Local Development Plan Preferred Options Consultation; meeting held 4th March 2013 in the Town Council Office at 6.30pm.
Present: Cllrs Hinson, Weir and Mrs Lewis.
Apologies: Cllr Rev’d Nicholson.
Cllr Hinson went through the consultation question by question asking the members present for any comments.
Question 1. We support this preferred vision for the Core Strategy, the phrasing has improved and we look forward to more details in the future.
Question 2. We support the preferred objectives, however an order of priority would be helpful.
Question 3. We support your preferred policy for assessing sustainable development but have reservation regarding the availability of finance.
Question 4. We disagree with the preferred spatial distribution policy, encouraging the sustainability of all areas should be allowed where needed.
Question 5. We support the preferred approach for delivery areas.
Question 6. We Support the preferred policy approach for the North Northumberland Delivery Area.
Question 7. We support the preferred policy approach for the West Northumberland Delivery Area.
Question 8. We support the preferred policy approach for the Central Northumberland Delivery Area.
Question 9. We support the preferred policy approach for the South East Northumberland Delivery Area. It is encouraging to see the inclusion of Amble within this delivery area as there has been a lack of support to Amble in the past which does not encourage employment opportunities.
Question 10. We would support the preferred policy for the type and mix of housing if over 10 units per development, for example, as under this greater flexibility is needed.
Question 11. We support the preferred policy for the delivery of affordable housing, comments have obviously been taken on board.
Question 12. We support the preferred policy for the development of rural exception sites.
Question 13. We fully support the preferred policy for the provision of specialist accommodation for older people and vulnerable groups.
Question 14. We support the preferred policy for the provision of accommodation for Gypsy, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople but more control is needed. Some provision should also be made for shorter stays within the policy.
Question 15. We support the preferred option for large scale windfall employment development but this need to be promoted in every area.
Question 16. We support development but other areas should also be given the opportunity.
Question 17. We support the preferred option for the rural economy.
Question 18. We support the preferred option for tourism.
Question 19. We support the preferred option for the hierarchy of centres.
Question 20. We support the preferred option for the role of town and district centres.
Question 21. We disagree with the preferred option for the definition of centre and the maintenance of their vitality and viability, more flexibility is needed and development should not be discouraged in areas.
Question 22. We support the preferred option for leisure uses within town and district centres.
Question 23. We support the preferred option for large scale leisure facilities but it is imperative that transport links are improved for this to be viable.
Question 24. We support the preferred option for office accommodation within town and district centres.
Question 25. We support the preferred policy to assess the environmental acceptability of proposals for mineral developments.
Question 26. We support the preferred policy for coal extraction.
Question 27. We support the preferred policy for clay extraction.
Question 28. We support the preferred policy for the provision of aggregate minerals.
Question 29. We support the preferred policy for the extraction of natural building and roofing stone.
Question 30. We support the preferred policy for oil and gas development.
Question 31. We support the preferred policy for peat extraction.
Question 32. We support the preferred policy for the extraction of metalliferous and vein minerals.
Questions 33. We support the preferred policy for mineral site reclamation but would like to see timelines tightened up where possible.
Question 34. We support the preferred policy for safeguarding mineral resources.
Question 35. We support the preferred policy for safeguarding mineral related infrastructure.
Question 36. We support the preferred policy for the provision of new or enhanced waste management facilities.
Question 37. We support the preferred policy for non-inert waste landfill.
Question 38. We support the preferred policy for inert waste landfill.
Question 39. We support the preferred policy for assessing large-scale renewable and low carbon energy developments.
Question 40. We support the proposed policy for assessing large scale wind energy developments but feel Northumberland have already done enough proportionately. We also support the minimum distance for residents.
Question 41. We support the preferred policy for sustainable design and construction.
Question 42. We support the preferred policy for small-scale renewable and low carbon energy generation.
Question 43. We support the preferred policy for accessibility but some areas are lacking in reasonable transport links following the reduction of Arriva services.
Question 44. We support the preferred approach to parking standards but the continued reappraisal of traffic management and distribution is needed.
Question 45. We support the preferred policy for rail transport but need sustainable transport links!
Question 46. We support the preferred policy on the effects of development on the road network.
Question 47. We support the preferred policy for improving the strategic highway network, but access links from district centres to trunk roads must be improved for employment growth and business expansion.
Question 48. We support the preferred policy for ports, harbours and beach launch facilities.
Question 49. We support the preferred policy for the Sustainable Development of Newcastle International Airport.
Question 50. We support the preferred policy for mobile telecommunications.
Question 51. We support the preferred policy for broadband infrastructure, this is urgently needed to promote businesses and tourism.
Question 52. We support the preferred policy for community facilities but this needs flexibility due to changing demographics.
Question 53. We support the preferred overarching policy for the natural and historic environment but new energy saving measures could be introduced.
Question 54. We support the preferred policy for the natural environment.
Question 55. We support the preferred policy for the landscape.
Question 56. We support the preferred policy for the historic environment.
Question 57.We support the preferred policy for green infrastructure.
Question 58. We support the preferred policy for sport and recreational provision.
Question 59. We support the preferred policy for water environment.
Question 60. We fully support the preferred policy for coastal erosion and coastal change management.
Additional comments:
We are not in agreement with the District centre boundaries as in Appendix A, the retail assessments that define these boundaries are already out of date so is therefore not an accurate reflexion. We would encourage consultation on this.
The meeting closed at 8.00pm