A Society Dedicated to Preserving and enhancing the environment of the Stour and Orwell AONB
7 May 2009
Review Manager
(Norfolk & Suffolk Review)
The Boundary Committee for England
Trevelyan House
Great Peter Street
London
SW1P 2HW
Dear Sir
Given the extended period for consultation I am writing to you again on behalf of the Stour and Orwell Society (SOS), a society dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the Stour and Orwell Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the adjoining Special Project Area.
We have considered further the financial and other information that has been made available in the latest proposals for unitary authorities for Suffolk. We see nothing new that would cause us to change the views expressed in my letter to you dated the 25th of September 2008 (see copy enclosed).
We remain of the opinion that the interests of the rural Shotley Peninsula will be best served by a single Suffolk Unitary Authority. Moreover, the independently audited business plans show that a single Suffolk unitary authority would incur cheaper set up costs than the two-unitary alternative (“North Haven” and “The Rest of Rural Suffolk”) and offer greater ongoing financial savings. Although the affordability criteria have changed it would seem to be foolhardy to ignore the alternative that offers the greater financial savings given the current difficult national economic circumstances.
Again, should the alternative of two unitary authorities be adopted then we would urge you to reconsider redrawing the boundary so that the Shotley Peninsula would be included in “The Rest of Rural Suffolk”. Our members are seriously concerned at the prospect of being part of a largely urban authority that is dedicated to business growth and expansion. The fear is that the present rural environment of the peninsula could well be placed under threat.
Yours faithfully
Rodney Chadburn
Honorary Secretary
The Stour and Orwell Society