Theydon Bois & Abridge Action Group felt it necessary to answer Cllr. Glozier's note with the following release.
TO THE RECIPIENTS OF THE EMAIL DISTRIBUTED "TO
THE MEMBERS OF THEYDON PARENTS GROUP
AND OTHER THEYDON RESIDENTS" BY
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE THEYDON BOIS PARISH COUNCIL
23rd FEBRUARY 2007
For the benefit of those on the distribution list and other interested individuals, we provide some facts for your consideration – all of which are documented.
FACTS APPERTAINING TO ROBERT GLOZIER’S EMAIL
TBAAG contacted and have met with Eleanor Laing (who has been extremely supportive) a number of times including a site visit to Blunts Farm. TBPC did not help facilitate these meetings.
TBAAG made contact and maintain on going communication with The Environment Agency. TBAAG requested that Carolyn Barnes be allowed to address TBPC meeting. TBPC did not help to facilitate any meetings.
EFDC have agreed to meet with TBAAG on a number of occasions. TBPC did not help facilitate these meetings.
Abridge residents cannot "negotiate directly with the developer". The developer was invited by EFDC to make revised planning applications. These will be considered in due course by the District Development Control Committee. The developer has not as yet completed the application. He has yet to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment.
Mr Glozier writes that "Councillors should not express opinions on applications in advance of officially considering them" and then goes on to explain that "Councillors were given a clear mandate to explain the overall position of the Parish Council." Despite repeated requests TBPC have not clearly stated their current position regarding the Parsonage Golf Development.
TBPC’s meeting with the developer on 19th December 2006 was not conducted with the agreement of all Councillors. The TBPC Vice Chairman, with responsibility for planning, considered it inappropriate to attend. The meeting was not minuted. The venue for the meeting, Councillor Padfield’s house, was inappropriate. At TBPC’s January meeting, a letter mentioning this meeting was read by the Clerk, under Correspondence, no report or mention of this meeting was given by Councillors, despite the subject being one of a limited number of subjects on that night’s agenda. TBPC confirmed to the developer in October 2005 that ‘The Council have carefully considered the contents of your letter dated 5th September and would like further information regarding your proposals for an itemised Agenda before proceeding with such a meeting. As a matter of protocol the meeting would have to take place at the Village Hall.’
FACTS APPERTAINING TO THE PARSONAGE GOLF COURSE
DEVELOPMENT
The site is on the Metropolitan Green Belt. The EFDC Planner’s recommendation and the committee’s approval of the original planning application remains a mystery.
EFDC’s failure to apply restrictions and controls to the development was inexplicable.
The developer has imported more than 10 times the amount of spoil indicated.
Sir John Harman, Chairman of The Environmental Agency, visited the site and calculated that the developer has made £18million, to date, from importing ‘spoil’ onto the site.
Income from the importation of spoil has not been found in the developer’s accounts.
John Padfield was Chairman of EFDCs Planning Subcommittee 'B' that approved the planning application. Mr Padfield kept silent about this fact even after TBPC’s Chairman and residents repeatedly attempted to ascertain who was responsible.
Whilst representing Theydon Bois on EFDC and responsible for EFDC’s Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Robert Glozier repeatedly misled residents by stating that the planning permission was granted by "The Government Inspector" not EFDC. When presented with evidence of EFDCs responsibility Robert Glozier claimed that he was misled. Despite requests he has never explained by whom or for what reason.
FACTS APPERTAINING TO THE CURRENT POSITION OF THE PARSONAGE GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENT.
There is no local ‘gain’ to this development. The area has an abundance of golf courses.
The heavy lorries trucking spoil onto the site have endangered local residents, damaged private and public property and made local roads unsafe.
Theydon Bois residents have suffered from the smell and nuisance created by the construction.
Work on the site has ceased due to enforcement notices issued by EFDC.
In addition, The Environment Agency has withdrawn the developer’s Waste Exemption Certificate from the register.
EFDC has invited the developer to submit new planning applications to complete the project. The developer has a history of misleading Councils and residents in relation to this and other sites in the locality.
The new planning applications request further importation of spoil and topsoil in addition to other construction materials. N.B. the original application stated that there is sufficient topsoil on the site. It is now, falsely, claimed that the previous owner of the land removed topsoil prior to the sale. Topsoil might mean spoil that can be ‘re-graded’ on site. The developer might charge for the importation of this material.
The new planning applications request that the club house be re-sited close to the ‘Old Foresters’ ground.
There is no indication regarding the developer’s ultimate plans for these sites. Nor do they have to provide them. The developer also owns the ‘Old Foresters’ ground. The new planning applications have not been completed by the developer. Consequently a date is yet to be set for their consideration.
TBAAG brought attention to the dangerous craters on the site. The quickest and efficient way to remove this danger is for the developer to fill them in with material on site.
FACTS APPERTAINING TO THE THEYDON BOIS AND ABRIDGE ACTION GROUP.
TBAAG was established at the suggestion of TBPC in the belief that an action group would be less restricted than the Parish Council.
TBAAG is a non political group.
TBAAG is properly formed with a written constitution.
Membership of TBAAG is open to all residents.
TBAAG meetings are held in public and are fully minuted.
TBAAG voted to act independently from TBPC after TBPC stated that they would not take questions at public meetings regarding Parsonage Golf and subsequently changed its Standing Orders giving the Chairman power of veto.
We were also aware that TBAAG’s aims and objectives for the site may be different from TBPC’s.
TBAAG’s position regarding Parsonage Farm golf course is that it should be completed with no more importation of spoil.