The Story so far
St George’s Barracks (SGB) ‘Garden village’ /Township
SGB, proposed by Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Homes England supported by Sir Alan Duncan (former MP), with a massive U-Turn by Rutland County Council (RCC).
What started out in 2017 as a Local Plan with broad support from Rutlanders, has been changed out of all recognition, into a Plan that will build a new Township larger than Uppingham
It is someone else’s problem (what does the MOD do with SGB?).
Looking for a Plan (not the 2017 Plan, a completely different 2018 version to suit)
A Plan with no Vision – RCC will only look at a 50-year County vision in 2021 AFTER the Local plan.
| RCC Cabinet/ MOD/ MP | Date | Everyone else |
| MOD announces plan to sell SGB site for Housing | Nov 2016 | |
| RCC Draft Local Plan to consultation (SGB NOT included) | Aug 2017 | Plan was broadly accepted by residents BUT is not then formally adopted by RCC |
| MOD and MP pressure RCC to include SGB in the Local Plan | Mid 2017 | |
| RCC CEO Helen Briggs signs a Confidential Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MOD | County Cllrs are NOT allowed to see the MOU
Only CEO and Council leaders |
|
| U -Turn by RCC
Announced that Local Plan will now include SGB with a Full Public Consultation |
Nov 2017 | |
| Public presentation of “RCC saving Rutland from uncontrolled development by MOD”
Village meetings led by Helen Briggs (CEO), Cllr Oliver Hemsley (Leader) and Consultants |
Nov 2017 | Strong vocal opposition from Parish Cllrs and residents present
Helen Briggs and Oliver Hemsley surprised at the level of opposition |
| Parish Councils Group consultation chaired by Sir Alan Duncan for MOD to present SGB | June 2018 | Most Parish Council reps voice opposition to SGB and the major change to Local Plan |
| “It is in the national interest whether RCC like it or not” -
Sir Alan Duncan MP |
In the local paper – people urged to support the Council’s plans | |
| Specific Public consultation on the Master Plan for SGB (under Reg 18) | Aug-Sept 2018
|
1500 responses - 95% against
RCC one-word response “Noted” In spite of the huge changes to the Local Plan, the whole Plan was not consulted on – only the changes resulting from the inclusion of SGB |
| Homes Infrastructure Fund (HIF) grant £29.4m awarded in principle. Terms yet to be negotiated and will remain confidential. | March 2019 | |
| MP Sir Alan Duncan says
“This is great news for Rutland” |
2019 | £16m of the HIF grant is to de-contaminate the SGB Military base.
Road junction upgrades will likely swallow up the rest |
| County Cllrs demand a full Council debate and vote on the terms of the HIF grant | Jan 2020 | Nothing disclosed as @ June 2020 |
| Cabinet narrowly win a vote 15-11 in full Council to submit the Local Plan to Reg 19 process. | Feb 2020 | Fight4Rutland campaign group formed |
| 8-week Public Consultation postponed due to COVID-19 crisis | March 2020 | |
| RCC announces changes to Reg 19 consultation process, so that the Local Plan consultation can be held only on line.
Consultation period reduced from 8 to 6 weeks |
June 2020 | Fight4Rutland launches campaign
Full Council will not be allowed discuss or vote on the new process |
| RCC Cabinet announce a 3-week consultation on the change to the “Statement of Community Involvement” | June – July 2020 | This reduces Reg 19 consultation to on line only.
The normal practice of making copies available in libraries is suspended. |
| RCC CEO Helen Briggs will retire.
Interim CEO takes over. |
July 2020 | |
| Reg 19 Revised Local Plan Consultation for 6 weeks (reduced from 8 weeks) | Aug – Sept 2020 | Residents will ONLY be able to view plans and comment online.
Fight4Rutland campaign website and media will help Rutlanders have a voice |
| RCC to hold a public consultation on 50-year Vision for Rutland | 2021 | This is too late for any meaningful public consultation and involvement |
- The MOD do not care about Rutland – they are only in it for the money from selling SGB
- Rutland County Council caved into political pressure and are deaf to the voice of Rutlanders
- Creating a ‘Vision for Rutland’ after committing to a New Town is perverse (‘cart before the horse’)
- The COVID-19 crisis will create enormous changes for the future – another argument against committing to a New Town now
- This is the last chance to get RCC to see sense
- A Township at St George’s barracks will be just 400 metres from the South shore of Rutland water – our Jewel in the crown
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