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.

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.

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