A special meeting will be held by Caistor Town Council on Monday night (October 26, 2015) to discuss future development in the town.
The extraordinary meeting, at 7pm at Caistor Town Hall Arts Centre, is to formulate the council’s response to the “land allocation” for the Central Lincs Local Plan.
The Local Plan sets out the future of development in central Lincolnshire during the next 21 years. “Land allocation” refers to areas earmarked for business growth and housing developments that are larger than 25 homes.
The land allocation was originally due to be discussed earlier this month, but the discussion was dominated by concerns over one particular area adjoining Canada Lane, Brigg Road, North Street and Hundon Walk.
A long-running planning application has been submitted to West Lindsey District Council for 72 homes off Brigg Road. It has been delayed pending reports.
The 72-home site is close to the Waterhills, a much loved beauty spot in Caistor.
Current planning policy supports development that is within a certain distance of town centres, and the 72-home site is within easy walking distance to the centre of Caistor.
But there have been calls to turn the distinctive landscape into a public open space similar to Hubbards Hills in Louth. Supporters say it would enhance tourism in the town.
A consultation event in Caistor on October 13 about the Local Plan was very busy. The number of visitors was significantly higher than at similar events in Gainsborough and Market Rasen, and visitors were said to be queuing even before the doors opened.
It is hoped on Monday night’s meeting that the councillors will be able to discuss the merits of each site listed in the land allocation.
The timing of Monday’s meeting might be regarded by some as unfortunate, with many residents going away during the school half term holiday.
A notice on the Caistor Area Diary, run by town councillor Alan Caine, has indicated that the public will be given an opportunity to speak at the start of the meeting.
Another meeting has been scheduled for councillors immediately afterwards to discuss the installation of CCTV in the town.
The picture above shows the land allocation, with housing areas shaded in orange.
The area on the brigg road would perfect if it remains a natural beauty place. Water hills in my opinion should never be built on
Brigg Road is perfect – IT IS NOT WATERHILLS.
But our council is considering housing people near sewerage works and fish factories further from the nucleus of the Town.Therefore encouraging people to take to their car’s and adding to Caistor’s problem CONGESTION (so they go elsewhere).
Let’s not forget that the only reason this site is being considered is because of greedy speculation by the land owner, not because it meets a need. The future residents wouldn’t use the Market Place any more than the current population.
Please use the town plan as an opportunity to facilitate employment, improve amenities and protect the countryside that make Caistor special, not irreversibly destroy it with generic sprawl.
That’s the spirit, all landowners are greedy barrons by default and more houses means less people using the town! Let’s make Caistor special again by doing absolutely nothing and keeping it a local village for local people.