We are pleased to advise you of the launch of Fight4Rutland.
Fight4Rutland (F4R) is a local campaign group of Rutlanders dedicated to achieving the best for Rutland and Rutlanders in every way and opposes the disastrous over-development planned for St George’s Barracks (SGB). Over 2,300 houses slap bang in between North Luffenham, Edith Weston and Normanton and next to Rutland Water, in a Local Plan seemingly driven entirely by the MOD and Rutland County Council (RCC) in the face of widespread opposition from Rutlanders.
F4R is campaigning for a reasonable plan that would benefit our local communities, wildlife and tourism instead of damaging this by creating a dormitory town of 2,300 plus houses. We are also concerned about RCC’s increasingly anti-democratic position, refusing to currently allow public presentation of deputations or questions, (zoom attendance is allowed but no other participation) and generally appearing to be trying to force the development through at any cost and regardless of the changing socio-economic profile of the UK, including Rutland, following the Covid-19 crisis.
Herewith the links to our website https://fight4rutland.org/ , our FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/Fight-4-Rutland-109059604199382 and our Twitter feed https://mobile.twitter.com/Fight4Rutland All will be regularly and frequently updated as the fight for Rutland progresses.
Best Wishes
The Fight4Rutland Campaign Team
THE STORY SO FAR
St George’s Barracks (SGB) ‘Garden village’ /Township
SGB, proposed by Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Homes England supported by Sir Alan Duncan (former MP), with a massive U-Turn by Rutland County Council (RCC).
What started out in 2017 as a Local Plan with broad support from Rutlanders, has been changed out of all recognition, into a Plan that will build a new Township larger than Uppingham
It is someone else’s problem (what does the MOD do with SGB?).
Looking for a Plan (not the 2017 Plan, a completely different 2018 version to suit)
A Plan with no Vision – RCC will only look at a 50-year County vision in 2021 AFTER the Local plan.
| RCC Cabinet/ MOD/ MP | Date | Everyone else |
| MOD announces plan to sell SGB site for Housing | Nov 2016 | |
| RCC Draft Local Plan to consultation (SGB NOT included) | Aug 2017 | Plan was broadly accepted by residents BUT is not then formally adopted by RCC |
| MOD and MP pressure RCC to include SGB in the Local Plan | Mid 2017 | |
| RCC CEO Helen Briggs signs a Confidential Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MOD | County Cllrs are NOT allowed to see the MOUOnly CEO and Council leaders | |
| U -Turn by RCCAnnounced that Local Plan will now include SGB with a Full Public Consultation | Nov 2017 | |
| Public presentation of “RCC saving Rutland from uncontrolled development by MOD”Village meetings led by Helen Briggs (CEO), Cllr Oliver Hemsley (Leader) and Consultants | Nov 2017 | Strong vocal opposition from Parish Cllrs and residents presentHelen Briggs and Oliver Hemsley surprised at the level of opposition |
| Parish Councils Group consultation chaired by Sir Alan Duncan for MOD to present SGB | June 2018 | Most Parish Council reps voice opposition to SGB and the major change to Local Plan |
| “It is in the national interest whether RCC like it or not” -Sir Alan Duncan MP | In the local paper – people urged to support the Council’s plans | |
| Specific Public consultation on the Master Plan for SGB (under Reg 18) | Aug-Sept 2018 | 1500 responses – 95% againstRCC one-word response “Noted”In spite of the huge changes to the Local Plan, the whole Plan was not consulted on – only the changes resulting from the inclusion of SGB |
| Homes Infrastructure Fund (HIF) grant £29.4m awarded in principle. Terms yet to be negotiated and will remain confidential. | March 2019 | |
| MP Sir Alan Duncan says“This is great news for Rutland” | 2019 | £16m of the HIF grant is to de-contaminate the SGB Military base.Road junction upgrades will likely swallow up the rest |
| County Cllrs demand a full Council debate and vote on the terms of the HIF grant | Jan 2020 | Nothing disclosed as @ June 2020 |
| Cabinet narrowly win a vote 15-11 in full Council to submit the Local Plan to Reg 19 process. | Feb 2020 | Fight4Rutland campaign group formed |
| 8-week Public Consultation postponed due to COVID-19 crisis | March 2020 | |
| RCC announces changes to Reg 19 consultation process, so that the Local Plan consultation can be held only on line.Consultation period reduced from 8 to 6 weeks | June 2020 | Fight4Rutland launches campaignFull Council will not be allowed discuss or vote on the new process |
| RCC Cabinet announce a 3-week consultation on the change to the “Statement of Community Involvement” | June – July 2020 | This reduces Reg 19 consultation to on line only.The normal practice of making copies available in libraries is suspended. |
| RCC CEO Helen Briggs will retire.Interim CEO takes over. | July 2020 | |
| Reg 19 Revised Local Plan Consultation for 6 weeks (reduced from 8 weeks) | Aug – Sept 2020 | Residents will ONLY be able to view plans and comment online.Fight4Rutland campaign website and media will help Rutlanders have a voice |
| RCC to hold a public consultation on 50-year Vision for Rutland | 2021 | This is too late for any meaningful public consultation and involvement |
- The MOD do not care about Rutland – they are only in it for the money from selling SGB
- Rutland County Council caved into political pressure and are deaf to the voice of Rutlanders
- Creating a ‘Vision for Rutland’ after committing to a New Town is perverse (‘cart before the horse’)
- The COVID-19 crisis will create enormous changes for the future – another argument against committing to a New Town now
- This is the last chance to get RCC to see sense
- A Township at St George’s barracks will be just 400 metres from the South shore of Rutland water – our Jewel in the crow
Wing Community 