Dear Editor,

If you live in or own land in the parish of Bridstow and know nothing about the emerging Bridstow and Wilton Neighbourhood Plan proposals, then I suggest you read on. If you are as shocked at the proposals as I am, then please contact Bridstow Parish Council and the Duchy of Cornwall to make your views known before it is too late.

In early 2016, Bridstow parishioners were surveyed to identify local priorities and to suggest where 50 or so new houses should be built. Our views were needed to underpin a “neighbourhood development plan” on which county planners would base planning application decisions for the next 10 to 15 years.

The Parish Council steering group tasked with developing our plan has now prepared a first draft; it’s not yet ready for wider circulation but I’m sure that the Parish Clerk, Pat Newton ([email protected]) would issue a copy to parishioners on request. I urge you look at it and make your views known to the Council before it’s too late and the plan goes forward as “locally approved.”

Why was I so shocked when I saw an extract of the plan for the first time yesterday? Well, for two reasons. Firstly, most of the parishioners who responded to the 2016 survey expressed a preference for small clusters of new housing rather than large developments. However, the emerging draft plan ignores our views and proposes instead just one major development site. Secondly, the major development proposed is not just in “my back yard” but also relies on access through my front gate!

The development site proposed is the highly visible Duchy of Cornwall land bounded by Bridstow School, Wells Brook, the A49 and the Hoarwithy road. The two housing estates proposed for this site would rely on access via the Hoarwithy road close to its junction with the A49. There are only 3 houses immediately adjacent to this field, including mine, but the site is in an Area of Outstanding Natural beauty (AONB) and is overlooked by many others in Bridstow, Pool Mill, Buckcastle Hill and the Claytons.

If, like me, you don’t want to see major housing development on this land and don’t believe that the emerging draft plan reflects the views you expressed when you were consulted, please e-mail the Council and the Duchy to let them know. The Duchy ([email protected]) has a good track record of responsible land ownership and working for the good of local communities and its neighbours. It will listen to your views. You might also wish to attend the Parish Council steering group meetings to make your views known. The next meeting is on January 5th, 2017 at 7.00pm

Remember, this is meant to be our plan. Yes, I have a very clear (financial) interest in the draft proposals which I have openly disclosed in this letter, but everyone in the parish has an interest (financial or non-financial) as do members of the steering group who developed the plan. Please play your part in ensuring that the Bridstow and Wilton Neighbourhood Plan reflects the majority view and not just the views of those who might simply be seeking to avoid small scale development in their back yards.

Martin Bell

Bridstow