ROT FROM THE TOP
We reckon the town and community has been stitched up and betrayed
And plenty of Porky Pies, Agendas and Evasion (Blame Game) tactics seem to be at play
Here are some for your consideration:
FROM ON HIGH
Rishi says:
"Our plan is to build the right homes where there is the most need and where there is local support" (BBC News 25/7/23)
"I promised to put local people in charge of housing" (PMQs 28/6/23)
"I make absolutely no apology for respecting what local communities want in their local areas" (PMQs 14/6/23)
Michael Gove says:
"...using all the levers we have to promote urban generation rather than swallowing up virgin land (BBC News 24/7/23)
Also:
There's no shortage of statements covering the dropping of enforced targets for building numbers
RAID says:
There's negligible (or perhaps zero) evidence that ANY consideration has been given to these publicly-declared promises
Local opposition has, in effect, been conveniently ignored by the Planning Inspectorate (PI)
Local being: Town Council (unanimous), NLC Planning (unanimous) and plentiful individual objections (with very scant support)
Both the current and proposed Local Plans were selectively cherry picked or ignored by the PI
That is: Local Plans that were derived via local consultation
That were overturned by the Banks Appeal
An Appeal that successfully used build targets as a key argument
Targets that are supposed to have been dropped
The Appeal result was also driven by another Appeal relating to Messingham
Which ain't anywhere near Barton......
We have questioned this at every level (Sunak, Gove, MP, NLC, NLC Councillor)
Zero or meaningless responses received so far
They are all looking at their shoes
Hoping that we'll give up and go away
It's a disgrace !!
FROM OUR MP & Cllr PAUL VICKERS
Martin Vickers said on 21/1/22:
"This planning application should be refused on good planning grounds the most significant of which is that this site is not designated for residential development in the North Lincolnshire Local Plan - the plan which is the foundation on which all decisions are based
The Council must take into consideration the strain further housing will place on the area's public services which are already struggling to meet the demands of the local community
If planning permission is refused and the developer appeals then the Council must defend its decision vigorously. Local residents deserve nothing less"
Cllr Paul Vickers kept telling RAID that NLC had a strong case and that they were also looking at steps to protect the land in question (as per Top Field?)
RAID (repeatedly) asked to meet NLC whilst the Planning Appeal was still live
Paul (repeatedly) told RAID that NLC would come back to us with dates.....
RAID says:
Vigorous defence? - Ha!!
There's negligible (or perhaps zero) evidence that NLC has lifted a finger to fight this Appeal
NLC couldn't even be bothered to tell the Planning Inspector that there is a parking problem in the middle of Barton!
The relevant Head of Department wasn't involved with this (supposedly) key case
Are we making this up?
No - this came from the mouth of that Head of Department when we met NLC
And NLC stated that plenty of other arable land is available
So fill your boots, Banks!
Yes, we finally had that meeting with NLC
After the Appeal decision was released
How convenient for NLC.......
FROM Cllr KEITH VICKERS (OUR MAYOR)
Apparently, Cllr Keith Vickers mentioned to a resident (only a few days ago) that the problem was always going to be at the Appeal stage, adding that the NLC Planning Inspector had initially recommended Approval. The resident asked if there would be an explanatory Ward Letter sent out to all residents.
We were told that The Mayor's response was NO
RAID says:
Does that show how little our Mayor really knows (or cares?) about the situation?
In fact, The Planning Officer recommended Refusal (see Latest News, 28/5/22)
Was he thinking about a desired final outcome or something else maybe?
Who knows......
No Ward letter? Really?
To tell residents about a decision that will have a massive impact on the future of Barton and the community?
That doesn't even appear to have been challenged by NLC?
Shows how little the NLC Councillors really care, we reckon
Just dancing to the Government and NLC tune, eh......?
P.S. Maybe don't be too surprised if a Ward Letter does now magically appear
RAID has shamed them into (reluctantly, we reckon) doing this in the past
Pity they made a (misleadingly) rubbish job of the Appeal Deadline one though (see below).......
WHAT ABOUT NLC?
Well we really tried hard to trust and work with NLC
Communications were generally calm, courteous and respectful
We readily gave (and will continue to give) credit when due
But "let that be a lesson to you" many now say
"Not to be trusted", "slippery as eels", say others
RAID says:
Seems we're not alone with this disappointment
Barton Civic Society seem to have had the mushroom treatment (see Latest News, 19/6/23)
We repeatedly asked NLC for public domain information
Nearly always difficult to obtain
Or maybe not even available in some cases, it seems
Which is a worry, when key policy decisions are at stake
We had to use the Freedom of Information (FoI) route several times
In some cases, we considered the answers somewhat vague and less than open
One key FoI question was "what pre-planning advice were Banks given by NLC?"
That one was robustly refused on the grounds of commercial sensitivity
We wonder why, when commercial details can easily be redacted....?
Could it be that NLC really wanted Banks to win in the end?
To turn a Market Town into a Dormitory Town?
Surely not....?
That wasn't in the current (or proposed) Local Plan
Until a developer from Durham came along.....
WHAT ABOUT THE PLANNING INSPECTORATE (PI)?
In the Blame Game, this is probably the most powerful tool in the box!
The Boss is one Michael Gove
Who you'd expect to have a good handle on Government policy and how this is implemented by his department
So please go back to Rishi and Michael's statements to the nation at the top of this very page
There's a massive gap between stated policy and reality
That's not Conspiracy Theory stuff or Rocket Science
It's blindingly obvious !
And it should be challenged !
But we're told that the PI is fireproof unless you've got the funds to challenge an Appeal decision:
"....decisions by public bodies can be challenged by way of a judicial review providing the criteria for such decisions are met. The Prime Minister or any other minister cannot overturn the Inspector's decision" Martin Vickers (email 21/6/23)
So it's not the sort of fight than an individual would take on
Or maybe a Local Authority if it wasn't really bothered about trying too hard....
This Appeal was held behind closed doors, so we're told (yes, we've asked!)
Conclusions included that digging up the countryside would be a Good Thing
And that Barton's infrastructure would cope - somehow
Hey Ho!
Challenge if you dare and can afford to Local Types.....
Oh, and you've got 6 weeks to do this (from 9/6/23)
Case closed
RAID says:
The PI would not accept an extension to the submission deadline
Despite a late Ward Letter with misleading content, postal strikes and Christmas approaching
This letter indicated that an extension was being sought, which may well have led some people to defer their submission
The extension request was rejected on the grounds that the PI already had sufficient information
Perhaps easy to see why now - local objection was, in effect, totally ignored anyway
It was written off as objection by "interested parties" by the PI
Strange perhaps, but many people do tend to be "interested" if the town's infrastructure already overloaded
And if a developer-led Planning Application seeks to rip up countryside not designated for development
But what about our MP's statement that Michael Gove could not intervene?
Well it's very interesting that his predecessors have done this
And that Michael's overridden a PI decision in Kent
WHICH MAKES A MOCKERY OF THE BS WERE BEING TOLD THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE FROM ON HIGH TO OVERTURN THIS APPEAL
THE SILENCE FROM SUNAK, GOVE, OUR MP, NLC & THE NLC COUNCILLORS IS DEAFENING
YUP, PORKY PIES, AGENDAS & EVASION
RIGHT FROM THE VERY TOP.......
THAT'S A LEGACY THAT SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN - OR FORGIVEN
WHATEVER YOUR POLITICAL ALLEGIANCE MAY BE
REMEMBER IT WELL !!
RAID IS NOT GOING TO STOP SHOUTING AND ASKING QUESTIONS
RAID IS NOT GOING TO IGNORE THIS TOP-TO-BOTTOM DECEIT
WE WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO BE HONEST AND PRACTICE WHAT IT PREACHES
TO ACT WITH INTEGRITY AND RESPECT LOCAL OPINION
LOCAL OPINION THAT CLEARLY DIDN'T WANT THIS DEVELOPMENT
Rishi's not bothering to answer any of our emails or registered surface mail
Michael Gove has never had the courtesy to answer any of our emails either
Neither seem to care for dealing with pesky riff-raff that ask awkward questions
No point in writing to NLC or NLC Councillors - this is now about Government policy and integrity
So fee free drop a line to Martin and copy in Michael
martin.vickers.mp@parliament.uk
correspondence@levellingup.gov.uk
Simply ask why what the Government says and what it has actually enabled and done are poles apart
Provide your name & address to prove you're in Martin's constituency
Include the Appeal reference: APP/Y2003/W/22/3307310
You'll probably get some stock platitudes about compromise and working together to make things better in the future
As opposed to the Government meaning what it says and proving it at grass roots level - NOW !!
And as opposed to blocking this Appeal NOW and avoiding the overload that will merely add to Barton's existing problems
Just because nobody on high had the backbone to say NO to this developer-led assault
An assault on OUR town, community and countryside
Driven by a company in Durham and rubber-stamped by the PI in Bristol
Seemingly undefended by our own Local Authority
Just goes to show how much "Local" opinion REALLY matters, doesn't it...?
When the next General Election approaches, it will be interesting to see if our MP and his Bosses had proved that local opinion really does make a difference
Because it's certainly not evident with this Planning Appeal decision......