Manydown development planning application due for virtual committee
The Manydown outline planning application is to be considered at a virtual meeting of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Development Control Committee in July.
Outlining the main principles for a new community of up to 3,520 new homes, businesses, shops and community facilities, schools and a 250 acre country park, the application will be the only one considered at the committee’s virtual meeting on Wednesday 8 July at 2pm.
The application was originally scheduled to come to a Development Control Committee meeting on 24 March. However, based on government advice on social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, the decision was taken to postpone all scheduled meetings at that time to protect the safety of councillors, officers and members of the public who would have wanted to attend.
At that point councillors had to attend meetings in person, but the government has since removed these requirements in response to COVID-19. Following this, the council trialled the best way of holding meetings virtually as closely to their normal format as possible, especially around public participation. Two virtual meetings of the Development Control Committee were held successfully on Wednesday 20 May and Wednesday 27 May 2020.
The meeting on 8 July will be live streamed through You Tube so it can be watched through the website in the same way as it would normally be webcast. Those registered to speak at the original meeting will be provided with details of how to participate ahead of the meeting.
The outline planning application seeks permission for the principle of developing the site, including the type and size of development and the infrastructure to be provided. It does not provide a detailed layout of the development or the designs of buildings and spaces.
The applicants are Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, acting as landowners, who acquired a lease on the land to help to meet the borough’s future housing needs.
The application was first submitted in 2017, with updates and amendments made in 2018 and 2019. Throughout the process there has been extensive work by the planning and highway authorities, together with the landowners, to respond to feedback during several stages of consultation.
For more information about the application visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/manydownplanning
Garden waste start date confirmed
Garden waste collections are set to resume from Monday 15 June for existing customers as staffing levels begin to stabilise following the COVID-19 outbreak.
The fortnightly garden waste service, which has over 12,000 customers signed up, will start this month. This follows the reintroduction of the council’s bulky waste collection service in May.
The staggered approach has seen those services requiring the fewest staff brought back online first to ensure the existing waste, recycling and clinical waste services can be maintained for the duration of the pandemic.
Waste collections, which were reduced to a fortnightly collection on Monday 20 April and have the biggest impact on staffing, will remain on the current collection schedule until both the council and Serco are confident the weekly service can be sustained by the crews during the pandemic.
Following the suspension of the service in March, all existing garden waste customers will receive a letter advising them that the service is restarting. This will include information on their collection date, frequently asked questions including details regarding the extension of their annual subscription. No new customers can be accepted to the service at this time but this will be reviewed.
For more information on the services and frequently asked questions visit https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/covid-19-bins-and-recycling
Skateparks reopened
We have reopened borough council owned skateparks following the latest government guidance and with advice from Skateboard England.
The outdoor skate facilities at the War Memorial Park, Rooksdown, Daniel Road in Whitchurch, Chineham Park and Loddon Valley open space are now open to use following the change in government advice allowing up to six people to meet outside, while observing social distancing.
Signage has been placed at all locations reminding users to observe social distancing and follow Skateboard England guidelines on keeping safe while using the skateparks. We will continue to closely monitor these sites.