More homes make mockery of local plans

I HAVE to express my disgust at the recent decision by Amber Valley Borough Council to approve the building of a further 46 houses in Kirk Langley.

How can it be right to build on this scale in a village without shops and wholly inadequate amenities to support the recent approval of developments which will total 144 houses?

Last year (July 2020), our local parish councillor proudly presented us with a summary of the “Kirk Langley Neighbourhood Plan”. This proclaiming that it had passed the

final examination as of June 12 and that it would be the subject of a referendum on May 6, 2021 at which time (if approved) it would pass into law until 2032.

The referendum was held with a majority of 94% in favour. One would be forgiven for thinking, thank goodness for that.

The parish council and parishioners are not against expansion. The now adopted KLNP accepts that pocket infilling, adaptation of farm buildings and no large-scale (10 or more properties) should be allowed.

Add to this the fact that Amber Valley has surpassed its commitment for new housing supply and the reader should now begin to understand my disgust.

For what use it is, the KLNP (and the Amber Valley Borough Council “Supplemental Planning Document”) are expensively produced scrap paper.

To add insult to injury, we are now in receipt of a circular with the smiling face of the local councillor asking for involvement in the future plans for the area.

What will be the point of getting involved in yet another futile exercise?

As I see it, planning is done by developers with AVBC acting as a secretarial service to administer their intentions.

I am also led to believe that a further two fields have been sold to a developer. Watch this space!

Mr CS Andrew, Kirk Langley