of a community association – and that’s fine. However, there are some, myself included, who welcome the opportunity to get to know more people in the village. Far from being ‘divisive’, the community association is simply fulfilling a demand.
If anyone wants to take part in any or all of the BCA’s activities they are more than welcome. Glad to see you using the website.
Amanda
Mr C Ainger · 01/19/2016 at 8:45 pm
Thank you for your reply to my comments on the Neighbourhood Plan, I did find it hard to believe a lot of the findings on that report but as you say it is now immaterial as the P C have decided not to proceed , I say thank goodness for that. As for the village I’m sure there will be a natural population increase but as there appears to be no Planning Applications for major development at the moment I cannot see major growth or change in the immediate future. I still have to say I feel the recent activities of some of the newer residents / organisations of the village have created a divide which is a great pity and filling a demand of a minority. I’m sure will will have to agree to disagree on the above but thank you once again for replying to my comments.
Chris Ainger.