SAVE FELIXSTOWE

“I am trying to think of something to say.”

SuperBlob 6 - A Question And Answer Session With The Experts

The concept of a 4000 house eco community on farmland between Trimley St Martin and Kirton was proposed at the 11 March Felixstowe Town Council Meeting by a Liberal Democrat, seconded by a Tory and agreed by the whole Council without any discussion on its implications. We originally thought that this meant a deal had been done by all political parties prior to the Meeting, but we were very wrong. Mike Ninnmey made it up as he went along on the night - let’s nominate this field, how about 4000 houses, and stick in the word ‘eco’ to give it credibility. Then everybody else voted for it without knowing what they were doing. How do we know this? We asked Mike Ninnmey to complete a Questionnaire which, to his credit, he did. Because his answers were so surprising we then asked John Goodwin (who has always opposed large scale housebuilding), Mike Deacon (who made a passionate speech about lack of infrastructure), and Andy Smith (LDF Chairman). Messrs Goodwin and Deacon have also replied. We await Andy Smith’s response.

On 11 March, at a meeting of Felixstowe Town Council you proposed that the LDF Task Group consider a new "SuperBlob" for large scale house building on farmland on the Felixstowe Peninsula, which you have subsequently christened "Trimley All Saints." You described this "SuperBlob" as being an "eco" community, with space for 4000 houses, and which would satisfy the housing needs of the whole District up to and beyond the year 2024. This proposal was seconded by Councillor Andy Smith and agreed unanimously by councillors of all 3 political parties. Recently, in the Evening Star, you are quoted as claiming that this was the only site to receive a positive response as part of the February / March consultation process.

Because of this positive feedback from stakeholders, and since this "SuperBlob" site is a radical proposal with the potential for 2.5 times more homes than the numbers originally envisaged, you will surely appreciate that the people of the Felixstowe Peninsula, especially those in the Trimley Villages and Kirton, need much more information about this proposal. We have therefore prepared a Questionnaire for you to answer, as originator of this scheme, which we propose to publish on the STAG website and through the local media. We are presuming that you did not make such a radical proposal on 11 March without having previously researched the subject thoroughly, and that answering our Questionnaire will therefore not be an onerous burden.

Mike Ninnmey Reply : In reply to your e-mails of 6th and 16th June, Area 6 was identified during the course of the meeting in Walton Hall using the maps provided by Suffolk Coastal and was proposed and seconded by west ward councillors. Evidence of the inadequacy of road infrastructure was given by west ward councillors to the Public Inquiry on Felixstowe Docks in 2003. The position particularly with regard to the inadequacy of the Dock Spur roundabout is well known to all our constituents.

Mike Deacon Reply : I find it very difficult to respond to your questioniare. However, below is a summary of my views which I hope clarifies my position. I have always made my position on this issue very clear and I will continue to do so. I do not believe there is anywhere in the Felixstowe area – including the Trimleys and surrounding villages - which is in any way able to sustain the amount of growth being planned for the area. Being the only Labour Councillor on the council and with no support amongst the other political groups, the only motion I was able to back at the meeting of the Felixstowe Town Council held on 11th March was the Liberal Democrat motion which asked for Suffolk Coastal District Council to reassess other sites in their area and look away from Felixstowe. Whilst I strongly agree that this should happen, unfortunately the motion also included a clause asking the council to consider a site in Trimley. I can unequivocally say the reason I backed this motion was to try and force the district council to look again at the options – it was the only motion asking for a re-think; all the others I believed consigned large parts of the area to unsuitable development. I can give you every assurance that despite this motion including a clause for the consideration of land in Trimley – if this became a formal proposal I would in no way support it. As a local man of many years I passionately believe that our town and its surrounding villages is a beautiful place to live, work and play and I would not support any further over-development of the area which would threaten this. You have my word that I will continue to fight for the town and surrounding villages in the face of this very real threat to our communities and environment.

STAG Question 1 : On 10 March you attended a Suffolk Preservation Society seminar on the subject of the LDF Consultation process at which you clearly stated that the Felixstowe Peninsula infrastructure could not cope with an extra 1620 houses. What changed your mind between the 10th and 11th March?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : The presenter of the SPS Seminar is the only person I know who attended most if not all of the Regional Enquiry on the Regional Plan and I wished to find out from him whether my understanding of the rejection of the build requirement for the whole of the East of England had indeed been rejected by the Regional Assembly. He confirmed that view. I have stated elsewhere that the existing road and rail infrastructure for the East of England is a disgrace and totally inadequate.

STAG Question 2 : Why do you think your proposal was seconded by Councillor Smith and agreed unanimously by all councillors of all political parties?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : My proposal was seconded by Councillor Bryant. Why other councillors thought it was an area that our officers should investigate as an alternative is for you to enquire from them.

John Goodwin Reply : Bearing in mind that SCDC assure us that we have to have this size of development in our area then I consider this to fall into the "least worst option". When I spoke at the Felixstowe Town Council meeting I explained fully my reasons for voting the way that I did. Assuming that memory serves me, I think I said that whilst I am against any large scale development in our area if it had to be anywhere then I considered blob four to be the lesser of all evils that were on the table at that time. Cllr Nimney then came up with blob 6 out of the blue which seemed odd bearing in mind that he is/was a member of the SCDC Local Development member taskforce. Again looking at blob six as a least worst option this would give the least impact on the Trimley Villages of all schemes thus far proposed. Traffic wishing to head for Ipswich would join the A 14 away from the villages and traffic heading for Felixstowe likewise would not need to touch the two villages. Felixstowe bound vehicles would in fact travel past our front door but I considered this a lesser evil than traffic endeavouring to travel through Walton and the Trimleys.

STAG Question 3 : Had any discussion on this matter taken place with other political parties prior to the 11 March meeting?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : The only discussion that took place between west ward councillors were with Councillor Dangerfield who unfortunately was recovering from an operation and would not be able to attend the meeting. Our discussion was primarily about the total failure of community provision as promised by the 106 Agreements for Cavendish Park and Orwell Green and his views (read out by the Town Clerk but not included in the Minutes) were that it was our public duty to ensure future developments obtained maximum community benefit with minimum disadvantage. There were no pre-meeting debates with councillors from any other wards.

John Goodwin Reply : I can truly swear that the Town Council meeting when MN put his proposal forward was the first that I had heard of his idea. Coincidentally on that day several of us had travelled to Cambridge (Trinity College) for the six monthly liaison meeting and been advised that the land in question was due to be used for industrial purposes as it was very poor quality farm land.

STAG Question 4 : Why did you not have the courtesy to consult with the people of Kirton or the Trimley villages before making such a radical proposal?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : See first paragraph. The meeting was called to consider the options already there, but also to suggest others sites.

John Goodwin reply : This would be a question for Cllr Nimney, please also remember that this was a very acrimonious meeting.

STAG Question 5 : Did you consult with anybody at all before making this proposal, for example landowners, farmers, planning officials?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : No. Ours was mainly a west ward response based on under-provision of community assets, continuing loss of green space, access (particularly to the Orwell River), the impact of poor infrastructure design on the community environment and lack of affordable housing.

John Goodwin Reply : See answer two and three.

STAG Question 6 : What exactly is meant by the term "eco" community, and how will it be different from any other new town?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : Many definitions exist.

John Goodwin Reply : Having read yesterday's paper "ECO" town can just about mean whatever you want it to mean.

STAG Question 7 : If SuperBlob 6 is eventually proposed as a preferred site by the LDF Task Group, since their is no RSS requirement for housing developments to be in any way "eco", how will SCDC ensure that developers actually build an "eco" community?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : It would depend upon the requirements of the LDF.

John Goodwin Reply : No idea as I am not a member of SCDC.

STAG Question 8 : Can houses in an "eco" community still be affordable?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : Yes. At a rate of 1 in 3, according to the existing affordable dwelling policy.

John Goodwin Reply : Sadly no idea again, not an area that I get involved in.

STAG Question 9 : How many homes will need to be built within this "eco" community before it reaches a level where it attracts its own infrastructure?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : This advice was sought from the officers in the meeting. It will require a deal of study.

John Goodwin Reply : Ditto answer seven.

STAG Question 10 : How many more cars will arise from this "eco" community and what effect they will have on the already congested A14, especially considering the extra number of lorries there will be when Port expansion takes place.

Mike Ninnmey Reply : We would expect the pattern of travel to reflect best practice public transport sustainable policy. The settlement would be closer to Ipswich and Woodbridge. (See Tomline Transport on www.suffolkcoastal.libdems.org/felixstowe).

John Goodwin Reply : With regard to numbers obviously I have no idea, with regard to congestion extremely adverse.

STAG Question 11 : This "eco" community is intended to serve the housing needs of the whole District. Does this not conflict with the stated sustainability policy of the LDF Task Group whereby homes should be situated as close as possible to places of employment.

Mike Ninnmey Reply : This community would take its place alongside the other brownfield sites already identified by the Planning Department.

John Goodwin Reply : I am not sure if Cllr Nimney suggested that any homes that might or might not eventually be built on blob six should be "Eco" homes.

STAG Question 12 : At more than one LDF Task Group Meeting the undesirability of creating linear developments was highlighted by Messrs Ridley and Brown. Would a development stretching from Trimley St Mary, via Trimley St Martin to Trimley All Saints not be just such an undesirable linear development?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : Area 6 proposed to avoid Areas 1 and 2 being a linear development impacting on green space availability to the whole community.

John Goodwin Reply : My own view would be yes.

STAG Question 13 : By promoting this "eco" community to satisfy the needs of the whole District, does this mean that you do not believe there is a need for any houses to be built on the eastern fringes of Ipswich or around any of the market towns, as per the February 2008 consultation documentation?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : No. Housing will be needed primarily to address falling dwelling occupancy throughout the district (future Unitary Authorities may have more brownfield sites available and this would impact upon Suffolk Coastal's current greenfield provision.)

John Goodwin Reply : I do not believe that we need vast amounts of new homes anywhere in our area.

STAG Question 14 : The LDF Task Group has determined that 1620 houses are needed up to the year 2024. How many extra years are satisfied by your "eco" community?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : Awaiting advice from Planning officers (would envisage that Area 6 would retain its own green space provision around itself.

John Goodwin Reply : This is a question for SCDC members.

STAG Question 15 : Where will the jobs come from, over and above Dock expansion, to provide employment for the approximately 8000 adults living in this "eco" community?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : I think your figures are for the whole of the District, not as per the meeting at Walton.

John Goodwin Reply : Personnel view has always been that there will not be enough jobs to go round .

STAG Question 16 : If the housing needs for the District are satisfied by building this "eco" community, what will happen to the Brownfield sites which are currently available and which will become available in future, and which are suitable for house building?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : See 11 above. Take into account sites subject to flooding.

John Goodwin Reply : This again is a question for SCDC members.

STAG Question 17 : Given that we are suffering from worldwide food shortages and severe food inflation, there is a need to grow crops suitable for bio fuels on a large scale, and it is highly likely that in a few years time large areas of farmland in Norfolk will be surrendered to the sea, why do you think that creating a new town is the best use of farmland between Trimley St Martin and Kirton?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : Bio fuel debate has only just started. The 'get out of jail free' promotion of this policy by President George Bush may be as well founded as his invasion of Iraq. The quality of life for the residents of a village community rather than urban sprawl.

John Goodwin Reply : I most certainly do not think that creating a new town on farmland is "best use".

STAG Question 18 : Given that you and Councillor Smith proposed, seconded and voted for this "eco" community as Felixstowe Town Councillors, do you think that a reasonable person in possession of the facts will believe that you will be able to consider this "SuperBlob" independently and objectively in your roles as SCDC members of the LDF Task Group?

Mike Ninnmey Reply : We responded as Felixstowe ward members to the Agenda submitted by the District Council. As stated previously, our responsibility is to make decisions on the evidence presented at the time. There has been no information as far as I am aware of the benefits to the community if Area 6 was a part of the 21st Century provision of communities and housing in our area. All I can say is that in a Survey run by the Felixstowe branch of the Liberal Democrats, Area 6 was given the top ranking.

John Goodwin Reply : This question is best directed to the Standards Board.

Mike Ninnmey Summary : As mentioned before, I am an elected councillor for the west ward of Felixstowe and my aim is to do the best I can for the residents of my ward. Although I have great sympathy withTrimley St Martin and Trimley St Mary, my primary concerns are for the people of west ward.

John Goodwin Summary : May I please reiterate that I am against large scale development in our area, I accept that we will need to have some new build housing and have stated that the sort of expansion suggested by the two Parish Councils should be considered. However I am also aware that the government of the day have instructed that a certain number of homes must be built within our area, failure to comply with this statutory instruction could well result in a government appointed inspector dictating where housing growth should take place. Finally may I remind you and your organisation that I am an elected member of Suffolk County Council and as such do not possess any planning influence, I am also a member of Felixstowe Town Council who are basically a Parish Council and as such act only as consultees. My own view and it is only my own view, is that once SCDC make their proposals known, then will be the time to act, at present everything is speculation, the other point worth considering is that we seem to be in the middle of an economic slump so I would assume the all those who have been pushing for this growth may well have lost some of their enthusiasm.