Over the months I have been on the council, regularly we are told black is white, standing orders don’t mean what they say and that the Council is great.

Last night most of the Tories and the Independent (who always votes with the Tories) refused to protect one of the oldest trees in Lakenheath because that would  increase bureaucracy for the farmer/developer who they are sure wont harm it and if a tree preservation order was applied would no longer care for it!  Credit must go to Cllr Bill Bishop for opposing this decision, 1 of just 2 Tories to do so.

To me it shows that they only care for the environment when it suits them.  This decision was just indicative of that. 

Recently changes to delgation powers on planning decisions were pushed through Forest Heath.
The changes that the officers managed to push through means that planning applications only go to committee that the Chief Planning Officer wishes to go to committee. I requested that an application went to committee and it was taken under delegated powers for refusal. Apparently under the new delegation regime, it is in the remit of the Chief Planning Officer to determine whether an application goes to committee or not Councillors can be consulted but even the Chair of Planning cannot overturn a decision it seems I have suggested that  Parish Councils should amend the way they comments on planning applications. It should use wording such as This council opposes/supports this application and if the recommendation by the case officer is to the contrary requests that this application is determined by the Planning Committee.’ If it feels strongly one way or the other on an application.

Nothing surprises me with Conservative controlled  Forest Heath.  Currently Conservation areas are being looked at on a parish by parish basis.  Barton Mills is one of the first to be looked at.  At the last planning committee on Forest Heath, it was proposed that a six week consultation period would be instigated into the conservation area at Barton Mills.  The council was looking at various things  such as boundary, permitted developments, planning rules/guidance etc.  I proposed that the six week consultation period was extended to 8 weeks and luckily I managed to persuade enough Conservatives to back it against opposition from others.

I was shocked to find that more than two weeks after this had happened,  Forest Heath has not even told Barton Mills parish council about the consultation!  So at the Parish meeting on Friday I was the first to tell them about it.     If  Forest Heath wasn’t going to consult the parish about their own conservation area, who were they going to consult?

 I had to apologise to the Parish for this lapse and felt personally embarassed.  Luckily as Barton Mills has monthly meetings, they have a chance next month to discuss the proposals.  The other parishes in my ward Freckenham and Worlington meet bi-monthly and when their parish conservation areas come up for review,  I think I will inform the parish clerk forthwith.

At a packed meeting of Worlington Parish Council on Wednesday, many concerns were raised concerning the planning application at 21 The Street, Worlington.  The Parish Council has objected to the proposed demolition of the bungalow and the building of Five houses.

I see that the recommendation of the planning officer is for refusal.  I will report back when the reasons are given.

I have been asked to provide names for three roads at the site. I am happy for the PC to suggest names.  The only rules appears to be it must not be named after a living person or similar to existing street names.

My ideas include Bridge Farm Close, Old Station End.  I am keen for some history to be retained in the site.

The time frame is quite limited so quickly please.

Forest Heath is reviewing the  conservation areas within the district.  Barton Mills is now out for review.

Key points in the draft plan are:

- no change to current conservation area.

- current undeveloped areas that are within the conservation area that need protecting.

- UPVC windows and doors not allowe dwithin conservation area and Forest Heath considering  withdrawing permissions on all residential properties for them within area.

- undergrounding of all overhead wires to be encouraged.

- The former Wilhire site to provide opportunity for sensitive development.

- A number of buildings worthy of inclusion in a list of buildings of local importance.

- A survey of boundary walls witha view to developing grant aid for scheme for their repair.

 Anyway submissions have to be in to the council by the end of April.  Please let me know what you think of the proposals.

After spending quite a while deliberating over a decision of whether or not to grant planning permission on a dwelling in 1/2 an acre of land in a rural village,  we then moved on whether to grant permission to 295 new homes in Red Lodge. 

I was concerned at the number of spaces for parking.  It is not that I am a great car lover , its because if you move to Red Lodge then the car is going to be your main mode of transport.  I have seen from what has already been built that there is much parking on verges and pavements.  The proposals seemed to be about 60-70 spaces short in my view,  the plans were passed anyway.