From: denis@seefoe.org.uk
Subject: PPS1 - Planning and Climate Change
Date: 5 March 2008 19:19:53 GMT
To: technicalservices@southend.gov.uk
Dear Sir or Madam,
The Government has just published the new planning policy statement on climate change which is directly relevant to planning decisions.
This planning policy statement requires you to take action on climate change, stating:
"There is therefore an urgent need for action on climate change".
The policy goes on to describe actions to be taken to reduce emissions from transport, housing, and overall land use. In addition, the policy states on energy:
"In developing their core strategy and supporting local development documents, planning authorities should provide a framework that promotes and encourages renewable and low-carbon energy generation."
We urge the council to take action immediately on revising its policies to ensure that the best decisions for the future in addressing climate change are being taken now.
You can contact me by email.
Yours sincerely,
Denis Walker
5 Mar 2008
From: MarkSheppard@southend.gov.uk
Subject: PPS1
Date: 24 June 2008 16:38:53 BST
To: denis@seefoe.org.uk
Dear Dennis,
Thank you for your email on the 5th of March.
I am happy to tell you that our adopted core strategy already takes the issue of climate change into consideration in a number of policies, including the following measures amongst others:
- Making best use of Previously developed land;
- Applies the sequential test;
- Enhance the natural and historic environment;
- Promote improved and sustainable modes of transport;
- Promote the use of renewable energy, recycling and resource minimisation.
Future planning documents as part of the Local Development Framework shall address the issue of climate change and consider PPS1.
Kind regards
Mark
Mark Sheppard
Planner: Strategic Planning
Department of Enterprise, Tourism and the Environment
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
Subject: Re: PPS1
From: denis@seefoe.org.uk
Date: 24 June 2008 18:03:49 BST
To: MarkSheppard@southend.gov.uk
Cc: technicalservices@southend.gov.uk
Dear Mr Sheppard,
Thank you for your rather belated reply.
Given that the Council’s planning strategy takes Climate Change into consideration, could you please explain why so many of the Council’s policies and proposals by Renaissance Southend are entirely at odds with this? Quite a number immediately spring to mind:
- Placing expansion of Southend Airport at the heart of Renaissance Southend’s Master Plan for the regeneration of the town.
- The long-term pursuit of an environmentally and archaeologically damaging road-widening scheme, namely Priory Crescent.
- Support for the removal of the town’s football stadium from its current central location with good public transport links (i.e. Prittlewell Station, which is heavily used by both home and away supporters) to an out-of-town location without public transport access and poor road access. Allied with this is the proposed retail park attached to the stadium and increase in car journeys this will cause, not to mention the negative impact it will inevitably have on local businesses.
- The proposed closure of Warrior Square Swimming Pool, with a replacement being built at Garons Park – again, an edge-of-town location with poor transport links.
- Senior councillors’ objections to proposals for a wind farm on the Isle of Grain.
- Lack of maintenance of road surfaces resulting in pot-holes, such as on Royston Avenue and Lyndale Avenue, discouraging people to cycle and making cars less efficient.
I look forward to a more speedy response.
Regards,
—
Denis Walker
Co-ordinator, South East Essex Friends of the Earth
http://www.seefoe.org.uk
From: MarkSheppard@southend.gov.uk
Subject: RE: PPS1
Date: 22 July 2008 12:02:02 BST
To: denis@seefoe.org.uk
Dear Mr Walker,
I think it’s worth stating that Renaissance Southend is a private
independent organisation in partnership with the council. Their policies
are not council planning policies.
Council planning policies have to go through the statutory consultation
and examination process where you can voice such concerns as stated in
your previous email. If you would like to be notified on any planning
consultation you can be added to the consultation list.
If you would like to read the Southend-on-Sea Core Strategy, a council
planning document, environmental concerns are considered along with
other social and economic factors in line with sustainable development.
Regards
Mark Sheppard
Planner: Strategic Planning
Department of Enterprise, Tourism and the Environment
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
Subject: Re: PPS1
From: denis@seefoe.org.uk
Date: 24 July 2008 10:56:34 BST
To: MarkSheppard@southend.gov.uk
Dear Mr Sheppard,
On 22 Jul 2008, at 12:02, Mark Sheppard wrote:
I think it’s worth stating that Renaissance Southend is a private
independent organisation in partnership with the council. Their policies
are not council planning policies.
This is clearly nonsense. They’re hardly private when they were set up by Southend Borough Council and receive Government money. They’re hardly independent when they have both current and ex-Councillors sitting on their board. While their policies are technically not Council policies, they will clearly be given far more weight than proposals from other companies.
Council planning policies have to go through the statutory consultation
and examination process where you can voice such concerns as stated in
your previous email. If you would like to be notified on any planning
consultation you can be added to the consultation list.
Yes, I would like to be added to the consultation list please.
If you would like to read the Southend-on-Sea Core Strategy, a council
planning document, environmental concerns are considered along with
other social and economic factors in line with sustainable development.
I would be grateful if you could provide a link to this document.
Regards,
—
Denis Walker
Co-ordinator, South East Essex Friends of the Earth
http://www.seefoe.org.uk
From: MarkSheppard@southend.gov.uk
Subject: RE: PPS1
Date: 24 July 2008 12:15:52 BST
To: denis@seefoe.org.uk
Dear Mr Walker,
I have passed your email address on to Debee Skinner to add to our
consultation database. Debee may be in touch with yourself for further
correspondence details, though an email address may suffice.
Pease see the link below for the Southend-on-Sea Core Strategy.
http://www.southend.gov.uk/content.asp?content=10634
Regards
Mark Sheppard
Planner: Strategic Planning
Department of Enterprise, Tourism and the Environment
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
