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LATEST NEWS
16/05/2012
Listen to it at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Article on the Weddington Village Jubilee Party in today's Nuneaton News. Read it here.
08/05/2012
Article on Keith Kondakor's election as Weddington Ward Councillor for Green Party in today's Nuneaton News.
03/05/2012
Keith won this seat with 1012 votes. The Conservatives had 651 votes and the Labour Party had 488 votes.
You can read full borough election results here.
01/05/2012
May SWORD Newsletter is now available.
30/04/2012
NBBC are asking residents and groups for views on how they would like to be consulted on a new Borough Plan. There is an article in today's Nuneaton News on this:
27/04/2012
Article on fact that proposal for KFC on Weddington Road is to go to Planning Inquiry in today's Nuneaton News.
26/04/2012
2) Last week we sent an email out to all three of the Weddington Ward candidates: Jack Bonner (Labour), Jeff Clarke (Conservative) and Keith Kondakor (Green Party). In this email we stated: "A large number of SWORD supporters and local residents have been contacting us regarding the potential impact of the 3rd May local elections on the proposed plans to build on Weddington’s Church Fields, and beyond. We are, therefore, writing to the three of you to formally ask for a brief statement on where you stand in regards to these plans and how you will seek to address the concerns of local residents on these matters after 3rd May, should you be elected." The responses we received can be read (in alphabetical order) in the "Key Documents" section of this website.
24/042012
2) Article on Weddington Village Green application in Coventry Telegraph. This is also linked to from the BBC Coventry Website.
"Village Green" Move to Block Housing Development in Nuneaton
3) Article on a call for the introduction of Parish Councils at last night's Council meeting in today's Nuneaton News.
23/04/2012
Today's Nuneaton News has an article on the start of the Weddington Village Green consultation process:
"Overwhelming Support for Village Green Bid"
There is also a good local resident's letter about the derelict state of the Fox & Crane on page 10.
20/04/2012
Interesting front page article in Nuneaton News today, about plans to return Bedworth's Woodlands to Green Belt status. Also refers to Weddington Village Green application. Read it here:
19/04/2012
The Weddington Village Green application is now open to public consultation!
There will now be a 6 week consultation period, lasting until 1st June.
You can view notices of the application at the proposed site (Weddington Church Fields) as well as notices and copies of SWORD's formal application at:
1) Nuneaton Town Hall 2) Nuneaton Library 3) Weddington One Stop Shop (194 Weddington Road) 4) The Weddington Social Club (252A Weddington Road)
You can view the key application documents here:
Formal Application to Register Weddington Fields as a Village Green (Form 44) (PDF) Full justification statement in addition to Form 44 (PDF) List of Supporting documents supplied with Form 44 (PDF) Map of proposed Village Green site (PDF - this is nearly 5MB in size) Image of of site notice placed at Weddington Church Fields on 19th April (JPG)
18/04/2012
13/04/2012
Excellent resident's letter on the state of the Fox & Crane in today's Coventry Telegraph:
"Preserving pub now set to be vetoed?"
11/04/2012
Good article on our Village Green application in today's Nuneaton News:
"Fantastic Support in the Fight for Village Green"
07/04/2012
Please take time to read this as it gives updates on key local issues such as the Weddington Village Green application, the ongoing dereliction of the Fox & Crane building, the proposed KFC and other issues.
On a lighter note, there are also details of early thoughts about a Weddington Jubilee Party (you can also fill in an online survey to have your say on this at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TVHGB6F)
Click here to read this newsletter (this is a PDF - you will need Adobe Acrobat to read it. To request a Word version email: info@saveweddington.org.uk) _____________
SWORD is now a full member of the Open Spaces Society, Britain's oldest conservation society.
Their aim is to protect, increase, enhance and champion the common land, village greens, open spaces and public rights of way in England and Wales, and the public's right to enjoy them.
Membership of the Society will give SWORD invaluable access to legal and technical advice in the ongoing battle to get Weddington Church Fields registered as a Village Green. www.oss.org.uk
06/04/2012
Column by MP Marcus Jones on the lack of a Local Plan in today's Nuneaton News
05/04/2012
Latest article in the ongoing Local Plan saga in today's Nuneaton News:
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SWORD Committee meeting tonight - we will be discussing a number of key points including the ongoing Village Green Application, legal advice on the Planning Inquiry result and possible options for a Weddington Diamond Jubilee celebration. More soon...
04/04/2012
03/04/2012
You can read SWORD's response to Cllr Danny Adlington's letter in the local press yesterday - which wrongly suggested that we are politically biased - in today's Nuneaton News:
"Protesters Plea: We Are Not a Political Football"
02/04/2012 A letter is featured in today's Nuneaton News written by Councillor Danny Adlington (Chair of Planning at NBBC) which appears to suggest that SWORD are biased towards the Conservative party. Let us put on record once and for all SWORD is completely apolitical, we favour no political party, our only concern has been to oppose inappropriate and unsustainable housing development on green fields - and we are fed up with political mud slinging which adds nothing to the debate on the future vision of the Borough. We have written to the local media with a full response and you can read our statement on this article here: "Stop Using Weddington as a Political Football!!" For balance, we have also included Councillor Adlington's letter here for you to read: ________________
Interesting article in today's Nuneaton Telegraph re: leaked Borough Plan:
Nuneaton MP calls on public consultation over housing plans
30/03/2012
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Local MP Marcus Jones 's column in today's Nuneaton News talks about the recently published National Planning Policy Framework. IN THEORY this should allow greater protection of green sites and encourage usage of brownfield sites - although it is worrying that the 'presumption in favour of sustainable development' remains and question marks remain over the interpretation of 'sustainable development'. IN PRACTISE - certainly in the Borough of Nuneaton & Bedworth - local communities are likely to have to continue to work hard to push for greater engagement with the NPPF from a Council who have shown no interest in engagement so far... Read the article here:
"Planning Policy Report Important"
29/03/2012
Council response to the leaked "Borough Plan" document covered in yesterday's Nuneaton News. Read it here:
"No decisions yet on potential developments"
There is also an article on Marcus Jones MP's call for the Council to work with residents on the Neighbourhood Planning process on page 9.
28/03/2012
Front page story in today's Nuneaton News - a document has been leaked showing land earmarked for development by NBBC as part of their Borough Plan - which the public have still not been consulted on. These areas include Weddington - all the way from the A444 to Judkins Quarry - as well as St Nicolas Park, Marston Lane, Keresley, Exhall, Heath End Road and Seeswood Pool.
Read the article and see a map here:
27/03/2012
Village green application now in. Next step is for Warks CC to check the application is 'duly made' (i.e. that we have not made any stupid mistakes on the form!). This will take 1-2 weeks. So now it is a matter of waiting. Roughly we can expect a decision to accept / reject / go to inquiry within 11-12 weeks... you can read more about the process - and how you can help in the meantime - on our "Village Green" page.
IF it comes to a public inquiry we will need witnesses
to appear for us to attest to their usage of the land. If you would like to
register as a potential witness, please email us at:
info@saveweddington.org.uk.
We would ask for this to be an evening session but it could well be held in the
daytime.
26/03/2012
Good resident's letter in today's Nuneaton News. Read it here:
"Urban Sprawl Threat to Countryside"
Update from CV11 Action Group:
Bellway Planning Application Imminent.
22/03/2012
Latest response from NBBC Principal Planning Officer re: Fox & Crane: "I am
reviewing the legislation open to us and will be meeting with Cartwrights to
discuss concerns in terms of the current state of the building...and other
outstanding matters on the site. I will let you know the outcome of this
following this meeting. In respect of play and open space contributions [owed by
Cartwrights]... our records indicate that we have received two payments for plot
5 and plot 11 for monies towards Play and Open Space for the development.
Cartwrights are aware of this and will be paying the residual amount in the next
5 weeks."
21/03/2012
Article in today's Nuneaton News about the planned KFC development on Weddington Road:
Policeman's Concerns over Plans for KFC
17/03/2012
16/03/2012
13/03/2012
Article in today's Nuneaton News about our call for "Village Green" evidence forms. Read it here:
One Last 'Village Green' Push to Save Weddy Land
Bellway Consultation Event
For more information visit go to the CV11 Action Group's facebook page or visit www.cv11.org.uk (where you can also find details of their online petition).
10/03/2012
SWORD Newsletter 16: March 2012 now available.
Includes details of our campaign to register Weddington Fields as a Village Green and an update on other local issues.
Click here to read this newsletter (this is a PDF - you will need Adobe Acrobat to read it. To request a Word version email: info@saveweddington.org.uk)
05/03/2012
Great letter from SWORD supporter in today's Nuneaton News - please keep writing in as it helps keep our campaign in the public eye!
"What About the Birds and Insects?"
04/03/2012
Just found this old article from Nuneaton Tribune in some old files - dated October 1997!! Shows how long NBBC have been after Weddington's fields for development...click to read below:
"Residents Urged: Oppose 'Weddy' Development Plan"
02/03/2012
Another article on film-maker Ken Loach's support for our Village green campaign, this time in Nuneaton Tribune.
29/02/2012
28/02/2012
Great article in today's Nuneaton News about renowned film-maker Ken Loach adding his support to our Village Green campaign. Read it below:
Ken Joins Campaign to Save Countryside
27/02/2012
Article in today's Nuneaton News re: our campaign to register Weddington Church Fields as a Village green, as well as an impassioned letter from a local resident about the building plans.
25/02/2012
We have received a message of support for our campaign from Ken Loach, the reknowned film-maker who was born and raised in Nuneaton: "I think it is entirely appropriate that these fields should be designated a village green. As a former resident of Nuneaton, with a good memory of Weddington, I can recall the fields being used for recreation by people of all ages. We certainly played there as children and – in retrospect – valued the green space that was accessible, safe and close to home. To close this land would be a serious loss to the local community and would have a detrimental effect on peoples’ quality of life. "Please ensure that these fields with their historic connections are protected for future generations."
24/02/2012
Item on plans to apply for Weddington Church Fields to be a Village Green on BBC News online:
Weddington homes row: Campaigners vow to protect land
Article in today's Nuneaton News by Marcus Jones MP talks about SWORD and the Weddington decision:
23/02/2012
Another article featuring SWORD in today's Nuneaton News:
22/02/2012
Article on SWORD on BBC Coventry website. Read it below:
Weddington new homes row: Planning permission granted
Front page article in today's Nuneaton News and a supportive editorial on page 4. Read them below:
21/01/2012
Article on the Planning Inspector's decision in today's Coventry Telegraph and also on BBC Coventry. Read it here:
Weddington homes plans to go-ahead after appeal u-turn
SWORD Newsletter 15: February 2012 now available.
Click here to read this newsletter (this is a PDF - you will need Adobe Acrobat to read it. To request a Word version email: info@saveweddington.org.uk)
20/02/2012
Planning Inspector's Decision document
You can also read our statement on this - which will be released to the press - in the "Sword Statement" section.
15/02/2012
14/02/2012
Response from the Planning Inspectorate, re NBBC withholding information of plans for 74 dwellings from Weddington Appeal Inquiry:
"I did mentioned to the Inspector
whether he wishes to see the new information. However, the Inspector stated that
he wasn't prepared to accept any further information from anyone regarding the
appeal.
13/02/2012
12/02/2012
As well as not supporting us at the Weddington Inquiry, it has emerged that our council withheld details of a planning application for 75 apartments in Bedworth. This would have had a material impact at the Inquiry - as housing provision for the next 5 years was a key element of the Inquiry argument.
The application of 75 dwellings was accepted on the 23rd of December but NBBC did not put them online until AFTER the Inquiry had started - on 17th January. At the Inquiry NBBC - along with Hallams - argued that NO dwellings would be built on the site for the next 5 years.
Read an article on this in the Coventry Telegraph here.
Yet despite this being raised with the Planning Inspector for the Weddington
Appeal, it seems he is not interested. The official response to Keith Kondakor
of Nuneaton Friends of the Earth was: "Thank you for
your email...The Inspector does not wish to see any further comments as the
Inquiry is now closed. Therefore, your email will not be accepted."
10/02/2012
08/02/2012
See the state of the Fox & Crane here.
27/01/2012
26/01/2012
Article featuring SWORD in today's Nuneaton News:
Local Plan must protect green belt
24/01/2012
We've had an update from NBBC on the letter they sent to Cartwrights re: needing to agree to renovate the Fox & Crane. The deadline for a response from them before it was referred to legal department was 22nd Jan. NBBC have advised that they "have not received a response from the agent or applicant for this development. This matter will now consequently be dealt with by Andrew Collinson, Principal Planning Officer.."
23/01/2012
Three items on SWORD in the local press today:
Letters from Rachel Brindley (local resident) and Neil Philips (Mayor of Nuneaton & Bedworth) in Nuneaton News: read them here.
Article "Councillors Accused over Weddington Housing Plans" in Coventry Telegraph - read it here.
22/01/2012
SWORD have a document from the Public Inquiry (Statement of Respective Positions) produced by Hallam's solicitors, Marrons, AND NBBC together, agreeing reduced housing supply figures. So as well as not contesting the appeal, NBBC actually worked WITH Hallams to undermine our case in the inquiry...and have been having discussions with them throughout November and December 2011. Read the document here:
Statement of Respective Positions 19th January 2012 (NBBC / Marrons)
20/01/2012
The Planning Inspector made a site visit to Weddington this morning. He
went along behind the bungalows and over to the A444 so saw the waterlogged area
there. The birds were in good voice so hopefully the Inspector saw our little
bit of countryside for what it is and appreciates how we feel. At one point the
Inspector was approached by a Church Lane Resident who pointed out that many
dwellers of the "new" bungalows would park in the Church car park or along
Church Lane rather than driving/walking round the new estate... The Inspector
was then going by himself to experience the gyratory and the air quality
monitoring station and the Stoney Road area.
Good article in Nuneaton News on the 'David & Goliath' fight by SWORD at the Inquiry by Marcus Jones MP, who spoke at the Inquiry yesterday.
Article on the Inquiry in Nuneaton Tribune "Judgement day looms over plans for Nuneaton housing": Read it here.
19/01/2012
Today was the 3rd and final day of the Weddington planning appeal public hearing. The day started with a very well spoken statement from CPRE (Campaign for Preservation of Rural England). Then the majority of the day was taken up with evidence from Nuneaton Friends of the Earth (NFOE) in the morning and SWORD in the afternoon. The last section started with a discussion on conditions and potential section 106 payments (i.e. payments that the developers would have to make to Council if the development goes ahead). It is clear that we had been cut out when this was all proposed, and none of the improvements proposed by NFOE or SWORD were deemed acceptable. The final part was Hallams' closing statement:- which in effect blamed the objectors (i.e. NFOE and SWORD) for prolonging the inquiry when Hallams' should have just been able to walk in and get permission due to the Council not contesting the case... Hallam’s did not apply for costs from the Council, a fact that may have been due to how helpful our Council has been in declaring many sites un-deliverable in the course of this Appeal. This is an unusual case [due to NBBC not opposing the appeal] and "the local authority (NBBC) and Hallams are if you like, on the same side now”... Overall, the process was like a football match where the home team players (our Council) refuse to play. The away side were miffed that those who are normally spectators took to the field and have made a match of it!! Clearly the whole system is against us and we have been let down badly by many councillor and officers. Key to the whole process has been the strategic housing land availability assessment (SHLAA) document that our Council kept secret from us until the 29th of December. It is badly out of date and was developed with the help of Hallams & co. It has emerged under cross-examination of the Council by ourselves that there will be a new SHLAA coming out in February that is also being kept from us. The Council, effectively, ended up siding with Hallams against us. During the inquiry our council downgraded the number of deliverable sites for building in the area...a lot of our arguments have been undercut by more capitulation by our council - who weren't even contesting the Appeal!There are a number of questions that need to be asked regarding Council collusion with developers that we will be pursuing, regardless of the outcome of this Inquiry... Following a site visit, the Inspector will announce the likely timescale for a decision on this Appeal (he did not give a timescale for a decision, but did ask for some paperwork within 10 days. A decision is likely within 5-7 weeks...).
We will let you know as soon as we have any further information. Thank you to everyone who turned up to support us at this Inquiry, as well as those who wrote in with objections.
Thanks to Keith Kondakor of Nuneaton Friends of the Earth for providing this update.
19/01/2012
18/01/2012
At a recent Weddington & St Nicolas Community forum on 1st December, representatives from KFC attended and outlined plans to build a drive-thru KFC restaurant on the former Graziers pub site, at the junction of Old Hinckley Road and Weddington Road. Minutes of the meeting (only just published) state that “through discussions with the Borough Council the developers are aware of the issues that exist at the site. These include issues relating to the additional pressures that a new restaurant will put on local roads.” Apparently feedback forms (for completion by 12/12/11) were handed out. Did any other local residents receive these??
17/01/2012
16/01/2012
Excellent article on the SWORD Residents' meeting in today's Nuneaton News, "Public Inquiry Begins Tomorrow".
A very good statement from Councillor Kristofer Wilson (also a member of NBBC Planning Committee) has been submitted to SWORD to read out at the Planning Inquiry.
Also, minutes from the SWORD Residents' meeting on 12th January now added.
14/01/2012
13/01/2012
1) Photos from SWORD Residents' Meeting on 12th January added below. Full minutes will be added soon.
09/01/2012
Two items in letters page of Nuneaton News - "Destroying an historic area and a ‘green lung’ between two towns" from a SWORD supporter, and "Stop being childish and work with the public" by Keith Kondakor of Nuneaton Friends of the Earth.
07/01/2012
06/01/2012
"The Council considers that the developer will have to implement the permission to CONVERT the former Fox and Crane building as approved under application ref: 012392 in order to comply with the current S106 Legal Agreement. In accordance with a letter sent to developer, the Council is awaiting confirmation of the timescales that this will be adhered to in order to ensure that the affordable housing is provided within the existing Fox and Crane building. As the letter was sent on the 22nd December 2011 the Council is allowing until the 22nd January 2012 to receive a response. If a response is not received by this time then Andrew Collinson, Principal Planning Officer, will be liaising with the Council’s Legal Department with a view to seeking a resolution to this issue."
SWORD have also been made aware that Cartwrights have so far also failed to make an "Open Space Contribution of £1,010 per dwelling" on all but 2 of the houses they have built in "Grove Park"...
We will keep you informed of developments after the 22nd January deadline set by NBBC for Cartwrights to commit to this.
Also there is an on
05/01/2012
04/01/2012
01/01/2012
SWORD Newsletter 14: January 2011 now available.
Includes details of Public Inquiry on Weddington Plans that starts on 17th January 2012, plus a SWORD residents' meeting on 12th January**.
Click here to read this newsletter (this is a PDF - you will need Adobe Acrobat to read it. To request a Word version email: info@saveweddington.org.uk)
Picture on this page is copyright Jennifer Brookes 2011, for which grateful acknowledgement is given. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
