I am getting tired and angry about the misinformation and scaremongering that is going on. If you recently received a letter through your letterbox about Calvert Green Parish Council's neighbourhood plan submission, please ignore it because consists of complete lies. In fact the neighbourhood plan is actually the only real opportunity we have as a parish to influence any future development.
Calvert Green is surrounded by land owned by developers. If you look around the edges, you will see lots of road stubs that were deliberately incorporated. A neighbourhood plan is the only fight we have to influence development in our area. I use the word influence because Calvert Green Parish Council is only one of a number of consultees and Buckinghamshire Council may or may not take note of its comments in its decision on planning applications.
Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. They are able to choose where they want new homes and have their say on what those new buildings should look like and what infrastructure should be provided, and grant planning permission for the new buildings they want to see go ahead.
The farmed land to the left of the main entrance to Cotswolds Way is owned by David Wilson who shared plans for over 100 houses a few years ago. It sits in Charndon parish which means we have little influence over any development in this area - even though it would connect to our existing village. This is the reason why we have agreed with Charndon Parish Council to include this as part of our neighbourhood plan's designated area. Without it, we have absolutely no control over decisions made on this land. Whether we like it or not, at some point they will submit planning applications, as will the Dunsty Hill developers and FCC who have also considered housing plans.

If the neighbourhood plan is accepted, the next step is to setup a steering group to ensure we represent the true views of the community and we will be looking for volunteers to join.

All these points have been discussed at previous parish council meetings and are covered in the minutes which are available from the parish council website www.calvertgreenparish.co.uk. Parish Council meetings are open to the public and there is always an opportunity to ask questions. We also make sure that everything is properly explained. I wish that the few people in our community who constantly attack the parish council would actually attend parish council meetings and understand the facts, rather than share inaccurate information. We are all volunteers and bound by strict governance which means that everything we do is transparent and published.

The neighbourhood plan consultation is still open and accessible at https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/planning/calvertgreen-ndp-area. You are within your rights to object to the additional land included, but if you do so, you risk us having no control over any planning decision adjoining our village. Everything is covered in the formally published document below.

Phil Gaskin

Chairman, Calvert Green Parish Council.