North Yate Election Guide

 To help you find out more about your Lib Dem Focus Team candidates for North Yate we have published this guide.

Developers rip up Ladden Gardens Local Centre master plan

Plans have now been published for the 'local centre' at Ladden Gardens. They are COMPLETELY different from the approved master plan.

The hotel and pub are gone, the 7 shops have been reduced to 1, green space is being removed and car parking put in. Instead all the space that would have been used for these facilities is going to be 3 storey flats, with only the road width and s single row of cars between them and existing houses. All the plans showing them set further back have been torn up. They are proposing to put the community building at one end, and all the parking at the other end, right outside existing houses (just to make sure you maximise disturbance to resident late night).

If YOU live anywhere on the new development, you might want to have a look and comment as this is going to be the only community facility for the whole of the new development. You can find it at: southglos.gov.uk/search-planning-applications - then put in the reference P19/14631/RM - but you will need to move fast - they only published this revised version of the plan this week and want comments immediately.

The version the developers put in last October was far far worse, and S Glos officers have done well to get as many changes as they have managed so far. Now we need to all help put pressure on to get more changes.

The Town Council has objected to the changes - when resident shave tried to get eg play area problems sorted out they are told by the planners ' oh we have to stick to the approved masterplan' but this looks like another example of one rule for residents and one for the developers - if the developers get away with ripping up the masterplan for the local centre. Their only excuse for the change is ' there is no demand for a pub or hotel' - well not right now maybe, but we need to plan for the next 50 years - and if they cannot build those right now, at least let us have it for community uses, to replace the community use of a pub and hotel.

Brimsham Pylons new date to remove - 2022

(Photo Mayor Karl Tomasin with residents earlier in 2020 in his campaign to get rid of the pylons)The Lib Dem Focus Team Councillors have been trying to get a commitment to get the pylons along Eastfield Drive removed.

Remember the promise years ago to underground the pylons😃? When it did not happen, South Gloucestershire Council washed their hands of it and said there was nothing they could do.

But your councillors from the Focus Team did not give up.

Led by Yate Mayor Karl Tomasin, they started talking direct with Western Power and tracked down the person in charge of the issue. And have been in touch with them regularly ever since, even during lockdown.

Western Power have been working really hard to get a solution. This week, Western Power came back to them with the following news

“Just to confirm we are now looking to move forward with an underground solution from the customer site to Chipping Sodbury Substation* the works are not expected to be completed until sometime late 2022. I would expect there to be disruption to residents from early 2022 while the cable route is installed. Obviously these are only indicative timescales for now and the scheme is reliant on the customer funding the scheme.”

* Western Power’s name for our Brimsham substation. The ‘customer’ is Barretts.

A big thank you to the Western Power officer, who has worked so hard with our councillors to get to this stage. A pity S Glos Council wasn't willing to add its weight to the local work.

Tories officially wash their hands of any responsibility for open spaces or play areas on the new developments

Tories officially wash their hands of any responsibility for open spaces or play areas on the new developments

The Tories have created a model in which all the open space and play equipment on new developments like Autumn Brooke and Ladden Gardens will be owned by a PRIVATE company (set up by the developers) who then charge the residents to run the open spaces and play areas. Residents have been finding they have no way to ensure the company comes up to scratch. And S Glos who created this mess say the only solution is for a legal challenge by residents to private company.

So at yesterday's S Glos Council Cllr Mike Drew asked: "What efforts is the administration undertaking to ensure developers who have been given the responsibility for maintaining of Public Open Spaces and Play Areas in their development actually undertake the work for which they are charging the residents?"

Answer: from the Tory Cabinet "Once development is completed the relationship between the developer (or the company established to carry out the maintenance) and residents is a contractual one between these two parties.

As such any challenge is a legal one for the affected residents to take against the management company. Local Authorities have no power, authority or remit to intervene in what is a civil dispute.

Local authorities can, however, intervene if there is a breach of planning and officers are aware of at least one potential case. Although the development has been completed there is a five year management plan for the landscaping under a Condition on the Permission which may still be within time. The Planning Enforcement team, together with the specialist officer in Planning, are investigating to determine whether the Condition had been fully complied with. If this is not the case the council may be in a position to secure compliance and require the developer to ensure implementation and maintenance of the agreed landscape plan, for which residents are being charged."

Surely they should be trying to solve the problems their approach has created? At least with open spaces and play areas run by a council, if you don't like what they are doing you can sack them at the next election!

PLANNING GREEN LIGHT TO NEW SPORTS PITCHES WITHOUT TOILETS OR CHANGING

Another decision this week from the planners. New junior sports pitches have to be provided by the developers at Ladden Garden. But the Tory Councillors who run planning, none of whom live within 5 miles of here, have said they need not provide toilets or changing.

So the new development will three junior pitches, on land land which is currently waterlogged every winter, with hardly any parking and no toilets or changing. And no electricity or water for them to go in later. Absolutely bonkers.

Yate Town Council who have years of experience running local pitches explained the problems. But S Glos planning committee simply ignored that. Once again, it is a case of whatever the developer wants seems to be good enough.

TORIES RIDE ROUGHSHOD OVER RESIDENTS TO GIVE DEVELOPERS WHAT THEY WANT

PLAY AREA & PAVILION GET GO AHEAD DESPITE STRONG OBJECTION

Never mind the fact that adjoining residents are opposed. Never mind that every single local councillor in this town is against it.Never mind it is not the strategic Master Plan for the new development, what developers want they get. Yesterday South Glos Planning Committee granted consent for developers to put a major play area, including aerial ropeway and a 'pavilion' without doors, or windows and a flat roof right behind existing houses in Meadow Mead, Brimsham Park. Nobody would have minded the small equipment for young children originally in the plans. But these massive changes will mean gardens overlocked, teenagers on the 'pavilion roof' or in it at all hours.

When as locals we identify ways to improve plans we are told we cannot depart from the Master Plan, but when developers want to, then it gets waived through.

Despite letters from loads of residents, despite representations at the committee from Cllr Mike Drew on behalf of local councillors, the Town Council - a committee majority made up of Tory Councillors who don't live within 5 miles of here dumped it on us, against every local person involved.

A disgrace.

Just look at what they are insisting goes up just yards from people's houses

PUBLIC GAGGED OVER MEADOW MEAD PLAY AREA

Meadow Mead play area

Back at the last planning meeting at S Glos before lock down, because a couple of Tory councillors didn't show up or send subs, the Planning Committee was able to back residents and throw out plans for a play area, including aerial walkway and pavilion right behind houses in Meadow Mead. Residents understandably want the play area moved into the park, which is yards away - and don't want the 'pavilion which will become a teen shelter. Local councillors backed residents and persuaded the planning committee at S Glos to back them.

But now the Tories at S Glos have put the application on the agenda of another committee, specifically with the aim of overruling the earlier decision. Never mind what local residents want, never mind what local councillors want, the Tories none of whom live anywhere near here know better.

And worse, they have used COVID as an excuse to BAN the public from speaking at the meeting. Other councils meeting on line have continued to let the public speak, but S Glos says that is too hard, so the residents won't even be able to speak at the meeting. Cllr Mike Drew has condemned this as a farce.

Brimsham and Ladden Gardens

Watch out - there has been a spate of attempted burglaries and car break ins around the new development. The police are running an operation to stamp it out - which is why they are signs up around the area. Let's work together to prevent it - lock sheds, garages and houses.

Jubilee way plan to divert it thrown out

In a second victory over developer's plans for Ladden Gardens, Councillors have thrown out plans that would have diverted the Jubilee Way  into the main estate road, rather than retaining its direct link from Brimsham park out to the countryside.

The Jubilee way is a 27 mile national trail from Aust to the Cotswold, created in 1985 for the Ramblers Jubilee.  Through 43 years of development the Trail has never had to be diverted, developers have always accommodated the trail.... until now.

Right from the masterplan for the development, the line of the Jubilee way had been protected. Developers were told they had to come up with plans that preserved this route.

The developers did protect the LINE of it, but came up with a plan where it would have been sandwiched between walls, and be horrid. Yate Town Councillors objected and said it needed to be kept on the historic line, but properly landscaped, so people could see across to Yate Rocks as they left the park.  But some urban design specialists at the council decided it would be far better to divert it to along a hedgerow and then along the main road of the new estate, losing that direct link.

Locals objected. We wanted it properly landscaped on its original path - in line with the master plan. . At a Strategic Planning Committee on 19th, Mike Drew was able to persuade Labour and Lib Dem Councillors there to back the residents.  And with the Tories 2 councillors short, that meant Mike won......

But no sooner had the councillors dared to back local residents over officers than the officers announced they would be taking it to a Spatial Planning Committee, with a bigger Tory majority, designed to overrule  Strategic Planning Committees who dare to reject officer recommendations.

Lib Dem Focus Team get plans for play are behind Meadow Mead thrown out

After months of controversy which saw residents of Meadow Mead in Brimsham Park pitted against developers, residents have won round  one of their fight to stop a 'pavilion' aerial cableway and spiders web by their houses.

the 'pavilion' developers want to put right behind houses

 

















Developers want to put in a 'pavilion' that has open ends, lovely foothold style footholds and a flat roof, 3.15m high made of wood, within 25m of houses - ideal for climbing into  - and an aerial cableway, spiders web and other big play equipment. As Adrian Rush commented, the  chances are it will get burn down


The local Lib Dem Focus Team Councillors alerted residents, and the Friends of Brimsham Park.
Residents and Friends put in objections. So did the Town Council. But South Glos officials  pushed those objections aside, and said the proposal was okay and would grant consent.

As the only way to try to stop this Mike Drew as local ward councillor got the application referred to a special Committee of Councillors - the Strategic Sites Committee.

But then COVID-19 hit.

Residents had planned to turn up in force - but with COVID-19 and the fact a great many were in vulnerable categories or priority jobs, they couldn't. They wrote to the Chief Exec and Leader of the Council pleading for them to delay the meeting of the committee. Mike backed residents. The Focus Team wrote to the directors of Barretts' (the applicants) asking for them to get it deferred.  Residents rightly felt they were being denied their right to be heard. All to no avail.

South Glos insisted on going ahead.

But when it came to it, although all the Labour and Lib Dem members of the committee turned up to do their duty (or sent a substitute), only 3 of the 5 Tories turned up.  So, they were willing to force residents to go to speak up for their street but not turn up themselves!

So Chris Willmore went on behalf of the residents and explained why residents were so upset.

 The Officers were still insisting the scheme should go ahead, despite its impact on residents, despite the fact it was contrary to the development master plan.  Mike Drew commented "When we as a community want to improve things in the new development we are told we can't as the master plan is sacrosanct. But when developers want to depart from the master plan that seems ok to officers."

BUT THEN A MIRACLE HAPPENED .Residents had resigned themselves to losing.  Tory members of the Committee always back the officers and they have a majority. Normally. But they were two down. Labour and Lib Dem Councillors on the Committee voted to back the residents. The plan was thrown out.

Chris commented "It was utterly unacceptable to force people like me to choose between our health and our democratic duty to residents. As their local councillor I felt I had to take the risk and go. I am just incredibly grateful to the Lib Dem and Labour Councillors on the committee, who also put the democratic process first, turned up  and listened to local residents.  Sharing the news with them last night was the first piece of goodnews they'd had for a while"

The victory might be short lived though - as the officers, as soon as the votes were counted, announced they will be taking it to a body called the Spatial Planning Committee, which has a bigger Tory majority and is designed to overturn decisions where members have dared to go against officer recommendations. So we have won round one, but may still lose.  Unless officers and developers see sense in the meantime.

Join other residents to Spring Clean 15th March

The first of a number of posts advertising spring clean events around town - helping clean up our town.
Timewise the first one is Brimsham Park / Ladden Gardens, Sun15th March  Meet 3pm by the gate to the play area in the park. Yate Pilgrim Group is organising it. The town council are lending pickers and recycling bags. Come along and lend a hand or two. 

We've got more to advertise in the next couple of weeks. If you're holding one and want more publicity, then please tell us chriswillmore@blueyonder.co.uk.

Ladden Gardens Play Area Fiasco

If you were planning a new play area on the new development in north Yate, would you put it within 30m of the existing well loved play area in the current park, Brinsham Fields?  Well that is what the planners are insisting the developers do. Instead of using the money to put more equipment in the current play area, they are insisting they build a new one just yards away - which means money gets wasted on unnecessary fencing, bins etc, when they could use that money in the existing fenced play area to put in more equipment.  It will mean a teenage kickabout area being with 30 m of houses.

But don't blame the developers. They were willing to talk to the Friends of the Park and the Town Council who run the park about a better solution. But S Glos officials were insisting it had to be separate.

Yesterday, the Friends of the Park, and Cllrs Chris Willmore and Mike Drew took the issue to the highest level, at South Gloucestershire Strategic Sites Committee. They showed officials and councillors the problems, they asked for them simply to agree to come to the negotiating table to find a better solution.

South Gloucestershire refused. They insisted on ploughing ahead and giving the green light to this crazy situation. Lib Dem and Labour Councillors voted for Mike Drew's proposal to get everyone round a table to sort it out. But the Tories, none of whom live anywhere near Yate pushed through the officer recommendation. 

The Friends of the Park raise money from all sorts of sources to improve our park, to see money being wasted just yards away is disappointing. We still hope we can work with the developers to get around this crazy mess.

(Picture: The red mark is the play area S Glos is insisting the developers put in, the blue one is the current play area in the park, which has lots of space for more equipment)

Play area and 'pavilion' plans behind Meadow Mead

Developers have put in plans for a play area and 'pavilion' right behind the houses in Meadow Mead to be used for community events. 

Two years ago, when developers first put in plans, they included an aerial cableway. Residents got a promise it would be removed. But it is back in on the latest plans. And on top of that they have added a wooden ' Pavilion' for public events, right behind houses. It will not be locked, will not have doors or windows, but will be flat roofed (ideal for climbing on). The Focus Team have written to residents alerting them to the plans, so they can comment. We've put the plan for the play area and the pavilion drawing below to give you an idea of what they propose. You can see where the existing Meadow Mead houses are at the bottom of the plan (number 6, is 6 Meadow Mead).

 Yate Town Council has objected, saying the play equipment should be in the park, in the existing play area within yards of this, not right behind houses.  Residents have been lodging objections. If you want to see what is planned and add your comments go to  the S Glos planning site:

https://developments.southglos.gov.uk/online-applications/ and put in the application number PK18/0529/RM