Extra time needed in crunch meeting on plans for 2,215 homes at St George's Barracks in Rutland
A plan to build a new 2,215-home town in Rutland has 'more holes than a kitchen colander' and could 'choke the life out of the county'.
That was the stance of those opposing the controversial development at St George’s Barracks in North Luffenham during a fiery county council meeting on Monday (January 27).
It was standing room only as residents packed into the council chamber to hear councillors trade blows over whether to approve the ‘pre-submission’ Local Plan.
A key element of the plan - which is a blueprint for how the county might develop - is to provide a ‘garden community’ at the soon-to-be-closed barracks to include new homes, workplaces, a school, quarry and distribution centre.
It aims to address the rising demand for housing and help the Government hit national home-building targets.
However, it has proved unpopular with many residents who feel the Ministry of Defence (MoD) site could be put to better use, such as becoming a country park.
At Monday’s special meeting, members of the public had to be reminded to remain silent on several occasions when they began applauding speeches opposing the plan.
Councillors were expected to make a decision on whether to approve the ‘pre-submission’ Local Plan so it can begin the process of being scrutinised by the Secretary of State.
But after three hours of representations and debate they ran out of time leading to the unprecedented step of having to adjourn the meeting until a later date.
Helen Briggs, chief executive officer at the council, told the meeting: “It is very unusual - it’s a first.”
Speakers had lined up at the start of the meeting to address the council and give their views, or the views of the organisations they represent.
Going against the grain, Dave Hodson, of Greetham Parish Council, said the homes were better placed on a new single site rather than being added to the existing towns and villages in the county.
But Neil Newton, of Empingham Parish Council, warned councillors they were being “dragooned” into backing the St George’s Barracks plan.
He quoted the words of Coun Abigail MacCartney (Lib Dem) who recently described the plan as having “more holes than a kitchen colander”.
“This is woeful governance and the people of Rutland deserve better,” Mr Newton said. “I urge the council to defer the Local Plan until we’ve had the opportunity to debate all feasible options.”
Andrew Johnson, of Morcott Parish Council, warned councillors against blindly accepting council “dogma” and urged them to vote individually rather than politically.
And Cliff Bacon, of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Rutland, told members a small county should not have to deliver so many homes to meet national targets.
He warned: “Your legacy and reputation are on the line if this leads to wider mass development.”
Jo Spiegl, a resident of North Luffenham and member of its parish council, told the meeting she was not against sustainable development.
But she added: “We are the custodians of this beautiful county - let us not be the generation to spoil it and change its nature forever.”
She said there were insufficient jobs and infrastructure to support the barracks plan, adding: “We must not let anyone choke the life out of Rutland irrevocably.”
Coun MacCartney later backed the sentiment, saying the barracks site could be a “beacon for environmental development” rather than home-building.
In response, Coun Gordon Brown (Conservative), portfolio holder for environment, planning, property and finance, stressed the plans did include new infrastructure, including a school, shops, entertainment, sports facilities and provision for 2,000 jobs over 20 years.
He also stressed that an alternative plan for a garden community at Woolfox former RAF base was “not viable or deliverable, based on the evidence presented”.
Coun Brown said the priority was to “provide homes for young families that they can afford and need”.
“This is a good plan,” he told councillors, referring to the Local Plan in general. “It will be good for Rutland overall over the next 15 years and especially over the next couple of years which we will keep under regular review.”
Coun Gale Waller (Lib Dem) proposed an amendment to the plan so that only 350 homes would be built on the barracks site but it was defeated by 16 votes to 11.
With the clock ticking towards 10pm - the final cut-off point for the meeting - Coun Andrew Brown proposed a further amendment which will now have to be heard when the meeting reconvenes on Monday, February 10.
