Bassetlaw MP snubbed over calls for local plan consultation extension

As part of its 15-year housing plan, the council has set out proposals to build thousands of new homes – including 750 which have been fixed for land east of the A1 at Five Lane Ends.

There are also plans to build 750 homes near Thievesdale – with five hectares of land set aside for employment and business use specifically within the green energy sector.

Many Thievesdale householders strongly oppose plans for the new homes – which will blight a rural view for some – with an online petition attracting hundreds of signatures.

Last month Conservative MP Mr Clarke-Smith wrote to the district council’s chief executive Neil Taylor – saying he had received an ‘unprecedented number of communications from angry and concerned constituents’ over the plan.

He wrote how the council’s public consultation schedule was ‘very restrictive in gaining the maximum input from local residents across Bassetlaw’.

He wrote: “I would therefore like to formally request that Bassetlaw District Council urgently considers extending the public consultation period in order for the public to maintain confidence in the process.”

However after receiving a reply from Mr Taylor – which he published on social media – the Bassetlaw MP confirmed there would be no extension to the consultation period.

In his reply, Mr Taylor wrote how 16 consultation events had been publicised through the local media, on the council’s website, in town centres and on social media.

He added that the events – as part of the now closed six-week consultation – had been ‘well attended’ and had attracted ‘hundreds’ of consultation responses.

He wrote how Bassetlaw had ‘exceeded’ the guidelines for consultation and had emphasised it was ‘extremely important’ for residents to share their views.

He wrote (SIC): “At the very beginning the council invited both you and Robert Jenrick (Newark MP) to meet and discuss the Draft Bassetlaw Local Plan. But, neither of you have responded, until your letter which was 48 hours before the deadline for closure of comment.”