Oakham Action Group October – for immediate press release

On Monday evening the 27th September twenty seven Rutland residents met to discuss the recent planning proposal

placed by Jeakins Weir Ltd. to build 112 houses on Uppingham Road, Oakham.
The group decided to set up an action group to gain support to protest the planning. Richard Swift was appointed the
Chairman with Judy Geer as secretary.

The group was advised that now is the time to act. Now is the time when a planning application is put forward for
local residents to have their say so the council can make an informed decision.
The key objections from the local community are based on the following points:
 It is premature to consider a new development outside the “preferred option” of the Council at a time when
the Council is confirming the Hawksmead development to the North of Oakham which with 1,000 homes will
be enough to satisfy all the housing needs of Oakham for the next 20 years.
In line with the Council’s core strategy the Hawksmead development was submitted to the council for
approval in March 2010 for 1,000 new homes – 300 of which are affordable housing that the town needs. It is
proposed that all these will be built to the best “eco” standards in the UK. The full council meeting to
approve this development is in November and is the “Preferred option” in the Rutland County Council’s core
strategy. There are tremendous benefits to the whole community of this scheme such as free Football and
Rugby pitches for the town, a free permanent home for the Rutland Show, the Land’s End link road which
was paid by the developer and donated for the benefit of the whole community.
The Jeakins Weir development in the south east of Oakham is therefore unnecessary to meet the housing
demands of Oakham in every regard. Which is why it is outside the Rutland County Council’s core strategy
and described as the “green lung” of Oakham.
 There are enough brown field sites within and around Oakham for a minimum of 100 new houses to be built.
Giving the total of 1,100 new homes that are required for Oakham between 2006 and 2026.
 The Southern approach into Oakham is both stunning and unspoilt. The new development will destroy this.
Given the significant landscape value and its proximity to Rutland water this makes it all the more important
to preserve.
 Access issue - The Uppingham Road is a busy road with lots of school and commuter traffic in the morning
and is difficult to cross. The significant increase in traffic the Jeakins Weir development will create will make
this worse and more dangerous.
 Disturbing the native wildlife including badgers, woodpeckers, barn owls and bats. Important landmark trees
such as copse are on site. Many established trees have been proposed to be cut down by Jeakins Weir.
 The site has archaeological importance with the recent discovery of an ancient windmill mound.
 If the development goes ahead in this part of Oakham it will set a precedent for further development within
the southern locality.
For more information about the action group please visit the Oakham Action Group website at:
www.Oakham.Action.co.uk
Objections to this proposal must be sent to the Planning Officer at Rutland County Council by 14th October 2010.
The Application can be viewed on the Council Website –Rutland.gov.uk/developmentcontrol under the Search for
Application option under reference OUT/2010/0954.