Rother's Local Development Framework

Rother's Local Development Framework (LDF) proposes a "country avenue" leading to an Ashdown Landfill

Background

In November 2008, Rother District Council published its 'Consultation on Strategy Directions' document, the latest stage in the preparation of new 'Core Strategy' that will guide future development and change in Rother District until 2026.

This is part of the Local Development Framework, a series of documents representing a new planning system throughout England and Wales which is designed to involve local communities in providing a policy framework for planning decisions. The Statement of Community Involvement was produced after consultation in 2006 to provide protocols for public involvement in the process and last year there was a consultation called 'Issues and Options' with a document asking very broad questions to stimulate public debate about how the district should evolve and grow. BALI participated in both these consultations.

Is it important?

The LDF is very important and will replace the Rother District Local PLan. However, it should be remembered that waste disposal is not a subject for local (district) Councils as a county matter. This will be covered in the ESCC Waste and Minerals Development Framework (WMDF) which will replace the ESCC Waste Local Plan (which first included the proposal for a landfill site at Ashdown).

The current stage

The current stage of the LDF is the most important as it deals with the Core Strategy, the key planning document which:

"...will set the overall vision and general distribution of development for the district....identify broad locations for housing and other development needs, including for employment, shopping and community facilities."

BALI made detailed submissions to the 'Consultations on Strategy Directions' in January 2009, supporting much of the general proposal for protection of the environment in the district. It however, vigorously opposed its vision for North and West Bexhill in the section 6.33 - 6.38 (on page 42) of the document, which proposed an extension of a 'Country Avenue' from the Link Road up to and across the A269 Ninfield Road*, lined with developments and "providing the transport infrastructure regarded as essential to the planned landfill use of the Ibstock site"

Our arguments were manifold and you can read an extract of them. The most important were that to propose a road leading to the Ibstock site was premature and beyond RDC's remit as neither transport nor waste are district matters and that the forthcoming ESCC WMDF had not yet decided on waste disposal sites.

*in fact, in 6.38 they envisage the Country Avenue carrying on right down to the A259!