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 |
Prior to the NFDC Planning Meeting, over 900 Milford on Sea residents had registered objections online, and around 300 people had attended a Public Meeting in the village in 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.
The main objections were that the site density is too intense, highways not being able to cope, infrastructure not fit for such a huge influx of people, and the risk to local services, such as the doctors surgery, being overwhelmed.
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.
After a lively debate with passions flaring the only option was for some residents to watch proceedings from another room. Sue Whitlock appealed to our residents to move and very sadly a number of residents had to watch the meeting proceedings from a separate room. This set the tone for a very heated debate.
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.
Following a lengthy and passionate debate lead by Cllr David Hawkins (Milford Ward councillor), the planning proposal was voted 6 to 4 in favour to proceed.
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 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
