Keep Fine Shade fine and keep Jack’s Green green

[George Smid]

East Northamptonshire Council received two Applications for Caravan Parks, 2 miles apart. Fine Shade (70 lodges) and Jack’s Green (66). On 18 Feb 2015 the Fine Shade application was turned down. Now we should be calling on ENC to turn down the application for Jack’s Green.

To allow Jack’s Green development to go ahead would be illogical and wrong: Jack’s Green is a wilder version of Fine Shade with the wildlife and nature still undisturbed. The traffic congestion will be bigger (smaller roads), it is a new development as opposed to enlargement of an existing one. In addition to dormice (protected species on both sites) there are two extremely rare butterflies at Jack’s Green (purple emperor and black hairstreak) and the protected violet click beetle (only 1 of 3 sites in the whole of the UK). Also, Jack’s Green is close to the area of outstanding natural beauty (SSSI Belford Purlieus Ancient Woodlands). The proposed activities include cycling, charcoal making, wood harvesting with permanent cycleways through the area, just like Fineshade woods. The nature will suffer. The area cannot support 350 visitors.

There are number of objections on ENC website but the consultation period run over Christmas and was very short. Looking at the history of the site this is First Phase with future applications to follow: on site shop, theatre, children's play ground, conversion of clay pits into fishing / watersport facilities, tennis courts and so on until a full scale recreation park is built.

Please sign the petition to object to this proposal: http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-jack-s-green-caravan-park-development-1

You can see the Application 14/02225/FUL at http://pawebsrv.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=NFDYXIGO03N00

[Russell Brown]

It will certainly be interesting to see ENC's handling of this application.

As you say, this really is a 'Green Field' site where Fineshades is already a recreational area and that plan was refused on environmental damage grounds.

[Rob. M]

During the ENC Fineshade decision meeting last week one Councillor pointed out that the Forestry Commission had lodged an objection to the Jack's Green Application due to its effect upon the area's wildlife!!! Unlike their 76 lodges, roadways, reception centre, services and sewage plant!  

[George Smid]

The problem is that the whole area will be urbanised with the surrounding villages of King's Cliffe, Wansford, Apethorpe, Yarwell, Nassington, Fotheringhay affected - including walkers and visitors from Stibbington, Oundle and further away. The local amenity will disappear with the wildlife - walkers and local visitors will be crowded out by cars, noise and litter.
Worse, we will become not even 'suburbs' to Corby, we will become 'industrial hinterland' with Bicester or Lakeland type of 'countryside'. And all that without any discussion, concept or planning.
Please sign the petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/stopjacksgreen, please post it on facebook & twitter, please ask your friends to sign

[Russell Brown]

Just to make things easier for folk, here's the link for planning application:

http://pawebsrv.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=NFDYXIGO03N00

[George Smid]

Thanks Russell.

[Stop moaning]

Is there a form to support the application ?
Maybe there should be a test see if you know where jacks green is before you object.

[Rob. M]

No Form available. Simply write to ENC Planning quoting the appropriate Planning Ref. It is important to give the reasons why you support the Application, e.g. because it threatens the native ecology and displaces wildlife, it will attract people and traffic into unspoilt countryside, reduces useful farming land or that it might add a few jobs to a region with largely buoyant employment. Excellent point about the location of Jacks Green. One expects whatever folk's views, that they know where it is and regularly visit. For anyone who doesn't know the area it is criss-crossed by enjoyable Public Footpaths, some a bit lost in places. The steam locomotive 'Jacks Green' that formerly worked the ironstone quarries now plies North Norfolk's Poppy Line

[George Smid]

"Stop Moaning" expressed a legitimate view point: namely his/her wish to support development in the triangle between King's Cliffe - Wansford - Fotheringhay. Fineshade will become a Central Park, footpaths will be concreted over, farmland changed to park land, roads enlarged to dual carriage ways to accommodate quarrying, waste dumping, incinerators and landfill. But such a decision should be taken as a result of public discussion and consent. What I object to on this and all the other applications is the sleight of hand: approval via the back door, without any hearing, not even asking for Environmental Assessment, with no concept and the Local Authorities forgetting they are there to represent the voters.

[Rob. M]

'Fineshade will become a Central Park...' Surely you intended to write Jacks Green not Fineshade?

[mgd]

Totally agree with Stop Moaning in wondering how many objectors have actually visited Jacks Green.
As far as decisions being made by sleight of hand, or even by the back door I would suggest there has been more Public debate about these Applications than many others.
 As far as the comment about Farm Land being lost to this development, it is probably the best use of this grass land

[sandieb]

The caravan development on Jack's Green is in the middle of two landfill sites.  One has been capped off with goodness knows what has been dumped in there over the years.  The other is identified for composting and anaerobic digestion which often includes effluent and sewage sludge.  This landfill site is very near two residential properties, one is less than 80m away, and the council has deemed this acceptable in the Minerals and Waste Local Plan adopted on 1 October 2014 -a long term strategy that proposes Kings Cliffe as the dumping ground for the country's waste.

The hundreds of holidaymakers will be crammed in together on the caravan site  adjacent to Kings Cliffe Industrial Estate with its noisy industries and waste recycling. 

What a great place to go on holiday!

 

[George Smid]

"mgd" listed three points which in his/her view justify the development approval:
1) People do not even know where it is: please visit Jack's Green on any weekend (not perhaps when it is raining). You will see plenty of people walking there and around.
2) Applications was dealt with openly. No it was not. Neighbourhood notifications were not served, the 'statutory time' was shortened by the announcement over Christmas, the EN council refuses to engage in discussions, Environmental Impact Assessment implied in the Application but never carried out etc.
3) It is the best use of the land anyway - this is inconsistent with the Application: the Application actually refers to 'ecotourism', 'nature activities' etc which implies, there is a value of the land as it is, there is a value in the wildlife and the nature. Why then destroy it? It is interesting to note that Fineshade objected to Jack's Green on environmental grounds. (And no doubt Jack's Green was pleased Fineshade was turned down - to keep Fineshade land undisturbed)

[PhilT]

Here's a Google Maps view.

It is a bit out of the way and apart from the occasional walker, horse rider or cyclist it is a quiet place.

It is in Nassington parish hence their PC will have had the planning notifications. Anyone can comment (and many have) either in support or to object at the ENDC planning portal ref 14/02225/FUL there's a link above posted by Russell.

[George Smid]

Today (11 March) the Application was to be discussed. Yesterday I spoke to George Russell at East Northants Council to find out when Jack's Green was on the Agenda (to present our petition). Mr. Russell informed me the decision was unlikely to be made before June!

So the immediate pressure is off, but there is a danger that we will become 'tired' in a protracted campaign. After all, we are volunteers fighting professionals who spend all the time on their 'campaign'. We have to fit our campaigning around our daily activities -please do not let the issue drop!

240 signed and the Council still refuses to carry out Environmental Assessment! Please do ask your friends to sign. Our next step is to write articles for village magazines - there are still quite a lot of people who are unaware of the development as we found out when phoning around.

Keep Fine Shade fine. Keep Jack’s Green green. Keep at it.