FOR THE people OF ELMSWELL:
save YOUR PIGHTLE
ONE OF THE Last Public Open SpaceS in Elmswell
How Should we Use It?
How Should we Use It?
Our campaign so far….
At the end of October 2022, Mid Suffolk District Council announced plans to build 50 houses on the land between Pightle Close and School Road, one of the last Open Spaces in Elmswell and a popular recreation field for walkers and families for more than 20 years.
The plans were unexpected by both the residents and Elmswell Parish Council who were in discussions with MSDC about the possibility of building a new primary school for the village on the land.
With under a week’s notice given before the public consultation at the Westley Hall on the 17th November 2022, local residents supported by the Green party and the wider community took action quickly:
A petition asking for a halt to the land and consideration of a new school was signed by over 600 residents in under 3 days;
An article and photo featured in the Bury Free Press;
Two questions were asked by an Elmswell resident at the MSDC meeting on the 24th November 2022.
As a result of the action and support from the Green party, this is where we stand:
The opposition at MDSC challenged the speed of the decision by MDSC cabinet, resulting in the project being ‘called in’ to be discussed again after the May election;
Local DDSC councillors have questioned the need for more housing in Elmswell given that housing land supply in the village is enough to meet expected need for more than 10 years, without the need for any more development.
From the planning paper available to the public by MSDC, we know there are 3 options for the land:
Keep it as Public Open Space
This land has been used for decades, by many generations of families both old and new to Elmswell. After all, what's more sustainable than open green space? With the shift in working behaviour and an already increasing population, valuable land like this is needed to serve the people of the village for health and mental wellbeing benefits.Build a new primary school instead of transporting extra pupils across the A14 to Woolpit
A village the size of Elmswell should expect to have a suitable school to service the needs of the residents. There is health and wellbeing benefits of having a school within walking and cycling distance. In addition the environmental benefits of not requiring pupils to travel to school by car or bus are insurmountable.Allow 50 new homes to be built
Whilst the sustainability credentials are being pushed on this particular housing development, the question has to be asked as to why with all the other existing and further proposed developments in the village, strict sustainability criteria isn't applied at the planning application and approval stage?
As a group of local residents, we appreciate that there will be a number of different views about the land and its purpose, we also acknowledge that the eco-friendly houses are important for the environment and that some of them will provide necessary social housing.
However, is one of the last Public Open Spaces in Elmswell - a space that continues to be enjoyed by numerous walkers, families and dog-walkers - the best place to put these houses? We believe not and will challenge the decision as far as we can.
We cannot rest on our laurels and presume that this plan to take away the Last Open Space in Elmswell and build more unwanted houses will go away.
If you’d like to halt the plans, please keep in touch with us at: pightleclose@gmail.com
Also, please visit the ‘HOW YOU CAN HELP’ page and tell us how you have used any part of the field over the past 20 to 30 years.
Thank you.