MP Bill Esterson has called criticism of FRAG’s plans for Formby “a damning indictment of the way they run the Parish Council”, describing their Neighbourhood Plan as lacking substance and credibility after responses to a consultation on the plan described it as “confusing”, “not appropriate” and “unjustified”
Mr Esterson also hit back after some Independent or FRAG members of Formby Parish Council objected to the MP’s comments on the parish council’s Neighbourhood Plan. Mr Esterson had pointed out that the independent FRAG run Parish Council plan suggested fracking could be supported in Formby.
The MP also highlighted comments made by various agencies, including the Environment Agency, the Wildlife Trust and the Lead Local Flood Authority, all of which were highly critical of the Neighbourhood Plan.
Bill Esterson MP reiterated his opposition to fracking, saying Labour would ban it in Government, and called on the Independent-controlled Formby and Little Altcar parish councils to explain why their Neighbourhood Plan suggests that fracking could be supported if “there is substantive evidence that it comprises sustainable development that the local community needs”.
Mr Esterson also questioned how much money had been wasted by the FRAG run Parish Council on a document that the Planning Inspector, who is due to inspect it in the coming months, may throw out entirely, given how poorly written it is.
Mr Esterson said that as the area’s Member of Parliament it was his responsibility to point out the flaws in the Neighbourhood Plan. This is because Neighbourhood Plans must be as accurate and strong as possible as they are a legal document which influences planning decisions. As well as suggesting that fracking could be supported, the FRAG run Parish Councils’ Neighbourhood Plan says that it “supports the delivery of more housing than that set out in Sefton’s local plan”.
Other respondents to the consultation on the Neighbourhood Plan said parts of the plan were “confusing”, not “appropriate”, were “unjustified” and that the plan “presents a missed opportunity to deliver a local plan that would work for… local residents.”
Sefton Council criticised the plan produced by the FRAG controlled Formby and Little Altcar parish councils, writing in their response to the consultation: “The Council were disappointed and somewhat surprised to be notified that Formby and Little Altcar Parish Councils intended to submit a Neighbourhood Plan for examination after a period of 18 months since they last engaged with the Council. During this period the Council offered assistance and sought updates on the progress of the Neighbourhood Plan, but no information was forthcoming. The Council have always been willing to work with the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group to help them deliver a Neighbourhood Plan that would help achieve their aims whilst supporting sustainable development. The amount and range of comments that the Council, and others, have made at this stage reflects the lack of opportunity to engage on the Neighbourhood Plan in the past 18 months. The Council feel that this presents a missed opportunity to deliver an effective Neighbourhood Plan that would work for everyone, particularly local residents.”
Formby’s MP Bill Esterson said: “Independent councillors running the Parish Councils need to explain how much money has been spent on this Neighbourhood Plan and why they have completely failed to engage with experts in the fields of planning and flooding. They seem to think their own ‘local knowledge’ – which is referred to in the plan as a basis for objections to development – is somehow superior to the knowledge of those who are have studied the science and are professionally qualified in these areas.
“The plan is littered with statements that are not backed up by any evidence, reasoning or justification, and looking at the guidance on seeking approval for a local plan, it is highly likely that the Inspector will send the Independent run Parish Councils back to the drawing board. But at what cost to Formby and Little Altcar parish precept payers?
“They also need to explain why their Neighbourhood Plan says they would support ‘more housing than that set out in Sefton’s Local Plan’ and where exactly they think these extra houses would be built, given their previous statements about opposing house building in Formby.”
The MP also pointed out that the independents say they could support fracking, but told residents they were against it on their recent election leaflets. Mr Esterson said: “During the recent local election campaign, FRAG said they were against major development of housing in Formby and against fracking. But the Neighbourhood Plan published on their own Parish Council website says they could support fracking if ‘there is substantive evidence that it comprises sustainable development that the local community needs’.
“I oppose fracking and Labour will ban it next time we are in government. The independents have made a number of accusations about my voting record in Parliament, but have been unable to say which votes they are referring to. The reality is that I voted against the fracking regulations and that I want to see a ban on fracking as we have to address the climate emergency and invest in the future not the past. That means supporting wind, solar and tidal energy not burning more gas or subjecting our communities to damaging local environmental activities like fracking. It also means decarbonising transport and housing. We need electric and hydrogen cars, buses, lorries, trains and yes, aircraft, which is why Labour is so keen on a green new deal at the heart of our industrial and export strategy for government. And we should make sure people have affordable homes, which are energy efficient, again a key commitment by Labour for any election. These homes should be sustainable and they should meet the needs of local people first. That’s why they should be affordable not just the executive style of housing favoured by the developers.”
“The Neighbourhood Plan for Formby and Little Altcar really should be about standing up for the people and the environment here. That’s why I find it so hard to understand why FRAG has included these two statements suggesting more development not less and setting out the circumstances when they could support fracking. What FRAG have done makes no sense and the way it is written raises questions about the people who have written it. The plan badly lets down the people of Formby. I would suggest the Parish Councils listen to the feedback they have received in the consultation and rewrite the plan before the planning inspector insists that they do so.
“FRAG’s plans have been shown to have no substance and no credibility. The Lead Local Flood Authority, the Environment Agency, Sefton Council and even the Wildlife Trust have been very clear that they are dismayed at what is written.
“Transparency in public affairs is critical, and it is very unclear as to the amount of public money that FRAG have spent on this shambles of a plan. A poor plan is of course no plan at all, other than a plan for failure. Sadly this is what FRAG is offering to the people of Formby.”
The Wildlife Trust wrote in its consultation response: “Biodiversity still does not come over as important and wildlife corridors don’t really feature. Very few of our concerns have been taken on board. The Trust is disappointed at the missed opportunity to include proactive policies aimed at enhancing biodiversity, habitat creation and ecological corridors.”
The Environment Agency commented: “Statements such as ‘locally known’ and ‘real world’ cannot be considered appropriate.”
The Lead Local Flood Authority wrote:” The Lead Local Flood Authority has significant concerns about the draft Formby and Little Altcar NDP and feels that the current document and policies are not suitable for adoption or implementation as it stands. Large sections of the document relate and seek to address flooding and flood risk, and therefore this should have been written in partnership with the Lead Local Flood Authority and other flood Risk Management Authorities who are the Environment Agency and United Utilities.”
Sefton Council said: “The plan fails to meet the basic conditions for Neighbourhood Plans for three reasons: The plan has not had due regard to national planning policies; The plan will not contribute towards sustainable development for a variety of reasons including confusing policies that are open to interpretation, and policies that may have the effect of constraining development, potentially in some case, even small-scale development; The plan is not in general conformity with the strategic policies in the Local Plan. This applies to the affordable housing policy, but potentially in other areas. The NP in its current state does not provide an appropriate mechanism to help support the effective planning in the area. It is unclear in what it is trying to achieve and many of the policies and statements are unjustified and would be difficult to implement.”
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