Latest Sleaford Town Council Planning Applications: SWUE 1400 Houses

This is about changes at the Outline Planning Stage.

Post note: The Sleaford Target are saying "Hordes of People" are showing support. Not sure about the use of the word "Hordes". However if the reaction is as positive as that then we are in for interesting times.
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Whether or not this is the inexorable change to less retail, more houses and less amenities is unclear: you know less Primary Schools, more houses, less employment opportunities etc we will have to see. See also reports in the local media:  Lincolnshire Live

The meeting of Sleaford Town Council on Wednesday 15 February discussed this. 

It was Video Recorded: the agenda is on the Sleaford Town Council  web-site. See the description at Agenda Item 6.2. On the video it is a few minutes in. Remember a Town or Parish Council are only Statutory Consultee's. The Planning Authority is the District Council. 

It will come up in March at NKDC when I presume it will move up a stage e.g. FUL.. 

Carre Grammar Sleaford proposed move.

The Sleaford Standard has reported as follows: New Grammar School proposals. 

This meeting is arranged, at NKDC, on 7th February.

https://nkdc.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=710&MId=7102

All the proposed changes are coming for the Holdingham side of Town.

I have spoken to one or two people and the attitude seemed to be that we have heard it all before. I am not sure this time as it is being phased in with the proposed expansion plans. Even more traffic "hitting" the A15.

I assume the new Sleaford West 1400 housing estate will be able to access via the mini-roundabout.

The presentation today (7 February) added some clarity but funding is required and the presentation accepted the need for access including a bridge over the A15 and many other investments. 2022 or beyond would appear the most realistic outcome (if Government backing is available.  However things are moving: Maltings and one location to the South were also considered.

Population Trends: will it affect Sleaford and Holdingham Plans?

The Lincolnshire Research Observatory mentioned the following in relation to Lincolnshire's population growth and in particular about Boston.

• The rate of Lincolnshires' population growth has increased in recent years but latest figures show that it is below the national rate of growth.
• In 2015 Boston had the highest net outflow migration figure having 1000 more people leaving the area than entering it.
• The trend towards an aging population profile will continue, with the proportion of people over 75 years of age projected to increase by 95% between 2014 and 2039.
• Projections indicate that by 2039 the population growth of Lincolnshire will be 14 per cent which is below the projected national growth rate of 17 per cent however the population in Lincolnshire is projected to increase by approximately 103,000.

That is not, if I read the studies carefully, in line with the expansion envisaged in the Central Lincolnshire local plan. Maybe those leaving Boston is a temporary phenomena or maybe they are moving locally within Lincolnshire. It is one thing to write these plans and another to ensure that people will come here and use the health and other requires services. 

It will be interesting!!!

Town Council Report: Holdingham Sleaford (Woodside)

I have put the report below into the Town Council after a visit around the Holdingham Ward.

Full Council: Agenda Item

Report: Holdingham Ward: Woodside Open/Play Area

Post Note: A Working Group has been set up, by the Sleaford Town Council, to review how the site might be better used by the Community.

Main Text: This report stems from a visit to the Woodside Play area on 23 January 2017. It also covers Peterborough Way to Winchester Way through to Birchwood Road and entrance to the Woodside Play Area via Summerfield Drive. Litter generally low but some Cartons on entrance to Lincoln Road onto Peterborough Way. Otherwise litter free on this route. 

On the Open Space itself new trees have been planted (12 near Summerfield Drive entrance and 18 approx at the Beech Rise end of the Open Space). Photographs are attached. Mole Hills cover much of the area.

All straps/ties seemed intact. The play area seemed functional. There were a few signs of dog litter.

The STC official description is: Comprising of a 5.5 acre grassed area this site is located alongside Sleaford Wood which is managed by the Woodland Trust. Access is from Beech Rise and Summerfield Close.  At this time the only facilities are:  Multi-play Unit

Dogs are welcome in the Woodside Play Area.  It is against the law to allow a dog to foul a public space and not clear up after them, bins for disposing of dog waste are provided at the entrances.

Issues

The good condition of the newly planted trees may be partly due to lack of use of the area (compared say to the Lincoln Road area). There is still the problem of access (Beech Rise or through the Sleaford Wood/Summerfield Drive side). Ownership of access appears largely outside the control of STC.

Conclusion

Still appears as a much underused facility:  this might be improved if access and “policing” could be further addressed.

The roads mentioned above from Peterborough Way appear generally clean and well kept. 

Sleaford & Holdingham: Consultation On Local Plan

Policies Map Modifications, January - March 2017. 
There is now only 6 weeks or so left before the Planning Inspector Modifications are adopted. 

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Post Note I received reply to what Secondary Access means. 

"It isn't envisaged that that these secondary accesses will  be open to the whole (all) of the SUE.
Only to a limited number of dwellings defined in the traffic assessment."

 I am not sure I am any the wiser.  

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Here is the link:  Holdingham, and other parts of Sleaford, is around pages 35,36,37. See the site
 at: Inspectorate

For Holdingham: will it result in Rat-Runs between the A.15 and the Lincoln Road/Northgate (B1518)
or just emergency access or something else. 

I fear it will create problems. 

Those requiring provision of emergency access and access to shops will be a big pressure grouping. 

A few photographs: Holdingham

I took these photogrpaphs today (10 January). Basically I was looking a potential hot spots relating to Litter and potential problems for Motorists and Cyclists. The first two are of the Beck between Stokes Drive and the Garage. I have reported the litter problem

The two below show where the Cycle Way from Leasingham meets with the entrance to Holdingham Grange.  Clearly this needs sorting out: who has right of way and what will the needed realignment entail  It needs addressing asap. Further down the banking of the A17 seems to be taking place.

Sleaford Holdingham: 2017 versus 2016

Am I addicted to Facebook or have I gone over to YouTube!

Neither I hope but it is a close shave!

2016 was a year that: even in my lifetime appears to have seen more changes than normal (unfortunately some family losses and also many celebrity losses). The latter: I always think the media overplays but that is life in a media celebrity dominated society (my interpretation).

So as far as YouTube is concerned I managed two videos  (one taken around November 11/13 Remembrance services at Brinsworth, Rotherham (where I was born)  and the other just after Christmas into 2017 of my Grandchildren horse riding in freezing weather at Branston, Lincoln. Another related to the Boxing Day Hunt which always attracts well wishers but also criticism from those opposed to hunting although this hunt is within the law and does not refer to foxes.

So here they are (set to what I thought was appropriate music): Remembrance Brinsworth)  and at Branston .

That is the easy bit over with. Now the hard bit: Brexit. Political shenanigans and seemingly endless maneuvers and resignations. But that is at national level.

For the local level read todays Sleaford Standard front page "Could the waiting be over for Tesco site?".  Tesco and Council Officials hinting that announcements could soon be made. 

Oh and by the way: Looking Forward to the Year Ahead is  a piece in the local press including developments in and around Sleaford including (by Spring) the confirmation of the Central Lincolnshire local plan.