UNDERHAND AND UNDER THE WIRE

The arrival of the morning post shortly before I woke meant that the first thing I saw on opening my eyes was a notice from our local Planning

Department informing me that they have now granted His Grace the Duke of Northumberland to ride roughshod over the planning regulations and enrich himself by building two more houses upon what has always been two kitchen gardens.

This has been achieved by not placing any notices in the local press,on line,or at the proposed site,thus leaving a posse of would be protesters,myself included in the dark as to their plans.

Underhand....yes...illegal..very possibly...unusual..not in this neighbourhood!

Recently the brothers Barclay erected a very large stable block within a conservation area,within a few feet of a neighbours kitchen and without benefit of planning permission. In spite of months of protests the Planning department refuse to compel the Brothers B Barclay to remove the monstrosity.

I wonder why? Especially as our council frequently publishes name and same announcements in our local rag detailing all the people whom they have forced to demolish porches a few inches to large,a garage or a dormer window. Strange, don't you think?

The permission to build on our garden has been granted in site of the fact that it contravenes almost all the criteria for granting such permission in any area,never mind a conservation area...equally strange.

Of course the Barclays can afford to pay the fines as indeed can His Grace but there is much more to this than most people would think. Of course I am not suggesting that there has been any bribery but any people are unaware of the fact that there is a legal way to give money to a local authority in order that they will look favourably upon such an applications as the ones I refer to, it is called Section6.

Under Section 6 an individual,corporation or company may give their local authority money to (offset the disruption caused by their proposals.) Syon Estate engaged in an”Environmental Initiative” with our local authority, now do you begin to see ?

These people care nothing for the environment, all that concerns them is the bottom line, no survey of the site has been carried out by our local authority , had they bothered to do so they would almost certainly not have allowed this development which is in an area sandwiched between to Sites of Scientific Importance. No survey was done because they knew it would prevent the plans from being passed.

My home is safe but the loss of this lovely garden will be heartbreaking,not just for us but for the whole village. Of course I shall fight on to the best of my ability but these fat cats know perfectly well that the next stage in a protest , an appeal will need a great deal more money that either I or local pressure groups could muster. I intend to appeal directly to Mayor
Boris, and the Prime Minister,amongst others.

A great deal of work has been done by the people of this village in response to Mr Cameron's society initiative yet it seem that this big society only really works if you happen to be Mr Big.

Wish me luck.