Forum for residents of St Georges Park and Long Leys Road Lincoln

[john shipton]

By now every household in Lincoln should have received information from Taylor Wimpey by post about the company developing the flood plain of Swanpool, known as the Western Growth Corridor. They state that senior officers at Lincoln City Council agree in building on this flood plain because of minumum risk of flooding.
This article was taken from the Lincolnshire Echo today, 21st February.
See also letters following.
You decide Lincoln's future!

500 EXTRA HOMES TAKE SWANPOOL TOTAL OVER 5,000

08:00 - 21 February 2008


Five hundred extra homes could be built on a Lincoln flood plain if controversial new plans are approved.

Developer Taylor Wimpey wants to see the homes added to the proposed Swanpool development in the city - taking the total number of homes to 5,030.

The company has also unveiled plans to ease the woes of local motorists by creating a link from the site to the city centre via Beevor Street.

And it has now confirmed proposals to tackle flooding fears by digging reservoirs and using the earth to raise the height of the land.

Lincoln City Council has welcomed the road link as a crucial way of easing the traffic problems along Skellingthorpe Road and Carholme Road.

But Skellingthorpe Road Community Residents Action Plan (SCRAP), the campaign group leading the fight against the plans, described the latest proposals as "disastrous".

The development's future still hangs on whether the Government gives the go-ahead for the site, after a regional planner's report last year called for the proposal to be scrapped.

For the full story on Lincoln's Swanpool development, see Thursday's Lincolnshire Echo.


EASING TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK IN CITY ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE
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09:45 - 21 February 2008



I See from the latest Western Growth Corridor newsletter, or should I say propaganda issued by the proposed builders Taylor Wimpey, that the Swanpool development is still going ahead.

Not content with causing gridlock on already congested roads by building 4,550 new homes, the figure has now increased to 5,000.

That is going to mean at least an additional 5,000 cars, which will be pouring on to Tritton and Skellingthorpe roads, as well as on to the bypass - roads that are already congested.


They are also now adding to the problem by building an additional road into Beevor Street of all places.

Why don't we cause more congestion by increasing the rail traffic as well - ah yes I forgot we are already doing that.

It is obviously money that is driving this ridiculous plan, according to the propaganda half the site is already controlled by Taylor Wimpey - when did that sneak through?

Do we have a transport and planning department in Lincoln? And if so do they have any idea what is going on out there?

Swanpool floods now, it is in a hollow, no matter how many holes they dig to supposedly take the flood water away, it will flood in the future.

Only last week it was announced by the Government that it was going to ban residents concreting over their drives due to increased flood risk.

What on earth do they think building another 5,000 homes on a floodplain is going to do?

The newsletter goes on to state that we are to have yet another hotel and a business park is also going to be built to attract "major inward investment". Please don't make me laugh any more - this whole scheme would be hilarious if it wasn't so serious.

Who in their right mind is going to come to a city that has no decent link to any motorway; and if you do manage to get near to the city, you run into congestion now, not in the future.

I suppose the hotel will be able to put stranded travellers up when they cannot get home through the traffic.

What would be my plan, I hear you ask - well it is not rocket science:

This would keep the city moving and would attract investment, as people would want to come here. It cannot be done here, you say - take a look at what York, Hull and Grimsby have done.

What do our planners come up with instead - making some of the roads in the city one-way, at least all the congestion will be heading in one direction.

NIGEL SHIER, Old Chapel Road, Skellingthorpe



I'm sure the council are happy with this, more council tax, they don't have to pay for a new road and they get to sell the land! I thought this council was voted-in to stop this! This is the norm for building companies, they put planning in for so many houses, and then change it, you wait it will change again. The environment minister and the environmental agency are against this planning, why is it even on the table. As the environmental agency is against this planning, insurance companies will not insure the houses.
Ray, Skellingthorpe Road


If the levels are raised, does that mean my house will become more of a flood risk? There is still a large area still flood from the rain in January. Complete madness!!!!!!!!!!!
Marcus Fox, Westwood Drive, Swanpool


As marcus has said there is a lot of water still standing from the rain that we had in Jan raising the land that they are proposing to build on will no doubt put our houses at risk even more so than now.. maybe we could get a pontoon built under our house so when it rains we could rise up with it. and maybe just maybe if there were issues talyor wimpy might just pay for our damages and increased insurance premiums for ever ??? i doubt that very much . Dont you ?
Robinson , Swanpool Island (Westwood Drive)

[john shipton]

These letters were published in the Lincolnshire Echo today, 27th February...

FLOOD WARNINGS BUT EVEN MORE HOUSES ARE PLANNED

09:45 - 27 February 2008

Along with many other residents, I have received Taylor Wimpey's latest update on the Western Growth Corridor.

I am sure I am not alone in being alarmed at the new proposals. Having had the previous plans rejected after objections from the Environment Agency, it is now proposing to increase the number of houses, from 4,500 to 5,000!

The leaflet informs us it has commissioned a further "independent" review of "flood mitigation". If it is commissioned by the builders, it cannot, by definition, be independent. What they mean is that it is independent of the Environment Agency - the experts.

"Improved connectivity to the city centre" is promised (where do they get these words from?) - that is good but a lot of improvement is needed! The leaflet has a nice picture of some people cycling through the countryside - although it is precisely the countryside that it is building over. A picture of 5,000 extra cars would be more to the point.

As for local consultation, we are promised a public exhibition today (February 27). However, the revised outline planning application is due to be submitted in "early March". Quite clearly, with such a time scale, it does not anticipate changing anything as a result of any comments we might make.

Since the land is part owned by Taylor Wimpey, and of little value to it without development, it seems it is simply determined to have its way.

ROBERT DALE Chelsea Close, Lincoln.

There is a lot of water still standing from the rain that we had in January. Now raising the land it is proposing to build on will no doubt put our houses at risk even more so than now. Maybe we could get a pontoon built under our house so when it rains we could rise up with it, and maybe if there were issues Taylor Wimpy might just pay for our damages and increased insurance premiums forever? I doubt that very much.

MR ROBINSON Westwood Drive, Lincoln.

Unfortunately the Environment Agency is a statutory consultee and as such can make recommendations, but it is not able to legislate or prevent these things from happening.

That is pure madness really as it effectively means it can inform us how an area will flood but is prevented from doing anything about it.

Consequently, when its advice is ignored and floodplain is developed, it is expected to pay to put measures in place to reduce flood risk. Currently the EA is only responsible for protecting against river flooding.

It may well be the case that soon it will also have to defend against surface water flooding. Therefore, houses would be built against its advice, and yet it will still have to spread its resources to help prevent these same houses from flooding! What a bizarre system this Government has created.

MIKE OXLONG Brewer Street, Lincoln.

I have received a very nicely printed circular from Lincolnshire County Council outlining the proposed new routes in Swanpool, illustrated by a satellite photograph with the route highlighted in red.

Or so I'm told. Like three per cent of the population, I am red/green colour blind, and a red line printed on a green background is basically invisible. So I'm none the wiser. Five out of 10 for effort but nought out of 10 for thinking of all the things that might go wrong with your circular!

STEVE SKEPPER Sleaford Road, Bracebridge Heath.

If the levels are raised, does that mean my house will become more of a flood risk? There is still a large area still in flood from the rain in January. Complete madness!

MARCUS FOX Westwood Drive, Swanpool.

[john shipton]

I am beginning to wonder what Lincoln City Council is upto regarding the flood plain of Swanpool. They are supporting the development to go ahead.
Will it be the same as the cemetery on Long Leys Road because their officers made their recommendations on 7th October 2003 and the Labour Executive approving on the 10th May 2004 for the cemetery. And now the Conservatives are pressing ahead over this decision and supporting their own decision of approval?
It appears that the Tories are back tracking over the development of Swanpool despite their non approval before the May local elections of 2007.
Who can be trusted ruling Lincoln City Council?

See article taken from the Lincolnshire Echo today, 28th February.

SWANPOOL DEVELOPERS' BID TO GET RESIDENTS ON SIDE
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08:00 - 28 February 2008

Developers at the helm of the proposed development in the Swanpool area of Lincoln have held an event to convince residents to support the plans.

Taylor Wimpey wants to build 5,030 homes in Swanpool, off Skellingthorpe Road, Lincoln.

The revised plans went on display at Lincoln Drill Hall yesterday to update locals on changes to the original 2006 blueprints.

The developer says its plans will "create and support" thousands of jobs, ease traffic woes and tackle the city's housing shortage.

And its plans have the support of Lincoln City Council as well as the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and Lincolnshire Tourism.

But a straw poll conducted by the Echo at the event seemed to show local resistance remains.

People are particularly concerned about flooding issues.

For more on the plans for Lincoln's Swanpool development, see Thursday's Lincolnshire Echo.

[john shipton]

And so the discussion continues.
Taken from the Echo today, 29th February.


SORT OUT ROADS BEFORE WE GET NEW SURGE OF HOUSES


09:45 - 29 February 2008 Lincolnshire Echo



So the Swanpool development is now to have 5,000 homes and the builders are confident they can stop the flood plain from flooding (February 21).

I would like to ask where this flood water is going to go.

The plain currently helps prevent flooding in other areas and the Government even wants to stop people concreting their drives because of the flood problem, so won't 5,000 new homes just cause more flooding in other areas? Do the developers propose to divert the water into the homes on Forest Park, Skellingthorpe Road and Birchwood? It has to go somewhere!

The developer says it will build an access road to Beevor Street. Will this just be a poor substitute for the Birchwood link road that the council thought was important 30 years ago? And how long will it be before some residents call for traffic-calming on the new road or indeed declare it to be a 'rat run'?

If the firm is to be allowed to build on Swanpool, all the flood issues need resolving first and then the roads need sorting out. The bypass should be completed all the way around Lincoln with dual carriageway, the Birchwood link road needs to be completed and Tritton Road needs completing - all before a single new house is built.

IAN WALLER Heighington.

I think that it is absolutely crazy to add more houses and people where there is a flooding risk when it's not necessary. I've worked as a flood risk management engineer for more than 25 years and have seen the fear and devastation in people's lives caused by flooding.

PETER ALLEN-WILLIAMS Lincoln

This idea is wrong on so many levels:

1) One of the reasons to live in Lincoln is the way the countryside creeps into the city centre. This only happens in a few select cities and we are in danger of filling in that countryside and becoming just another urban sprawled small city.

2) Anyone can see that wherever you look around the area in question you see water and each year it seems to reach higher and higher. At the moment it only affects farmers but if this development goes ahead that water will be pushed on to the rest of us.

3) The head of the Environment Agency (Baroness Young) has gone on the record and said that if the agency is to mean anything then this development cannot go ahead.

The one that I dine out on is Swanpool in Lincoln where there is a whacking great proposal to develop in the floodplain.

There is a bit of a clue in the name - if it is called Swanpool and you are living in a house in the middle if it, you might not want it to be a 'Swanpool'.

4) If Taylor-Wimpey is so confident that the land will not flood perhaps it can agree to underwrite all the new homes and all existing surrounding homes against future floods.

Let it put its money where its mouth is!

ANDY BIRD Farrington Close, Lincoln.


Re Swanpool development. Why is it that readers appear to have more sense than our planners? 5,000 homes on a flood plain which will be under water due to rising sea levels within the lifetimes of those who might buy the houses! What about the carbon foot print and cost of pumping away the surplus water and sewage arising from building in a water catchment area. How will they get on when there is a power failure! 5,000 homes linked to Lincoln via Beevor Street which in turn relies on the already overloaded Tritton Road is typical Lincoln mindlessness. In short: this is a dumb plan.
Malcolm McBeath, Hall Lane, Welbourn


As someone who is planning relocation to Lincoln I have a vested interest in it's future wellbeing.On the subject of Swanpool we in this area are seeing a similar story - flood plain development in the face of hard facts!Some one somewhere must have a hidden agenda as these occurences are not uncommon nationwide.It is obvious that eventually these faulty developments will be uninsurable - hence the properties worthless.Perhaps it is time for opposition groups to mailshot the insurance companies to ask if they are prepared to give written guarantees of insurance both in short and long term for housing built on these sites.Once enough publicity is given to their response if any then demand or lack of it for these properties may resolve the issues.
Roger Ennis, Chichester West Sussex

[john shipton]

The debate and discussion is continuing in the Lincolnshire Echo. But there appears to be no reply or response coming from either Lincoln City Council officers or the major developer called Taylor Wimpey.
Hmm...I wonder why!

Here below are letters written by local residents...

SWANPOOL SCHEME COULD BE SUNK BEFORE IT STARTS
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09:45 - 05 March 2008


Having viewed the new Swanpool plans (February 21) there is little new here to alleviate the potential flooding risks the Environment Agency fears.

And even Siemens have taken the wise option and opted for the North Hykeham site well away from future problems.

As for the social housing mix proposed - anyone who has taken the trouble to view the planned layout will see that they wish to build three, four, five, six and at least one seven storey block of flats in the middle of the Swanpool site.

This is a slum of the future for Lincoln citizens to gaze at, rising like a pyramid out of the middle of a flood plain with lakes and canals full of shopping trolleys and the odd car, bike etc to fill it with.

I seem to remember Prince Charles referring to similar things as monstrous carbuncles.

However, at least people on the top floors will be above the flood.

In addition the phasing will mean the road junctions on to Skellingthorpe Road will be built first, followed by the Tritton Road entrance between the buiders' merchants and the Nosey Parker. Another set of traffic lights! These junctions will cause traffic chaos for some considerable time before the link road to the bypass is ever constructed.

And as for the Beevor Street link that Nick Sedgwick of Taylor Wimpey proudly boasts will ensure improved connectivity to the city centre for public transport, bicyclists and pedestrians only - so much for congestion on the Skellingthorpe and Tritton roads being alleviated.

The Environment Minster has said "over her dead body". Well, let's hope it does not come to that.

The whole proposal is a direct challenge to the Government's own policy as clearly stated in PPS 25.

That policy is that no construction should be allowed on Zone 3 - high risk flood plain areas - unless there is nowhere else to go.

In this case, as the EA states, there are other areas that can be developed with no flood risk in the Greater Lincoln area that will provide homes and employment.

So, Association of British Insurers, beware - if the EA maintains its stance despite Taylor Wimpey's "improved proposals" and the development does by chance go ahead, are you prepared to insure, and if you are at what price?

In the meantime our councillors are maintaining a deadly silence.

If I lived west of Tritton Road and around Boultham, Stamp End, etc, or in the Zone Three area I would want to know which directions they are going to paddle come voting time?

If the Minister, tasked with deciding whether the recent Regional Panel Report (stating that no development should take place because of the flood risk) agrees with the report, then the whole exercise has been a waste.

Developers all over the country are probably watching what happens here, because if PPS 25 is overturned the whole of future Government policy on flood plains won't be worth the paper it is written on.

STAN BULLOCK Westwood Drive, Swanpool, Lincoln.

Is it not time the Swanpool development was put to sleep? What are our representatives thinking about?

Not only is it not suitable from the flooding point (I have seen it, I lived there). What about the environmental impact - 5,000 homes at 1.5 cars per home minimum? We are looking at 7,500+ cars near the city centre.

Perhaps the land in the Swanpool area owned by the city should become an extension to Hartholme Park with an underpass under Skellingthorpe Road.

However, if our representatives must go down the development road, then one thing should be very clear - no development till the eastern bypass has been built!

H. HILL, Constance Avenue, Lincoln.

DEVELOPING OUR HISTORIC SITES WILL HIT TOURISM
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09:45 - 03 March 2008


In the light of the comments by Mr Mitchell (February 13) with regard to my earlier letter dated February 8, I believe I am entitled to clarify what I said earlier.

As a former local government officer working with developers I am well aware that planning departments operate under planning guidelines, but then I also understand that if they choose to do so, they can and will ignore that advice.

The furore over the Swanpool area of Lincoln, which is liable to severe flooding, is just one example of what can happen.

No council or planning department should ever consider development of that nature on a flood plain and should use the evidence they have been given to stop potential development, given the even larger claims they could receive if businesses and homes located there were flooded and uninsured.

Further I had been led to believe some time ago that Brayford Wharf North had been developed as a pedestrian zone with a limited amount of traffic and service vehicles using that area to access the hotel already there, and with access down Lucy Tower Street, which can on occasions be blocked by queueing vehicles accessing the multi-storey car park there.

Surely another hotel would only add to the traffic problems.

Unless of course a revised entrance is made from Brayford Way (at even more expense) and a one-way system operates along Brayford Wharf North.

Further, perhaps we have gone toward the compensation culture for far too long when it comes to developers not getting their way with flawed plans which have no bearing on historical roots, and do not fit in with the adjoining environment and earlier buildings.

Another "classic" example of modern building jarring with the old is the eight-storey block just past the "Green Dragon" pub on Lincoln's Broadgate.

I am pleased to note that others agree with me, including the Lincoln Civic Trust and the Society of Lincolnshire History and Archaeology.

Frankly I am concerned that Phil Scrafton (February 15) of Lichfield Planning should claim that the historic office block could not be incorporated into their Brayford plans. If the scheme did go ahead, without blocking the well-known view of the castle and cathedral, I could see it as being part of the front reception area to the proposed development.

While noting Lincolnshire Tourism and Lincolnshire Chamber support the proposed hotel development, they would of course be killing off a good reason for tourism and people visiting the city other than for business.

It is the historic background to the city from Romans, through the Normans and so on up to the memories of the Second World War that are the key to tourism; and I note that nobody from the Hotels Association has commented on whether this new hotel will support the traveller on a limited budget, or the traveller, on business, whose costs are met by his/her business, and whose time in Lincoln would be limited.

It is surely the former that boosts the tourism trade!

Mr Mitchell also claims that I am promoting, in his words, "a vast leisure centre" whereas I am merely supporting those readers who have asked the city council to provide "recreational and swimming facilities" for their citizens and visitors to the city.

If they are to do so, then surely as I was suggesting they should now be looking for a suitable site, if the previous proposals in the paper, bidding for a post Olympic swimming pool, were ever to come to fruition. With tongue in cheek, perhaps the proposed hotel site could be the venue for a pool.

A. M. WADDINGTON Viking Way, Metheringham.

[john shipton]

More and more residents of Lincoln are becoming aware of excess surface water and flooding issues that have or are affecting the city of Lincoln.
It has been to the result of constant planning applications for housing development, change of use regarding land, and improvements and replacing existing buildings.
This has been seen concerning Baker's Field with a new cemetery and secure units on the remaining St Georges Hospital.
People have noticed too that former planning officers that were once employed Lincoln City Council, are in the limelight as planning consultants on various planning applications. Because of the expertise and knowledge they have, their company is in demand. These include plans for Baker's Field (Lincoln City Council) and Yarborough Court (NHS Trust) both in the Long Leys Road area.
But other residents in the city of Lincoln have cottoned on in approaching other former planning officers and former councillors for help in tackling important planning applications that are affecting Lincoln. I am glad that this is being done with residents who are finding flaws over certain controversial developments.
Well, a group of residents are doing this over the Western Growth Corridor which involves building 5030 houses on the flood plain area of Swanpool, Lincoln.
This was published in the Lincolnshire Echo yesterday, 5th April, and is well worth getting a copy to read the full article.

RESIDENTS' EXHIBITION ON SWANPOOL PLAN 'FLAWS'

08:00 - 05 April 2008

Campaigners pledging to lift the lid on the hidden costs of a massive housing development proposed for Lincoln have met with local residents.

The Skellingthorpe Road Community Residents Action Plan (Scrap) has held the first of two exhibitions to shine a light on what it says are the flaws in the planned Swanpool development.

With more than 100 residents coming along to their first meeting, organisers hoping to derail developer Taylor Wimpey's scheme are growing in confidence that public opinion is on their side.

The Swanpool plans would, if approved, see 5,030 homes built in the area, easing the city's housing shortage.

But the exhibition on the plans highlighted Environment Agency concerns about the development's location on a flood plain.

Ian Whiting, the unofficial spokesman for the group, said not enough information about the proposals was available for people to make an informed decision.

"If there was going to be the appropriate infrastructure and if it was not a huge flood risk, we would not be opposed to it," he said.

Scrap member Paul Frodsham said: "People need houses, but why put people at risk when they can build somewhere else?"

To find out where and when the next exhibition is being held, see Saturday's Lincolnshire Echo.

[john shipton]

The Labour government has now decided to wash its hands over flooding on the Western Growth Corridor, known to people as Swanpool whereby Taylor Wimpey wants to build 5000 or so houses on the flood plain.
The government minister involved has dismissed the Environment Agency's recommendations and the many objections made by the people of Lincoln.
The government has given the problem of flooding back to the local authorities to sort out.
Now the Romans decided not to build on this flood for very good and sound reasons, yet the government, through the back door, has given approval for housing development to go ahead.
There are officers at Lincoln City Council who are publically supporting this huge housing estate to be built and are now pressing ahead with an agreement between themselves and the developer. They are declaring that there is no problem on the flooding issue which cannot be dealt with by other means.
I am finding it quite disturbing that a similar stance was taken over Baker's Field to become a cemetery and the problem of flooding ignored for the cemetery to go ahead, even the conditions laid down by the EA.
The reasoning taken is that excess water has to go somewhere and what happens beyond the boundaries of any development, is the problem for someone else to deal with and to sort out. In other words, Lincoln City Council is passing the problem of flooding over Swanpool onto somewhere else in Lincoln - in this case will be the West End of Lincoln and the Brayford pool area. So other areas and residents living elsewhere in the city of Lincoln, have now become expendible.
City Council are saying that the Swanpool development will create another High Street for Lincoln for people to use. So what will happen to the existing High Street which has been used and traffic conjested for centuries?
You decide after reading the many letters published in the Lincolnshire Echo...

WHAT NEXT FOR SWANPOOL AND THE EASTERN BYPASS?

09:45 - 26 July 2008

So the New Labour Government does not wish to play ball with two major projects affecting the city of Lincoln (July 23).

Instead the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears has given them back to planning authorities to sort out.

I wonder what Hazel Blears' real intentions are regarding this?

Let's look at why objections were thrown out by this weak and inconcise Government.

First, there is the long-awaited Eastern bypass for Lincoln to relieve the ever increasing traffic problems which occur every day. Who is actually going to pay for this? When is this important project going to be completed? Who is going to get this road started?

These and other questions have not been answered by this inept Government, Lincolnshire County Council or the unelected East Midlands regional authority.

Second, this government has washed its hands of the problem of flooding in the area of Swanpool in Lincoln.

The excuse made was that the Government minister "took no view" on the flooding issues and dismissed the Environment Agency's recommendations. What a fiasco this Government has caused, for it cannot make an authoritative decision.

And this is appearing in most of its decisions, including releasing convicted criminals from prison due to prisons being overcrowded. It is no wonder that the criminal fraternity is laughing all the way to the courts.

So what will Taylor Wimpey do now in building 5,000 houses on the Swanpool development, officially known on paper as the Western Growth Corridor?

It is a known fact that building developers have laid off thousands of workers due to the slump in the housing market. They are also curtailing building projects throughout the UK.

It is also a known fact that insurance companies will be reluctant insure new housing developments built or proposed to be built on flood plains.

So who are these developers kidding and what are local authorities going to do about the situation?

But then who cares when that dreaded word 'recession' is heading our way?

Will it be the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15: verse 14) if and when building begins on this flood plain?

Who would build his house on sand when heavy rain falls?

JOHN SHIPTON, Lincoln.


Who the hell does Hazel Blears think she is?

She knows nothing of the flooding problems at Swanpool yet she is overthrowing a ruling made democratically.

The Environment Agency knows the problems and Hazel Blears is supposed to represent the people - not Taylor Wimpey. Stop the Swanpool development now before Lincoln becomes another Tewksbury!

G. LINES, Lincoln.

It is P45 time for Hazel Blears in view of her statement that she "takes no view" about the very important Swanpool proposed housing development. The Environment Agency's duty is to guide and protect but she takes no notice of these experts and ignores all the work and effort involved over many years.

I find it quite atrocious that a person in this position fails to listen to the best advice available. When you leave this position, Mrs Blears, I suggest you buy a house within the Swanpool area and like the rest of your neighbours fight for compensation from your insurers, who hopefully do not adopt your attitude of "taking no view" of your claim.

It's painfully obvious that many more hours of thought need to go into this proposal before it is accepted by the residents of Swanpool, who will undoubtedly bear the brunt of this minister's complacent statement.

BARRY LAZENBY Birchwood Avenue, Lincoln.

Why do we bother filling in forms airing our concerns if no-one is willing to take any notice?

The infrastructure of Lincoln is already a joke yet Taylor Wimpey claims these 4,500 houses would cause no further congestion.

As usual, local government is money-led and Taylor Wimpey has very deep pockets. Who is going to be living in these houses?

The news headlines seem to be full of stories about the housing market going belly up and building contractors cutting jobs left, right and centre because no-one can afford houses!

G. HILL, Lincoln.

[john shipton]

Another thought on Swanpool and its development...

WHAT ABOUT HOMES FOR ORDINARY FAMILIES AT REASONABLE PRICES?
Lincolnshire Echo

09:45 - 30 July 2008


If all these houses are to cover the shortfall of housing in Lincoln how on earth are normal people on average wages supposed to afford them (July 23)?

Seems a bit silly to start building a huge development like this when other new housing estates locally are struggling to sell their properties.

These developers generally stick in huge, very expensive five or six-bed detached properties or the smaller starter homes/flats that you can't swing a cat in. What about homes for ordinary families of two or three children at reasonable prices?

On the point of flooding in this area, I can't see how they are going to manage to stop the area flooding without causing problems for other areas.

If they really want this to go ahead, builders need to demonstrate to residents how this is going to work, not just send everyone affected a coloured brochure showing the development 'plans'.

E DAVISON Lincoln

[john shipton]

This letter was sent to me this morning regarding our Urban Village.
Was published in the Echo yesterday.

VILLAGE HYPE

Lincolnshire Echo - 31st July 2008

Don't believe the hype about the council's urban villages ( July 23).
St George's is supposed to have a community centre, shops, etc.
We have a hair dresser,

PAUL PRICE
St George's, Lincoln.

[john shipton]

Readers of the Lincolnshire Echo are following what happens to the flood plain of Swanpool attentively. These letters were published in the Echo today, 4th August...

PROMISING CITY A 'SECOND HIGH STREET' WON'T FOOL US

09:45 - 04 August 2008

I Write regarding your front page story "City to get second high street?" (July 28).

It was revealing in that all three senior city council officers who were quoted seemed to be supporting Lincoln's Labour MP (and the views of their former Labour council leader) in welcoming the application from developers to build houses on the flood plain at the Swanpool site.

It would be interesting to know how many of the senior officers from the city council actually live in Lincoln and deal on a daily basis, as Lincoln residents have to, with the traffic congestion around the city that will only be made worse should this development take place.

Residents in Boultham, Hartsholme, Birchwood and Skellingthorpe in particular know already how the badly planned roundabout junction on the A46 already suffers congestion at various times during the week - not to mention the Tritton Road and associated areas' traffic congestion, especially at weekends.

The officers and the developers' spokesman can offer platitudes that infrastructure will be built - but this is only roads on the Swanpool site for them to access their site to build, not to alleviate any congestion, just add to it! Another 5,000 houses will generate traffic that the existing Skellingthorpe roundabout on the A46 will not cope with, nor will building another roundabout a few hundred yards north on the A46 help matters - if anything it will make it worse.

The only way this development might be acceptable, traffic infrastructure wise, is if a proper flyover junction is built at the junction of the Skellingthorpe Road and the A46, with the A46 also being properly dualled to Doddington Road and beyond to the south of the city.

Promising the city a 'second high street', either as an officer or developer-led initiative, will not pull the wool over any residents' eyes in accepting this badly thought out proposal - and since when did the senior officers of the city council know better than the Environment Agency?

KARL McCARTNEY Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Lincoln

A-ha! Ten out of 10 for the timing and insurance aspects of this, obviously a project designed by the SATs test markers!

With every part of the media telling us that the housing market and the domestic building industry are in free fall what better time to announce a massive new development. Insurance? Three years ago, when the Market Rasen Flood Relief Scheme was commissioned, we all had nice little letters from the Environment Agency telling us we were no longer on a flood plain. Last summer, guess what? Three sets of flooding in the village.

The result - my insurer refused to continue to cover me, not because I had been flooded (luckily I wasn't) but because someone 150 yards away was. Apparently you only need one house flooded within about five postcodes of you and your insurance goes ballistic. Deep joy in the aptly named Swanpool!

QUIN HOUGH Church Street, Middle Rasen

To build in flood risk areas is okay if the buildings are flood-proofed. Sir M. Pitt stopped short of recommending that in the recent review commissioned by the Government. The developers and planners don't have to follow. If new housing is needed, it should be suitable to provide reasonable security for the conditions it is to be built in. If any one is thinking of moving to that development they would be wise to check their insurance costs first. Buyers beware.

DAVID ROE Chartered environmentalist and consulting engineer Hykeham Road, Lincoln

This development could very easily put egg on the face of the builders. They can build the houses but people don't have to buy them. They won't either if insurance companies won't provide cover due to the flooding risk. I wouldn't be too worried about an estate with no houses sold impacting on Lincoln, unless you are a shareholder of the builders, that is!

RICHARD HEAD Market Rasen

Has the hot weather affected these people?

The Environment Agency says: do not build here. So, what do the councillors do? Crazy.

S. RICHARDS Bracebridge Heath

The planning inspectors' report said that this development should not be built. Very sensible. However, the same inspectors also said that the eastern bypass should not be built. It's interesting that people don't seem quite so keen on that part of the report!

K. WHITWORTH Brant Road, Lincoln

House boats would be more appropriate for an area which is officially designated a flood plain.

HEATHER HOBDEN Elsham Crescent, Lincoln

No need to worry. The Conservative city council stated in its manifesto that it would not allow the Skewbridge development to go ahead. So we will now see what their word is worth. Councillor Eddie Strengiel, their then leader, was quite clear about the Conservatives' opposition, so it will now be down to the Tory -dominated planning committee to turn the application down.

MARTIN BUSH, Lincoln

[john shipton]

More and more people are becoming fed up on how a certain developer and senior serving officers employed by Lincoln City Council have become entwined to try and get their way to build 5,000 houses on the flood plain of Swanpool, Lincoln.
They voice their views and recommendations and yet councillors who suppose to serve the residents of Lincoln, remain silent and complacent on the issue.
So who serves whom when it comes down to party politics!

Here are the letters that were published in the Echo yesterday...

WE JUST DON'T NEED THESE HOUSES AND WHO WILL BUY THEM ANYWAY?
Lincolnshire Echo - 6th August 2008

09:45 - 06 August 2008

No idea, no vision. All these houses for Swanpool will be cheap cardboard boxes which already prevail in all the new-build estates around Lincoln.

They just don't get it, do they? We need jobs - proper ones - bringing into the city or the outskirts or how about rejuvenating and re-opening the racecourse or even building a stadium leisure complex for a multitude of entertainment. Anything just to kick some real life into the place. Don't they realise that the next five to 10 years is going to be terrible for the housing market and retail?

CEDRIC WIGSNAUGHTON Manton

REGARDING your story about the development at Swanpool, you forget to mention one of the incentives to get people to purchase a property there.

You mentioned the shopping mall, doctor's surgery, leisure centre etc. but forgot to highlight the fact that, for the purchaser of new houses, there will get a free canoe with every property.

GRAHAME FOSTER Grange Road Bracebridge Heath Lincoln

WE will see what the insurance companies think about the reassurances about the flooding at Swanpool. If they won't insure the houses, people won't buy them! Also, everyone knows that the city council has no power over planning. It can turn it down only for Westminster to overturn it. The developer can appeal, the city council can't.

RICHARD HEAD Market Rasen

[robcrack]

Thought this site was for issues relating to this area?? Where is the line drawn?? I'm not too happy about the price of oil just now.................

[JT]

The planning officer in charge of producing our Urban village from consultation to completion and failure is now in charge of the Swanpool development. Also we may have been the first Village in Lincolnshire to have aspirational facilities instead of the real thing. Witham St Hughes has aspirational facilities now and I daresay the Swanpool Development will get the same sort of facilities.

As for directly affecting our Urban village, the houses near the Common are just over 2 to 5 metres above sea level and if the Swanpool development goes ahead and the rain water is conveyed quickly into the Fossdyke the results might be flooding which could close roads affecting villagers. Just as the run off from the cemetery might when it collects uder the bridge - as it has done before and closed the road.

I suppose there is also the altruistic motivation that we don't want others to be affected in the same way as we have by the incompetence of the same people.

[john shipton]

The plans to build houses on the flood plain of Swanpool appears to be in jeopardy and now may be put on hold due to the recession hitting the UK and the slump in the housing market.
This was taken from The Times newspaper today, 11th November...

Taylor Wimpey, the housebuilder, said it had axed 1,000 employees, bringing its toll to almost 2,000 redundancies following the sharp slowdown in the housing market and the slump in demand for new homes.