Petition in danger of misinforming
I read with understandable interest your story about the Save Historic Newmarket Action Group's online petition concerning Hatchfield Farm.
I am, of course, aware and appreciative of the concerns voiced by some within Newmarket; indeed, they have helped to colour much of the detail of my planning application as now submitted.
Petitions can sometimes prove a useful way to voice discontent. I fear, however, that this particular petition loses any sense of meaning because of the way it misinforms its signatories.
The development at Hatchfield Farm – if it goes ahead – would not represent anything like the 33 per cent population increase as claimed by the action group.
As the application – which is available online – shows, the increase would be 7.5 per cent by 2021 and a further 7.5 per cent by 2031. So, a total of 15 per cent over 20 years.
I would, of course, never support an increase to Newmarket's size along the lines that the petition erroneously claims is going to happen.
Incidentally, the Office of National Statistics estimates that the UK's population as a whole will increase by 16.6 per cent by 2033.
Earl of Derby
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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