The following comments were submitted to Selby Council on 17th April 2024 regarding the Selby Local Plan.
Objection to Selby Local Plan Proposal for Appleton Roebuck
On behalf of the Appleton Roebuck and Acaster Selby Parish Council, I am writing to formally object to the proposed Selby Local Plan, particularly concerning the proposed developments in the village of Appleton Roebuck. Our objection is grounded in several significant concerns regarding the soundness, compliance, and duty to cooperate exhibited by the Selby/North Yorkshire Council in the formulation of this plan.
Our objection stems from the lack of adequate communication and consultation with our Parish Council regarding the proposed developments. Despite the significant impact these proposals would have on our community, we have received little to no communication from the Council. The inclusion of Hillcrest within the plan and the changes to existing proposals at AROE-K, AROE-I, and AROE-N, have not been properly communicated to us nor subjected to sufficient consultation. This lack of transparency and consultation is deeply concerning and undermines the principles of democratic decision-making. We wholeheartedly do not believe that your Selby/North Yorkshire Council have shown the legal compliance, soundness and duty to cooperate throughout this process.
The proposed developments fail to address critical infrastructure challenges in our village. The current state of our roads is substandard and unsafe, exacerbated by frequent traffic congestion, especially with the closure of Bishopthorpe Bridge. The influx of heavy goods vehicles through the village poses significant safety risks, particularly around blind corners near the Primary School on Main Street and the entrance to Ebor Park, a residential park home estate, which does not have footpath access. Longstanding issues with drainage and sewage, compounded by inadequate infrastructure, remain unresolved. None of these pressing infrastructure concerns have been adequately addressed in the local plan proposals.
The proposed developments fail to consider the environmental and social impacts on our community. Situated on higher land, these new dwellings would have a detrimental impact on existing properties located at lower elevations, potentially exacerbating flood and sewage risks.
The proposed developments contradict our Neighbourhood Development Plan, which is in effect until 2027. There are requirements for a local planning authority to support neighbourhood planning and where a neighbourhood plan has been brought into force, the local planning authority should take its policies and proposals into account when preparing the local plan. We urge the Council to consider an independent examination of these proposals, taking into account our concerns and the provisions of the Localism Act aimed at protecting the interests of local residents.
The tier system used to justify the proposed developments is fundamentally flawed. Appleton Roebuck’s classification as a Tier 2 village based on outdated criteria that does not accurately reflect the current state of our community. Many of the services cited as criteria for Tier 2 classification, such as the lack of a shop, the closure of the garage, the closure of a local pub and the limited bus service, are no longer operational or do not adequately serve our community’s needs. We urge the Council to reconsider this classification and to conduct a thorough reassessment based on current realities.
The short notice period provided for the consultation process, particularly over the Easter holiday, is wholly inadequate. We request an extension of the consultation period to allow sufficient time for meaningful engagement and feedback from the community. It is deeply concerning that inaccuracies in the proposal were only brought to light when raised by affected landowners, highlighting systemic deficiencies in the Council’s consultation process.
Conclusion
The proposed developments outlined in the Selby Local Plan for Appleton Roebuck are deeply flawed and fail to address the concerns and needs of our community. We urge the Selby/North Yorkshire Council to reconsider these proposals in light of our objections and to engage in a more transparent and consultative process that respects the principles of local democracy and community engagement.