Environment and Planning

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Manor Field Pond

“What on earth is going on” you are most likely to think if you have visited Manor Field Pond this week. Well, the pond has had it’s annual clear out. I say ‘annual’ but sadly this wasn’t able to happen the last two autumns. This is because rain started to fill up the pond earlier than anticipated so it wasn’t possible for the digger to go onto the floor of the pond. This year’s conditions were perfect, but with three years’ growth to clear, a rather large heap of debris was created (which will be removed)!

Apart from blanket clearance of the floor, the other object was to define the reed bed and remove stray reeds everywhere else. Where there were substantial clumps, selective inroads were made into the sides, avoiding plants that we wanted to keep and for seeds to re-populate the cleared areas. Remaining stray reeds entwined with the plants will be carefully removed by hand.

We look forward now to see what plants come up and hopefully some aquatic life and water birds (which sadly have been absent recently) might take an interest and colonise.

All we need now is water! So, please do those rain dances!

Other public spaces

TABS continues to monitor the environmental care of all our other public places. It is with concern that with ever decreasing resources cutting back of undergrowth can happen only when crews have finished grass cutting, and tree work is really limited to emergencies. TABS is in dialogue with the Parish Council on how to improve the situation.

Efforts to care for what we have and to even enhance the parish never stop!

Judith Lord

10/10/25

Planning update

HDC Local Plan

The consultation period for the New Local Plan has ended and HDC is now processing the

comments. So, we await the Council’s approved draft that is scheduled to go to the

Government Inspector this Autumn and to a Public Enquiry next year.

In the meantime, the current Local Plan is still in force. However, this can be argued to be out of date. In addition, the Government have moved the goal posts by upping the housing quotas substantially – beyond what HDC has planned for. So, it is harder for HDC to refuse applications and, if they do, they could be approved on appeal.

A consequence of this planning vacuum is that developers are currently submitting

development plans.

Local Government Reorganisation 

The Government is looking at changes to the Councils to reduce their number and has invited the City, District and County Councils to work together to achieve this. For more information go to www.northcitysouth.co.uk.

Planning Applications

TABS monitors the local planning applications to HDC and responds to any that will have an impact on the parish.

Two things give rise to rumours:

• flyers have been distributed describing building. These are NOT planning applications,

             just the developer 

             sounding out               

             public opinion

• some applications to HDC are just ‘screening’ applications where the developer sends some details and asks HDC what other details are required for a full application.

As at 1 August, there are two applications of interest pending decision at HDC:

• a Lidl store off Zouche Way
• nine bungalows plus an overflow car park on Manor Field South (between Holmleigh

              Gardens and the           

              Recreation Area).

Further input from the applicants including clarification of some points has been requested in both cases.

Lastly, as can be seen, the 73-bed Care Home on the Uppingham Road (approved in 2023) is being built, due for opening in 2026. 

Mike Lord

1 August 2025