Along with a number of other local residents, I attended the recent meeting at Stocksfield Golf Club about the proposal to build 55 houses in the middle of New Ridley. Since then, I have knocked on nearly every door in the village and spoken to many residents. It is clear that most local people do not want this development to happen and I agree entirely.
I was dismayed by the attitude of those promoting the development. It is not acceptable to refer to local people as NIMBYs (as it was reported to me that they did) and it is indicative of their lack of respect that the questionnaire they distributed repeatedly referred to New Ridley and Stocksfield as Longframlington!
Like many in the area, I am not opposed to any and all development, but any growth should be gradual and organic. As the local parish council has shown recently it is entirely possible to come up with a plan for low cost housing development that is in sympathy with the local environment and which has the support of the community. In contrast, this development would almost double the size of the village and fundamentally change it for residents forever and irrevocably. As any New Ridley resident will tell you, the village has insufficient amenities to support such large and rapid growth. There are problems with water drainage and mains water supply, broadand provision is poor, there are no shops, and (beyond a single weekly bus to Hexham) there is no bus service. Broomley first school in Stocksfield is at capacity. Add to all that the pressures an extra 100 or so cars will put on an already crowded New Ridley road, and I can see nothing of merit in this proposal.
Today I hand-delivered a letter to residents of New Ridley outlining my objections to the development and inviting them to sign a petition of opposition which I will submit to Northumberland County Council. If you want to sign the petition a copy is also available in the Dr Syntax Pub in New Ridley. This is just the first step in telling the council and the developer that we do not want these houses to be built.
I am sure the parish council will also be working strenuously to oppose this development as and when formal plans are submitted by the developer to the county council.
You have been relatively silent on recent developments with regard to the housing issue in New Ridley - ie the revised Feb/March 2013 plan now before the council. Are you still against the development? With elections coming up soon, voters need to know where you and the Conservative Party stand on safeguarding the green belt in Tynedale?
ReplyDeleteKind regards,
New Ridley Resident
I have made a few update posts since this one, the most recent being http://blog.paulvickers.com/2013/03/new-ridley-latest.html
DeleteBut yes, I am still opposed to the development. Our stand is to protect the green belt. There is a public meeting about the New Ridley plans on 20 March. See the previous link for more info.
Many thanks for your quick reply and supportive comments. I hope you will be at the meeting at SICA on 20th March and be able to attend the Council Planning Meeting in April.
ReplyDeleteKind regards,
New Ridley Resident.
Yes, I'll definitely be at SICA on Wednesday.
DeleteFor information - the planning committe will consider The Grove Development on 19th June.
ReplyDeleteNCC have not made much of the official consultation documentation available on their webside. Any views?
The planning web site doesn't appear to show the responses sent in by letter from the Parish Council or members of the public. I would assume that these will be available to the planning committee, but I will make some enquiries to check.
DeleteSee new blog entry: http://blog.paulvickers.com/2013/06/new-ridley-again.html
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