The Spring Update Email 2024 was sent to all members on the 14th of May 2024 and the full email update can be seen here. Click here to see Spring Update Email

The Top Stories in this Update were:

Top Stories This Edition

• Message from Don Mackenzie Chair of Lymington Society
• Social Programme for 2023 2024 Season very successful.
• Society Joins “Town Team” Initiative
• Redrow Site Deadlock Remains Despite Help From Local MP
• Lymington Society Working to Resolve the Future of the Literary Institute
• Neighbourhood Plan Progressing Slowly 
• Report on Plans for the Strategic Sites SS5 and SS6
• NFDC Unwilling to Arrange Meeting with Officers to Discuss Society Concerns
• Society Membership of Lymington Harbour Advisory Group
• Report on Lymington Society AGM March 2023. 

Message from the LymSoc Chair Don Mackenzie

Dear Lymington Society Member,

Welcome to the Spring 2024 Update Email
Welcome to our usual “Spring Email Update” for members, which follows the recent AGM Notice sent out in March. Thank you very much to all the members who came to the very successful AGM held in the Gates Hall, at the Lymington Centre on the 15th of March. See later in the Update for more details of the AGM

Quieter time for the Society on planning issues.
Following the final decision on the redevelopment of the former police station site, which was finally approved last year, the last few months have been less busy for the Society in terms of major planning initiatives or applications.

Major “SS5” Site off Milford Road Given Permission.
The major development of the housing site to the east of the road to the Efford Amenity Tip, part of the so called SS5 site, has now been decided. The main area of concern over this development was not the site itself, but the potential danger of the entrance from the very busy Milford Rd, very near to the road to the HCC Amenity Tip, and a new future access road to the other part of the SS5 site to the north of Milford Road nearby.

Lymsoc Reservations about Access to SS5 site
The Society and the Lymington and Pennington Town Council, both objected to the road layout at the stage of the outline planning application nearly two years ago. Once this outline permission was given, the application for the actual development itself, which thankfully includes 50% affordable homes, was relatively uncontroversial, and was approved earlier this year. This is described in more detail later in the newsletter.
 
SS6 Strategic Site near the Hospice.
The only other major developments still undecided is the very controversial development proposed between Lower Pennington Lane and Ridgeway Lane adjacent to the hospital. This site, designated SS6 in the Local Plan has attracted objections from both the Society and PALLS (The Pennington and Lymington Lanes Association), and the Town Council. Despite the applicant submitting revised plans recently, the Society remains opposed to this application on many grounds and again more details on SS6 can be found later in this newsletter.

Hugely Successful Social programme
A notable success for the Society over the last year has been the amazing support for the events of the social programme which has seen record attendances for most events. Some of the concerns we expressed last year about the financial viability of holding events have not been borne out, and the Society is really grateful for the fantastic support that members have given to the social programme.

Society continue to attract new members.
The last year has continued to see new members joining the Society which is very gratifying, and we hope that we are meeting expectations for both new members and existing members.
 
Keep in touch.
Don’t forget we are always open to suggestions for improvements to the social programme, any important issues that we should consider, or the way that Society is run, so don’t hesitate to contact me at any time.

Kind regards
Don Mackenzie
Chair of the Lymington Society.
donald@donald-mackenzie.co.uk
07860 106120