Gathering HRA Members opinions
Polls or surveys will be added here from time to time. The start date of each poll will be shown and periodically a summary statement may be added for each.
Should Bray Parish Councillors who are also RBWM Councillors resign from Bray Parish Council?
My Blog of 23rd February 2017 shows my concern that apart from Cllr Walters, Bray Parish Councillors who are also RBWM Councillors are not properly representing the best interests of Bray Parish Residents.
The Bray Parish Website clearly states that at a Full Council meeting on the evening of Monday 23rd February 2016, Bray Parish Council unanimously voted to adopt the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan Version 3 for submission through the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead for Inspection and Referendum. *****
So, all Bray Parish Councillors, including those who are also RBWM Councillors, ***** adopted the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan - a plan that stresses the importance of preservation of Green Belt Land, in particular the land between Fifield and Windsor.
Despite this, when the Green Belt aspects of the Borough Local Development Plan are now discussed in Bray Parish Council meetings, the Bray Parish Councillors who are also RBWM Councillors are obliged to leave the room because RBWM policy differs from Bray Parish Council policy.
When these RBWM Councillors were elected to RBWM and to Bray Parish Council, it had been made clear in the Conservative Manifesto upon which they were elected that they had very favourable views and policy for protection of Green Belt land. Now however, RBWM policy on Green Belt is no longer favourable to it.
In other words, Bray Parish electors were confident that these RBWM Councillors would protect Green Belt land.
Now, as these Bray Parish Councillors who are also RBWM Councillors, except Cllr Walters, have failed in their duty to properly represent the wishes of those who elected them, I consider that all of the Bray Parish Councilors who are also RBWM Councillors (except Cllr Walters) should resign from Bray Parish Council, as their apparent lack of integrity and lack of principles render them now unable to help Bray Parish Council to protect the Green Belt in line with Bray Parish Council's Neighbourhood Development Plan.
In particular, one of these RBWM Councillors is the Lead Councillor for planning and is responsible for the RBWM Local Development Plan upon which we were recently requested to comment in a public consultation.
I therefore propose that HRA should formally request that RBWM Councillors except for Cllr Walters resign from Bray Parish Council. Please vote below!
***** The statement above is on the home page of the BPC website, but after looking at the minutes of the BPC meeting at which the unanimous decision to adopt the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan was taken, I see that the only one of the RBWM Councillors who was present was Cllr Airey, the Councillor for the Dedworth area who has recently resigned from BPC.
So, way back in February 2016, was it already a RBWM policy not to attend a BPC meeting where an RBWM Councillor would have to take a view on the BPC Neighbourhood Development Plan which protected Green Belt?
Of course RBWM Cllr Airey being for the Dedworth area would naturally wish to protect the Green Belt area between Fifield and Windsor.
It could perhaps be argued that, the meeting being quorate, any Councillor who chose not to attend was giving his blessing to whatever decision the attending Councillors took.
The Bray Parish Website clearly states that at a Full Council meeting on the evening of Monday 23rd February 2016, Bray Parish Council unanimously voted to adopt the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan Version 3 for submission through the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead for Inspection and Referendum. *****
So, all Bray Parish Councillors, including those who are also RBWM Councillors, ***** adopted the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan - a plan that stresses the importance of preservation of Green Belt Land, in particular the land between Fifield and Windsor.
Despite this, when the Green Belt aspects of the Borough Local Development Plan are now discussed in Bray Parish Council meetings, the Bray Parish Councillors who are also RBWM Councillors are obliged to leave the room because RBWM policy differs from Bray Parish Council policy.
When these RBWM Councillors were elected to RBWM and to Bray Parish Council, it had been made clear in the Conservative Manifesto upon which they were elected that they had very favourable views and policy for protection of Green Belt land. Now however, RBWM policy on Green Belt is no longer favourable to it.
In other words, Bray Parish electors were confident that these RBWM Councillors would protect Green Belt land.
Now, as these Bray Parish Councillors who are also RBWM Councillors, except Cllr Walters, have failed in their duty to properly represent the wishes of those who elected them, I consider that all of the Bray Parish Councilors who are also RBWM Councillors (except Cllr Walters) should resign from Bray Parish Council, as their apparent lack of integrity and lack of principles render them now unable to help Bray Parish Council to protect the Green Belt in line with Bray Parish Council's Neighbourhood Development Plan.
In particular, one of these RBWM Councillors is the Lead Councillor for planning and is responsible for the RBWM Local Development Plan upon which we were recently requested to comment in a public consultation.
I therefore propose that HRA should formally request that RBWM Councillors except for Cllr Walters resign from Bray Parish Council. Please vote below!
***** The statement above is on the home page of the BPC website, but after looking at the minutes of the BPC meeting at which the unanimous decision to adopt the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan was taken, I see that the only one of the RBWM Councillors who was present was Cllr Airey, the Councillor for the Dedworth area who has recently resigned from BPC.
So, way back in February 2016, was it already a RBWM policy not to attend a BPC meeting where an RBWM Councillor would have to take a view on the BPC Neighbourhood Development Plan which protected Green Belt?
Of course RBWM Cllr Airey being for the Dedworth area would naturally wish to protect the Green Belt area between Fifield and Windsor.
It could perhaps be argued that, the meeting being quorate, any Councillor who chose not to attend was giving his blessing to whatever decision the attending Councillors took.
As of 12th May 2017, 52 have voted that RBWM Councillors apart from Cllr Walters should resign from Bray Parish Council; 2 have voted that they should stay.
Should the HRA's stance on Heathrow Expansion be FOR or AGAINST?
The second poll below (that was created first) as of 12th May 2017 gave 55 votes for HRA to discuss Heathrow Expansion and 7 votes against. The second poll (first one below) asked what stance the HRA is to take? And as of 12th May 2017; 48 people are against expansion and 21 for it. We need more responses, but if we go by usual rules for consultations then the decision is based on the majority of those who vote. So we have a mandate that the HRA is to be against Heathrow Expansion. See my blog dated 24th April 2017 where I repeat from a Highways England Report that Heathrow road build cost would be £3271 million - yes!! £3,271,000,000 more than for Gatwick.
Over 60 years, Heathrow Operations and Maintenance costs would be £598,297,016 more than for Gatwick.
Start date of survey 22nd February 2017
Over 60 years, Heathrow Operations and Maintenance costs would be £598,297,016 more than for Gatwick.
Start date of survey 22nd February 2017
Should the HRA encourage debate about Heathrow Expansion?
Expansion of Heathrow Airport may be a topic upon which Holyport Area Residents have diverse views.
Is there a majority wishing to have this discussed? Start date of Survey 20th February 2017
Expansion of Heathrow Airport may be a topic upon which Holyport Area Residents have diverse views.
Is there a majority wishing to have this discussed? Start date of Survey 20th February 2017
What is your opinion regarding the May 2105 Draft of the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan?
Residents can read in my Blog and from "Local Items" "Bray Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan", my views on the Neighbourhood Development Plan as currently drafted.
In an attempt to gauge the level of interest in the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan I have created the following survey and poll and would appreciate it if Bray Parish residents would respond. Start Date of Survey and Poll 31st May 2015
Residents can read in my Blog and from "Local Items" "Bray Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan", my views on the Neighbourhood Development Plan as currently drafted.
In an attempt to gauge the level of interest in the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan I have created the following survey and poll and would appreciate it if Bray Parish residents would respond. Start Date of Survey and Poll 31st May 2015
What is your opinion as to having a new road from the M4 near or from J8/9?
As you probably know, the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee are creating a Neighbourhood Plan and will soon be ready to submit it to Bray Parish Council for their adoption. As I understand it, after adoption by the Bray Parish Council, BPC will invite Residents to consider and vote for or against the plan. It is a Government requirement that in an area where there is a Parish Council, if the residents want to have a Neighbourhood Plan, it is the Parish Council that has responsibility for the plan and for measuring the extent of residents support for the plan.
I understand that part of the plan will include the suggestion that a new road be built from the M4, possibly from J 8/9 and perhaps routed South of the M4, to the North West of old Holyport. The actual wording of what is proposed is not available to me, but I understand it is non-specific, in which case the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan could in future be said to be supportive of any such road whatever the route.
Some time ago on this site, I created a poll further down this page, headed "New South Spur off Junction 8/9?", in which I referred to this same possibility, also linking it with the possibility of the hospital that was in the news at the time. I also suggested that a better idea for a road from the M4 would be to have a New Motorway Junction approximately mid-way between the existing J 8/9 and J 10. This new Junction would become J 9 and J8/9 would become J 8. In that original poll - 60 people wanted a new Junction 9 midway between existing junctions, 50 people wanted no change, 7 people wanted the new road proposed by BPNP, 1 person commented that there was no point to the question as long as the route was unknown and 1 person said "
Am worried about traffic, but local acute hospital is attractive"
That poll was started 29th March 2013. It is still possible to vote in that poll, and I encourage anyone to do so, AND to vote in the poll immediately below.
I think it would be helpful for the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group to know whether or not Holyport Residents would vote for a Neighbourhood Plan that contains a proposal for a new road in this area. Poll date start was 10th January 2015
As you probably know, the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee are creating a Neighbourhood Plan and will soon be ready to submit it to Bray Parish Council for their adoption. As I understand it, after adoption by the Bray Parish Council, BPC will invite Residents to consider and vote for or against the plan. It is a Government requirement that in an area where there is a Parish Council, if the residents want to have a Neighbourhood Plan, it is the Parish Council that has responsibility for the plan and for measuring the extent of residents support for the plan.
I understand that part of the plan will include the suggestion that a new road be built from the M4, possibly from J 8/9 and perhaps routed South of the M4, to the North West of old Holyport. The actual wording of what is proposed is not available to me, but I understand it is non-specific, in which case the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan could in future be said to be supportive of any such road whatever the route.
Some time ago on this site, I created a poll further down this page, headed "New South Spur off Junction 8/9?", in which I referred to this same possibility, also linking it with the possibility of the hospital that was in the news at the time. I also suggested that a better idea for a road from the M4 would be to have a New Motorway Junction approximately mid-way between the existing J 8/9 and J 10. This new Junction would become J 9 and J8/9 would become J 8. In that original poll - 60 people wanted a new Junction 9 midway between existing junctions, 50 people wanted no change, 7 people wanted the new road proposed by BPNP, 1 person commented that there was no point to the question as long as the route was unknown and 1 person said "
Am worried about traffic, but local acute hospital is attractive"
That poll was started 29th March 2013. It is still possible to vote in that poll, and I encourage anyone to do so, AND to vote in the poll immediately below.
I think it would be helpful for the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group to know whether or not Holyport Residents would vote for a Neighbourhood Plan that contains a proposal for a new road in this area. Poll date start was 10th January 2015
New South Spur off Junction 8/9?
It is understood that debate is ongoing within the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan organisation about the possibility of having a new Southerly Spur connecting into M4 Junction 8/9.
As we are aware, there is a lot of traffic in this area, and such a road might assist. But what is its route? The concept is to enable traffic coming and going from the area to the South of Holyport towards Bracknell to bypass the A330. Comments of Cresswells Farm and people living in Stud Green for instance would be interesting. Also there is already much noise from the Motorway and a lot of pollution as can be seen elsewhere on this site.
A Southerly Spur such as this would encourage building of the hospital proposed by MPs May and Lee. Lee's report advises that he envisages handling 729,448 patients per year, and that some 6,526 staff will be required. The amount of extra housing required for the staff and their families and the further pressure that the staff transport and their family transport will apply to local roads is a further problem. This will also impose extra housing requirements, whilst RBWM is already struggling to meet Central Government's current housing requirements.
The traffic from vehicles bringing visitors to the 1015 patients will add to the traffic for staff and in-patients. Further, as 1015 multiplied by 365 days per year equals 370,475, it appears that Lee intends to deal with 358,973 out-patients per annum, (729,448 minus 370,475), an average of 983 per day, and their transport would add further chaos to the situation.
We read in the Maidenhead Advertiser that 2,820 car park spaces would be required. This appears to be far from sufficient as I see also that the staff number will be 6,526.
Andrew Cormie has suggested in a letter to Theresa May, shown on the Hospital page, that a new junction approximately 4.3 kilometers to the West is what is needed, with new feeder roads from West and South East. As well as hospital traffic if that were to proceed, we will have extra traffic from Cross-Rail and from houses to be built to the North of Bracknel.
it is therefore considered advisable that HRA Members express their views so that those who might influence this can be made aware of public opinion. See related Topic pages "M4 Motorway" and "Lee Hospital" Poll Start Date was 29th March 2013.
As we are aware, there is a lot of traffic in this area, and such a road might assist. But what is its route? The concept is to enable traffic coming and going from the area to the South of Holyport towards Bracknell to bypass the A330. Comments of Cresswells Farm and people living in Stud Green for instance would be interesting. Also there is already much noise from the Motorway and a lot of pollution as can be seen elsewhere on this site.
A Southerly Spur such as this would encourage building of the hospital proposed by MPs May and Lee. Lee's report advises that he envisages handling 729,448 patients per year, and that some 6,526 staff will be required. The amount of extra housing required for the staff and their families and the further pressure that the staff transport and their family transport will apply to local roads is a further problem. This will also impose extra housing requirements, whilst RBWM is already struggling to meet Central Government's current housing requirements.
The traffic from vehicles bringing visitors to the 1015 patients will add to the traffic for staff and in-patients. Further, as 1015 multiplied by 365 days per year equals 370,475, it appears that Lee intends to deal with 358,973 out-patients per annum, (729,448 minus 370,475), an average of 983 per day, and their transport would add further chaos to the situation.
We read in the Maidenhead Advertiser that 2,820 car park spaces would be required. This appears to be far from sufficient as I see also that the staff number will be 6,526.
Andrew Cormie has suggested in a letter to Theresa May, shown on the Hospital page, that a new junction approximately 4.3 kilometers to the West is what is needed, with new feeder roads from West and South East. As well as hospital traffic if that were to proceed, we will have extra traffic from Cross-Rail and from houses to be built to the North of Bracknel.
it is therefore considered advisable that HRA Members express their views so that those who might influence this can be made aware of public opinion. See related Topic pages "M4 Motorway" and "Lee Hospital" Poll Start Date was 29th March 2013.