It's All Gone Quiet Over There

And it has.  Even the light has gone out!  Not a great deal to report at the moment.  We are still waiting for the owners to submit their planning application for the "housing scheme" (we still think that sounds ominous).  However, that doesn't mean to say that there isn't work to be done.  We have a few irons in the fire that we are working on at the moment and will reveal in due course. 

In the meantime, keep those pencils sharpened!

Pub History - Can You Help?

Many residents feel that the George & Dragon is of particular historical interest and should be preserved.  There are few old public buildings in the area and it forms an important part of the village's history and local  heritage.

Unfortunately, there is not a lot of published information about either the pub or the village which would substantiate this argument.

Do you know anything about the history of the George & Dragon?  Have you got any really old photographs of the interior or exterior (earlier perhaps than the example given in the archive) ?  The Blog would be very interested to hear from any residents who can provide any material about the pub and its history.  If you do, then please drop me a line by clicking on the link in the Taking Action column on the right hand side of this page.

An Interesting Development

It seems that the current planning application, 09/12464/FUL, the one we have all been fighting, is to be withdrawn.  PA Taylor Plans, acting on behalf of the owners, have written to Stafford Borough Council advising them of their intention to do this. 

However, let's not get too carried away with what at first sight looks like welcome news.  They are intending to submit a new application based on a "housing scheme" with fewer units.  Quite what this will look like is anybody's guess and we'll just have to await developments. The reconsultation exercise will not start until the current application has been withdrawn and a new one submitted.

News from the Coal Face

Finally, some news from the Borough Council!  There is to be a reconsultation exercise in respect of the revised plans.  However, it seems that another change to the application is on the way and John Holmes has not yet organised anything. 

One thing we need to watch out for, though, is that it looks like we'll have just 14 days in which to respond.  Look out for those letters in the post!

All Quiet on the Western Front

In the absence of any news from Stafford Borough Council about the revised plans, it was very reassuring to get an email from Parish Councillor Joy Bennett.   Joy advised that the matter had been discussed at the previous evening's meeting of the Parish Council but that our Borough Councillor had been unable to provide a definitive answer.  She recommends waiting until we get our next letter from Stafford BC and then having the application called in again.

Interestingly, Joy was also at the meeting along with Ian Parry when the owners presented the new plans.  Apparently, her suggestion that an opening morning be held at which the plans could be presented to residents was rejected on the grounds that the owners had been verbally attacked by some residents.

Revised Plans Published

The revised plans for the pub have now been published on the Staffordbc web site.  As far as I can tell the following changes have been  made:

• There are now four separate blocks of flats each comprising two storeys
• Two of the blocks run adjacent to the Leadenhall Lane end
• A longer block runs the length of what is currently the car park to the rear of the pub
• The fourth runs alongside the field to the north of the pub
  
• The four blocks surround a central parking area which lets out directly onto Stone Road
  
• There is a total of 20 flats altogether with parking for 27 vehicles

However, only the plans themselves have been published.  There is no accompanying text by way of explanation!   Not only that but John Holmes has yet to advise how the submission of the revised plans affects the overall consultation process.   I for one shall be writing to voice my protest at this lack of communication.

As reported in an earlier post, Ian Parry recently met the owners to discuss the revised plans.  Councillor Parry advised them to hold a public consultation exercise to explore what sort of proposals residents might find acceptable.  That meeting took place on Tuesday of this week.  The revised plans were published today, just two days later. This must surely further demonstrate the lack of concern the owners have for local sensitivities and sound common sense.

Ian Parry Meets the Owners

County Councillor Ian Parry met the owners of the George & Dragon last Tuesday evening.  The purpose of the meeting, held at the request of the owners, was to discuss their revised plans (earlier posts refer).  The Blog doesn't have full details at this stage, but it appears that the new plans cater for 20 flats rather than the original 26.

So what's changed?  It's still a block of flats, it's still not appropriate for the area, it's still dangerous and it's still not a good use of the site.

Ian Parry is still opposed to the plans and advised the owners to hold a public consultation exercise to explore other options which residents may find more acceptable.  That should be worth waiting for!!

Keep those Pencils Sharpened!

It is very much looking like the applicant is going to submit a revised proposal.  County Councillor Ian Parry has confirmed that the applicants are in the process of revising their plans at the moment. Quite what this means in terms of any future consultation exercise is not yet clear.  We are awaiting a response from Stafford BC to establish whether the current process will simply continue or if it will mean starting all over again.  I'll keep you posted as soon as we hear anything.

More Developments on the Way?

In an earlier post,  I mentioned that Bill Cash had written to Stafford Borough Council supporting our objections to the planning application.  John Holmes, Development Control Manager at the council, has now replied to Bill's letter in which he says:

"It is believed that the developer intends to submit significant amendments to this application.  It is understood that these amendments are intended to be made to the layout of the site but not the overall character of the scheme".

The letter continues:

"If an amended scheme is submitted  then a further comprehensive publicity and consultation exercise will occur.  Any representations received in response to this exercise will be taken into account in the determination of the planning application".

We are currently seeking clarification of what form the additional exercise will take.  In the meantime, better keep those pencils, sharpened folks!  We may have more writing to do.