Langton Life
 

A monthly article containing commentary,  observations and opinions contributed by Norman Priddle.

The contents are in his own inimitable style and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Society nor the compiler of this Web site.

April 2007

Local Democracy is a meaningless phrase. It suggests that local people have some influence on what happens on their own patch but in reality the effect is minimal.

A graphic illustration is the recent planning application made by the Raglan Housing Association to build some affordable homes at Steppes. The District Council's Housing Enabler invited Raglan to put in an application without the agreement or indeed the knowledge of the Parish Council so either expressly, or at least tacitly, it was sponsored by the District Council. The Parish Council passed a resolution that

“it is strongly and unanimously opposed to this application on the grounds of over-development, totally unsuitable access and in support of the overwhelming local objection to further development on this site”.

The Village Hall was crowded with objectors when the Parish Council considered its response. The District's Planning Board deferred a decision pending a site visit. It is understandable that people wonder how the District Council can be impartial on a planning issue when adjudication is made on its own prodigy of doubtful parentage.

At the site meeting The Chairman of the Planning Board insisted that the Board would consider the matter purely on planning grounds. Forgive me if I find that a bit precious. It's a bit like the hilariously bumbling Tommy Cooper performing his skit where he frequently wears different hats but forgets which one goes with which character. The members of the Planning Board, (also District Councillors), came down in favour of what was, in effect, their own application but made wearing a different hat.

The Parish Council wants some more affordable housing in Langton but not at Steppes. There are 38 dwellings in this small cul-de-sac and another 8 will add to the social problems created by cramming in too many houses in such a confined area. Other sites have been offered as well as expressions of interest from the two great estates of The National Trust and Encombe Estate but they have been ignored. The great attraction to the District Council is that the Steppes site is undoubtedly the cheapest one to develop.

Is that a good enough reason? I find it a sad reflection on our standards that we are building “council houses”, (there, I've uttered the non PC words), that are nowhere as good as those we built immediately after the war, 60 years ago. One of the protesters at the site meeting said, tellingly, that no one there would choose to live in a Raglan house at Steppes in preference to a house in Three Acre Lane, Capston Field, Abbascombe or The Halves in Corfe.

I have some sympathy with the District Councillors because they have to meet one of those wretched government targets. They have the satisfaction of providing a few units towards their housing target but at what price?

So, to return to my opening remark. Local democracy? Horsefeathers!