Date: 29th January 2010

CALL TO LOBBY COUNCIL OVER HUGE VILLAGE HOUSING PLAN

Angry campaigners in Scalby have issued a rallying call to villagers to get out and protest before plans to build 520 homes in the area are discussed.

They have hit back at Council suggestions that there has been only ‘some’ objections to the plan – revealing that the authority received 455 objections with one letter of support .

A Scarborough Borough Council planning committee is due to debate the application to build 520 dwellings at High Mill Farm, Scalby, on 4th February.

Now the Save Our Scalby group, launched by Scalby Village Trust, is urging people to lobby the Council to protest against the application which they say could ruin the village.

Trust Chairman Caroline Pindar said: “In their comments the Council says there have been some objections. In reality there have been 455 objections, which is a very significant number – around 35% of the properties in the area, which is too large a figure to be dismissed as ‘some’.

“Those objections haven’t come solely from people who will be directly affected by the application, they have come from a good cross-section of the village, who are concerned about the impact this will have. This development is far too large for this area of Scalby and would put a tremendous strain on local amenities. At the same time it would completely spoil the character of the village.

“Council officers are recommending the application be approved but we are urging local residents to lobby councillors on the committee, write or email letters to the paper and attend the meeting to urge the members to stop this. The wrong decision on 4th February could have dire consequences that generations of people will have to deal with for years to come.

“The council is saying it is working in the context of regional guidance over the number of houses it should provide in the coming years. It is only guidance and the council doesn’t have to just lie down and accept it without questioning the justification or economic viability of plans like these. Are they saying no matter what objections and concerns are raised by the local community they are going to press ahead to meet these targets regardless? If that is the case then you have to fear the worst for the whole of Scarborough!”
The High Mill Farm application has come in at the same time as overall proposals to mark out Scalby for a total of 1,720 new homes are still being discussed.

These proposals are contained in two Scarborough Borough Council documents, the Core Strategy Development Plan Document and the Housing Allocations Development Plan Document (Preferred Options).  The documents suggest that three areas of land could ultimately be allocated for housing: Northfield Way/Castlemount for 800 homes, Ridge Green for 400 homes and High Mill Farm for 520.

The Trust has put its own, detailed response to the proposals in to Scarborough Borough Council.
It believes any expansion of Scalby should include the involvement of Scarborough’s Renaissance.

For further information contact:
Caroline on 01723 352369 or Sheila Johnson, Secretary, on 01723 364660
or e-mail info@scalbyvillagetrust.org

Media Contacts:
Caroline Pindar, Chairman, 01723 352369
Sheila Johnson, Secretary, 01723 364660.