The Vision for Hastings
Comment
Core Strategy Preferred Approaches
Representation ID: 1713
Received: 08/07/2008
The strategy is highly dependent on timely development of transport infrastructure & employment space at the western edge of town. While having only a plan A can be argued to give clear direction to development, the risk factor is high if problems are encountered. If certain critical factors are not met then development becomes unbalanced.
Comment
Core Strategy Preferred Approaches
Representation ID: 1720
Received: 07/07/2008
Many members of CWF are aware of many other people who have not been engaged through this consultation & even when people are aware of he main points at stake, they have not felt empowered to articulate a response. While considerable effort has been made to promote the consultation (on what must be acknowledged as a complex subject), there has been little work done to facilitate responses to it. This seems to us a contradiction of the aspirations in the Statement of Community Involvement, which itemises the engagement tools which ought to have been used.
Comment
Core Strategy Preferred Approaches
Representation ID: 1721
Received: 07/07/2008
An unwanted result of this is that the overriding reaction to the core strategy is that it is uninspiring and fails to incorporate the distinctive qualities of Hastings. More precisely the vision seems too influenced by outside decisions: targets dictate house building and significant retail expansion.
Object
Core Strategy Preferred Approaches
Representation ID: 1722
Received: 07/07/2008
There are balanced by holistic approaches to the health, leisure and environmental elements of the headline vision. More concerning to CWF is the lack of deep engagement with how the built environment has and may contribute to concentrated deprivation. The aspects of the core strategy which relate to this are fragile and always secondary to the more robust house building targets.
Comment
Core Strategy Preferred Approaches
Representation ID: 1723
Received: 07/07/2008
The concern of CWF is twofold. Firstly, such a core strategy risks strengthening the forces which are resistant to change. Secondly it is unprepared for the unexpected, whether that is the fulfilment of one objective outstripping another (e.g. housing before health facilities) or opportunities for additionality (e.g. facilities for young people).
Comment
Core Strategy Preferred Approaches
Representation ID: 1724
Received: 07/07/2008
It is impossible in this response to do justice to alternative approaches which have been discussed within and across community groups. What this indicates to us is a need for workshops eliciting more opinion on specific topics e.g. contribution to healthier life styles beyond just building health centres; inclusivity of leisure facilities; the seafront asset; inclusive participation in combating environmental damage; development of new tourist markets. The outcome of this would be to layout a more confident promotion of sustainable communities that fits with the larger development goals.
Comment
Core Strategy Preferred Approaches
Representation ID: 1725
Received: 07/07/2008
This is clearly in line with the government's intention that this process increases constructive community input. Several LDFs from other authorities have been rejected precisely because they have failed to incorporate this element, which is the key to unlocking a developed Hastings that is distinct from other towns. PPS12 (e.g. para's 4.20-4.21) was written to provide guidance to this effect. It is equally in line with HBC's own commitment to Area Management (PA 37), which should already have been used at this stage to demonstrate how other strategy priorities will influence development.
Comment
Core Strategy Preferred Approaches
Representation ID: 1726
Received: 07/07/2008
To the average person the core strategy document seems steeped in 'yes minister' rhetoric that allows in effect open-ended flexibility in delivery. If the LDF is an attempt to ensure consideration of all planning concerns, in other words to be a tool to local authorities in realising the vision, then it fails to build in sufficient safeguards equally.
Comment
Core Strategy Preferred Approaches
Representation ID: 1731
Received: 07/07/2008
The strategy is highly dependent on the timely development of transport infrastructure and employment space at the western edge of the town. While having only a plan A can be argued to give to give clear direction to development, the risk factor is high if problems are encountered. If certain critical factors are not met then development becomes unbalanced.