As published last week, the New Forest District Council Planning Meeting to assess and vote on the Manor Road development of 170 houses took place at NFDC offices in Lyndhurst on Wednesday 14th February 2024.
Over 200 Milford on Sea residents, the Milford Residents for Sustainable Development (MRSD), and Milford on Sea Parish Councillors, appeared in force at the council’s headquarters. A farcical situation soon arose in the meeting chamber, as it was too small to accommodate everybody. After a heated debate with the council, the outcome was that fire and safety regulations meant that some of the attendees had to move to another room to watch proceedings.
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| Manor Road Meeting - September 2023 |
At the recent meeting, points were made that residents are supportive of appropriate and sensible development, and they want to see affordable housing for residents and school places for their children.
However, the Milford on Sea Parish Council and MRSD recognised the concerns as to the impact of this large housing estate on the very fabric of Milford on Sea.
Ultimately, the objectors were to be disappointed when the planning was approved by the NFDC Planning Committee who voted in favour of the proposal 6 votes to 4.
The Milford Residents for Sustainable Development are not planning to give up their fight and are now considering their next steps.
A spokesperson for Milford Residents for Sustainable Development has provided this summary of the NFDC Planning Meeting:
The meeting start was delayed due to sheer numbers which were unable to be accommodated in the meeting chamber.
Impassioned objections were presented by Cllr Alvin Reid (Milford Ward councillor), Sue Fraser (Milford Residents for Sustainable Development) and Parish Cllr Sue Whitlock (chair of Milford Parish council planning committee). Each of these speeches were followed by enthusiastic applause and cheering.
These objections covered areas such as environment, density of development, legality of proposal and preserving the uniqueness of Milford on Sea. Sue Fraser and Anne Cullen provided closing speeches imploring the planning committee to listen to the weight of public opinion and reject this proposal.
The feeling in the room was that both fear of going to appeal and a lack of housing in the new forest area weighted the debate in favour of approving.
This is a sad day for democracy in that the planning committee clearly did not listen to the weight of public opinion, nor did they acknowledge the points raised within the meeting.
Milford Residents for Sustainable Development want to thank the residents of Milford who have supported us during this campaign though attending the public meeting, emails of support, providing assistance and expertise and turning up in the rain for the planning meeting. Milford is such a unique and special place and to see the weight of reaction and feeling is truly inspirational.
So what is next? The process will now focus on full planning details including style of housing and identification and agreement of building requirements. Lets hope the developer does consult with the village but we will continue to work closely with the Parish Council and our local councillors to ensure we can provide the best of the worst outcome.
Thank you Milford, you are wonderful. Onwards and upwards.
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To read previous articles on the Manor Road Development, please click here.
To see current online discussions, you can visit the Milford Residents for Sustainable Development Facebook page, please click here.
For more information, or to join the group, please contact:
Milford Residents for Sustainable Development
The result was inevitable because of money!!!! Did the arguments for no sewage provisions, road blockages at the main road and traffic density get enough stress??? I hope so. The problem is that Milford is not now a small village but a suburban sprawl that has been let grow over many years. I wonder how many of the protestors live in houses over 100 years old in the centre of the village. I suspect most of us have taken advantage of the newer developments so do we have the right to prevent others from taking the same advantage. Some years ago, a group of us prevented the development of the playing fields AND/OR the land now under dispute but development was inevitable even though it has been delayed for a long time. Residents can only keep objecting but its worth looking at more subtle ways of preventing the development. Consult an expert . has anybody carried out an ecological survey of the land to see if there are any rare plants or animals for example. There are consultants who will do that. What is the estimated number of vehicles expected to add to the school run an how long will the summer queues be ?? Lots to discover if not done already.
ReplyDeleteDidnt anyone read the Milford On Sea Development Plan published a few years ago. It did not include a massive building influx of new residents or the infrastructure to help this happen
ReplyDeleteI have lived in Milford now for almost 9 years now and in that time have come to appreciate what the "village" has to offer. We already have the Swifts across the road from Manor road and slowly but surely NFDC is ensuring that this suburban spread continues which will almost certainly 'kill the fatted calf' (170 houses, = 300 residents = 260 cars, approximately.) These are figures which cannot be sustained by this existing community and its infrastructure. It is not a case of nimbyism but a case of reality, a sense that NFDC planners have completely lost over the years. All they are looking at is 'we need the houses and we need the money' Yes they do, BUT!!.... it has to be done with a sense of pragmatism. Not ruining the environment for humans is just as important as ruining it for wild life. The bottom line is, they just don't get it.
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