Recent AWFALS News
Planning Committee Decide to Reject
25/09/2009
The Planning Committee voted to reject the application submitted by Broadview. But this is
FAR from being all good news.
The Planning Committee of Harborough District Council showed their absolutely worst and most irresponsible side at the hearing that took place on the 8th September.
The background to this hearing is that in late July, just as the Swinford Wind Farm Public Inquiry was finishing, and many Council Officers were away on holiday, Broadview appealed to the Planning Inspectorate on the grounds of non-determination. What this means is that they have now forced a public inquiry into Low Spinney because HDC had not decided the outcome of their planning application in a timely manner. We believe that this was a move deliberately calculated by Broadview to cause maximum disturbance as many council officers were on holiday and their ability to respond was severely diminished.
The timing of the Planning Hearing was forced by the Planning Inspectorate and is used to decide how HDC would have decided had they considered the application in their usual way. A week before the hearing, officers published their report that recommended rejection of the application, but the reasons they gave were flimsy. In fact, the main reason the application was rejected is because Broadview had not provided sufficient information about the noise issue to permit the council to make a decision.
AWFALS spent thousands of pounds on professional advice that clearly showed that the application will have a devastating impact on the landscape. However, council officers accepted Broadview's assessment that this is not the case on the grounds that they couldn't find anything wrong with the methodology they used.
In short, we weren't listened to. Councillors making the decisions do not seem to have read the material we provided, and despite fact that more then ten people spoke elequently at the hearing in condemnation, our views did not get any consideration whatsoever. In fact, Councillor Graham Hart stated that he would only consider information provided by Council Officers. This is a violation of our democratic rights - Councillor Hart was absolutely wrong to say this.
Further, during our presentations, one councillor was seen to be asleep and two more chatted to each other throughout. Not one question was posed by councillors to the speakers.
The debate following the presentations did not centre upon how best our
elected officials could support and defend the communities
they serve, the debate was all about protecting themselves. A couple of councillors tried to show some courage and suggest that more compelling reasons be introduced, but officers provided 100% inaccurate advice and argued against this. Councillors of the planning committee, if you're reading this, be prepared to be reading about your behaviour for a very long time to come.
There were two shining examples of courageous councillors, though neither of them sit on the planning committee.
John Everett and
Peter Fuchs, the ward councillors for the affected villages, both stepped forward and spoke in the most vociferous terms of just how wrong this application is for our area. Unfortunately, their fellow councillors were deaf and blind and in the opinion of the author, not fit for office.
What we need to do now is to fight Broadview at the inquiry. To do this,
we need £15,000 to fund the necessary professional help. Please help us to help you by
donating now