Have Your Say

Localism and Victor Malyon's Article

I have been a Chipstead Resident for my entire life and I would like to take this opportunity to respond on two aspects highlighted in both the CRA newsletter No. 38 and also the article 'Inspirations of Politics, Parsons and Progress' by Victor Maylon on the Chipstead Village Website.

There are currently three aspects concerning Chipstead's future that I feel are connected;

• uncertainty regarding the formation of a neighbourhood forum in line with the Localism act.
• uncertainty regarding development within Chipstead as a whole.
• certainty of developments within Chipstead - such as the new Equestrian Centre & Cane Hill.

In the first instance, it is my opinion that any influence that Chipstead Residents can have in future decision making will far outweigh any initial or maintenance cost.

Secondly, it is my opinion that development is inevitable. The landscape will change, new houses will be built, new transport nodes formed and new industry brought in.

It is the prerogative of the Chipstead resident to shape this development (in whatever means possible) as Victor Maylon rightly points out in his final paragraph.There are opportunities for sustainable development within rural villages - hopefully some which may be considered the ray of sunshine that Victor Maylon asks for.

It is my opinion that the neighbourhood forum must not simply monitor and influence projects; it must actively seek out new alternatives to development that are in keeping with the village essence that the CRA and CVPS work so hard to preserve.

Chipstead is a farming village and is soon to be a world class equestrian breeder. A technology that embraces its past and is aligned with its future is anaerobic digestion, which is in line with many government initiatives such as the Renewable Heat Incentive and DEFRA's Waste Review. It adds value to the farms that provide the digestate and it provides a source of income by generating either gas or electricity direct to the National Grid. It offers Chipstead residents some of the lesser mentioned benefits of sustainable development, such as employment and biodiversity.

For more information, please see the attached link:

http://www.adbiogas.co.uk/ta_content.asp?id=4
Alex Elliott