May 2025 DRAFT Minutes
Allington Parish Council
Minutes of Parish Meeting held at Allington Village Hall
21st May 2025 7pm
PRESENT
Cllr Baron Cllr Plummer
Kate Griffin (Clerk & RFO)
53 village residents
Apologies – Cllr Reynolds, Cllr Storer, Cllr Marvin, Cllr Carlyle for reasons previously circulated to councillors and clerk.
1. Introduction
Cllr Baron welcomed everyone and introduced himself gave a brief outline of his previous experience working on planning and development.
2. Planning Laws and processes.
Cllr Baron explained planning laws , policy guidance and gave information about objections.
Cllr Baron advised that the local plan had not been adopted yet with 2 sites earmarked on Gonerby Lane and one near the BP garage on the opposite side of the A1. He also discussed the alternative sites south of Grantham at Little Ponton.
Cllr Baron introduced Cllr Beckett from Great Gonerby Parish Council in whose Parish the proposed development is actually situated. Great Gonerby are also working on the objections to the proposed development. Cllr Beckett spoke about their concerns which also cover access/biodiversity/traffic impact/lack of cycle access and no pavements and raised the same questions as Allington residents as to whether we want the warehousing/logistics/eyesore. She stated that the access via Gonerby Lane is a big concern and assured that Great Gonerby Parish Council shares the same concerns as Allington however at the moment, it is a waiting game.
Cllr Baron explained that the purpose of the meeting was to be prepared for how to object when the time comes and that if residents would like to leave their contact details so that when further information becomes available it can be sent to those who wish to raise concerns. Cllr Baron explained that he would be preparing a set of bullet points and advice for residents to include in their objection letters and that letters worded personally would have more impact. He also explained that the more individuals who wrote to object the greater the impact and count as more objections rather than one letter per family. He explained even couples should write two separate letters. He therefore encouraged everyone to write and object as every objection has to be read and counted by the Council planning team.
3. Concerns
The residents spoke and gave their concerns to help create a list for use in objection letters.
There were many objections highlighted and raised which Cllr Baron has made a note of and will add to the bullet point list to send out by email. There were also many suggestions as to ways in which traffic could be controlled which Cllr Baron noted and will include in the future objection plan.Many concerns were raised about speeding traffic on poor roads and especially highlighted was the lack of road safety near the school endangering the school children.
4. Steering Group
Cllr Baron suggested that a “Steering Group “ should be formed so that the application can be monitored and further advice collectively be passed on to residents. Cllr Baron recommended that the 3 locally affected Parish Councils should join together to form this group , this was agreed by Cllr Beckett. Therefore the Steering Group will be created with Parish Councillors from each of Allington, Great Gonerby and Sedgebrook Parish Councils. The Clerk will contact the relevant councils to set up this group.
5. Timescales
Cllr Baron explained that once planning is submitted there is only a 21 day window to object. A resident raised a concern that this could be May 2025 as per the Haworths literature, which Cllr Baron stated he would investigate this.
Feedback from the previous meeting with Haworths was requested which the Clerk will chase.
Cllr Baron advised that SKDC will accept objections written by online/email and physical letter form.
Cllr Baron advised that as soon as the planning application goes through from Haworths to SKDC residents will be advised by email/village notices and that is when they need to go online to object.
A representative from Allington News suggested that if the bullet points could be printed by the end of the month this could be included within the distribution of the newsletter around the village in order to reach more homes. Cllr Baron advised he would look in to the possibility of this.
6. Councillor Baron thanked residents for attending and thanked Cllr Beckett from Great Gonerby Parish Council.
He asked residents to fill in the forms to leave their details in order to receive ongoing information and advice, as and when it becomes available.
Meeting closed at 7:58pm