Dont worry..........
.You won't be roped into helping.
.Very short informal meeting.
.Everyone welcome - children , dogs, etc
.Refreshments
Wednesday 21st July from 7pm
Herston Hall.
SaveHerstonFields.co.uk
Posted by David Furmage to swanageview at 5:16 PM
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59 comments:
Says the website is down for maintenance???
The web site will be up tomorrow. Its still being built. Apologies...
Yes, save them for housing. There are lots of single Mums in Swanage and poor families due to the town's inability to provide well paid employment. They need somewhere to live at a reasonable price and the fields are just the place. They will be accessible to the town and road to Wareham as well as to Herston Halt should a commuter service ever be developed.
Housing is needed, not fields. How many miles of fields do you pass as drive the road from Stoborough to Swanage? Anyway, these fields are opposite council built housing - it isn't exactly a pristine area. People need affordable housing!
Nobody disputes the need for affordable housing in Swanage.
Perhaps someone could explain why these houses need to be built on a green field site?
We certainly need more affordable homes as the average income in Purebeck is too low to buy a house. Given that that Purbeck District Council is sponsoring the proposed housing developments I would argue that 100% of these housed should be 'affordable' and that opportunities for investment into second homes (the other half of the proposed development) be abandoned.
Thinking of opportunities: PDC should provide better access to the countryside and better sports facilities as a matter of course and not as a sop to objectors for building housing estates. The word 'opportunity' in local government speak means 'promice that need not be kept' Remember that school closures are planned, the ambulance station is closed and a fight is on to save the James Day home from closure. I would not trust a local authority to move the hospital and the health centre is where it is needed, in town and mainly in walking distance for residents.
A scaled down development for local families would be popular I am sure and there would still be plenty of room for recreation.
Dear spc
please get your facts right.
PDC are not sponsoring the developments. PDC asked for proposals. Herston Fields - the subject of this thread has been put forward by the Scott estate.
Because of PDC they have to build 50% of them Affordably. The GP's have said that Hesrston is their preferred option for the Health Centre - so why not put in a new Hospital at the same time.
If the Ambualnce station is closed then could you nip 'round there and tell the, presumably, Fancy Dress wearing people there, who also have a remarkably good facsimile of an Ambo, that they are trespassing and would they kindly move on.
I think you'll find that the fight to save James Day, was lost before it began and was nothing to do with STC, PDC or DCC.
As for access to the Countryside, please do me a favour, we are surrounded by it, access is excellent.
I worry that the GPs are able to influence the plans so much. Have residents been asked if they want a new health centre (or hospital)? The GPs own the land by the station and will make a tidy profit if they get a new build paid for them out of town. Hardly an incentive to stay put and improve the service in town. If they want to serve more people they could open longer and at weekends. Some people have to be in there on a regular basis and like to do a bit of shopping at the same time. Other services such as baby clinic can move to the new children's centre.
spc, the average income in Purbeck is actually higher than in either Bournemouth or Poole.
A couple of years ago - the last time I could be bothered to check - the ONS had B'mouth mean average salary £35K, Poole £25K, Swanage £20K.
Amazing what a couple of Banks and Insurance companies will do for you!
Still under construction.
About as efficient as STC, PDC, DCC!
The website is now live!
Sorry for the delay, but it was announced slightly prematurely...
No-one is disputing the need for affordable housing in Swanage, or the shortage of jobs, but this is the only green space for the people of Herston, it is a flood plain so not suitable for buildings, and it is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Do come to the meeting on 21st July and put your views. Some of our local councillors will be there.
Perhaps someone could explain why these houses need to be built on a green field site?
Why not? Anyway, where in Swanage are suitable brown field sites? If they exist, fine, us them first, but let's be reasonable about this. People need homes.
Will Gary Suttle be there? His presence would be very useful.
Not too bad a site until you get to this bit.
How affordable is it really going to be?
Ask PDC.
Why is this development largely NOT affordable housing?
I understand that it is 50% affordable.
Surely many of these homes will just become more holiday homes?
Open market, that's entirely possible.
Why does the community have to give up its landscape for housing, when many sites exist within the town boundary.
Care to name them?
Several hundred homes have been given the go ahead within the town boundary recently - so do we need more?
Open market – most local people can't afford them
Property is slow to sell in this area. There is an excess of property on the market already.
Credit crunch anyone? Open Market, of course locals can't buy them.
More homes means more traffic, town centre parking pressure, pressure on facilities, and services.
200+ new homes - where are the 200+ new jobs?
Traffic: Surely these people will have to work outside of Swanage? So this will mean a further 200+ cars through Studland to the ferry, or through Harmans Cross and Corfe Castle to Wareham and Poole.
I'm sorry but these last 3 comments are LAME. There are over 1000 people on the waiting list, approx 400 in Swanage. They've got jobs and cars. Or as you've already pointed out many may become holiday homes – extra cars? Occasionally, mebbie.
(Some of the 'click here links' do not work.)
I didn't realise that the position is east, not west, of the Middle School and abuts existing developed areas. Looks like a perfect place to develop to me, IF we need more housing. I appreciate the loss to the very local community, but there we are. Good luck with your campaign, but I think you may not receive a lot of support unless you can suggest an alternate site that is feasible for this development - if (as you suggest might not be the case) it is required,
"There are over 1000 people on the waiting list, approx 400 in Swanage..."
Is there a need for housing in Swanage?
Yes, there is, but how many will be able to buy one of these properties?
Why are 1000 registered for housing but only 400 live here? Certainly those living and working here deserve priority?
Are the 1000 who are looking to be housed people in Purbeck as a whole? The population of Swanage (at the last census) was 10000 or thereabouts (presumably full time residents, although another figure of about 7500 is suggested). 1000 seems like a lot for just Swanage. I'm curious to know how the figures stack up.
Is that 1000 separate requests for housing, or 333 separate requests (some of those family units, i.e 300 couples + 1 child = 900 people) which add up to 1000 people. I'm generalsising with the figures, but I'm sure you understand what I mean...
The consultation form explains that by affordable it means housing owned by a trust and rented by the tenant. There are 1000 on the waiting list across Purbeck, including Upton. The plans so far are for 200 homes, 100 in Herston and 100 on the grammar school site. So only 100 homes would be available for the 400 on the local waiting list.
(Because only 50% will be affordable)
Is it true that priority is given to needy families on a district-wide basis? So people may be moved in if they are above locals on the list?
So where do these 400 people live at present?
Why not build bungalows (=view retained) at Herston and encourage the old folks with larger houses than they need to swap?
Bungalows require more space for fewer residents. Larger homes need to be converted into smaller homes or flats. Planning permission would be needed. So would a heap of money.
Purbeck District Council offered this response to the web site, less than 18 hours after the website was announced. You can draw your own conclusions...
http://saveherstonfields.co.uk/page15.htm
Very reasonable, well balanced.
Swanage Town Council are looking at the Herston Site on Monday but, according to information I have received: "The agenda isn’t on the [Swanage Town Council] website as the clerk is a bit overrun. He doesn’t think anyone is coming along to say their piece."
So if you're interested turn up! 9.30am Town Hall
As it's nothing to do with them ....
Love that " Housing is needed not fields " What a blinkered attitude there well done ****!
Ok how about building on King Georges , SandPit Field , The Downs I mean these places dont get used that much if you think about it and like you say we dont need fields. Saying that what about Durlston Park theres lots of land that could be surely giving up to build houses. I mean are we really going to miss a few birds or other wildlife.
The problem here is that there are houses in Swanage already built they just lie empty 10 months of the year. Some even for years. Some derilect sites around town too , they too could be used.
And in my view affordable housing is £70000 below.......simple.
'How to Win Friends and Influence People' by David Furmage:
Quote : "Love that " Housing is needed not fields " What a blinkered attitude there well done ****!"
You just lost me!
Just read the letter. It assumes a health centre has to be out of town. A far better site for the hospital/health centre/ambulance station is on the site of the bus depot and fire station, which could both move (to the empty business park?).
The bus depot is an ugly waste of space right in the centre and you could share car parking with the Coop, and perhaps give them more warehouse space to solve the stock shortages. The GP site could be redeveloped as some attractive all-weather tourist attraction to greet visitors off the trains and buses.
As a resident of Herston and having looked at the Savills document (download on the Save Herston Fields website) I have to say that on balance I SUPPORT the proposal. Swanage and Herston desperately needs more family housing to rent. There hasn’t been a decent sized development since the Marsh Way one 15 years ago.
No one in their right mind would actually enjoy seeing a green field being torn up to build more housing but opponents need to come up with some viable alternatives.
I fear that if we constantly oppose schemes like this then Swanage will decline with younger people having to be bussed in from Poole and Bournemouth to look after an increasing aging population. This is something I do not want to see.
"Anonymous said... Still under construction. About as efficient as STC, PDC, DCC!"
Yeah the council have had years to get things wrong. We have had only days to build the website. Turned around in two days with a 3am finish. What can the council do in two days?
This is not a housing debate. The Save Herston Fields Group (I have spoken to) are absolutely NOT against affordable housing, we recognise the need, its obvious and very much required. We object to the loss of the landscape and nature when alternatives exist within the existing town boundary (grammer school, caravan park, and many smaller sites around town)
'...(grammer school, caravan park, and many smaller sites around town...'
Grammar (sic).
What planet do you live on? The grammar school site is in private hands. Swanage Town Council flogged off the caravan site for 7 million (and, by the way, the undermined land will not support housing- that is why it is a caravan site).
Both sites have been flogged off and are in private hands, They are NOT available options.
For goodness sake, do a bit of homework if you want to save your precious bit of green. As far as I am concerned, the plans look worth considering.
Any new build has to happen to green field sites in Swsnage. There aren't any brown field ones going.
Er, I think you'll find that PDC are also consulting on bulding houses on the Grammar School land (site D in the consultation document). The debate here would seem to be whether this is sufficient for the town's future needs or whether we should strive for more, i.e. site B - Herston Fields.
Er,talking of being in private hands... so are the fields in Herston. Any land that can be developed in Swanage is worth millions, thats exactly why the Scott Estates are doing a hard sell by getting Savills to flog it for them. Savills are a pretty major, as I'm sure you know. Rest assured that this deal is being done by their Wimborne Office, rather than the Monaco, Dubai, or London one...
they like a bit of local business
The Caravan park that was mentioned being Site C, which is also in private hands, yes, but the owner won't flog it for low cost housing because its not worth his while.
"Any new build has to happen to green field sites in Swsnage"
Swanage [sic]
touché ;)
I found some brownfield land! Cheap!! Giveaway prices!! Fantastic views!! Available soon!!
-the soon to be closed Swanage Household Recycling Centre, and the adjacent capped dump site (south of the former SBV).
Why not? Nobody will object!! Cheap land fit for no other purpose!! Only seagulls to caw 'Nimby'!!
Let the developer work out the environmental issues, though. It won't be cheap.
Of course these sites are privately owned. PDC's objective was to identify sites for development and the first thing to do was ask landowners what they wanted to develop and consult on this. It was not the aim to draw up a list of possible sites out of thin air. This is supposed to be part of identifying a 20 year supply of housing land and if you go to the trouble of reading the paperwork you will find that several developments that are under way like Newton Knapp, or indeed which have been completed, are included.
I drove into town past Herston Fields today. You cannot even see the field close to the road until you have almost passed the middle school because of hedges, trees and the lie of the land. Perhaps you can see more from the upper deck of the bus.
"I drove into town past Herston Fields today. You cannot even see the field close to the road until you have almost passed the middle school because of hedges, trees and the lie of the land."
Well if the middle school cut the trees back you probably wouldn't see it either. You'll certainly see it when its got a hospital complex and 100 houses on it.
Swanage Town Council have the Purbeck Core Strategy on their agenda tomorrow morning, Monday 19th July, 0930. You may want to attend if you can. Public speaking for the first 15 minutes...
I worry that we cannot see the wood for the trees !!
We need affordable housing - not just in Swanage but in the villages too, so spread it around lightly.
Unfortunately we are being told that we need the unaffordable housing (that we don't need) to prop up the affordable. Is this because the building developers and land owners profit magins are too great!
What will happen in reality? Will all the 'open market' housing be built at North Swanage and all the social (affordable) housing be situated at Herston ?? with the landowners/developers/PDC coming to an agreement.
According to a paper that was being distrubuted at the Core Strat. drop in, there are plenty of available empty properties to house hundreds of people, perhaps this should be investigated before 'new land' is built on.
Also, there needs to be a policy in place to avoid a high percentage of unaffordable builds becoming second homes (investments).
What sense is there to rebuild/resite the health facilities out of town? The outcome being that some sort of shuttle bus system will become necessary to overcome the problem of out of town amenities. A bit of a backward step ??!
Is the Herston Meeting to look at (question) the Core Strategy in general or to look at a campaign 'not to build' at Herston. At this meeting who will be able to come up with the answers ?
I have just come from the meeting of the Swanage Town Council, where they were discussing Planning, and in particular the Core Strategy Consulatation which this is all about.
It was an interesting event, as I have never attended a Town Council meeting before. The first 15 minutes was open for the public to have their say, and I and other members of the Save Herston Fields made our opposition to the proposed devlopment heard, as did a member from the Purbeck Society.
The town councillors all acknowledge the real need, above anything else, for affordable and social rented housing, and consider it far more important than any additional "open market" housing for Swanage. They recognised the views of the local voices, and acknowledged that it is both STC's and PDC's duty to listen to what the local population think.
All the councillors are aware of this Wednesdays meeting, and I hope that many will attend, Mike Stollery from the Purbeck Society will be there, and we are also sending an invitation to Richard Drax who is our MP.
The most important thing that came out of this mornings STC meeting was that the councillors agreed to defer further deliberations regarding the consultation until August 2nd, because they want to see what the outcome of OUR meeting on Wednesday is going to be. It is therefore that as many people attend this meeting as possible.
There was strong opposition to the Herston Site being developed by the STC, they also oppose the decentralising of the medical facilites. They are in favour of building small pockets of affordable, and social housing, in different locations around the town, and not concentrated on one site.
Contrary too what I understood Site A may, in part, still be available to build some houses, also a small part of site C (though not the whole site). One councillor even suggested that the whole consultation be thrown out.
Since the change of government, it has been suggested that the consultation is no longer valid, and that PDC should be telling us (the public) what the situation actually is regarding this consultation.
The meeting was generally favourable, and against the consultation from the STC stand point. Wait for the minutes! I don't know when they will be published though.
A couple of clarifications from PDC were that there are currently 350 families looking for affordable/social housing in SWANAGE, and 1500 in Purbeck. I can't say if the 350 are part of the 1500...
Not wanting to influence anyone , but if you see 4th post down , was quoting what was said in that post. Sorry if you got lost there ANONYMOUS;)
Nice work this morning Stephen. Nice to see that STC actully seem to not like the idea of all these houses in one area. Looking forward to wednesday's meeting.
Just wondering how many of these ANONYMOUS folk on here might turn up too?
"Is the Herston Meeting to look at (question) the Core Strategy in general or to look at a campaign 'not to build' at Herston. At this meeting who will be able to come up with the answers ?"
The Herston meeting is there principally for the good of our campaign, yes. But we are open to discussion about the wider Core Strategy as it is of relevance to our campaign. Given that STC will be there you should be able to ask questions of them....
Does anyone really think there is a workable alternative to Herston Fields though? I know there are empty properties, holiday homes etc but can they really be turned into affordable homes relatively quickly without new powers for compolsory purchase etc.
It will also prove more economic for a developer to build all homes in one site and cheaper in terms of land purchase. Its all very well to suggest tounge in cheek sites like King Georges Field but this is a serious debate.
Why not just build above all the car parks? North Beach, Coop, King Georges etc. And on top of fire station, Coop, Health centre, Coast Guard,K's
"Does anyone really think there is a workable alternative to Herston Fields though?"
The Town council are in favour of just building affordable/social housing, and spreading it through the town, rather than in a cluster... Sounds sensible to me.
Oh, and that would involve not building additional houses which aren't needed.
If you look at the impression of a possible development at http://www.saveherstonfields.co.uk/page3.htm you will notice that although the field is actually a few metres lower than the road the imaginary houses are well above the level of the road, having been built on castle mounds I guess. Could we have a less inaccurate picture please.
Would whoever did this picture like to do the same to the impressions of the pier head development which makes it look a good deal smaller than the plans show it to be?
Could we have a less inaccurate picture please.
If I get some time, yes. It was not intended to mislead, but convey a thought. Its difficult to place houses as the Savills plans lack detail, getting the foreground houses height accurate is possible, but time consuming. the houses on the ridge have reasonably, but not completely, accurate roof lines...
11.04 Thanks for doing a lot of hard work; ignore the wingers!
Can I be first to say what an excellent evening it was and congrats to Stephen and Co for such and well presented presentation and insight to the whole subject.
Lets hope now we can push towards a village green ;)
This is not a housing debate. The Save Herston Fields Group (I have spoken to) are absolutely NOT against affordable housing, we recognise the need, its obvious and very much required.
(previous poster)
To be more inclusive and involve the rest of the town, it would be better to be against the whole of the Core Strategy itself, not just the bit of land at Herston. Experience says that, its no good saying no, no, no, you will need to come up with a better alternative plan eg. you recognise that affordable housing needs to be achieved...then arrange a meeting with Steve Dring and try to find a way (together) that this can be achieved without building all these hundreds of open market unecessary houses (potential second home investments).
Don't make the same mistake as St Marks school and isolate yourselves as a 'Herston problem', work together and communicate with the rest of the town too. Hundreds more people will join you and come on board and support you, if you take a wider approach. Otherwise your group may not expand to included others.
So when does groundbreaking happen? Can't wait for all the new homes.
Every ones a winner if they build on the fields the P.D.C /DEVELOPERS/every one on the(of course there not)take people who sell houses the
railway(they will jack up the fares)
and last of all people who know some one in P.D.C to get a second home .
Is there any more news of affordable housing on Herston Fields Yet?(100,000))a time as we need a second home and that is the
best we have seen or have they all
been taken by P.D.C personal?
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