We learned earlier this week that the planning application is be heard by the Borough Planning Committee next Wednesday 19th May. It is disappointing to note that the Planning Department has recommended that the application be allowed.
Basically, in their report they disagree with the thrust of our objections but it seems to us that this is a material disagreement about the facts eg. we think the development is out of keeping with the local area and its character. They think it isn't. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust thinks the owners' survey was inadequate given that it was carried out during dormant periods for bats and nesting birds. SBC thinks that it was.
And so it goes on. There is clearly a difference of opinion when it comes to the facts. Interestingly, the Government's Planning Policy Statement, PPS1, states that local authorities should involve communities in all development proposals. We wonder why SBC has not taken any notice of this especially when we have differing views. Why have they not bothered to engage the community in dialogue over the issue when they have clearly been recommended to do so?
Looking at it another way, they are completely ignoring the overwhelming body of local opinion in favour of people who don't live in the area and have simply purchased a property with a view to redeveloping it to make a quick profit.
Residents get a paltry three minutes to present a case to the Planning Committee. We are currently preparing our statement. Borough Councillor Richard Oldfield is supporting us and gets to speak for five minutes. The slightly better news is that anyone can attend and we would urge everyone who can make it to turn up and demonstrate the continued strength of feeling against the proposals. The arrangements are:
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: The Craddock Room (1st Floor), Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford
Here's a link to a map showing the location: Stafford Borough Council Offices
Thursday 13 May 2010
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As you say the council employee report details in list form all the objections but addresses none of them and makes the conclusion that the development should be recommended.It is a shameful contemptible report.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that despite the fervour expressed objecting to the development locally,few of us really expected SBC to be on the side of the local community.Lets face it they have a long record of incompetence and contempt towards the electorate and because of the monopoly position they hold they have little interest in the democratic process unless an election is due,then the councillors get interested.
They seem intent on bringing Rough Close down to the same level as the rest of their patch....look at Meir Heath,five years ago a smart place,now (thanks to SBC) they have a fake tan shop,a car wash,2 foreign takeaways and a Bargain Booze. Really classy ?
As you say...all government guidance material requires (supposedly) the community to be involved by the councils when such developments are planned.From my further reading it doesn`t seem to say that they should then go ahead and ignore such overwhelming condemnation of the developers plans.
I certainly intend to attend the meeting but fear that we have been stitched up yet again by this appalling organisation.
It would seem that 95% of the contributors to the "consultation" are against the plans,the MP Bill Cash,The County Councillor Ian Parry,The Borough Councillors (allegedly) and the Parish Council share a common objection but still some jobsworth/s at SBC make the recommendation for approval.
Democracy ,What Democracy ?
We share your despair but let's not get too discouraged just yet! While there's life there's hope. And Wednesday isn't necessarily the end of it as far as we're concerned. Let's see what the meeting brings and we'll take it from there.
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