LEGAL CHALLENGE TO HMS GANGES DEVELOPMENT - LATEST

Woolverstone's long campaign to protectthe Shotley peninsulafrom more traffic, urbanisation and overdevelopment, has entered a decisive stage. Our move to judicially review Babergh's decision to approve 285 new houses, a hotel, care home, business units etc. on the site of the former HMS Ganges at Shotley has been given the go ahead by the High Court. A judge has now said we have an arguable case to take forward.

We have always supported redevelopment of the Ganges site but only on an appropriate scale. The current proposal - in addition to the Marina development of 150 houses - will overwhelm the B1456 - the only route in an out of the peninsula - causing unacceptable environmental damage to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and our designated conservation village. In 2006 all the peninsula parishes united to oppose the original plan to build 500 houses, then reduced to 325. Together we fought and won a Public Inquiry when the Secretary of State rejected the scheme pointing out

" the inaccessible, unsustainable nature of the proposal site and the harm to the environment arising from the increase in traffic that would be generated...... the site is not within an urban area, nor is it an urban extension nor is it located around any node in a good public corridor."

Babergh itself classified the location as "non-sustainable." It's on the tip of a peninsula at the end of a 10 mile narrow twisting road liable to flooding.(See YouTube video B1456 Road on Overload)

This current plan is on a similar scale. It does not address the criteria for sustainability nor take into account the effect on neighbouring villages. The developer's own figures indicate a traffic increase of 30-38% - a huge number of additional vehicles on the road making upwards of 3000 extra trips a day. The developer's guaranteed contribution of £1M to mitigate impacts on the community is wholly inadequate. A possible additional £5M is entirely dependent on the scheme making a profit over 20% which in the current economic climate is far from certain.

Change is inevitable but we want change for the good. Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. What we are facing - the increased volume of traffic, danger, noise, vibration, emissions and community severance - would degrade and destroy our environment irrevocably for all time, for our children and grandchildren.

If you care about the beauty and tranquillity of the Shotley Peninsula you can help by supporting our fundraising activities or by signing the separate pledge form. For more information please contact:

Simon Pearce, Chairman of Woolverstone Parish Council. 01473

Pledge and Donation Form

Woolverstone Parish Council
Judicial Review Challenge of HMS Ganges Planning Decision

Pledge/Donor Information (please print or type)

Name
Address
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Pledge

I (we) pledge a total of £______to be paid to Woolverstone Parish Council if and when called upon to help fund the legal costs incurred in relation to its judicial review proceedings that challenge the lawfulness of the planning consent granted by Babergh District Council for the former HMS Ganges site.

And/or

Donation

I (we) donate a total of £______to Woolverstone Parish Council to be used to help fund the legal costs incurred in relation to its judicial review proceedings that challenge the lawfulness of the planning consent granted by Babergh District Council for the former HMS Ganges site.

Please find enclosed my (our) cheque for the above donation made payable to Woolverstone Parish Council. I require this sum to be repaid to me in the event my donation is not required for the above purpose.

Acknowledgement Information

Please use the following name(s) in all acknowledgements:

(1)

(2)

☐ I (we) wish to have our pledge/donation remain anonymous.

Signature(s) / Date

Please return completed form to: Simon Pearce, Chairman, Woolverstone Parish Council, Quantrills Solicitors, The Peninsula Business Centre, Wherstead Street, Wherstead, Ipswich, Suffolk. IP9 2BB

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