Ferret was disappointed to learn that concerned residents were unaware of this meeting until after the event.
It seems as though Independent Hemsworth Town Council decided to only invite members of the public who currently live on the Woodlands Estate in Hemsworth and no-one else.
When Mr Alan Draper – Clerk, Independent Hemsworth Town Council was questioned about this, this was his reply:
The (informal) meeting last night was originally planned to possibly create an action group and allocate tasks such as collating evidence (proving that development would be detrimental).
However, last week there was a development whereby the local MP (Jon Trickett) became involved and as such he is at the forefront of the effort to oppose development. The council was informed that Mr Trickett had asked (as a matter of some urgency) that the residents of the estate be asked to attend this meeting so they could be updated on the progress, and specifically, his involvement. With this in mind, I am sure you will appreciate that (for this meeting only) the estate residents took priority.
Going forward the plan is that such (informal) meetings will be held every 5-6 weeks. These meetings will be publicised more widely so that everyone who wishes to attend will be aware, as you are right in that the proposed development would affect the whole of Hemsworth and Kinsley. I can assure you it was not the council’s intention to exclude anyone.
Kind regards,
Alan.
Ferret hopes moving forward that all residents are made aware of these meetings and given the opportunity to attend and voice their concerns over this proposed development which could potentially impact us all…
Thank you for this update Ferret.
The only information I’ve really seen on this proposed development is via your website, but I’m still have very little understanding of what the actual proposal is and what stage of the planning process (if any) we’re at.
Do you know if/when it will be discussed in a WMDC planning meeting?
The Club Terrace proposal seemed to progress at speed without any public consultation – is this normal?
Many other Local Authorities have created their own Local Plans, to address the need for more housing using pockets of Green Land. I think these are all now signed off at LA level?
I get the impression this is being driven/controlled by central Government, to meet targets, but i’m totally ignorant of the legalities involved and what influence local people can now have.
It’s very concerning to have all this taking place on our door step and feeling totally in the dark about it.
Maybe someone who knows more could share their thoughts?
And I’ve still not had an answer to my question in response to this email when I said was it perhaps a mistake to put it on HTC paper when JT asked for a meeting. I smell a rat.
It is totally unacceptable that only a few residents are told of any meeting that affects the whole township. The feelings of the majority must always prevail in any decisions made. Notice of a meeting could and should have been circulated to the whole community via social media, town councils web page and to the entire township via letter by the town council. If it’s good enough for a selected few it is good enough for all. The views of a selective minority may not always reflect the views of the majority. It was totally wrong and discriminatory to publicize this meeting this way.
Even when they totally screw up they still manage to blame it on somebody else, they make it sound like our MP was in the wrong.
It wasn’t our MP who hijacked the meeting about additional funds for the area putting the steering group weeks behind others in their planning for fund applications. It wasn’t our MP who encouraged folk to turn up en masse to expect answers on a subject those from Wakefield weren’t prepared for, if we get little to no money from that pot don’t forget it’s the chair of HTC to blame!
If they are holding these meetings every 5-6 weeks are they not due another
Anyone know when this meeting is please
Hemsworth Resident
I have emailed HTC to ask when the next meeting is scheduled for will let people know once I have a reply.
Thank you for your email.
This is the last on LP21
The local MP – Jon Trickett – has primarily taken up this matter now and he will appear at the planning inspector’s hearing in early December, after which it will likely be the case that a meeting will be held in the community centre to update residents.
Best wishes,
Sorry it should say here is the latest update on LP21
Thank you for your email.
The local MP – Jon Trickett – has primarily taken up this matter now and he will appear at the planning inspector’s hearing in early December, after which it will likely be the case that a meeting will be held in the community centre to update residents.
Best wishes,