‘SAVE OUR WYKE’

An up-date on progress so far....

Since the first S.O.W. public meeting in the Town Hall on 16th April 2010, a committee of 14 local residents was formed and first met on 27th April 2010. It was decided to organise a petition, using the General Election and the Polling Station at Wyke School to our advantage, with the help of committee members and many others going door to door with the petition, David Walsh, Belinda Ridout and Dick Doherty personally handed over a petition to Liz Goodall, Chief Executive, NDDC with an amazing 2,105 signatures, (excellent considering there are 3,200 voting residents in Wyke). This was reported in the Western Gazette. Our thanks to all those who helped in any way with this.

We were invited to briefly meet with Trevor Warrick, Planning Policy Manager, NDDC after handing over the petition, who confirmed that he would be willing to come to Gillingham in June for an informal meeting to discuss our concerns. This meeting took place on Tuesday, 8th June, 6pm in the Town Hall, attended by Trevor Warrick; Deborah Croney, Deputy Chairman, NDDC and Portfolio Holder for Economy; County Councillor: David Milstead and District Councillors; Val Pothecary, Nick Mason and Mark White, Gillingham Mayor, Sue Hunt and four members of the S.O.W. Committee, viz. David Walsh, Belinda Ridout, Andrew Snell and Craig Jones. During the meeting we had the chance to express and discuss all of our concerns. It was explained that the Regional Spatial Strategy (Government based document) has now been effectively scrapped by the new Coalition Government and that NDDC are awaiting a clear steer from government as regards Planning Policy and, secondly, that the economic downturn has affected the projected figures of growth used in the RSS and Atkins Report. Trevor Warrick confirmed that all the Comments Forms/letters people submitted would be taken into consideration and it will be the end of the year, probably next Spring, before a revised plan is out.

As well as preparing for the 8th June meeting, we have been investigating all possible angles, i.e. Conservation: Listed Buildings: English Heritage (not interested unless Grade II* listing or above), Campaign to Protect Rural England (gave us their backing and offered a link with their website); Natural England, National Association for Areas of Natural Beauty (this area does not qualify); historical Interest/ ancient history: visiting The Dorset Records Office, Dorchester to look up old maps of the area and Gillingham Museum & Library; ecology and natural history: Dorset Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Action for Nature, Ramblers Association, Three Rivers Partnership, etc., to try and get as much backing as possible. We are also looking at the possibility of grouping the listed buildings into a designated Conservation Area and have had discussions with NDDC Conservation Office. Currently there is only one Conservation Area in Gillingham, being around St. Mary’s Church, The Square. The other areas are only designated as Areas of Local Character. So if you can help in any way with regard to the history of the Listed Buildings in Wyke or the area as a whole, please let us know.

"Save Our Wyke" now have a web site (saveourwyke.co.uk) to keep everyone informed of all updates and the facts pertaining to their protest of the proposed development from which we have a link to the CPRE website. Stephen Howard, Chairman of North Dorset CPRE published his comments regarding the "New Plan for North Dorset", particularly the proposed new housing for Gillingham and the Business Park at Wyke.

I am now Town Councillor for Gillingham Rural Ward and will be running in the District Council elections next May, this will enable us to have more influence where decisions are actually being made and help the S.O.W. campaign go forward, especially with regard to pushing the "Conservation Area" angle. If you have ideas or information that could help in any way, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Chairman, ‘Save Our Wyke’