Time running out to have your say on Westerleigh village housing proposals

You only have until Tuesday 13th January to tell South Gloucestershire Council what you think about proposals for up to 20 new homes in Westerleigh village.

Following the summer consultation, Westerleigh Parish Council asked South Glos planners to assess possible locations for new homes and consult on the results. At the well-attended drop-in on 1st December the planners revealed that their initial analysis ruled out all except two sites. They were the land behind Burma House/Bella Vista and Jorrock’s Yard, the old Eurotaxis site. The planners explained that under current national policy allocating either of these for development would mean taking that site and some of the village out of the Green Belt.

On Monday a group of residents attended Westerleigh Parish Council to ask questions about the proposals and the process that led to them. The Chair of the Parish Council asked people to send the Parish Clerk copies of their South Glos consultation responses so that the Parish Council could be sure they had everyone’s views.

Local residents requested from South Glos a summary of planning applications at the two sites, which can be read here.

The Parish Council will decide at their meeting at 7.15pm on Monday 2nd February in Westerleigh Village Hall whether to ask South Glos to allocate land for new homes in their Policies, Sites and Places plan. Parishioners are as always welcome to attend. South Glos Council will then decide in March what should go into the plan.

There is currently no pressure for new housing in the rural villages - the thousands of new homes required in the Core Strategy are due to be delivered by extending existing urban areas and towns, like Yate and Emerson’s Green. This consultation is about whether you think Westerleigh needs some extra houses and whether either of the sites is suitable. It’s your chance to shape the future of the village.

ACT NOW!

1. Tell South Glos what you think by Tuesday 13th January
   
   • Go to www.southglos.gov.uk/policiessitesandplaces and click on the Westerleigh link to see the consultation information and response form. Return the completed form by hand to the Badminton Road council offices, by email to planningLDF@southglos.gov.uk or by post to Strategic Planning Policy & Strategic Advice Team, South Gloucestershire Council, Department for Environment & Community Services, PO Box 299, Civic Centre High Street, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 0DS.  
   • If you can't access the form or would prefer not to use it, you can just send a letter or email instead, but it’s important to say why you are for or against what is proposed.
   • There is a petition form against the proposals in the village shop and copies of the response form if you want to make more detailed comments.
2. Tell the Parish Council what you think
   Email westerleighpc@btinternet.com or write to 32 The Street, Didmarton, Glos, GL9 1DS.
3. Tell Claire what you think.