Anger at U-turn over vilage hall
ANGRY Newton Kyme villagers, led to believe their community would get a new village hall as part of the re-development of a former paper mill, met on Monday evening to voice their concerns after learning that the hall had been dropped from the plans.
The change led Coun Bob Hall, Chairman of Newton Kyme and Toulston Parish Council, to accuse Selby District Council planners of treating the people of the village with “utter contempt.” He said it had been done in “an underhand and secretive manner” without any consultation.
But Selby Council hit back this week, insisting they told parish councillors last November that the plan had been changed with the village hall proposal deleted.
And the Council’s planning boss says the parish council didn’t reply, even when chased for its response to the amended plans.
This prompted an indignant retort from Coun Hall, who told the Council’s planning chief: “To imply that we were consulted on the removal of the village hall is untrue. We have not been consulted at all.
“We were made aware by the developer that this change had been made and we strongly made our objections known at the time. All parties were aware that this was a fundamental breach of a firm commitment.”
The application to redevelop the former Papyrus Works site, submitted by the Harrogate-based Commercial Estates Group, has been under discussion since 2006 and, if approved, would almost double the size of Newton Kyme with 140 new homes being built, some of them for sale, others for rent as affordable housing.
A Selby Council spokeswoman told the Wetherby News this week: “A decision on the planning application is expected to be made later this year. We cannot comment on individual cases before a decision is made.”
In a strongly worded letter to Selby Council, Coun Hall said the parish council had worked with the developer to find ways the site could be re-used to the benefit of both the local and wider community.
“Despite many residents having serious reservations we persuaded them that the proposals were reasonable in the circumstances,” he said, adding: “A fundamental issue which was resolved at the very first meeting was that the developer would provide a new village hall.
“We are now informed that, in liaison with the Council, this essential facility has been removed from the plan.
“This amendment is not only wholly unacceptable and inexplicable; it is treating the residents and local democracy with utter contempt.
“Your team did not even have the courtesy to discuss this matter with us but have made this change in an underhand and secretive manner.
“This decision must be changed. We require the restoration of the village hall into the plans, in a location and style acceptable to the community.”
Following Monday’s meeting Coun Hall told the Wetherby News that a representative of the developer told residents they were still willing to build a village hall as part of the development, though this would have to be in place of other improvements, such as landscaping.
Coun Hall added: “We need a new village hall so the meeting resolved that we should seek an early meeting with Selby Council and the developers to find a solution acceptable to everyone.
“We would like to see this resolved quickly. The former paper mill site is a blight on our village.”
Kate Ginks, a representative of CEG, the Commercial Estates Group, told the Wetherby News: “We have been consulting with the local community regarding the regeneration of Papyrus Mill since 2003 in order to ensure local residents’ views are incorporated within the proposals.
“As part of the planning application CEG has committed approximately 4m of funding to be invested in a host of community benefits.
“Selby District Council is responsible for distributing these funds and prioritising areas for investment.
“It is likely that it will include the restoration of the listed viaduct, new road links and public transport improvements, new pedestrian and cycle routes, provision of affordable housing and the implementation of a robust green travel plan for new and existing residents.
“These discussions are ongoing with the Council.”
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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