I am a Liberal Democrat councillor in Peartree Ward, along with Malcolm Cowan. Malcolm Cowan is also a County Councillor for Handside and Peartree Wards. Tony Skottowe is the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the local council.
Here you can see me with Nigel Quinton, in Peartree Pomegranate Café looking at the plans for the Broadwater Development, during the consultation, which took place in April and May 2008. We worked hard, and submitted some ideas for consideration. The exhibition behind us was held in the Peartree Pomegranate Café, at the Woodhall Centre. There was a period of consultation and finally the Supplementary Planning Document for the Broadwater Site was passed by the planning committee. Peartree Pomegranate Café has now moved to some lovely premises at the Catholic Church. They will be opening up there on 5th October 2009. At the moment they are busy moving everything over there.
The Broadwater Supplementary planning document was all about the new development that is being planned for the area where the old Shredded Wheat Factory was. This has now closed, but the site is considered historic, especially the silos, which English Heritage thinks are interesting. The whole area is being developed, with mainly housing planned, and also some light retail and community facilities. There will be a new rail link, as the current footbridge across the railway line is not the most inviting.
Retail on the site is not currently allowed. This means, as far as I understand it Tesco, who own the site, do not have permission to build a store there. They might be allowed a small store but not a superstore. I believe they would like to have a medium size store there that would sell not only food but other goods, like clothing and computers for example.
Spenhill, the regeneration arm of Tesco have also conducted some consultations about the site, and they have developed some ideas about what might go on the site. This includes a swimming pool, and various community spaces. They had an exhibition that could be viewed in the town and they have asked for people's views.
Malcolm Cowan, our county councillor, has gained some agreement for improvements to the lighting and general functioning of the bridge. It is an important link to the town centre, and when it is rebuilt there will need to be ways for disabled people to cross as well. At the moment they need to take the long way round by road.
I have lived in the Garden City for well over 20 years, and my children went to local schools.
If you have any questions, come and meet me during my surgery times, or contact me at any time and I will get back to you. If I cannot help you directly, I will be able to refer your query to the appropriate source.
My Surgery Times - Peartree Ward
I am on the environment and social scrutiny committees. This means I help to support the councillors on those committees.
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