Cake Competition
A Taste of Success
In a bid to bring the community together Oulton Parish Council was proud to hold its first ever Cake Competition and Parish Council Information Day at the Oulton Community Centre.
The community turned out in droves armed with delicious looking cakes and wonderful interpretation of the various cake themes.
Judge and professional baker Paul Bayfield from Bushells Bakery said “the standard of the cakes was tremendous”.
Winners and Runners Up of all categories were presented with prizes with the Cake of Event prize going to John Grist.
Oulton Parish Council Chairman Tina Claxton said “the competition was a great success coupled with an opportunity for the local community to gain information about the Parish and its Councillors and we thank everyone for making the day a success”.
The winners of the Cake Competition, with Judge Paul Bayfield and Chair of the Council Tina Claxton
Oulton Marshes a Vision Coming True
The Oulton Marshes Reserve, which incorporates Camps Heath Marshes, now totals 208 acres and is developing into an important home for wildlife and a wonderful place for people to visit.
The Broads Authority and Broadland Environmental Services together with Suffolk Wildlife Trust are improving the existing area with work being undertaken by Broadland Environmental Services to strengthen and rebuild the river wall. New interpretation signs are being installed and Suffolk Wildlife Trust will be constructing a viewing platform where viewers will be able to see what once were narrow overgrown dykes only half full with water are now large expanses of open water with carefully placed water control structures to provide the right conditions for feeding habitat for wetland birds and for water loving plants.
There is of course still more work to do but the evidence of success is based on species that are now starting to use the reserve. Oulton Marshes is becoming an evermore important part of the Suffolk Broads Living Landscape and the hope is that more local people will come to appreciate what a wonderful wetland landscape they have so close to their home.
Oulton Parish Council has always supported and takes great interest in the improvements that are continuously being made by the Broads Authority and Suffolk Wildlife Trust and their commitment to the county’s wildlife and subscribes annually by a donation towards the work being accomplished by Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
Book of Remembrance
Oulton Parish Councillor Bill Robertson has spent the last few years creating a truly moving book of remembrance to honour fallen men of Oulton and Oulton Broad.
The book is a tribute to these men and the 
efforts of the armed services during past conflicts.
Presented in a magnificent handmade wooden box, the book records the names of the brave and resolute men of Oulton and Oulton Broad who sacrificed their lives in the cause of freedom in World War 1, World War 2 and later conflicts.
For further information on the book and the work of Bill Robertson, please visit his website setup especially for the Book of Remembrance by clicking here
Woods Meadow Development
Waveney District Council granted outline planning permission for the Woods Meadow development in September 2007. Oulton Parish Council has, as of April 2009, received no planning applications for the first stage of the development.
As representatives of Oulton Parishioners we have consistently argued that the infrastructure in Oulton and Oulton Broad is not capable of taking the additional traffic and number of people that will be generated by the development. We will do our utmost to ensure that the development will include adequate open space and play facilities for children and a large country park, which can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
The following information is from the Lowestoft Area Development Control Committee Meeting of Wednesday 19th September 2007, taken from WDC minutes of the meeting and from notes made by Oulton Parish Councillor’s present at the meeting
Planning Application Ref W17802 – Land South of Hall Lane, Oulton.
Outline Application for a mixed use development comprising of 800 dwellings, neighbourhood shopping centre, community hall, primary school, play areas and a 50 acre (20 ha) country park.
The Monitoring Officer reminded Members of the Committee that this application was sent back for further consideration by this committee following a decision made at Council on the 10th September 2007, as the original reason for refusal was not a lawful decision.
Mr Malcolm Dixon presented the application. He stated that there has been a 70% local demand (within a ten-mile radius) for the new development in Carlton Colville and Warnes have had an 80% local demand. He then introduced the experts covering Highways, Drainage and Land Contamination that were representing the applicant and who would be able to answer any technical questions that might arise.
The Local Planning Authority’s representative displayed a graph illustrating the required housing need through the structure plan for 1999-2016, for the Lowestoft area. He commented that the target of supplying housing would fall short if this development were not granted planning permission.
The Local Planning Authority’s representative illustrated the proposed phasing of the development: the map indicated which areas were going to be built first and areas on site that will be completed towards the end of the development. Finally he referred members to the table of Community Benefits to be accrued from the development and commended the scheme to the members.
Councillor Ardley asked whether the Medical Centre site would be provided with services. The answer was yes. He asked if the Community Centre money was for the building itself, not just the site. The answer was yes.
Councillor Shanahan raised concern about how the distribution of money would be spent in relation to Primary Schools. He also asked how long the Section 106 money can be kept for.
A representative from Suffolk County Council explained that the exact strategy for the distribution of money for schools was still undetermined, as the outcome of the education review was still unknown.
The Portfolio Manager (Legal and Democracy) informed the Committee that normally Section 106 money is kept for five years, however each case could be treated differently.
A representative from Suffolk County Council informed Members that the Section 106 monies for strategic highway improvements would not necessarily happen in the immediate area to the proposed development, but that some monies could be used within the town.
Members were informed that a survey had been carried out less than a week earlier and that the results indicated that the existing highway infrastructure was adequate. Since road works in the town had ceased there had been a reduction in traffic congestion and rat running in Oulton Broad. Members were told that if a new traffic survey carried out after development had commenced showed improvements were required, they would be done.
Councillor Shanahan raised concern about whether the bus service would continue. A representative from SCC confirmed that the local Bus Company would provide an enhanced service to the area that would be subsidised in the early years of the sites development. The company considered the service would be economically viable in the longer term. If the company found this not to be the case SCC could consider subsidising it. Cllr Shanahan asked for assurances that the bus services for the development will continue. There were no assurances given that first bus will provide the service, it could be a private company or could be funded elsewhere. Cllr Shanahan asked if there were any finances available to build the medical centre. The answer given was that the build is the responsibility of the Primary Care Trust. The PCT are concerned that the development may put pressure on them but they are not sure what their needs will be at this time.
Charles Swan, Tina Claxton and Brian Hunter all addressed the Committee, representing Oulton Parish Council.
Oulton Village is fully functional with a dentist and a Doctor’s surgery. More houses would put a strain on these services.
A traffic survey should be carried out after phase one is completed as Oulton Broad is currently at maximum capacity. Until this is carried out all development should stop.
Can we be assured that all public footpaths will be retained?
Where is the foul drainage going?
Where is the surface water going?
Will the trees on the site be retained?
Responses to the above questions:
Footpaths would be retained wherever possible, including Longfields Path, but may be diverted. They will form part of the greenway through the site. Any trees with a tree preservation order (TPO) on them will be retained.
The foul drainage work had not been carried out yet. Work would not be done until planning permission were obtained but would be done prior to the development. The rising main to Corton will be in place before the development goes ahead.
There will be no need for anything to be upgraded in relation to surface water. The surface water will go to soakaways or lagoons and there will be some limited discharge to Oulton Broad. Anglian Water say their adopted sewer has the capacity available.
Cllr Collecott addressed the Committee representing Oulton Ward. He raised objections stating: brownfield sites should be used first; the road infrastructure would not be able to cope with additional cars; Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour would create more commercial vehicles; land contamination issues and the current drainage system floods.
A representative of Norfolk County Laboratory informed the Committee that several contamination surveys had been undertaken and that a remedial works strategy would be followed.
Members were informed that the site has been fully assessed and areas of concern have been ringed and will be removed. There would be enforcement issues to have contaminated land removed. Contaminated land would be dealt with under Environmental Health Legislation.
The new drainage systems will have no effect on the existing system. If surface water on Sands Lane is a result of run off from the site the new buildings will improve the situation.
Simon Wheatman (Agent) addressed the Committee. He has been local to Lowestoft for 25 years. Oulton Parish Council held a two-day exhibition, which he attended on both days. The exhibition was well attended with approx. 350 people coming to view the plans and ask questions. Woods Meadow has been the most investigated site he has ever known.
The proposed school will be positioned next to the community centre and he hopes to raise links between the two. He has discussed the development with First Bus. They are looking at the 102 service increasing to every 15 minutes (currently every 20 minutes). Every other bus would go through the new development. This would give the existing routes extra buses. £350,000 from the development to be given for bus services.
Developers have undertaken two sets of traffic assessments. SCC have also done assessments and included new and proposed developments in their surveys. SCC Highways agreed with the scheme for local improvements needed to roads as a result of the development.
First Bus will assist with the cost of services until the first 400 properties are occupied. This will then be reviewed.
Guidance says Brownfield and Greenfield sites are needed to meet the housing supply.
Cllr Shanahan said many issues have been answered but key concerns are not answered. Councillors should have been provided with details from the traffic assessments. He suggested BI-annual reviews of traffic and that the time scale for Section 106 monies to be kept be increased.
Cllr Winterton voiced his concerns that the issues regarding the road network were not addressing Gorleston Road. It is the impact of the application that many are objecting to.
Cllr Keller added concerns saying they have no firm promises. It is not just Gorleston Road that will be affected but Bridge Road too.
Cllr Baxter said this had been the most intense application ever. Councillors have had advice from experts and can not possibly have any more information.
Cllr Rudd said all questions had been answered.
Members had a lengthy debate. Issues that members felt so strongly about related to highway infrastructure and the need for further studies and funding of any improvements that might prove necessary. It was agreed that a further study should be carried out once 400 houses were occupied and for the survey to include forecasting for up to ten years ahead. An additional £1 million would be secured to fund any possible improvements in the Gorleston Road / Sands Lane area. There was further discussion about the length of time the Section 106 monies would be available to fund any possible improvements. Members suggested ten years from completion. It was also confirmed that the £500,000 already committed by the developers was a separate issue and intended to be used in the wider Lowestoft area.
Mr Wheatman commented that the request for the additional £1 million needed to be reasonable and substantiated and that there would be no need to keep the Section 106 monies beyond ten years, as regular surveys would highlight any enhancements needed.
The majority of Members were content with the proposed conditions that had been suggested. The Committee asked the Corporate Director (Regeneration and Environment) that each suggestion be considered when compiling the final planning permission conditions.
It was resolved that delegated authority be granted to the Corporate Director (Regeneration and Environment) to approve application W17802, taking into consideration the comments / suggestions made by the Lowestoft Development Control Committee.
Any member of the public requiring further information on the Woods Meadow development is welcome to come along to any of our monthly Parish Council meetings.
New Chair person Announced
