David Peters, Chair of Natland Parish Council, writes:
"Most Natlanders will be blissfully unaware that 2019 could see significant areas of Natland civil parish transferred into Kendal. SLDC is carrying out a Community Governance Review (CGR) at the behest of Kendal Town Council which wants its boundary extended into adjacent parishes so as to envelope land allocated for development in the latest South Lakeland Local Plan.
In the case of Natland parish this could mean annexing all of Natland Mill Beck Lane south of Natland Beck (about 18 properties historically part of Natland) and the new housing development 'The Beeches' (76 properties), totalling 25% of Natland's dwellings. Two development areas south of Oxenholme and east of the railway line could also be transferred, but that would be less controversial as only one older property would be affected and there is the possibility of creating a separate parish council of Oxenholme to serve the enlarged area.
The purpose of a CGR is to ensure that community governance at the parish (as opposed to district and county) level reflects the interests and identities of the community, and that the arrangements are effective and convenient for the electors of that community.
The CGR began in July 2018 and should conclude a year later. The Public Consultation stage began on 4 March and will end on 26 May 2019. The public can influence the outcome by commenting through SLDC's website, where full details will be found, including Natland Parish Council's"Initial Submission" response of October 2018, which you can read here.
A further consideration is financial: although at present the 'parish council' element of the Council Tax is significantly lower in Natland than in Kendal, losing 25% of its dwellings to Kendal would reduce Natland's tax base and lead to a commensurate tax increase for all the remaining Natlanders.
Natland Parish Council will continue to challenge the annexation of Natland Mill Beck Lane and The Beeches through the current consultation and will raise the issue in its Annual Report (delivered to all households at the end of April) and at the Annual Parish Meeting on 16 May 2019.
In the meantime concerned residents are encouraged to make their views heard."
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