News. . . .
June 27th, 2011
Possible 89 new homes for Emlyn
Carmarthenshire County Council has just published its draft Local Development Plan which sets out a framework for development in the county for the next 10 years. The documents can be viewed on the council’s website, but there are many hundreds of pages to wade through, and the language is often very technical.
The plan designates five new areas of development for housing within Newcastle Emlyn, with a total of 89 new homes. The sites include:
- 17 new houses behind Whitegates (the development to your right as you enter Newcastle Emlyn from Cenarth)
- 12 new houses behind Ty Llwyd (between Ebenezer Street and the river)
- 14 new houses on farmland in Penlon
- 34 new houses behind Dolcoed off the Carmarthen Road
- 12 new houses behind Millbank off the Carmarthen Road
In addition, one new industrial zone is designated for the field next to CK’s.
This information comes from just a brief inspection of the documents, and there is much more detail to be winkled out.
Apart from the new housing developments, areas of concern will include infrastructure. Does the road network have capacity to handle more traffic? Is the sewage system capable of dealing with the additional population? What about the schools, medical centre, dentist’s, etc.? Do we even need this many new houses, and what type of housing is being proposed?
The plan is not yet set in stone, and is now open for consultation. The consultation period ends on 19 August.
The plan will have a major impact on many of the town’s residents, and the best thing would be for the Town Council to organise a public meeting with a presentation of all of the information as it affects our area. Please ask any town councillors you meet to arrange this.
I agree with your comments that these proposals have significant implications for the town and also for any residents near the planned development areas. And yes, the County Council documents are wearysome in their content.
The Town Council as elected representatives overseeing many local issues, has on numerous occasions organised public meetings. Only those issues which generate emotional responses, such as the day centre closure, appear to result in helpful and informative consultation.
Other less threatening concerns such as the design of the castle gates and the refurbishment of our major municipal building – the Cawdor (Market Hall), result in just single figures turnout. So by all means lobby individual councillors, but also write to or email the Town Clerk:
clerk@newcastleemlyntowncouncil.gov.uk
http://www.newcastleemlyntc.gov.uk
The decision to hold a public meeting may well rest on the level of response (or apathy) that the Town Council receives.