Vision 2031 public inquiry - first morning
Wednesday, 5th February 2014.
The first morning of the public inquiry dealing with the Vision 2031 for Haverhill's future over the next 20 years dealt with the infrastructure, both physical and social, and whether it could cope with another 10,000 people by 2031.
St Edmundsbury Bortough Council's draft Vision 2031 is being examined in public by Roger Clews, a Government planning inspector, who will report in a few months' time, almost certainly requiring certain modifications.
Efforts on day one to get him to look at the over-arching aspirations of the town, beyond the bald planning policies which he is required by law to decide on, were only partially successful.
He accepted the wider, holistic approach taken by Haverhill Town Council in its comments, given by town clerk Will Austin and based on a claim that the town had suffered from years of under-provision of facilities.
But he made clear several times that he was not empowered to make the plan deal with current shortcomings, but just to ensure that what was proposed would not make matters worse.
Mr Austin expressed the 'very strong wish' of local businesses for the A1307 to be completely duelled, but the borough council responded that it was inappropriate to put in such a specific requirement, of another local authority as most of the road is in Cambridgeshire, without evidence that it was necessary.
Mr Clews, who listened to the arguments and asked questions but did not express any views on issues yet, said the document needed to deal with new traffic generated in order to be a sound plan, but would not cure the existing problems.
The council's planning officer Chris Rand they wanted Haverhill people to use facilities in teh town and not just travel elsewhere for everything.
Keith Bunting, for Little Thurlow Parish Council, expressed the concerns of several villages along the A1061 that growth in Haverhill would flood what was a winding country road with even more traffic.
Mr Austin spoke of serious shortfalls in health provision - three weeks to get a GP appointment, no direct links to West Suffolk Hospital and an ambulance service operating below the regional target.
He wanted to see the plan address this, along with a lack of further education provision, and concerns about sewage and drainage.
Mr Clews said current medical services were not covered by the plan, although future provision was. Again, money from development could be used to address future issues, but not to cure current ones.
Mr Austin said the town council wanted an overall objective to be included of making the town sustainable as a place where people could work, rest and play without travelling to other places, and Mr Clews said this chimed with national policy.
Mr Rand said the borough had no objection to including such an objective.
St Edmundsbury Bortough Council's draft Vision 2031 is being examined in public by Roger Clews, a Government planning inspector, who will report in a few months' time, almost certainly requiring certain modifications.
Efforts on day one to get him to look at the over-arching aspirations of the town, beyond the bald planning policies which he is required by law to decide on, were only partially successful.
He accepted the wider, holistic approach taken by Haverhill Town Council in its comments, given by town clerk Will Austin and based on a claim that the town had suffered from years of under-provision of facilities.
But he made clear several times that he was not empowered to make the plan deal with current shortcomings, but just to ensure that what was proposed would not make matters worse.
Mr Austin expressed the 'very strong wish' of local businesses for the A1307 to be completely duelled, but the borough council responded that it was inappropriate to put in such a specific requirement, of another local authority as most of the road is in Cambridgeshire, without evidence that it was necessary.
Mr Clews, who listened to the arguments and asked questions but did not express any views on issues yet, said the document needed to deal with new traffic generated in order to be a sound plan, but would not cure the existing problems.
The council's planning officer Chris Rand they wanted Haverhill people to use facilities in teh town and not just travel elsewhere for everything.
Keith Bunting, for Little Thurlow Parish Council, expressed the concerns of several villages along the A1061 that growth in Haverhill would flood what was a winding country road with even more traffic.
Mr Austin spoke of serious shortfalls in health provision - three weeks to get a GP appointment, no direct links to West Suffolk Hospital and an ambulance service operating below the regional target.
He wanted to see the plan address this, along with a lack of further education provision, and concerns about sewage and drainage.
Mr Clews said current medical services were not covered by the plan, although future provision was. Again, money from development could be used to address future issues, but not to cure current ones.
Mr Austin said the town council wanted an overall objective to be included of making the town sustainable as a place where people could work, rest and play without travelling to other places, and Mr Clews said this chimed with national policy.
Mr Rand said the borough had no objection to including such an objective.
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