ABERGELE LDP ACTION GROUP - STATUS UPDATE

As a result of all the effort and support from Abergele Residents we submitted a group objection at the beginning of July with nearly 1700 signatures, Abergele Town Council submitted one with over 600 signatures and our AM (Darren Millar) and MP (David Jones)also submitted objections on on our behalf.

A big thankyou to everyone who contributed to the fighting fund. We collected enough money to cover the Planning Consultant bill and all of our printing costs for the leaflet, posters and placards.

We now need to wait and see if all of this effort has had any effect - we don't expect to hear anything for a couple of months at least. As soon as we hear anything we will post it on the blog.

Abergele LDP Action Group

Public Meeting - Kimnel Manor 5th June 09

Over 400 people attended the Public Meeting held at the Kinmel Manor on Friday evening, which was the culmination of recent efforts. Stan Yates, Conwy’s Chief Planning Officer and other attending dignitaries were left in no doubt to the overwhelming opposition to the LDP proposals.

Even though the long awaited Housing Needs Assessment and Flood Risk assessment for Towyn/Kinmel Bay are not yet available, the Council have included the proposed housing developments on green field sites for Abergele simply on the basis of candidate sites put forward by developers, rather than on the needs of the community, or indeed having due regard and proper consideration for other proposed developments in Conwy and neighbouring counties.

The Council have acknowledged that there is no public funding for the bypass, and have confirmed that developers building houses along its length will pay for it. The reality is that the bypass is either wanted or needed, and it is simply a feeble excuse for developers to make millions of pounds at the expense of Abergele losing what little green open space it has left.

The gypsy/traveller site search area has been included in the plan at the last minute further to pressure from the Welsh Assembly Government. Of all the potential locations for such a site in the County, the decision to choose east of Abergele is the most bizarre and ill thought out.

We are aware of other towns and villages within Conwy that have also been excluded from the LDP process through lack of effective consultation. In addition to this, the technically difficult objection forms make it impossible for the layperson to complete properly and therefore have their say. This clear abuse of government power and failure to follow the democratic process prompted AM Darren Millar to announce at the meeting that he would be seeking a Judicial Review of Conwy County Council’s handling of the LDP process.

Our next step is to coordinate completion of the objection forms, which are currently being prepared by our planning consultant. At present, these forms are the only accepted way of objecting to the proposals and they must be submitted by 3rd July 2009. This is going to be a mammoth task, and with help we will be organising drop in centres to help residents fill in the forms.

The Abergele LDP Action Group was formed only four weeks ago when a few neighbours got together to make a stand against these proposals. We have been inundated with expressions and gestures of support, and the attendance at the events we have organised is a clear mandate from the residents of Abergele to carry on the campaign. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us and hope you will all continue to do so in our efforts to amend the LDP proposals for Abergele.

Honk your Horn!!!

The second Conwy Council public meeting held at Abergele Library was very well attended by concerned residents. There was a constant queue of people waiting to ask the planners searching questions and make sure they were aware we don't want any of the proposed plans within the LDP. The Abergele LDP Action Group also turned up in numbers to ensure the Council Planners were fully aware of the level of feeling in the town. Placards were at hand to ensure everyone knew what we were demonstrating about - and the honk your horn if you disagree with the LDP message was a great success with the Planners having a constant audible reminder. Funnily enough Conwy Council drafted in 3 police officers from Conwy to oversee the public meeting - not sure why they felt this was necessary. We set up a table on the pavement outside the library to gather signatures from residents and answering any questions anyone had on the proposed plans.

Protest Walk - A Great Success

The protest walk arranged for Sunday 31st May was a great success - a big thankyou to all those who attended.

The protest walk was attended by over 400 people including representatives from Abergele Town Council and Darren Millar AM.

We have gathered a total of 500 valid signatures on our petition - the results of which are shown below. A show of hands at the protest walk also gave us the assurance that the majority of Abergele are fully behind us in rejecting the development proposals for Abergele detailed within the LDP.

We have included a link to a Slideshow of the Protest Walk on YouTube at the bottom of the blog - go on have a look

Next Stop
Protest outside Abergele Library during Council LDP Roadshow on Thursday 4th June between 4pm and 6.45pm.

Public Meeting at Kinmel Manor on Friday 5th June at 6.30pm

Positive Meeting with Darren Millar

The Abergele LDP Action Group recently met with Darren Millar to discuss the Conwy LDP and how it affects Abergele. The outcome of this positive meeting can be seen in the press release below:-

FUTURE OF ABERGELE – RESIDENTS MUST HAVE THEIR SAY

Clwyd West AM Darren Millar is encouraging residents in Abergele to send him their views on local authority plans for the town.

Darren Millar met with representatives of the Abergele LDP Action Group this week to discuss the proposals which include, a Gypsy Traveller Transit Site, relief road and more housing for the town - including an area on popular local playing fields. The meeting was the second held with the campaigners so far.

Darren Millar said, 'I want to congratulate the Action Group for their hard work trying to secure changes to the Conwy Local Development Plan.

'It is clear from the many hundreds of representations made to both my office and the Action Group so far that the current proposals for the town are totally unacceptable to local residents - it is vitally important that these views are not ignored.

'I want to encourage all residents to have their say by sending me their views.'

Alasdair Rettie, Chairman of the Abergele LDP Action Group, said, 'We are delighted to have the support of Darren Millar in our campaign. Together with the residents of Abergele we can make a difference, I urge everyone to make their opinions heard to help overturn these LDP proposals which will destroy the identity of Abergele forever.’

Darren Millar and the Abergele LDP Action Group have agreed to work together for:

• alternative solutions to relieve the congestion problems in Abergele.
• the protection of local playing fields and other green open spaces from unnecessary development.
• the scrapping of plans to develop housing along the scenic route between Abergele and Llanfair Talhaiarn.
• the scrapping of proposals for a Gypsy/Traveller Transit Site in Abergele.

As well as sending in their views residents are encouraged to attend the following:

• A protest walk organised by the Action Group on Sunday, 31st May leaving from the playing fields opposite Threeways Garage at 2pm.
• An open day to discuss the development plan with representatives from Conwy County Borough Council between 4pm and 6.45pm on the 4th June at Abergele Library.
• A public meeting organised by Abergele Town Council at 6.30pm on Friday 5th June at the Kinmel Manor Hotel.

Abergele LDP Action Group will be meeting David Jones MP later today.

RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE !!!!

The proposed 'relief' road will carve right through the middle of this view - bringing with it a Gypsy and Traveller site and housing - effectively increasing Abergele by at least 25%.

Don't let this happen. Have your say, support us on the Protest Walk at 2pm on 31st May from Threeways Roundabout following the any footpaths that will disappear as a result of these plans.

Bypass - NO THANKYOU