Tinshill Recreation De-Fence Group

zero tolerance of dictator-style decisions by council officials.

Work Started Before Residents Were Consulted

The first most residents knew about the plan was when work started. The council Executive Board had decided to go ahead with the project in August 2005, but residents were to be consulted on 3 options first.

In late summer 2006 herbicide was sprayed on two pitches. Dead animals were seen scattered about as the grass turned brown. Eventually a temporary fence went up and the digging started. Dust storms and floods began.

The council launched a public consultation on 8 January  2007. A form was distributed that asked for comments about the provision of fenced playing pitches. The result was that 6 people were in favor and 6 against.

Yellow posters (only two) were erected on Farrar Lane on 5 April 2007 giving notice of a planning application to erect a 1.8m mesh fencing to 2 sports pitches.

Residents had till 26 April to make comments. Many did.

Alan Procter went to the Plans Office at the council  to examine the response. He found that his and some other comments were missing from the file. Alan had this corrected. He then expressed his concerns to our MP at his surgery.

In response to this a meeting took place between residents, council officers and  two Weetwood councillors at Ireland Wood School on  11 June.

Following a heated debate the councillors decided to oppose the plan that was  now to be before the Plans Panel West on 14 June. The plan was debated there and Alan spoke at the meeting. The Panel decided to defer the decision until their next meeting and officers were asked to bring reasons to refuse the application. We won.

Sadly, we then lost on 12 July. Council officials withdrew the application because they had been advised that the work could be done under permitted development rules.

 

 

A dead hedgehog on Tinshill Recreation Ground after  the herbicide application.

Plans Procedure a total farce?

Date: 12/07/2007

Retain– historical?