Why?

Further to our post 'One small step...' we have more to report on the puzzling alterations to the bus stops in Newbridge Road.

Work has been carried out to the bus stop opposite Hartwells' Garage. A short length of existing kerb has been removed and replaced with a preformed kerb slightly higher in profile but with no disturbance to the carriageway, unlike the other recently extended bus stops.

Although the street surface has been marked out to indicate the location of an intrusion into the road, it would seem that as this bus stop is just before the pedestrian crossing, it was considered to be too dangerous both for road users and pedestrians to carry out these additional works.

If this limited amount of work is considered adequate to accommodate the lowered entrance platforms on buses, the other bus stops could have been treated in the same way, avoiding the need to block the traffic.

Without any other forthcoming explanation, are the earlier works a deliberate ploy by B&NES Council to cause congestion on this road in order to justify the BRT?

Scales of justice

It has been announced that two legal challenges regarding the BTP have been lodged; one against B&NES and the other against the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt. Hon. John Denham MP. We understand that B&NES has missed the deadline of 28 December 2010 to respond, however, the GoSW legal team requested an extension within the correct timeframe.

The Bath Chronicle has published a report which may be viewed by clicking here. More details to follow.

Seasonal greetings

We'd like to thank all our readers for their support and wish everyone a very happy holiday time and a successful 2010.

Is there anybody out there?

We are preparing for the public inquiry into the BTP compulsory purchase orders which will be held next year. This call goes out to anyone with experience or knowledge of this procedure. If you, or someone you know, falls into this category we would be most grateful if you could

e-mail us.

Thank you.

Public inquiry information

As outlined in the post below headed 'Fantastic news!' there is to be a public inquiry into all the compulsory purchase orders relating to the BTP. Some statutory objectors have received a letter from the DfT enclosing a booklet with information on the process. This document can be downloaded by clicking here.

One small step...

The bus stops in Newbridge Road have undergone some alterations to build a small slope extending approximately six feet into the road. Presumably to allow wheelchair users to be level with the bus floor.

However, when the X39 bus from Bristol pulls up at the newly created bus stop and lowers the entry platform for passengers to embark it comes below the surface of the new area.

Thus people have to step down to get into the bus.

This means that particular bus at that particular bus stop could lower its entry platform to the old existing kerb height with no need for the new construction. While the bus was stationary, traffic either passed it by crossing over the white hatched area in the centre of the road, or had to wait until oncoming traffic ceased or the bus pulled out.

This new structure has added to road congestion and cost money. Another own goal for B&NES?

Stop!

We were intrigued by the reader's comments on the traffic lights' synchronisation at the Newbridge Road junction (see post below); so one of our team went down there this morning and made the following notes:

"I observed the traffic lights at The Weston for ten minutes.

During that time the traffic going westwards along Newbridge Road was stopped three times by the lights changing to red for no reason whatsoever as there were no pedestrians using the crossing at that point.

It would seem that either B&NES have deliberately created this situation or the circuits have failed to operate in the correct manner."

Interesting.

Eagle eyed?

This week a reader e-mailed us with the following message:

"The traffic lights outside the Weston Inn used to allow traffic going along Newbridge Road towards Bristol unimpeded flow. Of course they turned red when a pedestrian pressed the button to cross but this is not a convenient crossing point for many pedestrians.

I have noticed that the default position is now red except for brief periods when traffic is allowed into Newbridge Rd. I can think of no good reason except to cause congestion (as this seems to be B&NES main role in life)."

We'd be interested in your observations on this and any other transport related experiences in Bath. Please e-mail
us with any information you may have.

Fantastic news!

Well okay it might be a bit early to crack open the champagne, but... the news just in from the Bath Chronicle is that there is to be a public inquiry into the BTP compulsory purchase orders. For the newspaper report click here.

Apparently the inquiry will be called in the next twenty-two weeks which means B&NES will miss their March 2010 deadline.

Thank you for all your support.

Oh dear!

It has come to our attention that the new Southgate development has done several things transport wise:

• It has diverted traffic eastwards passed the railway station along what was two lanes west bound. Now there is one lane each way controlled by lights.
  
• It has reduced road space by about an acre.
  
• It has put the bus station alongside the railway station which is now an 80p taxi ride away due to the newly created congestion.
  
• The upshot is that the new layout has significantly reduced the capacity of the road system to manage the traffic.
  
• To ensure a four minute maximum taxi wait, B&NES has licensed many more taxis to compensate for the number stuck in this traffic. Thus reducing the profitability of the taxis and condeming passengers to be held up in the created mess.
  
• In the future taxis and buses will be banned from Pulteney Bridge diverting them passed the station again.

Now where is that rapid transit bus going?

Pollution stalemate?

On the B&NES website is an area dedicated to the  environment and pollution where much is made of the alleged benefits of the proposed BTP.

Interestingly the accompanying questionnaire, which has to be returned by 15 January 2010, lists Windsor Bridge and Newbridge as congestion hot spots! So, installing numerous sets of traffic lights, ensuring that bendy buses come out onto the Windsor Bridge and cross Newbridge Road at its busiest point, and encouraging an extra 500+ cars towards the New Bridge (which is already a pinchpoint and cannot be enlarged as it’s a listed structure) near the P&R is going to help how?

CPO public inquiry?

We heard today that the decision on whether there will be a public inquiry into the compulsory purchase orders will be made next week. For background information please click here.

Spread the word...

Fighting fund

To further the progression of justice regarding the Bath Transportation Package, of which the Newbridge park and ride extension is part, the time has come to seek legal advice on judicial review. We have joined forces with other campaigners across Bath and negotiated extremely favourable rates with a leading London lawyer and barrister who have a vast experience in this area.

Of course this costs money!

Please help us raise our share by donating whatever you feel comfortable with. We have set up an account for this purpose, and all contributions should be made payable to:

Account name: Newbridge Matters
Sort code: 30-90-54
Account number: 32158668
Bank: Lloyds TSB
Name: include your name for reference purposes
Currency: Sterling only

Please e-mail through your name and address details to receive a receipt and refund in the unlikely event we receive an excess of funds.

For further information please e-mail us.

Thank you for your support.

Update on CPO objections

It has been reported in the local paper that the Government Office for the North East has received 160 letters of objection to the compulsory purchase orders relating to the BTP.

We are now waiting for B&NES to make contact.

You couldn't make it up!

Bath resident, Carlo Ambrosino, recently lodged a legal challenge against B&NES' officers on the grounds of the common law offence of Misfeasance. This pertains to questions regarding the first vote at the DDC meeting on 8 July 2009 where Councillors voted 6-5 against the Newbridge planning application. Mr Ambrosino had written to the Council asking for details of the legislation that allows them to ignore the vote. As the Council have refused to reply to this correspondence, yet continued as though there was a legitimate answer to the enquiry, technically various officers have committed the common law offence of Misfeasance in a public office.

The court case was due to be heard on 16 November 2009. However, B&NES neglected to send a representative to defend the Council's standpoint claiming later that they did not need to attend. This opinion clearly differed from that of the Judge as a hearing was re-scheduled for 20 November 2009. Mr Ambrosino was unable to make this meeting, however, the Council's barrister did and apparently attempted to persuade the Judge to hear the case anyway. When asked why a B&NES' representative had failed to attend the original court case, the barrister replied that the Council didn't feel it was necessary as there was no case to answer.

The Judge has now set a provisional date of 4 December 2009 with double the previous time allocation.

Bath Heritage Watchdog's website contains further details and there is also a report in the Bath Chronicle.

Roll up, roll up...

The Newton St. Loe Conservation Group is holding a public meeting to inform and raise awareness about B&NES' urban extension plans for 2000 new houses between Twerton and the Globe roundabout. For some background information please refer to our post below, headed 'Nothing to say?'.

The details are as follows:

Date: Tuesday 3 November 2009

Place: Corston Church

Time: 7.30 p.m.

All welcome.

CPO objection e-mail

Due to the postal strike, the Government Office for the North East has said objection letters to the BTP CPOs may be e-mailed through. Click here to open a new e-mail message pre-addressed to the designated contact.

Please refer to the post below for guidelines.

How to object to a CPO...

As mentioned in the post dated 24 September 2009 headed 'Time's running out' B&NES Council has to complete and purchase the land under compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) before the next round of the funding application.

B&NES Council has, to date, spent at least £3.5m of local taxpayers’ money on the BTP. In addition, it will need to find in excess of £7m to implement the CPOs. There is no guarantee this money will be recovered as the central funding has not been confirmed. This is a complete waste of money on an unsustainable proposal that will only add congestion and pollution to our City. Click here to read B&NES' information on the different CPOs.

We have compiled some information on how to object which may be viewed here. Please note: these guidelines are not intended as legal advice. For those who wish to object, this must be done in writing and arrive at the address given before Friday 23 October 2009.

Anyone can raise objections as a non-statutory objector. Those whose land is under a CPO, and those whose property value will be adversely affected by work carried out on CPO land are classed as statutory objectors and have the right to speak at any CPO inquiry if they wish.

Same old, same old...

It has just been announced through GoSW that the Secretary of State will not be holding a public inquiry into the Newbridge or Bathampton planning applications.

This is obviously disappointing but not unexpected. Today's report in the Chronicle on line quotes Dave Jones, GoSW planning manager, from letters sent to Bath Council as saying:

“The Secretary of State has considered carefully .... relevant planning issues raised by this proposal. He acknowledges that this application has raised issues of controversy both from the representations received by B&NES Council and those persons who have taken the trouble to write directly to him.

However, he is satisfied that the planning issues raised do not relate to matters of more than local importance or amount to regional or national controversy, which would be more appropriately decided by him rather than the local planning authority.

He has therefore concluded that the application should be decided by B&NES Council.”

No controversy? We think not!

It does pose the question - which government body is willing to act impartially of behalf of the people?

Here we go again!

As mentioned in the post below documentation on the proposed CPOs in relation to the BTP was distributed to certain areas of Bath. In our neck of the woods we received the 'Statement of Reasons for Making the Order' on the Newbridge park and ride. Click here to read this report.

We have been through the entire fifty page document and now offer a commentary which is too lengthy to reproduce in this piece, but may be viewed here.

Secret squirrel

Recently a number of Bath residents received hand delivered packs from the Council regarding the fifty-nine CPOs due to be implemented in connection with the BTP.

The accompanying letter offered a contact name and number of a legal officer who would clarify any queries. The CPO situation is extremely complex and it must have been anticipated that many would need help. Unfortunately, those who rang the legal enquiries helpline were stone walled. Click here for an account of what happened.

It is a mystery why B&NES included the contact details when there was no intention to answer any questions.

Nothing to say?

For members of the public present at the B&NES Full Council meeting on 1 October 2009, in The Guildhall, it was surprising that no legal advice or information was passed on to Councillors concerning the context of their debate on the Bath Core Strategy document, which was approved for public consultation.

On 25 September 2009 GoSW wrote to all Chief Executives of Local Authorities in the region. GoSW announced a stalling of the SW Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) in the light of the High Court’s judgement against the East of England RSS, which it found had failed to test reasonable alternatives for two of its proposals.

The Core Strategy is, in effect, Bath’s own development plan, reflecting regional areas of search for strategic housing, business and transportation, all of which are highly controversial; and in the case of the Bath Transportation Package, increasingly under pressure as unsustainable.

Under European law, certain types of public plans and strategies must be accompanied by a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and it has to be demonstrated that all reasonable alternatives to proposals and policies contained in the plan or strategy have been fully tested. This is why GoSW has now decided there is a need for greater clarity on how its Areas of Search perform in sustainability terms, although it expects this re-assessment to be ‘properly tested’ by the start of 2010.

Opponents to proposals for park and ride sites on green fields at Bathampton Meadows and Newbridge, along with the Bus Rapid Transit, will be working in partnership to submit alternative proposals to both GoSW and B&NES, for consideration during the review process for the RSS and the consultation on the Bath Core Strategy document which carries a deadline of 11 December 2009.

Global warming, carbon emissions and heightened environmental awareness mean modes for the mass transit of people, such as heavy rail, must be considered. In the west a new Newton railway station and bus interchange, together with a bus lane for the A4, and enhanced usage of Corsham station for those living east of Bath, have been ignored as viable alternatives by B&NES.

The need for low cost housing and new well paid jobs must lead to a revision of plans for the development of Western Riverside and its part of the BRT, trailing CPOs before destroying vital green corridors and people’s gardens. Plans for a mini town at Newton St Loe before consideration of the infrastructure is not sustainable and gathering opponents will be looking seriously at a legal challenge given the precedent set by the East of England RSS.

To see the local paper's report on the meeting click here.

Don't set your watch by it...

This afternoon we heard from GoSW that the decision regarding the call in process which was expected by the end of this month, now won't be made until mid-October. This makes B&NES' March 2010 deadline even more unlikely.

Time's running out

B&NES Council has set itself the deadline of March 2010 to get everything in place for the final part of the BTP funding application. Presumably, this is to try to secure the money before the general election in May 2010.

To be in a position to approach the DfT, the Council has to fulfill certain criteria. Two areas include setting the planning permission in place and owning all the land needed through compulsory purchase orders (CPOs). Currently, the Secretary of State is considering whether to call in two of the four planning applications intrinsic to the scheme. Assuming this part is approved, the CPOs have to be activated and completed. For a list of these properties click here. The CPOs will cost in excess of £7m and there is no guarantee the DfT will endorse the grant.

This contentious plan has caused much anxiety for residents affected by the CPOs, and no doubt they will hold out for as long as possible before being forced to relinquish their property. This then begs the question of how B&NES hope to complete all the necessary stages by next Spring.

People power?

Today Conservative Party leader David Cameron MP will be visiting Bath to attend an 'open meeting' at St John's Primary School, Pulteney Road, Bath.

Local campaigners have organised a peaceful protest against the BTP to inform the Tory leader of their views. All those interested in supporting the demonstration are encouraged to meet outside the school at 5.00 p.m. this evening.

Easy as 1, 2, 3...

B&NES Council repeatedly tells us that the BRT (part of the BTP) will provide a reliable and speedy route from Newbridge to the Windsor Bridge. The guaranteed journey time will be six minutes. Response2Route has just released a short video of the same journey in rush hour traffic
(5.15 p.m.) which took just over three minutes on the regular road.

Click here to view the film, which is intentionally silent.

So, the BRT element will...

• cost £20m+
• destroy green spaces and wildlife
• necessitate the compulsory purchase order of residents' back gardens
• introduce a two lane road, footpath and cycle track to run between properties
• cause the depreciation of property prices
• be responsible for the devastation of quality of life for nearby residents, and,
• nearly double the time it currently takes to travel the route.

Does this add up?

It's a wonderful world...

We are most grateful to Dr James Whitehead who took these beautiful pictures of wildlife living in Newbridge Meadows. B&NES Council wants to concrete over these fields to turn them into an unnecessary and unwanted car park. Once destroyed they will be lost forever.

Joined up thinking?

A major problem in the Newbridge area is parking associated with the hospital.

There is a severe lack of parking for staff and visitors alike, with the added issue that visitor parking charges are very high. This has led to quiet, residential streets in the vicinity taking the strain. Over the years many residents have complained of inconsiderate and occasionally dangerous parking habits.

Original plans for an extended park and ride south of the river, included the use of the existing facility as an overspill car park for the hospital with a shuttle bus service to and from the Royal United Hospital (RUH). Indeed, a comment posted regarding the piece 'Park and ride users?' told us that many RUH staff use the current park and ride as a free car park as there is no room on site or in the surrounding roads.

B&NES Council's current proposals will relegate residents' hopes of returning to a more peaceful way of life to the dustbin.

Questions, answers, questions?

In July we posted twenty questions we had put to B&NES Council over many months and not received answers to. Last month we had a response.

Unfortunately, the reply posed yet more questions. Click here to view the original questions, B&NES' answers and our further questions.

Residents' Association?

We are looking into the possibility of starting a Residents' Association to cover the Newbridge area and give our neighbourhood a voice. What do you think? Please click
here to e-mail us with your opinion or post a comment below.

Dear Sir...

We have recently been in correspondence with Julian Abel, Head of Major Schemes for the South West, South East and East of England, Department for Transport who has been most efficient and helpful with regard to our questions on the BTP.

We understand from David Brown of GoSW that they anticipate making a decision on behalf of John Denham, concerning the Newbridge and Bathampton planning applications, sometime this month. Regardless of any decision made, the DfT will require additional details, assurances and agreements to be entered into by B&NES, before further consideration can be given to any possible funding of this scheme.

Julian Abel has said he "would welcome the resident's perspective".

If you would like to e-mail Julian Abel with your observations on the BTP you can do so by clicking here.

What's in a landfill?

Last month we posted a piece entitled 'The bigger picture...' which pointed out that the proposed Newbridge park and ride extension is to be built on a 1960s landfill site.  

One of our readers commented on the article and asked what was buried in this dump. Since then we have done hours of research to try and give an accurate answer, with limited success. The site was started when the River Avon was straightened at Newbridge. Exploratory holes dug last year revealed brickwork, cars, general rubbish and part of one of the earth levelling machines buried where it broke down is still visible. One of our team used to pass the site on his way to work and recalls it was used as a household rubbish dump and seagulls would flock to pick up edible bits and pieces.

We have got hold of a photograph, dated 1968, which unfortunately we are unable to publish at this time due to copyright restrictions.

To date no comprehensive contamination surveys have been carried out on this land. The B&NES Scientific Officer - Contaminated Land, has written to the planning application case officer to express her concerns. This e-mail can be viewed here.

We are still waiting for some enquiries to be answered and will publish any further information in the future.

Spot the deliberate mistake...

This picture of the Newbridge park and ride appeared in last week's Bath Chronicle accompanying an article discussing the lack of spaces in Bath's car parks. The full piece can be seen by clicking here.

The irony is that even in this small section three empty spaces can be clearly seen.

What goes around...

On Monday 24 August 2009 the BBC showed a programme entitled 'Saving Britain's Past' which focused on Bath's planning history since World War II.

The documentary looked at how thousands of Georgian properties had been destroyed and replaced with bland 'boxes', such as the Southgate centre. The irony is that this shopping mall has now been pulled down and is currently being rebuilt in the Georgian style.

There is an obvious link to the BTP proposals - destroying beautiful green spaces, which can never be replaced, with concrete. Why? To further B&NES Council's out of date transport plans which cannot meet their objectives.

If you missed the episode you can watch it online by clicking on this link.

False start?

Despite the fact that two of the four BTP planning applications are currently lodged with the Secretary of State's office for review; the tender for the work has been advertised.

Do B&NES Council know something we don't?

Reinforcements

More support for our cause comes in the form of the Bath Labour Party. Now both local opposition parties have written to urge The Rt. Hon. John Denham MP, Secretary of State, to call in the controversial Newbridge application for a public inquiry.

For more information, click here.

Thank you!

A brief update...

Newbridge Matters! was started in mid July 2009 as a communication tool for people with an interest in what's going on in our area of Bath. In the right hand column we set up the unique visitor counter, which registers readers only once. This gives an accurate indication of how many people have investigated the blog.

Over the weekend the counter passed the 500 mark. We would like to thank everyone who has visited this site and encourage you to check in regularly as we try to update the posts frequently.

Have your say...

Don Foster MP has written to The Rt. Hon. John Denham MP, the Secretary of State, requesting a public inquiry into the BTP. His letter in full can be found here. The online version of the local paper, The Bath Chronicle, has run a story on this. If you would like to leave a comment on their site, this link will take you directly to the article.

Once upon a time...

We have researched instances of misinformation from B&NES Council and its officers. To begin with we looked at the Case Officer's report submitted with the DCC meeting agenda on 5 August 2009, click here and go to page 25 to refer to this.

Rather than post the whole document here, click on this link to view what we discovered. As you will see there are twelve points relating to this one report alone.

Uncomfortable reading.

How much?

We thought it would be interesting to see how much B&NES Council has spent to date on consultancy fees, surveys and other costs associated with the BTP.

After submitting a FOI request on 1 March 2009 we got some information back on 1 May 2009, click here for the original document. Yes, we don't know what all the items refer to either. However, we do know that this statement is not accurate as in March 2009 the promotional costs ran to six figures.

No reminder is needed that this is tax payers' money being used on a proposal that cannot meet its objectives.

Teamwork

Last night we attended a meeting with fellow BTP objectors from Response2Route and Save Bathampton Meadows.

The objective was to exchange information and develop a united strategy to run alongside our individual campaigns. We are optimistic that this partnership will strengthen our collective quest; namely, to petition B&NES to reconsider its illogical traffic management proposals and come up with a scheme that will work.

No entry?

While we in the car park this afternoon, we saw a lorry enter the protected field via the padlocked gate, ignoring the sign forbidding entry to motorists. The driver obviously knew the code and conscientiously locked up after he had driven in.

With due recognition of everyone's rights, we wonder why B&NES Council has not moved these travellers to a site which is not an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a Nature Reserve, greenbelt land etc. Is the theory that B&NES is deliberately degrading this field fast becoming more fact than conspiracy?

Child's play

Today we visited the Newbridge park and ride to promote our mini online poll (see right) to car park users. Many thanks to everyone who has voted.

Many hands make light work.

After the disappointment of yesterday's DCC meeting we are putting out a rallying call to prepare for the next round.

We would like to thank all our friends, neighbours and supporters for everything they have done so far. We look forward to a complete victory in the near future.

As the planning application has been referred to the Secretary of State it cannot be approved by the Council at this stage.

For some time now, we have been trying to correct various testimonies that have been made by Councillors in favour of this application and also the content of reports made by the Case Officer, without success.

One example of an incorrect statement made by the Case Officer in his last report to the DCC is to be found on page 27, paragraph 6 which reads as follows:

"As the BRT will run on a dedicated route it will not be delayed by congestion, traffic or other delays."

This is just not true as the park and ride buses will leave and enter the Newbridge park and ride site via the existing Newbridge Road and Brassmill Lane. These roads are used by heavy through traffic from the Industrial Estate and Caravan Park, alongside private residents' vehicles and regular buses. As the BRT will not be a dedicated route it will not accord with Policy T.11 of the Local Plan.

There are many claims that have been made during the period before and after the planning application was registered that are inaccurate and we intend to draw up a detailed list of these statements, and, with your assistance prepare them for submission to GoSW, where the application has been referred. GoSW will make recommendations to the DfT from which any funding will be made, if subsequent final approval is given and the CPOs are implemented.

We see no reason why any Councillor who opposes this scheme should not, if they wish, contribute, and, we would welcome their further help and advice before submitting any documentation.

The battle may have been lost but the war is not yet over.

"Something is rotten in the state of B&NES"

This evening the DCC voted 7-5 to be minded to permit the Newbridge planning application.

Disregarding guidance that financial issues are not material considerations in planning matters, the threat of losing the DfT funding was the overriding concern. As a result, the application was pushed through.

The fight goes on!

Today's the day...

Today the DCC meet for the third time to discuss the Newbridge planning application.

We have spent hours researching and preparing. This afternoon we have two minute time allocations to get our points across.

The aims and benefits of the proposal have been found wanting. Leaving only one possible explanation for pushing this scheme through - money. Committee members have come under enormous pressure to approve the application. B&NES Council has repeatedly asserted that if any part of the BTP fails then the DfT funding is lost. The case officer responsible for this application has stated that financial aspects are not material considerations and the decision must be on planning grounds alone.

It is so finely balanced we cannot call which way it will go. Or is it?

P.S. The meeting is open to all, if you would like to attend this application is scheduled for 5.00 p.m. at The Guildhall, Bath.

The bigger picture...

In Corby last week, several children with congenital defects successfully sued their local council for negligence. Their mothers were exposed to "an atmospheric soup of toxic materials" that had poisoned the North­amptonshire town when the local steel works were demolished.

The judge, Mr Justice Akenhead, criticised the council for a "dig and dump" approach to disposing of the waste from the former British Steel plant.

In Bath it will be necessary to disturb the 1968 landfill at the Newbridge park and ride, to construct the special foundations required to manage the water issue.

Bath's top performing school lies in close proximity to the site and has over 1000 girls approaching or of childbearing age.

This sort of foundation would not be required for the site south of the river.

Answers, answers?

We have now received a response from B&NES Council to the questions posed in the 27 July 2009 piece Questions, questions?.

These 'answers' have raised yet more 'questions'. We will post the answers and our further questions as soon as possible.

Follow the leader...

Today we were asked the following question,

Q: Do you think that swapping DCC members for ones that are more in line with party policy is tantamount to vote rigging?
A: Oh yes, we do!

During one of our discussions with B&NES' Democratic Services we were told the DCC was supposed to assess all planning matters in an independent way, i.e. without consideration for party affiliation. This has not happened with the BTP applications.

Furthermore, it is unprofessional for some DCC members, regardless of their political allegiance, to have not even read associated documentation or visited the sites connected with a major project such as this.

The more we’ve investigated this planning application, the more we are convinced there should be checks and balances in place to prevent the abuse of process that seems to be going on.

Planning application notes

We are grateful to one of our team for going through the planning application report attached to the Agenda for the DCC meeting on 5 August 2009.

Click here and go to page 25 to view the report. An in depth analysis in note form can be found here.