LDF - "A Step Back."

Two issues dominated consultations for the last round of the LDF in Kedington, namely the extent to which Haverhill would extend towards Kedington and the location of new housing estates within the village.

Related Stories: Local Development Framework. LDF - "A Step Back." 22/3/11 Kedington Boundaries to change? 14/9/10 No North-East Relief Road Between Kedington And Haverhill 4/9/10 Poor Turn Out For LDF Meeting 22/5/10 LDF Consultation Shambles 14/4/10 New Proposed Estate For Next LDF Consultation. 21/3/10 Haverhill Relief Road - The Next Round. 20/10/9 Will Carisbrooke's LDF Plan Benefit Kedington? 2/10/9 Good Turnout For General Meeting 28/9/9 Villagers Come To View Local Development Framework 11/9/9 Parish Chairman's Plea For Kedington People To Take Interest In The Local Development Framework 5/9/9

The first of those two questions provoked fears at the time that Kedington would find it's horizon dominated by Haverhill spilling over the ridge towards it. At the time of previous LFD rounds assurances were given by St Edmundsbury planners that Haverhill would not be allowed to appear on Kedington's horizon. The people of Kedington however have been waiting for a definitive "line in the mud" beyond which Haverhill can not expand, believing that this is the only way to protect against estates slowly creeping towards us over the next 20 years. Those attending the consultation were interested to know if such a line in the mud had been decided upon. They were to be disappointed. Further it turned out that although the commitment to defend the separation of Kedington from Haverhill and ensure that the western horizon from Kedington will not be altered, the shape and nature of the proposed new estates on the Kedington side of Haverhill had yet to be defined.

Concerns were raised that by splitting the consultation into three with Kedington in one area and Haverhill in another comments from Kedington's inhabitants will be ignored or missed when the future border with Haverhill is considered as part of the Haverhill Vision 2031 consultations.

Some of those attending the meeting also claimed that further confusion had been caused by the consultation process undertaken in parallel to the Haverhill Vision process by the company Bidwells on behalf of the land owners. Although their name was on all literature Kedington News has seen, the front page of the website for their consultation dose not explain who Bidwells are or mention Bidwells in any actual text saying instead "The public consultation is part of a wider consultation on the Haverhill Vision 2031 Masterplan, led by St Edmundsbury Borough Council." The poster for the consultations which included a session in Kedington earlier in the month was more informative mentioning that their meetings were being held by Bidwells on behalf of the Land owners, but still contained the Haverhill Vision 2031 Logo. The results Bidwells put together from the consultations will be submitted to the Vision 2031 consultation much as anyone else can submit evidence. Some Kedington parishoners however got the impression that Bidwells were in some way under the management of St Edmundsbury or working under the direction of St Edmundsbury and were concerned to find that the Bidwells meetings did not provide a means to talk to St Edmundsbury directly which had been the impression they received.

Those at the consultation were also surprised when KedingtonNews.co.uk reporter Matthew Upton asked whether the area of the Risbridge estate marked in red on the consultation map was now the only area where building could now be expected. The representative for St Edmundsbury Planning department then explained that St Edmundsbury had decided to "Take a step back" from where they had got to at the end of the last round of the LDF and would allow plans for other estates to be submitted or allow plans for estates in areas already ruled out to be re-submitted if any new information can be brought by the land owner. This means that where as many in Kedington celebrated the defeat of plans to build in the field next to Church Walk and thought such plans dead and buried Kedington could have to go through the whole thing all over again should the land owner decide to have another go and come up with as much as one new or reworked reason for the area to be built on.

Although KedingtonNews.co.uk is not currently aware of any new plans having been submitted for the field next to Church Walk we were witness to a representative for the owner of the land behind Limeridge between Dash End Lane and Hall Road re-launching an attempt to get his land included as a location for new building. This proved a nasty surprise for exasperated residents of Dash End Lane who happened to be present at the time.

Villagers wishing to comment on the Vision 2031 consultations can either fill out one of the special freepost postcards to be found at Kedington Post Office or visit www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk or email ruralvision@stedsbc.gov.uk.

Article by M.P.Upton - 22/3/11
If you have news of interest to Kedington or a response or further information on existing articles please contact News@KedingtonNews.co.uk
Kedington News takes a lot of time and some money to run. Adverts on the web are not a huge money spinner for small sites so and donations are greatly appreciated.