CHIDDINGLY PARISH COUNCIL WORKING GROUP ON OVER-DEVELOPMENT OF WEALDEN DISTRICT As reported at the last issue of the magazine, on 22nd June 2021 the parish council formed a working group on over-development (WGOD). Since then, the Group has had two meetings where it discussed how best to proceed in order to impress politicians responsible for planning policy, that their decisions should be more responsive to residents’ voices. The Group believes that we, as citizens and taxpayers, need to gain an understanding of the pressure Wealden DC has been under from the government to deliver ever increasing numbers of new houses, and that we need to actively support the leadership of our District Council in its effort to convince the government that the electorate opposes the relentless development that has been taking place. Whereas in 2013 Wealden was expected to deliver 450 new houses each year, by 2020 the requirement for Wealden has climbed to 1,225 houses per year. This extraordinary increase has been imposed by the standard method and formula that is mandated by Whitehall to be applied throughout the UK by authorities such as Wealden DC. The formula defines the minimum annual housing needs of each authority, who is compelled to fulfil this minimum requirement, or be penalised if it fails to do so. The Group has recognised that our campaign against over-development does not only oppose the irreversible loss of green fields, countryside and habitat of wildlife, but also seeks to protect our lives and the lives of our children from increasing traffic, air pollution, and also from climate change. If you wish to communicate any views, either in support or in opposition to our work, please contact: cllr.nikos.mikelis@chiddingly.gov.uk |