BISHOP'S STORTFORD TOWN COUNCIL PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE
Chairmans Report 2007/2008
Chairman: Councillor Keith Warnell
Sounds boring doesn’t it, Planning, but it’s the one council activity
where we get to see what is going on in our town, what is planned, current
and future trends and to have input to the future of our town.
We are 10 members who meet 22 times a year-the busiest committee of the
council! We all view, consider and put our comments forward on over 600 applications
annually, name new streets and developments plus look closely at numerous
local environmental matters. We provide local input too on national and
county policies on transportation, bus routes, clean air, British Waterways
strategy for the River and of course the permanently contentious Stansted
Airport expansion.
This year we have also put forward proposals for a 20mph zone in the Parsonage
area, pushed for roundabout sponsorship, proposed a cycle link from Thorley
to the town, pushed for advertising A-boards not to obstruct the narrow
footways in the town, pushed EHDC re Jackson Square parking, looked at traffic
light phasing to benefit pedestrians at Hockerill and complained about the
massive number of lamppost signs promoting new developments.
Infill developments and replacement higher density dwellings have been
one of the challenges this year with pressure to build in every last bit
of spare space in our town. There has been much public concern too over
demolition of perfectly good houses and replacement with either flats or
more and smaller houses than there were before.
There is no rule against the demolition of habitable housing and we try
to ensure that any replacement or new property is sympathetic, of good design
and not lowest common denominator housing although sadly we rarely get our
way and struggle to keep Bishop’s Stortford from becoming another identikit
town. The worst of these being some of the developments of flats that have
been said by some to bear a resemblance to characterless supermarket buildings.
Please be aware that although we are closest to you, BSTC are not the final
arbiter in planning matters in that we are consulted and the final decision
is made in conjunction with East Herts District Council and their full-time
planning officers. So basically although you may not like it and we may
not like it, the legal position may well allow an unpopular development.
Recent government relaxation in planning guidelines has meant that more
and more previously contentious applications go through, as any appeal process
may well be lost. We do have a number of our own policies including our
resolute and consistent objection to mobile phone masts near residential
areas or near to schools.
You are welcome to attend our meetings to hear applications and see our
committee at work and the challenges we face in trying to preserve the character
our town contrasted with the inevitability of change.
Our meetings are usually on Mondays at 7.30pm at Windhill, see our website
www.bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk for dates and agendas.
Published by John Wyllie
on behalf of Bishop's Stortford Conservatives both of 4a Swains Mill Crane
Mead Ware Hertfordshire SG12 9PY Tel: 01920 462182 Fax: 01920 485805
