Cllr Tom Bromwich secures £9,000 for North Weald Library
Earlier this month, Cllr Tom Bromwich (EFIG - North Weald Bassett) utilised his position on Planning Committee A of Epping Forest District Council to secure £9,000 in S106 funding for North Weald Library.
The Committee was reviewing the Tudor House development in Thornwood, proposed by developers GS8. The application had initially been considered in September by the former Area Planning Sub-Committee East which set an S106 condition to allocate £9,000 either to Epping Library or split equally between North Weald and Epping libraries. The proposal was approved. However, the application returned to the new Planning Committee A due to ambiguity surrounding the previous vote.
North Weald gets something back for all it’s given - finally
Cllr Bromwich had supported the original application on the condition that part of the S106 funds would address pressing safety concerns by implementing anti-speeding measures along the B1393 road, particularly the Rye Hill Road bend, which had recently seen a car collision with a lamppost. When the application returned to the Committee, he seized the opportunity to argue against allocating any portion of the funds to Epping.
Speaking in the Council Chamber, Cllr Bromwich said:
“North Weald Bassett is meant to be expected to take on a minimum of 1,050 new homes - an 84% increase, with no supporting measures to accommodate this increased population. Our GP surgery is already struggling and people are worried about school places.
Epping has benefited from a tremendous amount of investment over the years… It's getting a new leisure centre and swimming pool costing £33 million, it will have a new library suggested to be in these offices, a new car park for 330 vehicles, and there is even word of a new three screen cinema too.
*North Weald has not received that investment. The only thing that it has seen is 52 acres of our airfield sold. I don't see why North Weald is not the recipient of the full amount of S106 funds. If we also consider where the funds should go in terms of the nearest library, North Weald Library is 2,860 metres away from this development whilst Epping is 3,130 metres.*
I suggest an amendment to the existing condition, that all the money goes to North Weald Library as opposed to being split 50-50 with Epping or just to Epping.”
The amendment passed unanimously, marking a significant win for the North Weald Bassett community.
A bi-partisan success story
North Weald residents have been quick to celebrate the decision:
“At last someone who knows how to present himself and our needs. I fully agree with you, Cllr Tom, and keep up the good work,” said one Weald Bridge Road resident.
“Fantastic! Somewhere for the kids to hang out in the evenings to socialise and get out of the house,” said another resident from Pike Way.
Cllr Bromwich acknowledged the role of Cllr Richard Bassett (Conservative - Roydon & Lower Nazeing), who proposed the amendment that enabled its unanimous approval. He expressed his gratitude to Cllr Bassett and his Conservative colleagues for their support.