Crown Estate Public Consultation Sat 21st Jan (Part 4) - Public Opinion

This is the final part of this particular series of articles (thank the Lord) based on local public opinion, as to whether the Crown Estate should build a housing development at the Crown Meadow/Bryanston Park area in Blandford. The Blandford Buzz managed to talk to some of the people at the CE consultation held last week...

This couple like everyone else that attended the CE consultation
took their time to assess the information on all of the boards

This handsome couple gave The Blandford Buzz a nice smile each
and then got back to the business of studying the remaining boards

1) Martin & Millie a married couple, Martin said "traffic and parking is a concern though foot traffic will help keep small shops going" and Millie said "It could be positive for Blandford". For x 2

2) A married Couple who wished to remain anonymous the husband said "We don't want it, the Crown Meadows are iconic for Blandford" and the wife said "The Crown Estate form gives very little chance to express your position". Against x 2


3) Josie said 'I think the Crown Estate will spoil the beautiful views and I'm concerned about traffic congestion and are they going to build a new primary school? we need more schools, there aren't enough facilities, there's nothing going on in Blandford, the town could do with a cinema, there's one up at the camp but we need one in town". Against


4) David said "The flooding and draining information presented by the Crown Estate only gives one professional view, how good is the thinking in the area of flooding and drainage? it's necessary that there be an independent study because it wouldn't be nice if they did build on the Crown Meadow land and then a few years later it flooded, it's not nice for people to have there homes flooded. There's plenty of photographic evidence that the area has flooded, West Street has been in high water, floods do happen and rainfall has increased, what are the predictions for rainfall for the next 10 years? what are the statistical models and even 2 objective view points can substantially vary ". Mostly Against


5) kevin said "I'm not happy with it, if you live near there, the property will decrease in value, I've lived in Blandford for 48 years, I'm Blandford born and bred, there are 30-40 people in this room, how many of them are local?". Against 

A serious subject - yes
but even under such circumstances
 this couple still know how to have a good laugh !

6) Ken & Bernice Bernice said "There are too many houses, there needs to be a compromise". Ken said "The bridge and the view means a lot to us, it's part of the boundary between Blandford and Blandford St Mary".

This couple can't stop smiling even in the midst of serious discussion
mind you they do make a fine picture !

Ken is of the opinion that an old map from about 1984 may have been been used on the traffic and access board (pictured above) - and due to this he believes more recently mapped boundary markings may slightly differ.

(When The Blandford Buzz asked a rep about this, the rep said...oh of course TBB has just remembered that  it cant tell you what the Crown Estate said in response to this query - which is a shame because you the reader cant evaluate the CE's position on this).

There is still  more to point out about the proposed development

Ken said "A compromise is needed, get rid of the 200 houses, put the taller houses about 40-50 at the back, the ones in front can be bungalows with grey roofs so there's less impact on the greenery, this should keep the views nice, so it's not sightable from the river".

                          For x 2 - If things are done the Ken & Bernice way !!! 
                                          (TBB reserves the right for banter !)

7) Helen said "I like the fact that it'll open up the river area, so people can walk there". For 


8) Ema said " We used to live in Blandford, we really like Blandford, a development close to the town centre so people can live closer to the shops, restaurants and leisure centre is a good thing". For
                                                                                                                                                           
9) Palu the magic DWARF (Emas other half) said "It's a very good location, it should have minimal interruption to the environment and river but the people that would live there, will have to go all the way round due to the one way system". Mostly For 

10) The guy in the above photograph - a picture's worth 1000 words... Against


What do you think about the proposed Crown Estate development on the Crown Meadow/Bryanston Park land?  You are more than welcome to leave a comment on this site, just click the "comments" in the red box below this post to have your say