Thurston
Update December 2017
The Parish Council is advising residents that Members of the Mid Suffolk Planning Referrals Committee, via majority decisions, followed advice from their Planning Officers and approved applications to build over 800 homes in Thurston at its meeting on 1st November 2017.
The Parish Council and Thurston’s District Councillors reminded members of the Planning Referrals Committee present that they were representing the people who voted them into power in the belief they would do the right thing by them, represent them on key issues, and stand up for them when the chips were down.
Unfortunately, the arguments put forward by Residents, Thurston Parish Council, Thurston Neighbourhood Plan Team and Thurston’s District Councillors were not successful and approval for a significant increase in housing was given without an Infrastructure Development Plan for Thurston; any certainty of a solution to the safety problems at the railway station foot crossing which will increasingly put lives at risk or lead to possible closure of the Cambridge-bound platform; any regard to continued concerns to mitigate highway solutions and approving questionable proposals for Fishwick Corner and the A143/Thurston (Bunbury Arms) Junction; any certainty of health provision for the village; or any solution to the current parking problems, and parking problems associated with increased railway station usage.
However, as some of these applications are only outline they will need to come back to both Mid Suffolk for further deliberation. The Parish Council, as a statutory consultee will also have the opportunity to comment further on detailed plans for the type of dwellings, tenure, landscaping and materials to be used and the Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan Team will continue to represent the residents of Thurston in these matters. The Neighbourhood Plan
Team will continue its work on the Neighbourhood Plan and is actively working on producing a draft plan by the end of the year.
Developing the Neighbourhood Plan can still help the residents of Thurston play a greater role in determining the future of their area. As has been stated many times before, a Neighbourhood Plan is not a tool to stop development where such development is already included in the Core Strategy/Local Plan but is a tool to give residents of Thurston the opportunity to shape what that planned growth will look like.
The Parish Council will continue to respond to all planning applications that come before it and ask that residents continue to make it known of their comments and concerns and attend Planning Committee Meetings (which are open to the public) where able.
Update October 2017
The Parish Council of Thurston believes that should development of the scale put forward be approved at the Mid Suffolk Planning Referrals Meeting scheduled for 1st November 2017, the adverse impact of the developments would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of such growth unless further mitigation measures are forthcoming. It holds that significant harm will result.
The Parish Council has issued a direct appeal to the Mid Suffolk Referrals Planning Committee members informing them of its concerns with regard to Highway Matters and Solutions and Railway Safety Issues.
To view a copy of that letter please click here
Having reviewed the report submitted by Suffolk County Council's Transport Policy and Development Manager on the further studies into the mitigating proposals of offset the cumulative development in Thurston, a copy of that letter can be seen here, the Parish Council of Thurston made further representations to the Mid Suffolk Referrals Planning Committee members, a copy of that letter can be seen here.
Mid Suffolk's Planning Referrals Committee
The Planning Referrals Committe will be meeting once again on 1st November 2017 at 2.00pm in the Mid Suffolk Council Chamber, Mid Suffolk District Offices; High Street, Needham Market to determine the following planning applications.
4963/16 Land West of Ixworth Road, Thurston
5070/16 Land at Norton Road, Thurston
4942/16 Land at Meadow Lane, Thurston
2797/16 Land South of Norton Road, Thurston
4386/16 Land on West side of Barton Road, Thurston
02232/17 Land on the west of Barton Road, Thurston
The Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan Team will be in attendance and will be able to address the Development Committee and make the Committee aware of the significant impact on the village that will arise if all or some of these applications are now granted permission to develop.
The Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan Team will continue to mount a robust defence in preference of growth that is both sympathetic and in-keeping with the village and whilst accepting its identification as a Key Service Centre, because it has a range of facilities and services, such as a Railway Station, Secondary and Primary School, shopping and limited employment facilities and its location to the A14, it is felt that Thurston should only be expected to bear a proportionate amount of new housing.
Should the 'minded to decisions' taken at the Planning Referrals Committee Meeting on 12th July 2017 be upheld and planning permission granted, there will be around 689 new dwellings on four sites in Thurston.
To view the full agenda and associated papers please click here to be redirected.
To view a summary of the Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan Team's responses to the significant planning applications please click here to be redirected.
