Yew Tree Farm Development Burscough Video interview with West Lancashire Councillor Martin Forshaw Borough Council Portfolio Holder Planning responsible for The Local Plan Feb 16th 2012

Interview with Councillor Martin Forshaw, Portfolio Holder Planning and Transportation West Lancashire Borough Council responsible for the Local Plan.

A question and answer session specifically relating to housing develpment in West Lancashire as part of the 2012-2027 Local Plan, using Yew Tree Farm in Burscough as a working example.

4,650 houses need to be built in West Lancashire.  500 of which are to be built in Burscough, West Lancashire.

The proposed Yew Tree Farm Development in Burscough serves as the example in this interview with the locally elected official responsible for planning.

Councillor Martin Forshaw is asked many of the questions which have come to the fore during the last six weeks of public consultation.

Councillor Martin Forshaw provides categoric reassurances in some areas and points to the future Master Plan in others.

This is how the planning process works throughout the country, not just in West Lancashire.

If you're a West Lancashire resident keen to see your elected officials held to account and answering questions, watch this video. If you don't like or disagree with the answers and have a better plan, comment below, let your elected officials know.  Better yet, stand for election yourself!

If you're resident elsewhere in England and interested in how housing is developed in your area, use this interview to become acquainted with the terminology in use in councils right across the country.

Burscough Yew Tree Farm Housing development. Protest: Interview with local Labour Councillor John Davis - CNN iReport

Burscough Yew Tree Farm Housing development. Protest: Interview with local Labour Councillor John Davis - CNN iReport
Burscough Yew Tree Farm development protest: Video interview with local residents Michelle Blair and Gavin Rattray - CNN iReport

CNN PRODUCER NOTE MJWRIGHT shot this video interview with Labour councilor John Davis of Burscough, U.K (and local residents Michelle Blair and Gavin Rattray) about a controversial planned farm development project. 'I empathise with these local people, upset at the potentially huge, change and growth, which they worry will change the character of their village and damage their local environment,' he said. 'However, I also take a pragmatic view to these developments. Nationwide the country needs a million or so new homes, they have to go somewhere! It's up to local people and the local media to hold their political representatives to account and ensure the best deal is struck. Done right, this growth will bring economic benefits for local people and their children.'
- jmsaba, CNN iReport producer

Read the West Lancashire Borough Council Local Plan document

West Lancashire Local Plan document (front cover)

Read the actual West Lancashire Local Plan Preferred Options document.

The Local Plan is available for download from the West Lancashire Borough Council Website. Alternatively, I have also made it available to read online at scribd.com

Prefaced by Councillor Martin Forshaw Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation West Lancashire Borough Council January 2012.

West Lancashire has a wonderful mix of vibrant towns and picturesque villages, and boasts some of the most beautiful and productive countryside in the UK. It is vital that we manage,guide and encourage development within the Borough to meet the economic and social aspirations of our towns and villages and the communities within them, while protecting our environment for future generations.

The Local Plan Preferred Options represent an important shift in the preparation of a Development Plan Document for West Lancashire, with a new-style Local Plan replacing the Core Strategy that was being prepared as part of a Local Development Framework for the Borough.

This document has been developed by considering all the information provided by the Council's evidence base and the results of previous public consultations on the issues and options and preferred options stages of the Core Strategy preparation and takes into account the latest direction given by the Government on preparing local planning policy.

Ultimately, the Local Plan will directly or indirectly affect all residents and communities within the Borough. Therefore, it is important that we hear from you on what is being proposed in order to help us to make an informed decision on what the final Local Plan should include.

I very much look forward to hearing your views on the proposals and policies within this document.

Councillor Martin Forshaw Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation West Lancashire Borough Council.

Once you have read the document, post your comments below.  What questions do you want answered, let me know and I'll put them to your local representatives.

Part 2 of 2 Video interview with Burscough Conservative Councillor Jason Grice about the Yew Tree Farm Development ...

Part 2 of 2
Matthew Wright, in a frank and unedited interview, continues the discussion with Burscough West Conservative Councillor Jason Grice

• the need for additional utilities
• the need for improved roads infrastructure
• the problem of increased traffic congestion
• the need for additional amenities
• the choice of location
• the use of green belt land
• what are brown site alternatives
• what are the benefits to of new jobs, economic regeneration etc.

In response, what do you think of the case made so far by those interviewed?

• Are the protesters a vocal minority, trying to hold the tide back? Yes, No?
• Three years on down the consultation path, Is there an element of inevitability to the final outcome?
• Should we be negotiating hard for further guarantees, not trying to turn our backs to the metaphorical builders lorry hurtling down the road towards us.
• Where does the argument go next, what further questions should be asked and to whom?
• Or, is it all completely irrelevant as the nearby impending Fracking projects, will in future just cause the ground beneath our very feet to just part and swallow us up?

Post your comments now.

Part 1 of 2 Video interview with Burscough Conservative Councillor Jason Grice Yew Tree Farm Development

Part 1 of 2
Matthew Wright, in a frank and unedited interview, discusses with Burscough West Conservative Councillor Jason Grice

• the need for additional utilities
• the need for improved roads infrastructure
• the problem of increased traffic congestion
• the need for additional amenities
• the choice of location
• the use of green belt land
• what are brown site alternatives
• what are the benefits of new jobs, economic regeneration etc.

In response, what do you think of the case made so far by those interviewed?

• Are the Burscough Yew Tree Farm protesters a vocal minority, trying to hold the tide back? Yes, No?
• Three years on down the West Lancashire Local Plan consultation path, Is there an element of inevitability to the final outcome?
• Should we be negotiating hard for further guarantees, not trying to turn our backs to the metaphorical builders lorry hurtling down the road towards us.
• Where does the argument go next, what further questions should be asked and to whom?

• Or, is it all completely irrelevant as the nearby impending Fracking projects, will in future just cause the ground beneath our very feet to part and swallow us up?

Post your comments now.