EFFRA’s Autumn newsletter, which was published in October 2017 and distributed to residents, is now available electronically on the website here. We also plan to make available some of the older versions of the newsletter.
The Autumn newsletter focusses on the passing of the Neighbourhood Plan by the Examiner, which should now go to Referendum in February 2018 subject to twenty two required modifications being made to it to meet the “Basic Conditions”, e.g. compliance with national planning policies, and the current Local Plan. These modifications take into account the concerns expressed by EFFRA over the last two years about some of the allocated development sites as these were shared by the Examiner. EFFRA committee members have been contributors to the Plan particularly on environment and heritage policies and the production of the maps and now that the housing policies are to be modified to meet the Basic Conditions, we are pleased that we will be able to support the Plan at the Referendum.
The Newsletter also covered the launch of the new Effingham Tradesmen’s Register on 23rd October. Three tradesmen have been added to the Register since the launch with more applications currently being processed. The Register is already being accessed by a large number of residents.
The Newsletter is delivered to most homes in the parish although we are currently not able to cover the far southern part and we would be very grateful for any suggestions on how to cover that area. We have also been asked by residents just over our boundary for copies of the Newsletter so we are making copies available in the following places:
- The Bakery, The Street, Effingham
- Bevan’s Butchers, The Street, Effingham
- Bookham Library
- Effingham MiniMart, Effingham Junction
- Horsley Library
- KGV, Browns Lane, Effingham
- Loolabels at the KGV
- Sibleys, Guildford Road, Effingham
- The Vineries, Lower Road, Effingham
I would like to thank Effingham Residents Association for the hard work they put in working on the Neighbourhood Plan. Sometimes working in difficult conditions they never gave up, and they too worked very hard in shaping the outcome. I know Effingham Residents Association had well documented concerns over the sites and I am pleased that a common sense approach has finally prevailed with the examiner finding in their favour. I feel that it has been a gruelling couple of years and a lot of hostility created. If only EPC had listened in the first place! I know they thanked local residents but I feel Effingham Residents Association at last found a voice and they should at least get a mention. But heyho, praising a thorn in the backside was always going to be difficult! Carry on the good work!
It would be a shame if the Examiner’s report is presented as finding in favour of one side or another over the many difficult issues tackled in the Neighbourhood Plan. Of course EPC has listened all the way through, to all the many residents of Effingham who have got involved as well as to organisations such as EFFRA. This Neighbourhood Plan has been the result of huge amounts of work by many people: parish councillors, members of ENPAG (the Effingham Neighbourhood Plan Advisory Group), EFFRA committee members asking probing questions, local experts on the Environment Working Group, and above all the hundreds of Effingham residents who attended public events and workshops and responded via the online forum.
The formal consultation survey in summer 2016 achieved an impressive response from 54% of households, and clear majority support for every single policy of the draft Plan. This hard work by so many people has paid off brilliantly – the Examiner has approved the key policies that will allow us to have a significant influence on planning decisions in Effingham. The Plan, when modified as he requires, sets a target of ‘about’ 50 homes to meet local need, a requirement for a high proportion of two-bedroom homes on new developments, three out of the four residential site allocations are agreed, and wildlife corridors and Local Green Spaces are all protected. I am very pleased that the policy setting out the process for controlling development on new windfall sites is supported by the Examiner. That means any new sites that come forward must be assessed in the same way as we assessed the site allocations in the Plan, giving stronger protection in the future to our Green Belt and to community facilities and local businesses.
The Neighbourhood Plan has already given a huge boost to our fight to protect the village from the destructive Berkeley Homes / Howard School planning appeal. The Secretary of State has delayed the decision until January to give him time to consider the weight to be given to the Neighbourhood Plan now it has passed Examination.
I’m pleased EFFRA is backing the Neighbourhood Plan as it goes to Referendum in February. We all need to work together to get our Plan in place to give maximum protection to our village and countryside.