Urgent – let the council know your views on the latest version of the Croydon Local Plan

Residents can now be involved in the latest version of the Croydon Local Plan (CLP) from September 5 to October 17 2016. This now includes a proposal to have a Gypsy & Travellers’ site (Site 324 in the CLP) on the current Highways Depot, behind the Purley Oaks Recycling Centre.

Obviously, this is of great concern to many local residents who would like to let the council know in the most effective manner their views on this matter.

At a recent meeting local Conservative councillors briefed Residents Associations on the best way for individual local residents to effectively air their views on various aspects of the revised CLP.   A number of interesting points arose at this meeting:

– the CLP representation form is extremely complicated, thus it was suggested that the simplest way for RAs or individual local residents to let the council know their views was by email or letter. You can send your comments to the council by post, by writing to: Croydon Local Plan, Spatial Planning, Bernard Weatherill House, Mint Walk, Croydon CR0 1EA or you can email to: ldf@croydon.gov.uk

In both instances, you should include your name and address.

 

– the council stresses that any response should not be racist, derogatory or offensive

– a calm, logical and reasoned response is best

– pro-forma letters will be accepted as individual submissions (a suggested pro-forma is attached)

– each household is not restricted to just one submission, so for instance if there are three adults living at one address, all three can send in their own submission, which will swell the total

– all submissions must challenge the soundness of the plan ie to say that ‘you don’t like it’ or ‘it will reduce the value of my house’ will not be considered a reason for objection. In addition, when challenging any aspect of the CLP it was suggested that alternatives should be provided to any element that you are objecting to.

 

It should be stressed that the more individual local resident comments on the proposed Gypsy & Travellers’ site (Site 324 in the CLP) and other aspects of the latest Croydon Local Plan will help the council in its decision making process.

The Croydon Local Plan representation form can be found at: https://getinvolved.croydon.gov.uk/KMS/elab.aspx?noip=1&CampaignId=200&SessionId=7W3XW8KTF6

Full details of the latest version of the Croydon Local Plan can be found at: https://www.croydon.gov.uk/planningandregeneration/framework/localplan/clpreview

To view the press release visit: 

http://news.croydon.gov.uk/residents-last-chance-to-be-heard-on-boroughs-20-year-plan/

The suggested pro-forma letter is as follows:-

Resident’s name & address

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to object to the proposed Gypsy & Travellers’ site at Purley Recycling Centre (Site 324 in the CLP) on the grounds that:

  • it is unsuitable for its intended purpose in what is an essentially urban environment
  • the proximity of the balancing pond and the associated risk of flooding make this site completely unsuitable – and this pond is also full of hazardous materials and would therefore represent a significant danger to any children living at the site
  • the Gypsy & Travellers’ site would prevent the urgently needed expansion of capacity of the recycling centre
  • the site would add to the already very heavy traffic congestion around the recycling centre
  • the site is very close to the railway, so the train noise would result in unacceptable noise pollution day and night
  • there is already a similar site at Purley Way, in a much less urban environment, with better road access; it would be far better to expand that site rather than introduce a new one in the totally unsuitable location at Purley Oaks Recycling Centre
  • Selection of this site would go against Croydon council’s professed desire to offer high quality sites for travellers in its area
  • It also appers to fail on virtually all key points in published advice and guidance on selection of such sites

Yours faithfully,

Resident’s signature

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