Considerable and well-founded concerns have been raised with me by many constituents with regards to planning applications and the Conwy LDP. During the deposit-stage of the current Conwy LDP, my Welsh Conservative Group and I put forward rigorous challenges to the housing projection figures imposed on the Council by Welsh Government officials, and I am very aware of the many sensitivities relating to planning matters. There have been some controversial applications put forward recently: I have fought tooth and nail alongside residents opposing the large planning application near Sychnant Pass earlier this year (which has now been taken to appeal), and am aware of widespread local opposition to proposals at Marl Lane, Deganwy.
Changes to Welsh Government guidance (known as TAN1) last year, have changed the way in which local authorities must calculate housing land availability. The consultation on these changes took place in 2014, with local authorities, including Conwy County Borough Council, being some of the key bodies who made representation to the consultation. These changes have meant that Conwy has now stated that it does not have a 5 year supply, and I have requested the figures and calculations to support this statement.
A review of the Conwy LDP will be taking place from next month, and I will be calling on Conwy County Borough Council to ensure that this review process is open, transparent and democratically accountable, and that a full and meaningful public consultation is undertaken.
TAN1 also notes that smaller sites, of 5-10 units, can make a ‘significant contribution to total housing provision’ calculated under an LDP, yet Conwy have a tendency to focus on larger sites, with a majority being 20 units or more. Elected councillors and planning officers must look at including smaller sites as an alternative to make up numbers, with a view to making real changes to ward off large-scale developments which could see our greenfield sites disappear.
Decisions which can have such immense knock-on effects for local residents, must be made in a democratic way and be subject to scrutiny: democracy at local government level is paramount. Concerned residents must be able to feed into this review – after all, without a robust and democratic approach by the Council, it is they who will be the most likely to see their own greenfields disappear as a result of Welsh Government dogma.
For you to have your say on this matter, you must contact your local Councillor. You can find their contact details online here:http://www.conwy.gov.uk/section.asp?cat=5173&Language=1 . A councillor’s primary role is to represent the people who live in their ward – by contacting them directly, you can make your wishes known.
