Enjoying Holdingham at Christmas: the bits I remember!

It seems to take ages (weeks) leading up to Christmas. Making sure everyone is remembered and any presents are bought in time. The wrapping up bit I hate. 

The food preparation takes ages: at least these days the power supply seems constant and not erratic as when my mother did it years ago. So the meal is generally on time these days: and the quality good (we had a really tasty Turkey and excellent Beef this year). 

Then suddenly the meal is over: piles of washing up and a haze descends on proceedings. Playing games is often argumentaive and rules being changed as the game progresses.

Here is a short video of a Harry Potter quiz. You will get the drift of what I mean.

Harry Potter Quiz

More Jams in Sleaford due to A17/Holdingham Roundabout congestion (and vehicle problems).

Very difficult to get across the Lincoln Road today (22 December at around 12:30). I gather there had been vehicle problems on the A17 earlier but these jams were due to maybe a fire on the Holdingham Roundabouty. That was the informaion I had.

Here are a couple of photos I took whilst trying to decide how I would get to the other side of the road. Where are the lights/zebra crossings when you need one?! Both the Target and Standard later reported it.

Looking towards Hockmeyers Garage 

Managed to get across as cars were not going anywhere soon

Response by Sleaford Town Council (STC) to Supplementary Planning Document (affecting Sleaford and Holdingham)!

The Sleaford Town Council has just had to respond to the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which identifies how the growth, and required local services and infrastructure, will be met through the levying of charges on the Builders. 

This report reflects SPD Part 1 (1 to 5) and Part 2 (6 to 11) and LP’s (Local Plan).

 The adopted Central Lincolnshire Local Plan, with conditions detailed in the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and through LP’s defined, forms the basis for implementing the Plan up until 2035. Additionally Section 106 agreements (mainly site based) will be used to provide the facilities required: earlier suggestions were that both S106 & CIL would not be levied on a site (is this correct?).  Usage of CIL will be for the purpose of developing the Lincoln by-pass and Education projects (see 11.3).

Note: The low rates of CIL (originally set at £20 per square metre) were reduced further in the Consultation period down to £15 to make the development of the plan more amenable to developers. STC at the time had asked for £40. See 4.10, 4.12 & 4.13 re CIL liability.

Sleaford Town Council has previously highlighted concerns, also expressed by its Consultants, at its capacity to absorb the level of housing that has been agreed and the impact that will have on the existing Town infrastructure and poor inter-Town and wider communication problems.  This against a backdrop of the local area suffering “Nationally Recognized “very high road mortality rates. 

Pace of development of the Urban Extensions will generally be demand led:  and develop over a relatively long period of time. Experience has shown that local infrastructure and facilities lag behind requirement.  It is of concern: it is already happening in the smaller developments taking place (Holdingham Grange for example).  Elsewhere Drainage Capacity (where to?) is unclear (Section 7): and local drainage systems may already be under pressure.

Sleaford also contains some Brownfield Land although at the time of writing the Register (Parts 1 and 2) has not been finalized. Brownfield land development is not mentioned in the SPD.  However it was a Government priority to develop these prior to Greenfield sites. This would also have implications for Affordable Housing (Section 6 & LP11). 

Conclusion:  the SPD assumes a Developer/Builder approach with minimum CIL payments for wider infrastructure investment. This has disadvantages.   Road safety is only addressed at a very local level and ignored the wider need to reduce road casualty rates and congestion. 

Whilst the Planning Authority has exhaustively categorized the factors that planning obligations demand:  the enforcement of these may be difficult. The use of, or categorizing of Brownfield Land (as required by Government) is unavailable at this juncture. That may also impact on Affordable Housing availability.

A more detailed role out plan is required which also sets targets for phased development: including crime, road safety and mobility including emergency services, health, drainage, and clean water.  

References:

 LP10: Meeting Community Needs: LP11 Affordable Housing: LP12 Infrastructure to support growth: LP13 Accessibility and Transport: LP14 Managing Water Resources and Flood Risk

LP16: Development of Land affected by Contamination.   

Snow or (not as much as expected?) for Holdingham

With the final day of the Lincoln Market cancelled (and many complaints following that decision) it seems that maybe it could have gone ahead. Although  I don't envy the one(s) who had to make the decision. The Sleaford Christmas market week earlier, on a mild day,  was very lucky. 

The forecast was for snow: and in Sleaford it duly started on schedule at about 8.00 am.

But by midday it was easing and the snow that settled became to thaw slightly. Not much, to my knowledge, fell on Lincoln itself.

Maybe a bit more tonight and again in a day or two. Here is a link to the BBC report today (10 December) 

Sunday 11am

Trevitt Close

A17 Works: Holdingham Sleaford: some disruption expected. .

It has been well publicised so it is not unexpected. Here are some photos from the Farm  Bridge on November 28th. 

The Sleaford Standard also has covered the story. 

Lets see how long and what improvements emerge. 

Sleaford West Urban Extension: what the Planning Committee decided

The latest debate about the Sleaford West Urban extension debate took place on Wednesday 8th November 2017. 

Inching forward slowly towards making it viable as far as the Planning Inspectors and others are concerned. 

Well maybe. Almost a full vote in favour of what has happened so far in bringing a viable plan together. 

However the impact on the rest of Sleaford; the ability to be sufficiently self-contained to avoid congestion elsewhere: and what happens if transport and Health facilities do not arrive on time. Well again hazy areas indeed. 

The Standard has run an article: the debate is on audio. Local Councillors did speak but so far voting is almost unanimous to go ahead. The audio recording is just over an hour long and local Councillor comments start at around 30 minutes. Some useful contributions from local Councillors.

Watch this space!

Holdingham Ward Report: Sleaford Town Council 1st November 2017

Every month or so Councillors are asked to put in Ward Reports of anything happening within their Ward. This was my input on November 1st.

Holdingham Ward Report November 1^st 2017

Some increased activity on the Woodside Open Space Play Area.

During visits in the half-tem “Football” Games were being played in the middle of the 4-5 acre field. Youngsters (about 6 to 12) playing impromptu team games.

Increase usage of the play equipment.

A Fun day event (Harvest Fun-day” was organised on Tuesday 24^th between 11.00 and 13.00. Posters were displayed and placed on Facebook.

Lincoln Road Play Area/Open Space was also well attended in the generally mild Autumnal day.

Litter: some increase in litter during the half-term and at times in the evening at other times. This includes rubbish being thrown into the Becs on Lincoln Road. The extra bin leading to into Peterborough Way was often full of cartons so use of these bins by the Public is welcome.  Similarly: dog fouling.  The new developments mentioned below, and adjacent roads, appear to have litter problems.

Holdingham Grange: Although it has made news in the local paper after publicity nd comment at our STC Planning meeting the issue of the intersection with the Sustrans/ Connect 2 cycle track has not yet been addressed although work has been completed by BT which meant road signs had to  placed adjacent to Holdingham Mead and Holdingham Lane. Hope fully the next work will be the make this access to Holdingham Grange safe.

Still no temporary signs though to warn pedestrians and vehicles of potential dangers.

Social Services/Family Problems:  As a Ward Councillor I did receive (through the STC link) a letter of concern about a family within Holdingham. I cannot go into detail for obvious reasons but I passed the message on to Heidi Ryder at NKDC. The isssue was: if beyond say the remit of Social Services who's responsibilty is it?  It left me concerned that as a Town Councillor I could not get involved directly. Was this an NK issue to be dealt with or the PCSO’s or what?

Just a note: I am intrigued by these storage  devices at the entrance tio the Woodsise area off Beech-Rise. Any ideas anyone? 

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