| Topic: | Re:Re:Planning Inspectorate Decisions - 11th Dec 2013 | |
| Posted by: | Victor Mishiku | |
| Date/Time: | 12/12/13 09:12:00 |
| Reading the learned Inspector's Decision Letter issused yesterday, one wonders how it is that the Planning Department so determinedly supported this out of character proposal. Officers rushed through the report without waiting for the consultation period to run (14 days given for revised plans but the report to committee was written up before the time had been allowed to run). Ward Councillor Anthony Young asked for proper time to be given but his request was brushed aside by the planners. The application report was completed by Ms Maggie Perry, a former Senior Acton Planner, who never visited the neighbouring property to attempt to assess the situation. Ms Perry did not wait for the objectors' planning consultant's 8-page submission and completed the report to committee in its absence. This application showed the unpleasant side of the planning system as abused by Ealing planners. Had planning permission been given for this inappropriate and unsightly development, costly legal proceedings wouuld have had to be incurred using covenants to try to prevent the development, which should never have been recommended for granting in the first place, especially in such a sensitive and publicly visible location next to Longfield Walk and in a sequence of fine Victorian houses all built by James Wills, who actually lived at No.43 whilst his brother William Henry Wills lived at (and built) "Havenhurst" 11 Castlebar Road (also saved by us from a 5 flats and commercial surgery development recently, but now still in use as a family home thanks to the restrictive covenant protecting this Estate). The next battle is for Corfton Road to try to prevent a second line of backland housing being built which the planners again saw fit to fully recommend in a double Conservation Area and despite some 700 objections. Southall Councillors voted it through in September this year, but we have covenants on the Estate so the adverse planning decision (not supported by LBE Conservation Officer, Ms Eleanor Lakew) may not be the end of the matter! |