I wish this would all just go away

[westernind]

Another local area planning committee tonight. I suspect that the planning department just want Evil Property Developer to stop bothering them - as do I - and don't see any other way than to finally let him build something. So they've recommended that the latest plans pass, which doesn't much help our case for objecting.

At the last committee meeting our nice supportive councillor wanted it thrown out, but due to late running and a contretemps in a case earlier on the agenda ("let's take this outside! yeah! come on then...!") resulting in a 20 minute suspension, by the time it came to us it was nearly 10pm and they went for a site visit instead, thus prolonging the agony.

The site visit happened last Saturday, during which the planning officer was, frankly, a bit of an arse. It upset me for the rest of the day. The only upside is that I usually have to emotionally prop up Lin at number 71, and seeing the state I was in she decided to take the upbeat approach herself for once, in an attempt to prop me up.

In case anyone's interested, my text for my two-minute presentation is here. Don't tell me about any spelling mistakes, grammatical mistakes, better approaches or that it runs a bit over the allotted time (I know). Because it's taken me about an hour and a half to print off 14 copies on a misbehaving printer and I ain't doing it again. That's one copy each for 12 councillors - because visual channel reinforces aural, and also because there's a photo - one for the meeting clerk, and one for me.

I'm acutely aware of my privilege in being intelligent, articulate, and middle-class. If I weren't, we'd have had three two bedroom houses out the back well over a year ago. There are other things I could do to fight him, but I am so heart-weary of it all. It invades my space, my boundaries.

Comments

[november-girl.livejournal.com]

Good speech, although if I were you when you mention the point about the state of the place being caused by the applicant, I'd add that it's also an illegal change of use and therefore "the Council will presumably be taking action to rectify that in any event" (accompanied by a pointed glance to the relevant people). The Planning Committee will also be involved in the enforcement process, although generally speaking this will be behind closed doors rather than at a public meeting.

Oh yes, and good luck!

[westernind.livejournal.com]

Already running at 2mins 20 seconds. They ring a bell and get pissed off if people run over.

[november-girl.livejournal.com]

OK, I'd still get the point in that the mess is an illegal use though - even if it's at the expense of saying that it was created by the applicant.

[westernind.livejournal.com]

They know. They're deliberately not enforcing it (long story). Hammering it home would only alienate the planning officers.

[binidj.livejournal.com]

Talk quickly, that last point is magnificent. I heartily hope that they pay attention to your (plural) arguments and send the EPD on his nasty little way.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Will be at yours for 6.30 at the latest and I'm happy to drive us over if you'd rather?

[westernind.livejournal.com]

Yes please. Because if it gets passed I probably won't be in a fit state to drive home.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

*nods*.

No problem.

[misthawk.livejournal.com]

::hugs::

I feel for you, honey. It's good that someone is out there standing up for it. The reason these jerks usually win is because everyone gets tired of fighting it. Hang in there.

::cuddles::

[jfs.livejournal.com]

if you want to email me stuff, I can print off as many copies as you need.

Also, if you've got the files for the pictures you gave out last time to hand, I could do the same.

Sorry I didn't think of it earlier.

that's OK

[westernind.livejournal.com]

I've got a single sheet to hand out, printed on both sides.

it has the single photo (from our bedroom) on one side, and I'm sneaking the text onto the other. Because I know that it'll have more impact if they can read and refer to it as well as just listening.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Idiot boy.

Want me to print off those pdfs linked?

[oldnick.livejournal.com]

It looks well argued, and the final two points seem to be very clear, and key to the issue.

I'd not worry too much about the timing - I tend to find that I speed up slightly when 'live' compared with when running through in advance - so adding an off-the-cuff ", an illegal change of use," shouldn't break anything, espcially so near the end.

Best of luck with it.

Fingers Crossed...

[maleghast.livejournal.com]

Go get 'em - will be thinking of you (all)...

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

Good luck.

It *can* work; about 20 years ago (gawd, I feel old) plans were Put In Motion to build houses over the road from Mum & Dad's house. Instead of looking out onto a long row of mature trees, they'd have looked at (& been lookd at by) people's front windows, and have been right next to the turning place for the narrow access road.

The close (all 7 houses of them) banded together & stopped it; it took a year or so, but worked and the issue has never come up again since.

[renniek.livejournal.com]

Best of luck with it. Dad has been doing similar fighting against EPDs in Leeds. If only more people faced with EPDs had your perseverance!

[mr-h-r-hughes.livejournal.com]

DESTROY HIM! Good luck.

[scary-lady.livejournal.com]

Keep your chin up honey, and give them hell.

[jayphoenix.livejournal.com]

I am so proud of the fact that you have kept this going and amazed at your stregnth.

You keep on doing it and don't let him ... or ineffecient council people ... get their way!

[cookwitch.livejournal.com]

Mr Boss says there should also be supplementary planning standards available online (in the UDP I think) which will show the minimum distance required between dwellings - if his dwelling is planned too close to yours, that might scupper it as well.

Good luck!

[westernind.livejournal.com]

Alas, the house is to an acceptable density, or whatever the terminology is. Can't get him on that!

Our best hope is the protected trees.

What's also annoying, but unfortunately a matter of natural justice rather than law, is that the parking restrictions that the council put on Green Lane in the last three years have made traffic much faster, and therefore noisier. So having the quiet area at the back has become more important. If I'd known how much louder the traffic would become, I'd have fought the parking restrictions at the time.

[cookwitch.livejournal.com]

Damn.

Well, if it falls through, can I suggest getting British Bluebell seeds from an online source and sowing them where he wants to build.

They're protected as well and an endangered species so that might help if he re-applies.

Sonds daft but every little helps.

[renniek.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that's a great idea, I'll pass that one on to Dad

[cookwitch.livejournal.com]

http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/wild_image1.htm

Here you go.

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

Much love, am thinking of you, good luck

[velvet-the-cat.livejournal.com]

Here's to the forces of what's good and right triumphing over the EDP!! Good luck!