This is to let everyone know about a new group that has sprung up in the borough called Keep High Peak Green. They are a collection of campaigners and residents that have got together borough wide in order to fight "unnecessary development of Green places and spaces in the High Peak"and can be found here. Whilst they are essentially trying to hold back greenbelt and greenfield developments they also point out that inappropriate usage of brownfield land can be of equal concern to residents of the borough and use the example of Rossington Park and S.C.C. Ltd at Bridge Mills, as a case in point:
"We have seen sites such as Rossington Park and Bridge Mills in Hadfield spring up, and although these were Brownfield sites, they are clear examples of types of development that are inappropriate and clearly not wanted by local people.
We are also opposed to the seemingly widespread policy of squeezing large housing developments into relatively small parcels of land. Such schemes are proliferating all over the Borough and need to be checked."
Their immediate priority is to encourage everyone to respond to the document 'Shaping The Future Of High Peak', which you can do in slightly different formats here or here . The deadline is this coming Friday 25th July, so please take a look and find time to respond.
I have mentioned the document in a previous blog, when it came up at an Area Forum which can be read here You can also link to the document using the blogroll at the right hand side of this blog. It isn't necessary to reply to every question or section - just fill in the questions you want to or the sections that you feel strongly about.
So why is this document so important? I will leave you with the words of Keep High Peak Green:
"The document is crucial as it will determine how High Peak decides to pursue development projects in future years. Those who love the unique character of the Borough need to respond to the consultation.
It needs to be made clear to the Authority that the designation of any more countryside, greenfield or garden sites for development in any future plan is unacceptable.
Furthermore, the Council should refuse to collude with any central or regional government objectives that cannot be achieved without violating this principle, irrespective of any financial carrots that are being dangled by central government to obtain its cooperation." Quite.
