From:
Tony Pateman Parish Council Chairman
I know some Parishioners have expressed their concerns to some Councillor’s regarding the possibility of a large development between Old Stratford and Potterspury. Just to let you all know that the rumours that have been circulating regarding the potential building of 6,500 homes on land from the Old Stratford roundabout across the fields to Furtho and Potterspury are not actual fact at present. This has come to light from a document known as the West Northamptonshire Strategic Plan which is out for Public Consultation. This size and site of this type of development was also published in the Milton Keynes 2050 Spatial Plan
The West Northamptonshire Strategic Plan has been developed to show potential growth throughout West Northamptonshire up until 2050. The section appertaining to Old Stratford appears on page 31 of the Strategic Plan and is titled Milton Keynes North West (Old Stratford) Expansion Residential. This also includes 2,000 homes in Deanshanger.
Old Stratford Parish Council, along with many of the local Parish Councils; including Deanshanger, Potterspury, Yardley Gobion, Cosgrove and Wicken have made their objections known regarding this part of the plan, it is also open to members of the Public so they can read the plan and make their opinions known.
Our West Northamptonshire Authority Representatives have leaflet dropped every household in Old Stratford and all other villages associated with this development proposal and advise that members of the Public voice their opinions, as the more members of the Public respond the better.
You can read the Strategic Plan on the Authorities web site and you can make comments about this plan on Homepage – West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit (inconsult.uk) or you can email your concerns and observations to strategicplan@westnorthants.gov.uk
You can even send them in by post to:
Strategic Plan.
West Northamptonshire Council
The Guildhall
St Giles Square
Northampton
NN1 1DE
The consultation closing date has now been extended until the end of December and possibly into the New Year.
The Parish Clerk and I have expressed the Parish Council’s concerns that this major development potentially will have on Old Stratford and the surrounding villages. All members of our Parish Council have agreed with the content of our response and this was sent to the response location prior to the initial Consultation Closing Date of the 6th December 2021.
Residents should be made aware that the Parish Council has many misgiving regarding this Strategic Plan and any negative impacts it may have on our Village.
Please be assured that the Parish Council are working with the A5 Alliance Group which covers Old Stratford, Deanshanger, Potterspury, Cosgrove, Yardley Gobion and Wicken. We have a representative who liaises between the A5 Alliance Group and our Parish Council.
The A5 Alliance Group have already written to the Chef Executive of West Northamptonshire Authority as well as our local Member of Parliament, Old Stratford Parish Council was listed as part of the Alliance Group members on both of these letters.
Any individual Parishioners wishing to make their own feelings known may do so and should be done using one of the methods listed above. All correspondence should be in by NO later than the end of December.
Anyone wish to keep up to date with proceedings regarding this Consultation can be found on our village website or our Face-book page.
Hope that this information helps to clarify the position of Old Stratford Parish Council. Should you wish to view the OSPC consultation response or that of the A5 Alliance, they can be found in the documents section of our website.
Tony Pateman
