Scholar Green Greenfields Association




	Contentious Portland Drive Application Approved Thursday 16th October 2008 CBC’s Planning Committee has voted to approve the planning application for 56 houses and a health centre on Greenfield land adjacent to Portland Drive Scholar Green Garage site. We feel that an excellent opportunity has been missed; an opportunity to provide a superior health centre benefitting from an attached pharmacy. . . an opportunity to improve the current derelict garage site. . . an opportunity to retain our open green spaces. . . an opportunity to spare this village from unnecessary housing development. Common belief is that the health centre is now guaranteed on Portland Drive, however, we are fearful that, in the current economic climate the housing developer land may not release the health centre land until the housing market drastically improves, which could take many years. As Dr Patterson has pointed-out on many occasions, if the health centre is delayed then the practice will close and residents will lose their local surgery. We are currently reviewing the Planning Committee’s decision with our legal advisers and will keep you posted with any developments. Health Centre Gets Planning Permission! Thursday 14th August 2008 At Tuesday evening’s meeting, the Planning Committee unanimously voted to approve the outline planning application to locate a health centre and pharmacy on the former Scholar Green Garage site. The site was proposed by the SGGFA in January last year and a formal planning application submitted by the site owner in October. This represents the culmination of 20 months’ hard work in our aim to deliver a true state-of-the-art health centre to Scholar Green and the surrounding area, WITHOUT an unwanted housing estate! For the first time in over 4 ½ years the PCT now has the option of a site with planning permission on which to develop the Scholar Green health centre. Scholar Green residents have worked tirelessly to provide the GPs with a first rate site for their new health centre, for them to now doggedly pursue the Portland Drive option so harmful to this village would be seen as ungrateful and uncaring in the extreme. What happens now is up to YOU. Sit back and do nothing and Scholar Green will be turned into a town. Make your voice heard now by writing to the Council, PCT and Press and we could have the health centre we all deserve on the old garage site and no unwanted housing sprawl. Portland Drive Plan for 56 Houses and Health Centre Resubmitted Sunday 8th June 2008 What’s at stake here is the village of Scholar Green. . . our village. If this audacious housing proposal’s approved, other housing developers who are closely watching this application, will undoubtedly rush to submit their own housing plans for the village. A precedent will have been set and the planning authority will effectively be powerless to stop the urbanisation of Scholar Green. We’ll then be left with a town, completely unrecognisable from the village we all live in. This affects us all, maybe it’s ‘not in your backyard’ right now, but if this goes ahead it’ll be just a matter of time. The developers will be gambling on a sense of apathy in the village, so it’s up to us. Write today to: Head of Planning, Congleton Council, Westfields, Sandbach CW11 1HZ. PCT approves pharmacy for village Wednesday 14th May 2008 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT has finally approved Cornwell’s Chemists’ application to open a pharmacy in Scholar Green. The PCT’s Pharmacy Development Grouped unanimously judged the provision of a pharmacy for the village to be desirable. Cornwells plan to locate the new pharmacy on the former Scholar Green Garage site. A formal planning application by the garage site owner to locate a healthcare centre and pharmacy on his site is currently being considered by Congleton Borough Council, and is likely to be decided within the next few weeks. The SGGFA is delighted with this significant development which forms an integral part of its plans to deliver a no-compromise healthcare facility to the village and surrounding area. Over 600 residents signed a petition requesting the pharmacy, and this result is testament to the much-publicised drive for a patient-led NHS. However, the Association was extremely concerned at the level of objection raised by the Scholar Green GP practice to the pharmacy application. As health care professionals, the Practice would have been only too aware that the delivery of an independent pharmacy and its associated benefits is totally in-line with current NHS directives. We consider the Association’s proposal has been vindicated by the PCT’s decision. Planning Committee Refuses Portland Drive Application Wednesday 16th January 2008 At last night’s meeting held at Sandbach Town Hall, Congleton Borough Council Planning Committee voted on planning application 06/1146/FUL (Healthcare Centre plus housing development on land off Portland Drive Scholar Green). During the 1 hour 20 minute debate, Planning Committee members took the time to question and understand the detail of this complex case, and, after careful consideration, refused the application by 12 votes to 3. We firmly believe this decision is in the best interests of the village and Congleton Borough as a whole. As you know, a formal planning application for a Healthcare Centre and Independent Pharmacy on the now disused Scholar Green garage site was submitted to Congleton Council in October last year, and is currently being considered. With a positive approach from all parties this could deliver the very much needed medical facility within a relatively short timescale. Following last night’s decision, we should now focus our efforts on ensuring the garage site application becomes a reality delivering a no compromise Healthcare facility to Scholar Green and the surrounding area. The Congleton Guardian are running the following story: Source Parish Council approves garage application Saturday 8th December 2007 At the Parish Council’s 6th December Planning Meeting, Planning Application 07/1148/OUT was discussed, and it was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council recommend Congleton Borough Council approve the application to locate a healthcare centre plus pharmacy on the former Scholar Green garage site subject to the following conditions: 1 A full access and egress survey be done by the Highways Authority 2 The claimed boundaries are verified, and the potential Greenbelt status of the rear portion of the plot is investigated 3 The state of decontamination is to the satisfaction of CBC 4 The design of the building is in-keeping with surrounding buildings 5 The building doesn't occupy more than two storeys We can all help by contacting CBC to voice our approval of the application (see below) Fund Raising Tuesday November 20th 2007 Since July, the SGGFA have used one of the North West’s top planning law solicitors, Addleshaw Goddard. They have ensured our case has been professionally presented at the highest level, as evidenced by last week’s dramatic deferral of the Portland Drive decision. Needless to say, solicitors of this caliber don’t come cheap, and we have only managed to finance them through your generous donations. We would very much welcome donations (no matter how large or small) to enable us fund the next round of legal representation. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Mike Lambourne 31 Portland Drive Scholar Green ST7 3BS. Thank you once again for all your help and support in our ‘mission’ to keep Scholar Green as the delightful village it is today. What can you do? Tuesday November 20th 2007 Write to: The Government Office for the North West, City Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BE arguing a selection of the following points: Priority for housing should be given to brownfield sites within the borough The scale of this housing estate is much too large for our small village Scholar Green has very poor public transport, and virtually no local employment, so residents from this large housing estate will have to travel by car to access jobs and services A major housing estate like this should be sited in the borough’s towns The greenfield site off Portland Drive is not in CBC’s housing site allocation list Also, please support the garage site application by writing to: The Chief Planning Officer, Congleton Borough Council, Westfields, Middlewich Rd. Sandbach, CW11 1HZ. Or leave a message of approval at: www.congleton.gov.uk/?t=773&lmt.e=#PlanningApplicationsand search for Planning Ref 07/1148/OUT Planning Decision Deferred Wednesday November 14th 2007 Late yesterday afternoon, the Government Office for the North West contacted Congleton Borough Council instructing them to defer decision and to deliver the complete Portland Drive planning application and relevant documentation to the Government's offices in Manchester so that they can consider whether the application should be called-in by the Secretary of State. This means that CBC can only decide the application if the Government Office for the North West decides that everything is in order. However, if they agree with our solicitor's views that the application is contrary to National and Local Planning Policies, the application will be called-in by the Secretary of State, the planning decision then being made at National Government level. Planning Application for Garage Site Thursday November 1st 2007 A formal planning application (07/1148/OUT) has been submitted to locate a health centre plus small pharmacy on the former Scholar Green Garage site. The application (now validated by CBC) has been submitted by the garage owner, and will now be considered by Congleton Borough Council planning department. This is excellent news as there are now have two planning applications for the health centre – one with a housing estate on precious Greenfield land, and one without a housing estate on the derelict garage site. As we’ve said many times, the garage site offers so many benefits. Firstly, it means we don’t get any unwanted housing development. Secondly, it guarantees a desirable re-development of the garage site. And thirdly, it means the village, and health centre can benefit from an independent pharmacy. Let’s hope the Council make the right choice for the village. Pharmacy Petition Resounding Success! Wednesday September 26th 2007 There has been an excellent response to our petition supporting a pharmacy in the village. Despite many properties where there was no-one at home, a grand total of over 600 willingly signed the petition, the vast majority of whom are patients at Scholar Green Surgery. All were completely in favour of a pharmacy being attached to the new healthcare centre, with many voicing the opinion that the former garage site was the obvious location for the centre. Less than 5% declined to sign. We would like to thank Lynn and her small team who have done a first rate professional job organising this important petition. Remember, the only reason the housing development is even being considered is that the developers have said that, if they're allowed to build these unwanted houses they will subsidise the purchase of the land required for the health centre. But, Cornwell's Chemists have also agreed to subsidise the purchase of land for the health centre. So, the choice for this village is simple – Do we want a new health centre with 56 unwanted houses, or a new health centre with a very much wanted pharmacy and no houses? Scholar Green Pharmacy latest Wednesday September 12th 2007 Cornwells Chemists’ application to open a pharmacy in the village is now being considered by the PCT. Among a wide range of benefits, Cornwells are offering free prescription collection and home delivery to all patients. No more having to trek into Kidsgrove or Alsager to go to the Chemists – this really is good news for Scholar Green! The PCT have to be convinced that we actually want and merit a pharmacy – therefore we have organised a petition for residents to sign. Someone should have asked for your signature by now, but, if we’ve missed you, please e-mail lesw@sggfa.co.uk and we’ll arrange for the petition to brought to you. If we miss this chance to get our own pharmacy, it’s very unlikely we’ll get the opportunity again. This is Important - Write now! Thursday June 22nd 2007 The PCT and the Planning Authority have to be made aware of what we want for our village. Within the next couple of weeks the PCT are due to decide whether to grant Cornwells Chemists provisional permission to provide a pharmacy in Scholar Green. This decision is absolutely crucial to the future of our village. If we get our much needed pharmacy, then it will enable the healthcare centre to be built on the former garage site. Most importantly, it will mean the proposed housing estate, which no-one wants, will not happen! It is vital that you write now requesting a long overdue pharmacy for our village. Write to: Mr M Pyrah Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT Barony Road Nantwich Cheshire CW5 5QU and also: Senior Planning Officer Congleton Borough Council Westfields Sandbach Cheshire CW11 1HZ Local Pharmacy For Scholar Green! Thursday May 24th 2007 Cornwell's Chemists have submitted a formal application to the PCT, requesting permission to provide pharmaceutical services for the residents of Scholar Green. Cornwell’s has been serving the North Staffordshire area for well over 170 years and are fully committed to the local communities they serve. With no pharmacies in our neighbourhood the current level of provision of pharmaceutical services is woefully inadequate , so this is a unique opportunity for the residents of Scholar Green to receive the same high level of service that customers have come to expect of Cornwell's over the years. Cornwell’s have pledged to deliver a full range of pharmaceutical services including free prescription and home delivery service; free stop smoking service; free minor ailment schemes; out of hours services; over the counter medication. A true state of the art no compromise healthcare facility is now within our grasp - let’s hope the PCT grant us the level of health care we deserve! Voice your support by writing to: The Chief Executive Central & Eastern Cheshire PCT Barony Way Nantwich CW5 5QU Plans drawn-up for Healthcare Centre on former garage site Sunday May 5th 2007 The SGGFA have commissioned a professional draftsman to verify that the proposed new healthcare centre can be accommodated by the former Scholar Green Garage site. This has entailed a detailed on-site survey, discussions with the land owner, OS Map and aerial photography reference, 06/1146/FUL healthcare plan reference and the drafting of three alternative layouts. The work was carried-out in April, following the professional decommissioning of the petrol tanks in March. The plans clearly illustrate that the healthcare centre main building fits comfortably, along with an attached pharmacy, 50 parking spaces, 3 disabled parking spaces, roadways, footpaths and landscaping. This takes us one step closer to achieving the best result for our village; namely, a state of the art healthcare facility with no compromises, no harmful housing development, and a guaranteed 'desirable' future use for the garage site which is currently up for sale. SGGFA Scholar Green Greenfields Association Friday March 30th 2007 Many thanks to the residents who attended our recent meetings. It is now obvious that, like us, you want a new state of the art health centre, but do not want the charming rural nature of our village irreparably changed by a large, unwanted housing development. As we’ve demonstrated, we can have the health centre without the houses. The choice is simple – either we decide what happens to our village, or we leave the decision to a Scottish housing developer. As you’re aware, we’ve engaged the professional services of a top planning law consultant and a planning barrister to fight the case for this village. Thank you so much to all who have donated so willingly and generously to our ‘legal fund’. If you’ve been unable to get to any of our meetings but would like to make a donation, or if you’ve already pledged a donation, could you please give it to our Treasurer – Mike Lambourne, 31 Portland Drive. We can also accept cheques made payable to ‘SGGFA’. Like they say in the commercials - all donations will be gratefully received! Just think how increased housing development will detrimentally affect the value of your property. A donation to this cause could well turn-out to be your best investment ever! Standing Room Only at SGGFA Residents’ Meeting! Monday March 26th 2007 Scholar Green Village Hall was almost filled to capacity at last Sunday’s meeting. We were happy to see so many new faces from all over the village. The meeting consisted of a detailed Power Point presentation by John Bennett and Les Woollam with questions ‘from the floor’. The overwhelming feeling from all those present was, yes we need a new health centre, but absolutely do not want our village ruined by a housing estate. Les Woollam: “The choice is simple – either we decide what happens to our village, or we leave the decision to a house builder.” SGGFA Residents’ Meeting Sunday 25th March 7.30pm Scholar Green Village Hall Wednesday March 21st 2007 Thanks so much to all who attended our last meeting. Unfortunately, due to its short notice, many residents were unable to attend. Therefore, we’ve arranged another meeting for this Sunday to bring everyone up to speed with our radical proposals for enabling the new healthcare centre. There have also been several major developments over the last couple of weeks which we would like to make you aware of. We feel we are now in a strong position to help deliver what the whole village wants – a state of the art healthcare facility without an unnecessary, unwanted housing development.