10th August 2011

On 6th July we informed residents that the owners of the land at Blunts Farm and the site known as the Old Foresters were contemplating locating caravans on the site for the duration of the Olympic Games. We asked the new leader of EFDC what negotiations had taken place with this regard, with whom and when and if any meeting notes were available. We have just received a reply and can confirm that several communications have taken place between officers at EFDC and owners and/or representatives of Blunts Farm / Old Foresters.

The first communication took place almost eight months ago. During the conversation a representative of Blunts Farm Estates Limited proposed a camping and caravanning site at Blunts Farm during the Olympics. A detailed proposal was requested but none was received. Then approximately one month ago another discussion took place between the planning department and a representative of the Old Foresters, whereby a campsite was suggested at the Old Foresters site, again a detailed proposal was requested and none was forthcoming. However on 19th July officers met with a representative of the Old Foresters site and Elms Caravan Site High Beech. At the meeting plans for locating 150 tents at an 8 acre site immediately west of Blunts Farm were outlined. The proposal is from 24th July – 24th August 2012 with a few days either side to set up and clear away. There will be no fixed buildings, fencing or new hard surfaces, but portable structures will be available for toilet blocks, showers, security office, registration and Wi-Fi room. Apparently an existing hard surface at the Old Foresters site will be used for car parking of up to 100 cars. Access will be via an existing road – Old Station Hill, that may have parking restrictions imposed to allow for full access. There will be limited temporary lighting, and 24 hour security. They wish to attract back-packers and those not requiring private transportation.

The Planning Department has confirmed that the proposal does not require planning permission, but strongly advised they submit a Certificate of Lawful Development, apparently they only implied they would request an application. It seems they have developed an impressive website and are taking bookings prior to obtaining any sort of approval from EFDC.

Take a look at; www.2012-olympic-camping.co.uk/

You will notice that facilities include ‘good food – bars and a TV room’ as well as luxury toilets and showers. It is worth noting that Glastonbury Festival is cancelled for 2012 because of a national shortage of portable toilets – so perhaps these developers have a secret supply! The website also includes the official Olympic Logo, which is unlawful and we have reported this to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

The aerial view of the site on the website highlights two fields behind Slade End that appear not to be either Blunts Farm or the Old Foresters site and are not in the ownership of either Blunts Farm Estates Limited or Parkeng Limited. The proposed hand drawn plans submitted to EFDC however show the location of the site on the Old Foresters.

Residents that either read our articles in the Village News and or are on the e-mailing list can be under no illusion of the abuse these developers have caused Theydon Bois. They have a history of total disregard of planning law and have been issued with several Enforcement Notices. They have been convicted of two planning enforcement contraventions with regard to the location of portable buildings at the Old Foresters site that have been located on the site since May 2008. How can we be certain that the portable ‘luxury showers, toilets, TV room, bars, secure storage lockers and CCTV’ will be removed after 28 days? They haven’t bothered before so why bother now!

Is this another cynical attempt to compromise the Green Belt? Do the residents of Forest Drive and Slade End want 150 tents with say 300 occupants enjoying ‘bars – food and TV’ and rows of portaloos behind their homes?

The government is currently proposing changes to Planning Policy. The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) are concerned, they think the planning system is under attack, they say ‘It (the policy) proposes watering down our national planning policies so that the default answer to development will be ‘yes’, weakening protection for the everyday countryside that is so valuable and intrinsic to the beauty of England, and removing the brownfield first approach to development. Unless we act now, there will be uproar across the country as local communities discover in the months and years to come that the planning system and its ability to protect the countryside have been undermined by the reforms currently being pushed through.'


Take action, ask your MP to say no to growth at any cost at;

e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=21&ea.campaign.id=11530&ea.tracking.id=campaigns-update-enews&dm_i=6A4,HTBF,O8RGU,1G65T,0 <>e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=21&ea.campaign.id=11530&ea.tracking.id=campaigns-update-enews&dm_i=6A4,HTBF,O8RGU,1G65T,0>

We need to be very careful and very wary of any proposals that may compromise what we all love about our village.

TBAG
Protecting the Village of Theydon Bois
www.theydonbois-actiongroup.co.uk



3rd August 2011

TBAG RESPONSE TO APPEAL APP/J1535/A/11/2155393/NWF;

Click here to download this file

A reminder that your objections to the appeal against refusal of the commuter car park are due at the Planning Inspectorate by 10th August. If you previously objected to the planning application your comments will be passed on, however if you have anything new you wish to add please do not hesitate to address those concerns to the inspector.

Send three copies of your letter to;

Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/16 Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN

Stating reference; APP/J1535/A/11/2155393/NWF

Reasons that you may wish to consider could include;

· Commuters drive from areas serviced by the more expensive over ground network and in doing so, they add significantly to local traffic congestion at peak periods. In the long term this cannot be sustainable. Why would commuters currently parking on local roadsides move instead to this new commercially run car-park?

· There are no “very special circumstances” which would justify the use of Green Belt land for car-parking.

· We are aware from our own experience that the Central Line is at or above capacity at peak commuting periods, and that it is not possible to increase train size or train frequency beyond their current levels.

· We regularly use the footpaths 4 and 5; the proposed car-park would indeed be very conspicuous, and would detract greatly from the character and visual amenities of the area, including its openness, because of the presence of up to 179 cars (of phase one and up to 350 in total) during the daytime.

· This phase is for 179 spaces, the plans suggest the total would be in the order of 350. The applicant has not produced a business plan and it is difficult to imagine that the development of this site for a 179 space car park would be commercially viable.

· The proposed lighting, would be contrary to the Dark Skies Policy and movement of this number of vehicles in the mornings and evenings would also detract significantly from the character and visual amenities of the area. During the autumn and winter months headlights using the access road which is elevated would cause significant light pollution in the village center.

· These developers have caused the village of Theydon Bois untold harm with their abandoned golf course development that has resulted in the adjacent land being permanently damaged beyond repair. Various activities on this site and the adjacent site including Motocross, land bank scams and the use of outbuildings for a cannabis farm, as well as the unlawful positioning of portable buildings seem to indicate that the owners have no respect for the land and the various applications, the majority of which have been refused, are of a speculative nature with the sole purpose of compromising these Green Belt sites.


1st July 2011

The appeal against refusal of EPF/1134/10 has been validated by the Planning Inspectorate. If residents wish to comment they have untill 10th August 2011. All previous comments will be passed from EFDC to the Planning Inspectorate, however if residents wish to add extra comments or if they missed out the first time please write to the Planning Inspectorate quoting the reference below.

REFERENCE;APP/J1535/A/11/2155393.

Planning Inspectorate
Room 3/21 Eagle Wing
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol BS1 6PN

22nd June 2011

EPF/1134/10

We can also report to residents that an appeal has been received by the Planning Inspectorate from Parkeng Limited against refusal of the commuter car park application at the Old Foresters site. The appeal is currently being validated, but we will let you know as soon as comments can be accepted.


TBAG OBJECTION TO EPF 2246 10;

Click here to download this file

10th March 2011

Villagers

When the last application for phase one of a commuter car park was received EFDC notified almost 200 'neighbours' in Forest Drive and Slade End. In the latest application on the same site, EPF/2246/10 'for the construction of a two storey D1 training, administration and recreational building including a caretaker's 2 bedroom flat plus an ancillary single storey separate changing facility for all external activities together with plant room and storage...’ they had however only notified one!

In our letter of objection TBAG registered their 'disappointment that so few residents have been informed of this application by letter from the Planning Department'. We were advised this week 'that a fuller consultation exercise will be carried out today in the light of your comments.' This means that residents located adjacent to the site will now receive formal notification of the application and the extension of the consultation period will enable more villagers to comment on the application.

So please take advantage of this extension to the consultation period and comment on this commercial application by Mr Harris for plans that include a two bedroomed, two bathroomed penthouse flat with lounge, kitchen dining room and roof terrace on Green Belt land backing onto Forest Drive.

Please write for the attention of Stephan Solon EFDC, Civic Offices, High Road, Epping CM16 4BZ

or email ssolon@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

or comment online @ plan1.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/PLComments.aspx?pk=522637

Points that you may wish to consider include;

This commercial application represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt that is unsustainable and would harm openness.
No very special circumstances have been demonstrated that would outweigh the harm this application will case to the Green Belt.
The building has been previously demolished by the applicant therefore any new development should be considered on the same basis as a new building in the Green Belt.
Boundary fencing, extra car parking and hard standing will have a detrimental effect on the openness of the Green Belt and is damaging to visual amenity.
After EFDC realised in early December that they were prosecuting the incorrect party, with regard to the location of the portable buildings on the site, they have now issued new proceedings on the correct party; Parkeng. Two court appearances have taken place and the next is scheduled for 5th April at Harlow Magistrates Court.

We will update you when we know more.


1st March 2011

A new planning application on the Old Foresters site has just been registered at EFDC. The application EPF/2246/10 by Mr James Harris is for ‘Erection of single and two storey buildings and retention of existing buildings in new locations on site in connection with the proposed use of the site for training and leisure purposes for children in foster care and carers.’ Mr Harris leases part of the site from Parkeng Ltd and this application is intended to ‘sit’ within the application for phase one of a 350 space commuter car park, which has recently been refused. This application does include a football pitch, small scale developments for outdoor sports are admissible in Green Belt planning policy, however it may be that the football pitch provides further phases of the commuter car park. This is an application by an individual for commercial premises in the Green Belt that if granted could have any use within D2 use including; ‘Cinemas, music and concert halls; Dance, sports halls, swimming baths, skating rinks, gyms.’

We are sure we do not need to remind you of the connections between Parkeng Ltd and Blunts Farm Estates Ltd!

Mr Harris has had enforcement noticed issued against him for the unlawful positioning of portable buildings on the site (mentioned as retention of existing buildings in new locations) and has also been successfully prosecuted by EFDC for ‘failing to respond to a planning contravention notice’ at Riverfield Abridge. Although he lists his address as Riverfield on application EPF/2246/10, in the court case against him he stated he was of ‘no fixed abode’.

Although EFDC did commence court proceedings against both Mr Harris as lessee and Parkeng Ltd as landowners for ‘Without planning permission: the stationing of a portable building approximately 21m x 9 m in size and a caravan on the land’ and ‘without planning permission: the construction of a new building measuring approximately 1.6m x 2.1m x 2.3m’ EFDC agreed to adjourn the proceedings against Parkeng Ltd pending the outcome of the enforcement notices against Mr Harris.

We are in communication with EFDC over a number of points we have raised with regard to the Old Foresters site. We have however not received a reply to our letters to Cllrs. Jones and Philip dated 14th December 2010. We asked them; ‘Were you aware of or party to the negotiations/agreement that led to the decision not to pursue Parkeng or Mr Newman as landowner’

We have on several occasions informed EFDC about suspicious activities on the site. EFDC visited the site this week and confirmed that lights are on at night, that there is a satellite dish, television aerial, kitchen area, toilet facilities and a dismantled bed, they are however happy there is no residential use of the site. Residents of Forest Drive are continuing to monitor the late night activity and we are aware that there have been occasions to contact the police.

We are also concerned that these developers may be looking to delay the removal of these buildings by using the Four Year Rule; ‘Any building, engineering or other works which have taken place without the benefit of planning permission, and that have remained unchallenged by enforcement action for 4 years or more, cannot be enforced against. So the erection of a building which goes undetected for 4 years will be allowed to remain. However, the use of the building may not.’ The portable buildings were located on site during May-June 2008 – so not long to go now if that is their plan!

Is this another speculative application to develop this Metropolitan Green Belt site that is on the EFDC Call for Sites List?

Is it intended to compromise the area and to open the ‘flood gates’ to further applications for this site, the Blunts Farm site and the whole area up to Coopersale Lane?

Whilst on ‘their watch’ we have had to endure motocross, land-banking scams, a cannabis farm/factory, applications for a large scale commuter car park, golf course and associated clubhouse and restaurant. The stationing of portable buildings, the construction of a highways depot and the development of agricultural buildings were all without the prerequisite planning permission. We have lost count of the number of enforcement notices, that have been issued on this and the adjacent site under the same ownership. This area has required constant intervention by both the police and the planning and enforcement departments at EFDC. And we must not forget 2 ½ years of 250 HGV’s a day dumping waste demolition spoil on once agricultural land that the Chair of the Environment Agency called ‘unscrupulous’ and said could have netted the operators £18-£20 million.

The village needs to remain vigilant and we need to ensure we meet each of these challenges head on to protect our Green Belt, so a foster care agency may sound like a soft option but we need to object to each of these plans that seek to compromise the Green Belt and harm its openness in the strongest terms.

This application will be considered by Theydon Bois Parish Council on Thursday 3rd March at the Village Hall from 8pm – please feel free to make your opinion known.



26th February 2011

Planning Application with regard to Old Foresters Site EPF/2246/10

This application will be considered by Theydon Bois Parish Council on Thursday 3rd March from 8pm at the Village Hall.

Villagers

Epping Forest District Council publishes Planning Application lists which are produced to make residents aware of applications in the District, allowing them the opportunity to object or support them.

A Planning Application has been lodged with EFDC behind the gardens of Forest Drive at a location known as ‘Former Old Foresters Sports Ground’ for the “Erection of single and two storey buildings and retention of existing buildings in new locations on site in connection with the proposed use of the site for training and leisure purposes for children in foster care and carers”.

Theydon Bois Action Group will be having a meeting on Tuesday 1st March at 7.45pm at Queen Victoria Public House Function Room, sorry for the late notice. The above item will be on the agenda. If you would like to come along to discuss the application in more detail, you would be very welcome.

Any representations must be received in writing at EFDC’s offices by Monday 14th March 2011 OR you can make online comments at;

plan1.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/PLComments.aspx?pk=522637

Theydon Bois Action Group



28th January 2011

Theydon Bois Action Group has, since its inception in the summer of 2005, been working vehemently with other groups locally and nationally to oppose the methodology of landfill for golf course construction. We have met with councillors, MP’s, the Secretary of State and the Chairman of the Environment Agency. We have opposed many applications locally that have involved the importation of waste material in their construction and have not always been listened to. In fact we were unsuccessful in trying to stop the application that was supported by both of the Theydon Bois ward councillors at the time, to import a further 45,000 cubic metres of material at North Weald Golf Course, Rayley Lane in 2008.

We are very pleased therefore to announce that a group which we have formed a close association with, Friends of Basildon Golf, has recently been successful with a judicial review and has had a planning application to import landfill onto a golf course in Basildon quashed. The judge in his ruling stated that he was "unclear as to what golfing purpose required the importation of such large quantities of material".

www.ftb.eu.com/2009-news/court-of-appeal-quashes-planning-permission-for-deposit-of-large-quantity-of-waste-on-golf-course.asp

We have just completed our comments with regard to the appeal against refusal by Essex County Council to import a further 65,000 cubic metres of waste under phase one of an 18 hole extension to Blakes Golf, formerly Ongar Park Golf also in North Weald. We hope Lord Justice Pill’s comments help the Planning Inspector make the right decision in this case.

We have yet to receive a reply from our District Councillors Jones and Philip or the Portfolio Holder for Legal and Estates about the collapse of the Crown Court case against James Harris the leaseholder at the Old Foresters site and an ‘agreement’ not to prosecute the landowner. The land owner is Parkeng, many of the directors of which are also of Blunts Farm Estates Limited. The case of enforcement is that ‘Without planning permission: the stationing of a portable building approximately 21m x 9 m in size and a caravan on the land’ and ‘without planning permission: the construction of a new building measuring approximately 1.6m x 2.1m x 2.3m.’ The case against the leaseholder/landowner at the Old Foresters site has been delayed five times and failed on the sixth.

How much public money has been wasted in 1) six aborted/failed county and crown court trials 2) the instruction and retention of a barrister and 3) the very late admission that EFDC was in fact prosecuting the wrong party?

EFDC has however recently successfully prosecuted James Harris ‘for the offence of failing to respond to a planning contravention notice, (at Riverfield, Ongar Road, Abridge) The Magistrates found Mr Harris guilty. He was fined £270 and was ordered to pay £1,138.50 towards the prosecution costs.’ We hope a similarly successful action will be taken by EFDC regarding the apparently residential portacabin on the Theydon Bois site, which seems to be an extremely similar situation to the Abridge case.

The then Chairman of the Environment Agency said in June 2006 “Its (the land filling at Blunts Farm) an example of an unscrupulous operator looking to run a landfill site while avoiding the appropriate planning and environmental controls by claiming the so-called golf course exemption. The amount of material on site is already in gross excess of that needed to complete the agreed landscaping to form a golf course. By flouting the conditions of the exemption for landscaping, this unscrupulous operator has been able to bring tens of thousands of tons of waste onto the site and may have made up to £20m by doing so. I wouldn't want to see the operator get away with this abuse without suffering substantial financial loss.”

Why are officers at EFDC negotiating an agreement not to prosecute an operator that the Chairman of the Environment Agency said “I wouldn’t want to see the operator get away with this abuse without suffering substantial financial loss”?

We have asked EFDC to explain the circumstances in a letter dated 14 December and still await a reply, we have also issued a Freedom of Information request for a copy of the ‘agreement’. We will report back as soon as our questions have been answered.

We can also report that following on from residents complaints to us about problems with the online facility for comments on planning applications, EFDC have made improvements and a telephone number is no longer an essential field. A business manager at Planning and Economic Development has said that ‘an essential element of improving our on line planning facility is to receive regular comments and/or suggestions to help identify any areas of weakness in our service. If you are able to provide this as and when issues are raised by residents and members of TBAG, I am happy to investigate these and take corrective action should this be necessary.’

Also a reminder for those of you that that wish to comment on the mineral extraction site in Abridge the consultation closes on 17th February 2011. The Minerals Development Document : Preferred Approach can be viewed on line at

www.essex.gov.uk/MDDconsultation consult.essexcc.gov.uk/portal/mdd_preferred_approach

or at County Hall in Chelmsford, Epping Forest District Council offices or at Loughton Library. Responses to the consultation should be received by 5.30pm on 17th February, preferably using the link above or using the response form downloaded from the above website emailed to mineralsandwastepolicy@essex.gov.uk or The Head of Environmental Planning, MDD, Essex County Council Freepost CL 3636, E3 County Hall, Chelmsford, CM1 1QH.

If any residents that walk the footpaths at Blunts Farm have any comments that they wish to make with regard to the current state of the land please feel free to email us and we will include any observations in a report to EFDC that we are currently drafting.



24th January 2011

www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/news/2011/planning_contravention_prosecution.asp


10th January 2011

Some positive news in that those of you that objected to Phase One of a 350 space Commuter Car Park on land behind Forest Drive and Slade End known as the Old Foresters, will have received confirmation that the application was recently turned down by the planning department at EFDC. We do however expect this application to be appealed to the Planning Inspectorate within the next six months. Those that objected will receive notice of the details of the appeal however all letters of objection will be passed to the PI. TBAG did expect that the application may go to appeal and will be preparing a far more detailed response to the PI if it proves necessary.

The negative news is that the case against the leaseholder of the Old Foresters site for the unlawful stationing of portable buildings, in June 2008, and a small built structure without planning permission collapsed on 6th December 2010. EFDC were preparing a County Court case but were informed by their barrister that a prosecution against the leaseholder was unlikely to be successful and they were advised to bring a case against the land owner, Parkeng. EFDC had previously negotiated a deal with the land owner Mr Philip Newman of Parkeng, whereby he would not be prosecuted. TBAG wrote to Cllr. Lesley Wagland the Portfolio Holder for Legal and Estates, Cllrs. Sue Jones and John Philip our District Ward Councillors and Eleanor Laing MP on 14th December. We are awaiting a reply from the councillors, however Mrs Laing did confirm receipt of our letter and representatives from TBAG will be meeting with her soon to discuss our concerns with regard to this issue.

It is also likely that the enforcement notices served against Blunts Farm Estates Limited in January and August 2006 will be signed off at the District Development Control Committee meeting on 1 February. The varied enforcement notices state that ‘Within 2 years of the notice taking effect: EITHER the completion of the golf course on the land in accordance with drawing number BLUN.209A approved pursuant to condition 12 of the planning permission dated 23 April 2002, Ref. EPF/765/99 OR the restoration of land levels at Blunts Farm to their original levels prior to the commencement of works on the land in 2002.’

It was then agreed by EFDC that ‘The Council had anticipated a formal proposal from the applicant. This was finally received in April 2006 in which the applicant had indicated that the little excess on the site would enable them to start filling one of the voids on the site but that they would still need to import, approximately, a further 176,000m2 to complete the course. Officers considered this proposal to be unacceptable leading to more lorry movements. Evidence from investigations indicated that there was more than sufficient material on site to undertake remediation. The Committee noted this view. As part of the preparation for the appeal, Officers had a case conference with Counsel who had recommended that the requirement of the notices to remove from the Land all the excess fill material should be varied to meet the concern about the excessive HGV movements that would arise as a consequence of complying with such a requirement. Also Counsel had advised that it would be prudent to issue new Enforcement Notices in the same form as the varied notices. Additionally, consultants producing evidence of the breach of planning control for the Council, had been instructed, in liaison with the Council’s Landscape Officer, to produce a plan to show the “best fit” in landscape terms of the existing material on site, with the voids filled using the existing surplus, and the remainder distributed in the way least harmful to visual amenity. This remedy for the breaches would involve no exporting of material from the site and so avoid further disruption for residents. Future importation of construction materials would remain restricted to the minimum necessary such as sand for greens and gravel for drainage. Topsoil requirements would be met from material on the site as originally proposed.’

Compliance with the enforcement notices are at least 2 ½ years late. It is worth noting that after confirming to the Planning Inspectorate in October 2007 that they no longer wished to complete the golf course at Blunts Farm because; “the project that was, until recently, commercially viable has in recent weeks ceased to be so” this development team have applied for permission to extend their course Blakes Golf in North Weald by 18 holes requiring in phase one the importation of 69,000 cubic metres of inert waste. After refusal by Essex County Council they are now appealing that decision. TBAG objected to the application and are currently preparing their response to the appeal. We will also be preparing a report to members of the DDCC with regard to the ‘signing off’ of the enforcement notices with regard to Blunts Farm.

We remain vigilant to large scale applications that materially affect the village and are awaiting an application for ‘training and leisure facility for foster children and their carers’ at the Old Foresters site.



14th December 2010

Letter to Cllr. Mrs. Lesley Wagland Portfolio Holder for Legal and Estates EFDC

Click here to download this file


23 November 2010

The consultation regarding the development of Phase One of a 350 space
commuter car park on land behind Forest Drive and Slade End has now closed.

Following on from a TBAG organised presentation that was attended by 50-60 local residents and difficulty experienced by many with the online comments submission page, an extension to the consultation was agreed with EFDC. There has been an overwhelming response from local people that are opposed to this development. EFDC have received 202 objections and only one letter of support from a resident of the village.

TBAG are particularly concerned with, as well as the obvious detriment to the Metropolitan Green Belt, the change of use from agricultural to D2 which includes 'cinemas, concert halls, bingo halls, dance hall, swimming bath, skating rink, gymnasium or other area for indoor or outdoor sports or recreations, not involving motorised vehicles or firearms.'

The owner and leaseholder of this site are due in court on 6th December to defend enforcement notices issued by EFDC with regard to the unlawful positioning of portacabins, which were delivered to the site during May 2008. We know that there are extensive plans for the development of this privately owned land that could have an adverse impact on the entire area. An application for a 'training and leisure facility for foster children and their carers', on the site of the demolished pavilion, has been received by EFDC but is not currently valid. With a change of use requested with the car park application we have to ask:

What are the real plans for this area?

For example, EFDC planners have made it quite clear to TBAG that members of the council have in the past viewed the development of affordable housing as a 'very special circumstance' to grant applications to build in the green belt.

As well as objecting to the commuter car park application, monitoring the situation on the Old Foresters site we have also recently responded to the Planning Inspectorate Appeal against refusal of stabling on Green Belt on Coopersale Lane.

Since becoming a member of the National Organisation of Residents
Associations (NORA) we have received a wealth of information on a variety of issues including important changes to planning, licensing and waste legislation. Through NORA we can comment on relevant consultations and working together with other residents groups throughout the country have more influence in effectively challenging government policy.



3 November 2010

Following on from comments from residents about difficulties utilising EFDC's planning electronic comment facility TBAG requested an extension to the closing date. The council have just confirmed that they are looking into the issues we and others have raised and have extended the closing date for comments from 5th November to 22nd November.

Please try the following link -

plan1.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/PLComments.aspx?pk=518837

Take a deep breath, you will have to fill out all sections and in some cases have to repeat the address fields, ensure that the ‘comment type’ is ‘ strong objection’ as this field does become blank if you have to return to the form for more details and it is essential to fill in the telephone number field, but that does not have to be accurate.

Or you can print off the attached, fill in your name, address and postcode, sign and send to EFDC. If you have friends and neighbours that you feel would be interested in commenting on this potential development that would set a very dangerous precedent for our village, please encourage them to complete the pro forma attached, write their own letter or comment online.

There have been thus far, 102 objections to this proposal, we need to send officers and members of EFDC and this development team a strong message that the people of Theydon Bois value their Green Belt and will not see it further abused.

We know that there are extensive plans for the development of this privately owned land that could have an adverse impact on the entire area. An application for a ‘training and leisure facility for foster children and their careers’, on the site of the demolished pavillion, has been received by EFDC but it is not currently valid. With a change of use requested with the car park application that would include; ‘cinemas, concert halls, bingo halls, dance hall, swimming bath, skating rink, gymnasium or other area for indoor or outdoor sports or recreations, not involving motorised vehicles or firearms’ we have to ask:
What are the real plans for this area?



29th October

There are only a few more days remaining to comment on planning application EPF/1134/10. If this application for Phase One of a 350 space commuter car park behind Forest Drive and Slade End is successful then this land could be irreparably compromised and before long we could be awash with applications for this and the adjoining Green Belt sites.

This development team have already started and then declined to complete a golf course, land- filling for several years in the process, applied for a tennis academy, relocation of golf clubhouse and have threatened a football academy. EFDC have also issued several Enforcement Notices against the developers for breach of planning law, have felt it necessary to formally warn residents about a 'land banking scam' at the adjoining site and we have also had to contend with motocross.

The application also means a change of use from 'Agricultural' to use that includes 'dance halls, bingo halls, cinemas and concert halls'. Do you want a dance hall on this site?

Please complete the attached pro forma, with your name, address and signature, and post to EFDC or comment online;

plan1.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/PLComments.aspx?pk=518837


EFDC have so far received 74 objections to this application, please make your voice heard and your opinion count.

Planning Officers at EFDC have informed us that affordable housing can be viewed as a special circumstance with regard to development on the Green Belt. We cannot allow our Green Belt to be further compromised by these developers.



28th October

The TBAG objection to EPF/1134/10

Click here to download this file

27th October 2010





TBAG held a drop-in presentation on Tuesday evening at the Queen Victoria Public House to make available to residents the full planning application being made by Mr Dilloway of Parkeng Limited for Phase One of a 350 space commuter car park on Green Belt land in Theydon Bois. The presentation was well attended, between 50-60 residents turned out in the rain to view the plans that include change of use from agricultural to use that includes; cinemas, concert halls, bingo halls, dance hall, swimming bath, skating rink, gymnasium or other area for indoor or outdoor sports or recreations, not involving motorised vehicles or firearms. All the residents bar one had very strong reservations about the proposal and either signed the pro forma objection prepared by TBAG, or planned to return home to either write their own objection or comment online. TBAG will be using the comments made by visitors to formulate their collective response to the application. The deadline for making your own opinion known about this application to EFDC is 5 November

20th October

Please find here;

Click here to download this file

a letter of objection to the Commuter Car Park EPF/1134/10.

If you feel you would like to object, you may use the pro-forma letter attached. You may either use our suggestions to write your own letter or simply print, add your full name and address including post code, sign and send. Please note that your full address and post code are required in order that EFDC properly recognise your objection, you will receive an acknowledgement. Responses should be received at EFDC by 5th November.


Alternatively you can respond on line at;


plan1.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/PLComments.aspx?pk=518837


or via email to; ssolon@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

If you would like to view the plans before submitting your comments please come along to the Queen Victoria Public House any time between 3pm-9pm on Tuesday 26th October - children welcome. You will able to leave completed pro-forma letters with us and we will deliver them for you.

TBAG

Protecting the Village of Theydon Bois

www.theydonbois-actiongroup.co.uk







12th October

TBAG understand that the subject of commuter parking and parking restrictions in the village is a cause close to many people’s hearts. We understand that some of you believe that the development of a large commuter car park at the Old Foresters site behind Forest Drive is the answer to all of our parking problems. You may say “surely if we had a large car park where commuters could park they would park there instead of on our residential streets and the parking restrictions, yellow lines, could be removed ?” You may think that an increase of commuters accessing the village would result in money being spent in the local shops ensuring their long term viability – a win win situation! Alas, that is a dream. The reality unfortunately would be significantly different.

An application has just been registered at Epping Forest District Council, EPF/1134/10, for 'the creation of a commuter car park providing 179 car parking spaces (including 13 disabled spaces), access road, access bridge, lighting, security, CCTV installations, landscaping and drainage works.' This is the second application; an earlier application for 156 spaces with a potential to extend to 350 was refused in March 2009. The Planning Officer commented that the earlier application was 'harmful and poorly conceived.' Although this application is for 179 spaces the plans confirm this is phase one and allude to a an extension to 350 spaces.

There are many reasons to object to this application. It is Metropolitan Green Belt and any development, including a car park, would harm openness. This site and the adjacent site of Blunts Farm are on the ‘Call for Sites List’ intended to highlight sites for large scale housing development to meet the districts needs for the future and any development here would be the ‘thin end of the wedge’ and could make objecting to further development more difficult.

The entire project is unsustainable. It is just a cynical application by the same people that defaced Blunts Farm, that would result in wider implications for this site and the green belt in Theydon Bois. If planning permission is granted we could see a high volume of heavy construction traffic and potentially 350 extra cars travelling through the village and on the Abridge Road every morning and evening.

Supporting the last application the developer, George Dilloway, presented 331 letters of support, the majority of which were from commuters that do not live in the District. Why is it the responsibility of Theydon Bois to compromise our green belt to provide parking for commuters driving from more distant towns such as Harlow, Brentwood, Bishops Stortford etc. who choose to commute via tube because it is significantly cheaper than their overground trains? We all paid a premium to live in the village within walking distance of the tube, so why should we then see a significant erosion of our valuable green space? North Weald residents may struggle to find parking spaces to commute to the city, but why should we pay the price for the closure, due to a lack of use, of the line east of Epping? There are bus services connecting Ongar and North Weald with Epping station and this service could be improved. Finding space on the train during rush hour is currently a challenge. 179 extra commuters, plus any passengers who travel with them, at Theydon Bois will just make the situation worse.

There needs to be joined up thinking on this. Filling the trains at the end of the line is not the answer to a tube line that is already running at capacity.

The application also requests a change of land use from ‘Agriculture / Horticulture / Glass’ (greenhouse) to ‘D2: Cinemas, music and concert halls; Dance, sports halls, swimming baths, skating rinks, gyms.’ This is very worrying and may be an indication of what the applicant is considering for the future. Could we expect a leisure complex with even more tarmac’ d green belt for parking and hundreds of visitors every day of the week? If this application succeeds, the green belt on the eastern side of the railway will be compromised and our ability to influence any further proposals will be hampered. The precedent will be set. Our quiet lanes, dark skies and rural environment will be under pressure from more and more development. This is the thin end of the wedge – act now to protect our village which is so prized by its inhabitants and heavily dependent on the green rise on the Abridge end of Theydon Bois continuing to exist.

TBAG will be giving residents an opportunity to view the plans at the Queen Victoria PH on Tuesday 26th October from 3pm until 9pm - so come along look at the plans and tell us your views!

The closing date for objections is 5th November. Please think about the longer term implications for this site and Theydon Bois and object to EPF/1134/10 in the strongest terms to;

Via email to ssolon@eppingforestdc.gov.uk


Or online at plan1.eppingforestdc.gov .uk/Northgate/Plann ingExplorer/PLComments.aspx?pk=518837

Or by post to John Preston, Planning Department, Civic Offices, High Street, Epping, CM16 4BZ

TBAG
Protecting the Village of Theydon Bois

www.theydonbois-actiongroup.co.uk



8th October

New car park application has been sunmitted and found valid - even though as early as last week TBAG were informed by EFDC that this application was invalid!

EPF/1134/10
Site AddressLand off Abridge Road (ex Old Foresters Club) Theydon Bois Essex CM16 7NN
Application TypeFull Planning Application
Development TypeChange of use of land or buildings
ProposalThe creation of a commuter car park providing 179 car parking spaces (including 13 disabled spaces), access road, access bridge, lighting, security centre, CCTV installations, landscaping and drainage works.
Current StatusREGISTERED
ApplicantMr George Dilloway


29th September 2010

After being postponed from 14th May to 11th June, then again to 27th September, we have now find out that the Crown Court Hearing will now take place in Chelmsford on 6th December. Mr Harris of Diverse Care has now been present on the site since May / June 2008!

Another application for a Commuter Car park on this site was received by EFDC earlier this year. It has been deemed however as 'invalid' and will therefore not be processed in the usual way.

21st April 2010

Two un-appealed enforcement notices for the stationing of portacabins and unlawfull development at the Old Foresters site were due for their first court appearance on 12 March 2010.

The court case on 12 March was then postponed until 16 April for the occupier, Mr Jim Harris of Diverse Care Limited and owner Mr Philip Newman of Blunts Farm Estates Limited and Blake Golf to obtain legal advice.

On 16 April Mr Harris and Mr Newman were given more time by the court to seek proper legal advice and are due back in court on 14 May.

We await with interest the courts decision on 14 May!

3 March 2010

www.easypark-theydonbois.co.uk/

Loughton Residents Association in their publication Loughton Life have said;
'Do you use the Central Line? Can you get a seat in the morning at Loughton? Can you get on in the evening at Bank or Holborn? Well, your daily commute may become even more miserable if the latest "bright idea" comes to fruition - the construction of large car parks at the end of the Central Line.

Among the schemes that have been suggested - some by Conservative councillors from the rural parts of Epping Forest - are making Epping Station car park double or triple decked, providing a mega-park-and- ride at North Weald Aerodrome, letting private developers develop green belt fields at Theydon Bois, and tarmacing council-owned green spaces such as at Torrington Drive, Debden. Increasing the length or frequency of trains is not an option because the system is at capacity.

The seating capacity of a Central Line train is 288. Car parks at Loughton and beyond have a capacity of 1,059 vehicles, which at 1.5 persons per car would give 1,600 people or nearly six trainloads. There are already lots of people travelling by car to the Underground from all over Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Encouraging people to drive long distances to stations at the north end of the Central Line would mean Loughton residents would not be able to get a seat in the morning.

LRA has resisted this sort of thing before and successfully helped defeat a planning application for parking in a field next to Theydon Bois station. We have pressed for the exclusion of commuters from residential streets and we will continue to resist thoughtless proposals from outsiders who know little of the realities of life for thousands of commuters in Loughton. '

11th AUGUST 2009

SIDELL GIBSON CROUCH BUTLER, THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE APPELLANT, PARKENG LIMITED, HAS WITHDRAWN THE APPEAL AGAINST THE REFUSAL OF PLANNING PERMISSION FOR THE COMMUTER CAR PARK.**



The Planning Inspctorate has announced that their inspector will be holding an inquiry into the refusal of the commuter car park by Parkeng Ltd on 20th October 2009. It will commence at 10am at the Civic Offices, 323 High Street, Epping, reference APP/J1535/A/09/2102000/NWF


Site plan of proposed car park;


Click here to download this file

28th May TBAG response to the Planning Inspectorate;

Click here to download this file

Click here to download this file

Click here to download this file

25th May

This is your last chance to oppose the development of a 350 space, twice the size of Debden, commuter car park behind Theydon Bois station. If you have not done so already and value the Green Belt and its contribution to the character of our village please write to the Planning Inspectorate by 28th May.

The Planning Inspectorate,
Room 3/16 Eagle Wing,
Temple Quay,
Bristol, BS1 6PN
Reference APP/J1535/A/09/2102000/NWF

The developers behind this venture are the same team that have permanently scarred Blunts Farm. They are confident of winning the appeal as they have the support of many commuters who do not live in our village. If the appeal of the refusal of planning permission is granted then our ability to protect this area of land will be severely compromised. The developer's main aim is the construction of 3,000 homes. This area of land, 38 hectares in total, is on the EFDC 'Call for Sites' list and the Planning Department have said that 'development in the district in the future will concentrate on the main towns and larger villages (the latter obviously including Theydon Bois). One option (of several) for distribution will be to concentrate on those settlements served by the Central Line.' If our Green Belt gets compromised by this car park then housing may be more difficult to resist in the future, and on this scale the special character of our village will change for good.

The village may have a 'parking problem' but that is because commuters wish to park for free in our residential streets. A scan of the tax discs displayed in the car windscreens shows cars from Harlow, Chelmsford, Ingatestone and Ongar. Theydon Bois should not have their Green Belt harmed because commuters that could easily travel to a closer over ground station choose to park for free and commute on a cheaper underground system. We have also noted that recently the car park at Theydon Bois Station has spaces left as late as 9am. There are also spaces available during morning rush hour at Epping and Debden Station car parks. The local residents that support this application only do so because they believe it will result in the removal of the restrictive parking, yellow lines, from outside their homes, and this application will not, commuters will continue to strive to park for free outside our homes. Just imagine an extra 350 cars on Abridge Road / Coppice Row in the morning.

Please write to Bristol enclosing 3 copies of your letter.
We cannot afford to be complacent on this!



Application for commuter car park - EPF/ 2439/08
This application was considered by EFDC's Planning Sub Committee East on Wednesday 11th March. Councillors unanimously voted against the planning application.