Radlett residents are voting with their feet while here in Colnbrook apathy continues to be the watchword.
The e-petition organised by STRiFE, the well-organised campaign group against the Radlett Aerodrome rail freight interchange, has managed an amazing 4,205 signatures in just ten days.
The petition, on the Herts County Council website, is intended to persuade the council to maintain their current position and refuse to sell or lease the land in their ownership to Helioslough for the massive development. Eric Pickles, in his decision just before Christmas, made this a condition for the Radlett development to go ahead.
Meanwhile, the e-petition on the Government website objecting to SIFE has still only achieved SEVEN signatures in FOUR MONTHS!!!
Government e-petitions that achieve over 100,000 signatures gain an automatic right to be debated in Parliament. A similar e-petition organised by STRiFE in the early days of the Radlett project did … and was.
Vilage apathy and disinterest may be partially to blame, particularly as the threat moves into its third year of a “phoney war”. But the usual internal divisions and “not invented here” syndrome appears to be preventing residents and community groups from getting behind the petition, and the Parish Council in particular from embracing a campaign it claims to have put a the top of its agenda.
The opposition to SIFE was boosted by the Eric Pickle’s decision last month, in particular his change of heart on the importance of the Strategic Gap at Colnbrook. However, a public inquiry following the Goodman appeal is still imminent, and if STRiFE manage to persuade Herts to block the sale of land, the pressure will return to Colnbrook.
Goodman Ltd, the company behind the scheme, claimed “no outright objections to the proposal” from the neighbouring villages. In its Statement of Community Involvement submitted with the application, the company stated:
No outright objections to the proposals have been noted, although the principal concerns relating to traffic and the quantity of lorries on the bypass and through the village were frequently highlighted by both stakeholders and residents.
These concerns it subsequently reworked.
The lack of demonstrable support from Colnbrook and risible number of objections received by SBC will no doubt be significant when Eric Pickles has to consider the SIFE appeal in the next few months.
Related News
The Colne Valley Park released its Annual Report for 2012 this week.
It reported success in
- Restocking the community orchard at Albany Park;
- Running community activities and implementing improvements at Crown Meadow;
- Developing a plan for the Horton Brook and southern Colne Catchment; and
- Securing funding from Marks & Spencer, Grundon and Natural England.
While it also reported that it had provided “a robust response to the SIFE proposal and prepared for the planning enquiry”, noticeable for its absence was any planning against the further SIFE threat in 2013.
Why do YOU think so so few have signed the e-petition? Does Colnbrook now BACK the SIFE development? Let us have your views.
Radlett: 4,205; Colnbrook: 7 - village divisions hand rival campaign a gift,- Excited
- Fascinated
- Amused
- Bored
- Sad
- Angry
No Sir… I do not believe the many long standing residents of Colnbrook BACK the SIFE developement. However, I do feel that many people residing in Colnbrook have no idea of what SIFE actually is?. I’m sure the ‘new’ people who are simply ‘passing through’ would see it as an oportunity to secure jobs for themselves and their families!
Also, gaining 100,000 signatures for a particular subject, only warrants a government ‘debate’. If the governments mind is already made up 100,000,000 signatures wouldn’t alter anything!. That has been made apparent on other strong issues throughout the country.
It’s true, Keith, that SBC originally wrote to only the nearest 20 neighbours and delegated notification to the last Parish Council (who inexplicably did nothing) and stopSIFE.
It’s also true that there has barely been a mention in our local press.
However, an average of 1,500 regular visitors to this site don’t have that excuse, it’s probably THE most covered topic. Even allowing for those keen enough to access the site from both home and work PC, or those who have multiple personas, that’s still a quarter to a third of the adult-aged population in the parish.
We’re now up to 8 signatures. STRiFE are up another 91 since this morning, now at 4,296.
And I have to disagree, Keith: this Government has got itself a reputation for doing many u-turns in response to public opinion! A fragile coalition can’t upset too many people.
While, thankfully, SBC have shown impressive commitment to fighting this, when it comes I fear Pickles will have an easy political decision to make unless Colnbrook shows it doesn’t want this.
Dear All the item
‘The Colne Valley Park released its Annual Report for 2012 this week’ requires correction or explanation as it is not a full review from them. As I report to the Parish Council the Activities of the Colne Valley Park as an Outside Body, I asked them to give me a short summary of their activities solely that have taken place in the Parish as well as some information on what they are hoping for 2013. The notes are thus not a full report from the Colne Valley Park as they operate in a far wider area than just Colnbrook.
Thanks for clarifying the published report is only partial (perhaps the PC website and minutes should be updated with your correction?), but if you are the liaison for the village have you directly asked the Colne Valley what its plans include for SIFE in 2013, and particularly, whether they will be actively participating in the forthcoming public inquiry. As I recall, the parish partially funded the CIC so it seems a fair question. If not, will you?
How many Parish Councillors does Colnbrook have? 11.5
How many Borough Councillors does Colnbrook have? 1.5
(One PC is also a BC hence the half)
I make that 13 in all, so where are their votes?
Disgraceful, and shame on those who have not signed up to a cause they profess to believe in. Do we actually vote for these individuals?, or is it that they cease to listen once they get our votes?
Ladies and gentlemen VOTE NOW and do something practical for our community. Go on do it, – NOW!!
Please.
In response to the main article and no reflecting any view or response from the Parish Council but speaking as an individual.
I have put my name to the petition so that any tree , plant wildlife in our Parish does not have to suffer SIFE either. The remaining ‘GREEN” corridor that we have left between Slough and London is so vital for wildlife and for everyone who lives in the ‘RURAL’ parts of the country. It is such a fight to try and keep even the smallest green patch as a field or park these days that we cannot just sit there and see it all become concrete and Tarmac in front of our eyes.
There may come a time when the next ‘developer’ comes along with an idea for the site and finds that the historical records may show that there is not a strong enough backbone of local campaign to mount a challenge.
So as I signed as a resident , however I am a Parish Councillor so I have no shame on this one.
Yes Sir, I agree on that one…
One only has to look at the demise of some of the wonderful front gardens people once took pride in.
Now look…it’s ALL tarmac and ‘crazy paved’ drives…in which to park several gas gussling montrosities!!.
What is happening to our country??
Huh!….broken britain?…only for some!
I totally agree with the comment about gardens being paved over.
This is not suitable in an area prone to flooding and should be discouraged – or banned by a local plan of some sort.
However Britain is not broken – politicians are! Policies are made by people, elected or not, who are not in touch with public opinion.
But that’s not new is it?
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