Response from Mr Harry Knowles, Furness Enterprise
1. Mr Harry Knowles, Furness Enterprise : 19 Dec 2005 11:34:00
1. Do the vision and the priority themes set out in Section 3 provide a sound basis for the vision and strategic objectives to be contained in the Local Development Framework? Are additional land use/spatial elements required for the LDF?
I believe the vision and priority themes do this. However in order to have a successful community we need to have a successful economy creating and sustaining jobs. Issues such as poor health and housing often come from a poorly performing economy.
2. Do you consider that the nine principles for development identified in Section 4 will contribute towards sustainable forms of development? What further principles for development are required in the LDF?
The nine principles of development are worthwhile objectives but need to ensure realism in pursuing, them particularly on issues such as high standards of design. If these high standards are imposed on private sector investors/companies to such an extent that their investment becomes uneconomic this would undermine the development and sustaining of a successful economy.
3. Do you think the list in Section 5 contains the main spatial planning issues in the area? Are further issues prevalent that need to be addressed in the LDF?
The need to meet the requirements for employment is crucial to the development and maintenance of a successful economy. I do believe it is beter to concentrate this development in an area like Ulverston which needs regeneration as well as creating a critical mass Business Park attractive to businesses. Creating very small, widely dispersed isolated employment areas is not attractive to companies. Again quality design must not be pursued to the detriment of encouraging investment by private sector companies. Sustaining Town Centres with a vibrant economy is crucial, likewise improvements in the transport infrastructure.
4. Which of the options identified in the three diagrams in Section 6 offers the most sustainable pattern for development? What other options should be considered?
I believe Diagram 1 - focused Distribution offers the best chance of making a Transitional Change to the economy of South Lakeland through a consultation of resources to achieve impact. This approach is a mini version of the Northern Way idea of concentrating on City Regions; we concentrate on Town Areas.
5. Do you consider there to be merit in identifying a particular development emphasis for each Service Centre as suggested in Section 7? What should this emphasis be?
Yes, I believe this is a valid strategy, the trick is going to be to select the right development emphasis. As regards Ulverston the emphasis is absolute right to be on regeneration and improving access, commerce and enterprise.
6. Should particular areas be identified in the Spatial Strategy that are less suitable for development? Which areas should be defined?
Yes, based on the examples given.
7. What do you consider to be the important socio/economic linkages between communities inside and outside the LDF area? What measures should taken to strengthen these linkages?
Ulverston is clearly identified as having a pivotal role in offering an attractive market town for speciality shopping etc. What also needs to be identified is the concentration of specialist high added value manufacturing in Ulverston with GSK, Oxley, Marl, Forge Europa etc.
8. Which of the above major projects outlined in Section 9 do you consider will provide an important means on implementing sustainable development in the District and should be supported in the LDF? Are there other major projects that should be delivered?
The Ulverston Canal Masterplan if effectively implemented offers a major opportunity to regenerate an area close to the town centre. This would generate much needed jobs in an area which has suffered signficantly from job losses at BAE SYSTEMS, GSK and Ashley and Rock. This project is also a key element in the Ulverston and Low Furness MTI. I would strongly question the feasibility of an Ulverston bypass bearing in mind the High and Low Neewton bypass has taken some 30 years and is still not built.
9. Are there further issues that should be addressed in the LDF Core Strategy? Please outline your general comments.
I would like to congratulate the authors of the Core Strategy Issues and Options document in developing such a readable, jargon free, accessible paper. The key issue will be to evaluate the issues and options and seek to combine impact with feasibility to produce a framework which will make a significant, positive difference and which can be achieved.