Wealden District Council has reiterated its commitment to protect and enhance the environment and support for groups protecting nature.
The pledge comes as conservation groups have expressed concerns over the Government’s planned changes to EU protection for nature, a relaxation of planning laws in new Investment Zones and a review of environmental far subsidies.
Leader of Wealden District Council, Councillor Ann Newton is planning to meet with one of those groups, the Sussex Wildlife Trust and supports the Conservators of the Ashdown Forest in their lobbying of Government over environmental policies.
The Council Leader also said that although as a consultee only, Wealden District Council would not, under the current administration, support fracking. East Sussex County Council is the local Minerals Planning Authority, and as such has responsibility for determining planning applications for oil and gas extraction in the county.
Councillor Newton, who is also the Portfolio Holder for Planning, said the Council’s actions to date within the district are excellent with regard to the climate change agenda and there is much more to come going forwards.
We have a sound climate action plan in place and through prudent management of the Council’s finances, the resources necessary to deliver change at the scale required, as a Council and to help enable our communities to follow our lead.
Cllr Newton
We also work very hard on the protection and enhancement of our environment even with some of the difficult decisions which have to be made. As we have made clear, our new Local Plan will have the strongest possible protections for our environment and heritage assets, with polices to deliver biodiversity net gain, protect our most valued landscapes and ecologically sensitive sites to name a few.
We have taken a clear and principled stance on issues related to foul drainage and the discharges into our rivers and coastline. Through positive, but challenging dialogue we are leading the conversation with Southern Water, bringing in new planning powers and developing new processes to encourage Southern Water to deliver on their promises.
We have a strong track record of support for our local businesses and help and house those in need. We understand the pressure of Government housing targets on our community and have publicly made clear our lobbying efforts to Government to reduce this pressure and deliver a sustainable level of housing growth for our community, together with the necessary infrastructure investment. We are already lobbying the new ministerial team at DLUHC on this issue.
With regard to the Retained EU Law Bill, I am hoping to meet with the Sussex Wildlife Trust soon and am also supporting the Conservators of the Ashdown Forest in their lobbying of Government on that as well as Investment Zones, ELMS and fracking and have already made contact with Huw Merriman MP.
Government has been clear that fracking will only proceed with local agreement and although WDC would only be a consultee, under this administration, support would not be provided.
The Local Plan sets out how a district or borough will grow and develop. It identifies where and how new jobs, homes and services will be located; its policies guide investment and development, encourage sustainable and inclusive economic growth, protect the environment and promote social inclusion.
Councillor Newton also said the authority was not seeking an Investment Zone – a Government backed site providing lower tax rates for businesses and relaxed planning regulations for new developments – in Wealden.
We are focused on the things we can do locally to conserve the environment and nature, while ensuring that Wealden is a good place for our residents to live and work. So, as a Council we will focus on the needs of Wealden, this is what our residents would expect us to do as a responsible local authority whilst continuing to lobby Government as detailed above.
Cllr Newton
Over the Summer, Wealden District Council said because there is currently too much uncertainty in national planning policy and Government housing targets, they had decided to delay the publication of their draft Local Plan.
What Do You Think?
What do you think of Wealden District Council pledge to protect the environment? You can add your comments below or join the discussion on our Facebook page.
Legislation provides that the word “environment” includes “people and their communities”. Often Councils and other authorities miss this important provision. I am happy that Wealden has taken this distinction into account either specifically or implicitly. Many comments by members of the general public have indicated that they are unaware that the environment does not just mean green fields, trees, streams and historic places.
How can Wealden say they are concerned about our environment when they are approving so many housing estates when the infrastructure can’t cope. The pollution from cars is totally unacceptable. I live at the top of Crowborough Hill and in the 1990’s traffic didn;t exist. This morning, it was gridlocked and nothing moved. Cars were parked on top of the mini roundabout outside the White Hart pub to well past the vets with cars and lorries mounting the pavement to get past. The hospitals are over subscribed and are reliant on cheap foreign labour to keep going. Cars are parked along most roads, double yellow lines, creating blockages with owners showing no consideration for ‘ the right of way ‘. Housing estates allow for 1 1/2 cars per dwelling resulting in cars being parked along and blocking the public right of way. Due to the massive increase in population, the Ashdown Forest is being ruined with eight wheel earth moving lorries rattling through on a regular basis.
If Wealden really cares, they must stop the destruction by over building.