UP TO 2,000 new homes are on the cards for Iron Acton, but not many people know about it, councillors and campaigners have warned.

As part of the final draft of the Joint Spatial Plan, it has been announced that up to 2,000 new homes could be built in the parish by 2036.

The Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) is a document produced by the four councils within the West of England Joint Committee – South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, and North Somerset – which sets out where housing development will be located over the next 20 years.

Although the proposals are currently open to public consultation, parish councillors and residents have slammed the consultation materials as ‘misleading’ and ‘virtually indecipherable’.

The problems start with the name ‘Iron Acton’, which doesn’t appear in the material at all.

Parish councillor Brian Hackland said: “Throughout the document it refers to Yate as the location, without a single mention of Iron Acton.

“The bombshell is that actually this means a large part of Iron Acton parish, covering North Road round westwards and southwards to Nibley and swallowing up large tracts of Dyers Lane, Yate Road up to the village side of the Esso garage and halfway along Nibley Lane as far as the river Frome.

“An uncharitable reading might conclude that it was a deliberate attempt to misdirect consultees.” The parish council has now issued a response to the document, stating that they believe it is ‘legally non-compliant’.

A spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council said: “The proposed areas for development have typically been identified in the headings strategically, as in to describe which existing settlements would grow.

"By describing areas with reference to the larger towns that serve a wider area, residents who live nearby can see at a glance that their area is identified as one where potential growth could happen.”

Resident Michael Keenan found the map accompanying the consultation material ‘virtually indecipherable’.

He said: “Apparently it’s a ‘concept’ map. In the end we had to create our own map, to make things clear.”

An SGC spokesman said: “The maps provided as part of the JSP process throughout have been strategic, not designed to the street level, as no plans to that level of detail have been developed. The process is to identify areas that will sustain growth. 

"Only once the principles that an area will sustain growth, when supported by added infrastructure, etc, are endorsed through the final JSP, would specific site plans be produced.

"Those will be subject to planning scrutiny in the normal way, with the public able to see the exactly what is planned and to comment as they wish. F

"Furthermore, in early 2018, the council will begin consultation on our updated Local Plan. This will allow communities to engage with us in much more detail about exactly how we will guide growth and development in the area to meet local needs and to respond to local concerns.”

For more information see: 

http://www.saveenginecommon.co.uk/

www.ironactonparishcouncil.com/

How to comment on the Joint Spatial Plan:

The Draft SA will be published for consultation alongside the Publication Version until January 10, 2018.

Comments should be sent to:

West of England Joint Planning Consultation

c/o South Gloucestershire Council

PO Box 299

Corporate Research and Consultation Team

Civic Centre, High Street, Kingswood

Bristol

BS15 0DR

Email: comment@jointplanningwofe.org.uk

www.jointplanningwofe.org.uk/consult.ti/JSPPublication/consultationHome