Saturday, 26 December 2015
Wednesday, 23 December 2015
SOCS send Letter to the Editor - EADT about the quoted "5,000 houses" planned for the North Fringe
SOCS and those who have been actively involved in the proposals and negotiations for the North Fringe for 13 years have concerns about Mr Gummer's quote in the East Anglian Daily Times yesterday.
Save Our Country Spaces (SOCS) wish to know why Mr Gummer has stated in the EADT 22nd December, "First-time house buyers warned climbing property ladder in 2016 will be a ‘harder challenge’",
“We have just identified space for another 2,500 houses in Ipswich in addition to the 5,000 to be built on the Northern Fringe and the important thing is to start building quality development so that we can provide new houses, especially starter homes, and homes for young families.”
The Ipswich Borough Council Core Strategy (main modifications), Regulation 22 (3) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, which was formally submitted on the 14th December, clearly stated,
"CS10 Ipswich Garden Suburb- The detailed infrastructure requirements of the development of approximately 3,500 dwellings at the Garden Suburb ……..”
How can Mr Gummer suggest an altered density from 3,500 to 5000 houses (an increase of 43%)? Where did he source his figures? We thought he wanted quality development and good urban design, not urban cramming. The proposed Submission for the Core Strategy consultation in March 2015 received 1,090 returns amounting to 9325 representations. Many of the representations were from Ipswich residents who objected to the proposals, mainly as they considered the level of proposed growth to be unrealistic and the impacts potentially too harmful.
Yet, undeterred in the article, Mr Gummer also went on to optimistically state,
“The good news is that Ipswich is developing and I think we should celebrate the fact that Ipswich is now a much more prosperous place.”
Really? How so? It certainly doesn’t feel more prosperous to may of the hundreds of Ipswich residents who responded to the Local Plan consultation. How can Ipswich be “more prosperous” if it fails to secure jobs growth required to match housing growth?
The Core Strategy modestly states that Ipswich Borough,
‘.. will encourage the provision of approximately 12,500 jobs in the Borough between 2011 and 2031…'
Analysis indicates there has been little appreciable jobs growth in Ipswich for years, even in the bloom years pre-2007, so where is the balance and sustainable approach? There is little the Borough can realistically do about this job growth problem, especially in light of the Suffolk County Council proposed cuts to services and jobs.
But, it appears Mr Gummer may have something up his sleeve. Being seasonal, perhaps Santa will help and supply Mr Gummer with a magic prosperity wand this Christmas?
Wednesday, 16 December 2015
Please help record important sightings of protected species, especially on the "Red House" North Fringe site, on what remains of the former great Red House Park site.
SOCS AGM and ordinary meeting December 2015
SOCS discussed feedback from local residents of the wealth of recent local sightings, especially of owls, bats and other important species which the Suffolk Biological Monitoring Office in High Street need to be made aware of.
http://www.suffolkbrc.org.uk/
Sharing information about Suffolk's wildlife
Home About Species Recording Sites Downloads
It is vital that local heritage and local biodiversity is formally recorded and made known during all Local Plan and Planning Application processes.
There seems to be a lot of hedgehogs active too, most likely due to the unaccustomed warm weather. They may be at risk if we have a sudden weather cold downturn. ( you could alert us by using the comment box on the blog).
So, SOCS are appealing for the public to do their bit, look, record and let us know of any sightings!
Several years ago we ran an initiative to do some formal recording after photographing Great Crested Newts and common newts in an area near the Millennium Cemetery.
The Cemetery is well know to have them on site.
The North Fringe has for too long been a bit of a "black hole" in this respect with little formal work and support being given to this important issue.
It has fallen to the public locally to make up this shortfall.
An excellent survey of hedgerows and trees has been undertaken in recent years according to Suffolk Hedgerow Survey methodology, by a retired local doctor, with guidance and help from Guy Akers, who did the rural Hedgerow Survey for Suffolk which was so well received.
http://www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourdistrict/greenissues/greenprint/hedgerows/
"The project originated in response to the 1992 Rio Earth Summit whereby those 170 + countries attending agreed to set up benchmarks for their identified priority issues in the areas of flora, fauna, landscape and habitat as part of their Local Agenda 21. In England and Wales this became the responsibility of local authorities."
Unfortunately, this did not embrace the urban landscape. Suffolk Wildlife Trust were commissioned by Ipswich Borough Council to do a "Desk Top" survey arond 2012, but that only really identifies that which is already known and formally recorded. If it's never been properly surveyed or recorded, the heritage and biodiversity will be at risk.
SOCS discussed feedback from local residents of the wealth of recent local sightings, especially of owls, bats and other important species which the Suffolk Biological Monitoring Office in High Street need to be made aware of.
http://www.suffolkbrc.org.uk/
Home About Species Recording Sites Downloads
It is vital that local heritage and local biodiversity is formally recorded and made known during all Local Plan and Planning Application processes.
There seems to be a lot of hedgehogs active too, most likely due to the unaccustomed warm weather. They may be at risk if we have a sudden weather cold downturn. ( you could alert us by using the comment box on the blog).
So, SOCS are appealing for the public to do their bit, look, record and let us know of any sightings!
Several years ago we ran an initiative to do some formal recording after photographing Great Crested Newts and common newts in an area near the Millennium Cemetery.
The Cemetery is well know to have them on site.
The North Fringe has for too long been a bit of a "black hole" in this respect with little formal work and support being given to this important issue.
It has fallen to the public locally to make up this shortfall.
An excellent survey of hedgerows and trees has been undertaken in recent years according to Suffolk Hedgerow Survey methodology, by a retired local doctor, with guidance and help from Guy Akers, who did the rural Hedgerow Survey for Suffolk which was so well received.
http://www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourdistrict/greenissues/greenprint/hedgerows/
"The project originated in response to the 1992 Rio Earth Summit whereby those 170 + countries attending agreed to set up benchmarks for their identified priority issues in the areas of flora, fauna, landscape and habitat as part of their Local Agenda 21. In England and Wales this became the responsibility of local authorities."
Unfortunately, this did not embrace the urban landscape. Suffolk Wildlife Trust were commissioned by Ipswich Borough Council to do a "Desk Top" survey arond 2012, but that only really identifies that which is already known and formally recorded. If it's never been properly surveyed or recorded, the heritage and biodiversity will be at risk.
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Monday, 7 December 2015
Save Our Country Spaces (SOCS) Ipswich Suffolk - new website and blog
Welcome to SOCS' new blog to help keep the local community in North Ipswich informed about local planning and Local Plan development proposals from Ipswich Borough and Suffolk Coastal District Council.
Above shows local residents, SOCS members and North Fringe Protection Group representatives demonstrating in 2011 against the local proposals and loss of the "North Fringe" 500 acres of prime, "Best & Most Versatile" farm land in North Ipswich; this still currently under the threat from wholesale development.
The above demonstration was part of the 2011 Telegraph "Hands off Britain's Countryside"; a campaign to persuade the Government to rethink its dangerous planning reforms.
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