LOCAL PLAN CONSULTATION – DON’T ACT IN HASTE!
URGENT - re: the 'Issues and Options' Consultation!!
OUR MESSAGE TO THE WIDER PUBLIC IS THAT NO GREEN BELT SITES ARE SAFE !
As No Sites have been ruled IN or OUT yet!! None!
Sites shown for OPTION 2a and 2b are "interim" suggestions. The Final list of Sites will only be made after completion of the Site Appraisals, which are in the process of being done YET AGAIN, and following the Council's consideration of Responses and Suggestions of the Public ... but moreover of Landowners and Developers.
If any current shortlisted Sites are ruled out (as they should be), others will be ruled IN!!
The Consultation started on Monday, 27th January 2020 and runs for 8 weeks.
We appreciate that the Consultation Documents are long winded and difficult to navigate and many of the Council’s Consultation Questions are difficult to answer. Wirral Green Space Alliance, and associated Green Belt Campaign Groups, are working hard and plan to produce a Summary and 'Easy Guide', plus templates and sample letters for editing as individuals see fit. These will be shared with the public as soon as we have them and in plenty of time before the consultation closing date.
Representatives of WGSA have met with a specialist Planning Barrister and will have his written further advice within days. We need to digest this and, with further expert advice, agree the best way forward.
At this point we would urge all members of the public PLEASE, DO NOT RUSH to respond. There is plenty of time for discussion and considered responses (including passionate ones).
This does NOT mean nothing needs doing right now; quite the contrary. Groups and individuals need to REGISTER in order to respond online later, and should read the rather daunting Consultation Documents (at least those sections which most concern them) and also the series of Questions. Please prepare and discuss responses.
The Council are holding a series of drop in events, please try to attend an event and ask questions. However, please do not be rushed into responding to the Consultation. Responding in late February or early March is time enough, as the Consultation does not close until 23rd March. Responses can be by the online Survey AND/OR in writing to the Council. Further details will follow.
At this stage the main effort is continued political pressure. Make your feelings known.
The Risk to Wirral's Green Belt is still very REAL and once it's gone, it's gone forever.
THANK YOU. PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION.
for and on behalf of WGSA