Hertford Regional College - Ware Campus

[craig]

The new plans turn out to be equally misleading;

Does that mean that another new planning application was submitted, corrected and updated from their first submission?
I'm probably wrong here, but I thought that if plans are resubmitted, all previous objections are reset to zero. That would mean that those who thought they objected first time round, wouldn't have had their say if they didn't also object the second time round.
Is that the way it works?

I'd also like to know who the other councillor was who, with Councillor Lester, supported the application?

I'll have to look at how we can furhter promote the Town Council Meetings. I always seem to miss them.

[Ian]

In this case I believe they have extended the planning process and allowed an update of the plans that were originally submitted. it's pretty dry reading, but you can see the comments from the various agencies that have been consulted here:

http://online.eastherts.gov.uk/rkyvport ... 13/1762/FP

I'm not sure how typical this is of these large developments but the work that's been done seems to have quite a few holes that have been notes by various folk. As an example it's good to see someone else picked up on the traffic assessment that was carried out during a bank holiday week when there will be a lot less cars on the road. Another example from the responses is that a flood risk assessment hasn't been made yet. There are a lot of these examples.

I *think* as it's been extended and is therefore not a new application all the existing comments still stand. As I'm not certain of this my objections have been sent a second time as a belt and braces approach!

[Mel]

Maybe the traffic assessment was deliberately done on a bank holiday in the hope that no one would notice? But then I'm a cynic!

[Martin]

"Martin, I'm not sure you fully understand what has already gone on with these plans:"

Thanks for your helpful comments Ian, but I have been to both of the HRC consultations that have taken place at the college and also both of the Town Council Planning meetings where this application was on the agenda.

I fully understand that the plans will now be looked at by EHC in February, and I don't expect them to either read or take any notice of this forum. That doesn't mean that there is little or no point in discussing this on WareOnline, you could say that about most topics on here!

If I had submitted a multi-million pound planning application that affected hundreds of local residents, I would show some interest by attending the various meetings being held, and how the project was being received by residents and the Town Council. Either they don't care or feel that they can safely assume that it will be pushed through.

[Pat-H]

I suspect they care but have decided their presence won't help the application be accepted.

[Steve]

The planning system isn't a popularity contest, as some people seem to think.

[Scottman]

The problem that is gripping many residents is the subtle but inevitable collisions of interest between the College (which wants as much cash as possible for the site) and East Herts Planning, which will grant the planning permission (which defines the value of the site to be sold).

The College Management Committee is presently chaired by Cllr Mike Carver, who has a significant and ongoing role at East Herts Council

Councillor Mike Carver
Much Hadham
Conservative
Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport and Chairman, District Plan Executive Panel

His two Executive roles exert particular influence on the decision and nobody I have spoken to can see how an independent and objective position can be arrived at, especially considering the way EH Planning has bent over backwards to try to explain to residents the developers' two (so far) sets of plans, which signally fail any accuracy or clarity test you care to name. If any of us private citizens submitted such plans they would be thrown out immediately, but somehow the College has been supported and facilitated by the Planning group to the nth degree.

Not that most residents hereabouts are against suitable and sympathetic development of the site. As Cllr Lester grasped back in September 'they just don't want one eyesore replaced with another'.

If East Herts is to allow 1800 homes in the District in the District Plan, it is high time the Council showed how that many homes could be made acceptable to the majority of existing residents. Clues would include - don't pack 'em in, be sympathetic to the existing environment, don't cut down all the trees and - for crying all night - recognise that the average family home needs at least two car spaces off road plus a garage. Ever so simples x

They work for us, don't they ?

[WickenMan]

They work for us, don't they ?

I'm not sure, from previous experience, that irony works on our councillors. They see it as an endorsement.

[Steve]

The problem that is gripping many residents is the subtle but inevitable collisions of interest between the College (which wants as much cash as possible for the site) and East Herts Planning, which will grant the planning permission (which defines the value of the site to be sold).

The College Management Committee is presently chaired by Cllr Mike Carver, who has a significant and ongoing role at East Herts Council

Councillor Mike Carver
Much Hadham
Conservative
Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport and Chairman, District Plan Executive Panel

Larger planning decisions such as this are made by the Development Management Committee. Councillor Mike Carver is not a member of that committee.

http://online.eastherts.gov.uk/moderngo ... spx?ID=118

Strategic Planning (of which Cllr.Carver is an Executive Member) and Development Management are not the same thing.

[Scottman]

Larger planning decisions such as this are made by the Development Management Committee. Councillor Mike Carver is not a member of that committee.

http://online.eastherts.gov.uk/moderngo ... spx?ID=118

Strategic Planning (of which Cllr.Carver is an Executive Member) and Development Management are not the same thing.

LOL !!!!!