We attended this event in company with other members of the CCAG.
The background for this event can be found at the website https://www.jointplanningwofe.org.uk/consult.ti
The four West of England authorities are working together to prepare a Joint Spatial Plan and Transport Study which will set out a prospectus for sustainable growth that is intended to allow the area meet its housing and transport needs for the next 20 years.
Issues we raised during the consultation event included:
- The need for the region’s broadband delivery infrastructure to be included in the transport strategy.
- The need to include the protection of historic buildings in the spatial plan.
- The need to consider community stability in both plans to ensure that unique communities such as that of Bath City Centre are not damaged.
- The need to reflect the importance of tourism to the region.
- Pollution priorities should be revised in the light of research showing that diesel particulates are the most dangerous pollutants where human health is concerned.
- The debate about affordable housing needs to be much clearer about the relative importance of rental against owner occupation.
- The plan needs to reflect the increased forecasts for numbers of students and have a clearer view about how these increased numbers will be accommodated.
- The need to acknowledge the fact that the growth in knowledge-based digital industries which has become central to the economic success of the region is fundamentally dependent on the quality of life that the region creates for residents.