THE Maldon Local Development Plan examined by the Inspector in January included a policy (N3) which effectively excluded development of open spaces and a policy (I.3) which was a Planning Brief for Primrose Meadow.

The Inspector required that I.3 be left out of the LDP but the possibility of developing Primrose Meadow has now been smuggled back in under the guise of a rewritten version of N3.

This now allows for the possible development of any open space (which includes parks. play areas and allotments), if a case can be made out for it (i.e. is acceptable to the Council). This potentially gives the council a free hand to consider any open space in the district for development.

This will provide an unexpected boon for developers, but is a clear illustration of the danger of making a general rule in order to deal with a specific situation.

Yet the argument that sale of the land is essential to finance future expansion of Plume School does not stand up.

The County is obliged to fund any extra places anyway and the school is assumed also to secure finance from the pooled infrastructure development fund to which developers contribute.

Plume School is entitled to both sources of finance, so it looks as though the County Council is simply wanting to use the proceeds of sale of Primrose Meadow for other purposes.

Christopher Swain

Mermaid Way Maldon