Planning Confusion

It was my monthly surgery yesterday and a resident came along with some very legitimate complaints about the current planning application for the Grove Airfield Development, some of which have also been commented on by others. 

The first issue, that I have raised previously on this blog, is about the date for sending in comments to the planning application itself.  The initial letter to householders claimed that comments on the application needed to be received three weeks from the date of the letter (19th March according to my calculations).  This was then apparently extended to the 28th March, but when the exhibition was scheduled for 20-21 April, we were told by the parish council that the deadline was now extended until 30th April.  However, confusion continues when you check the website where it just states 'no case officer has been asssigned' and 'the consultation process will begin once the officer has been allocated'. Notices around the village just add to the confusion, where some still show 28th March and some show 30th April (see above). Clearly, what should have happened is that householders should have been sent a new letter with the correct date and the website should have been updated.

There are also a number of inaccuracies in the supporting documentation, not least, where it is stated that Newlands Drive has a 40 mph speed limit.  There has been a 30 mph speed limit there for years, so I do not understand how something as basic as this can be incorrect.  The access onto the site from just 2 points along Newlands Drive are also some cause of local concern especially when it would make much more sense to access the site from the Mably Way roundabout from Downsview Road.  A number of questions to be answered which I hope will be dealt with when I go for a briefing meeting soon with officers at County Hall.

Finally, the planning section of the Vale of White Horse District Council website is often inaccessible at the weekend, so that people are unable to obtain the planning documentation at what is often the most convenient time for those at work. I have complained about this before, but it continues to be a regular occurrence.

Those who have submitted planning applications will know how important it is to get the details exactly right. For such a major planning application, it is essential that the process is completely transparent and performed in a professional manner.