Lee-on-the-Solent is one of the finest coastal towns on the South Coast with a close community spirit and a village atmosphere; I have been fortunate to live here with my family for over 33 years. I am married with two children and five grandchildren.
I have a particular affinity with Daedalus as I served there during my time in the Royal Navy, it ceased to be a Naval Air Station and the home for Air Engineering training in 1996. The South East Economic Development Agency (SEEDA) took ownership of the site in March 2006, they have been working on an acceptable framework for the future development of the site.
It is essential that to achieve this that the site is developed in a structured, coordinated and sympathetic fashion and that the needs, particularly the infrastructure, and concerns of local communities are taken into account.
I hope during my tenure as Councillor for West Lee to help to instigate actions to help to form an agreeable employment-led plan with the maximum jobs and minimum housing.
SEEDA’s outline planning application for the Gosport area can be found here:
http://www.gosport.gov.uk/gbcplanning/ApplicationDetails.aspx?ID=17976
The date for comments closed 19 July 11 and the Planning Officers are now preparing a submission for the regulatory board (planning committee).
Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) i.e. SEEDA are being replaced by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in order to give greater local autonomy over projects such as Daedalus. The new Solent LEP came into being 1 Apr 11 and is likely to take over fully from SEEDA in 2011/12.
In August 2011 the Government announced that the Daedalus site will be an Enterprise Zone. This is the best opportunity we have had to move forward on the redevelopment of this site (See my news item on Daedalus for more details).
Elected as your Ward Councillor in May 2008 to represent Lee West Ward, I will not only represent local people to the very best of my ability but proactively become involved in issues and proposals which affect the local community whether for its benefit or otherwise.
I enjoy being your Ward Councillor and have helped many local residents resolve some of their issues effectively. If you think I may be able to help with local concerns, please contact me. My telephone number is 02392 793063 and my email john.beavis@gosport.gov.uk