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Group to fight Lock Hill development
"WE will fight it while we all consider it is wrong."
This was the reaction from the chairman of the Heybridge Basin Conservation Society on the news that another planning application for the infamous Lock Hill site has been submitted.
The application - for 13 homes, commercial premises, car parking and landscaping - is the latest in a long history of attempted developments on the site in Heybridge Basin.
Chairman Doug Milsted told the Standard what he thought of the new application and why he would be willing to hire a consultant to see this application defeated the group hired Trevor Dodkins to represent them at the planning inquiry for the previous application which was rejected by planning inspector John Papworth in January.
He said: "It was inevitable it was going to come back and this is not going to go away.
"I think the same as with the last one. The density is still the same and I think it is even worse for the character and appearance of the conservation area.
"The development is still high and to accomodate 13 dwellings is still too many.
"We are not against something being put there but no more than nine."
And in a letter to Maldon District Council, John and Anne Sadd, of Chapel Lane in Heybridge Basin, said: "The design of the development proposed is totally without justification.
"The architects have not demonstrated any empathy with the existing dwellings surrounding the site and it is therefore a totally unsuitable design for the Heybridge Basin Conservation Area."
But Andrew Martin Associates, chartered planners for Melodian Ltd - who submitted this and the previous application - said they have taken account of the comments made at the inquiry and revised the application.
David Maxwell, from Andrew Martin Associates, was unable to comment but referred the Standard to the supporting information on the Maldon District Council website which states that they expect the support of council officers after discussions with them about the plan.
The information also claims that "the appeal decision confirms that a predominantely residential development with a density of up to 84 dwelling per hectare would be appropriate on this site.
"The current application has carefully addressed each of the concerns expressed by the inspector's appeal decision. Indeed it is submitted that the current application would provide a development that both preserves and enhance the characteristics of the Heybridge Basin conservation area.
5:56am Tuesday 13th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Living nearby, Heybridge on 4:22pm Tue 13 May 08
When will these bloody developers LISTEN to local people and take the hint that their development isn't wanted?! The council should compulsorily purchase the land and slap a 'no development' covenant on it. The council and the developers need to understand that people don't want buildings going up all the time in their villages and towns. Enough is enough. Go away and build somewhere less sensitive. Surely there's enough brownfield land down in the Thames Gateway to satisft their greedy motives...
When will these bloody developers LISTEN to local people and take the hint that their development isn't wanted?! The council should compulsorily purchase the land and slap a 'no development' covenant on it. The council and the developers need to understand that people don't want buildings going up all the time in their villages and towns. Enough is enough. Go away and build somewhere less sensitive. Surely there's enough brownfield land down in the Thames Gateway to satisft their greedy motives...
Posted by: Tired, of Maldon on 7:11pm Tue 13 May 08
When will these bloody residents LISTEN to the government and take the hint that their moaning isn't wanted?! The council has no powers to compulsorily purchase the land and slap a 'no development' covenant on it just because some locals might not like it, for goodness sake there would never be another house built in the country if they tried that!! The government has decided that the green belt is still reasonably sacrosanct and brownfield is where to build.
All of your complaining won't get you anywhere, because under appeal the development in one form or another WILL happen, you have no power to stop this, you can lay in the road, kick and scream, spout unfeasible claptrap on websites, but at the end if the day this is going to happen.
The council and the developers need to work together with the local residents to work out a way where the community gets something useful back rather than the council waste money fighting the inevitable just to satisfy the greedy motives of residents who are only worried about their property values....
I'd have thought your only real hope is here that the general falling property values will put the developers off in the short term, but give it two years, values go up and then its all worth while again.
Just out of interest, how would you feel if the land was used for its commercial use as it seems that the lockups and surrounding land would make a nice place for me to start a nice noisy car repairers ;-)
advocatus diaboli
When will these bloody residents LISTEN to the government and take the hint that their moaning isn't wanted?! The council has no powers to compulsorily purchase the land and slap a 'no development' covenant on it just because some locals might not like it, for goodness sake there would never be another house built in the country if they tried that!! The government has decided that the green belt is still reasonably sacrosanct and brownfield is where to build.
All of your complaining won't get you anywhere, because under appeal the development in one form or another WILL happen, you have no power to stop this, you can lay in the road, kick and scream, spout unfeasible claptrap on websites, but at the end if the day this is going to happen.
The council and the developers need to work together with the local residents to work out a way where the community gets something useful back rather than the council waste money fighting the inevitable just to satisfy the greedy motives of residents who are only worried about their property values....
I'd have thought your only real hope is here that the general falling property values will put the developers off in the short term, but give it two years, values go up and then its all worth while again.
Just out of interest, how would you feel if the land was used for its commercial use as it seems that the lockups and surrounding land would make a nice place for me to start a nice noisy car repairers ;-)
advocatus diaboli
Posted by: Living nearby, Heybridge on 8:36am Thu 15 May 08
My point is that it is the residents who have to live with the developers plans for ever after and that "No" should mean "NO DEVELOPMENT"
I personally don't see any problem with taking the stance that development shouldn't be allowed to happen if a majority of residents don't want it. It has little to do with the potential dip in property values as you mention. Prices will rise over the long term regardless of what gets built/not built at Lock Hill.
The council by the way is employed by the residents to make decisions on their behalf - this is generally known as a democracy. The people have made their feeligns clear - they want the council to oppose development and that should be the end of it. The should be a limit to the appeal process too, otherwise what's the point of having a planning decision that says "No" to a development?
Perhaps someone should set up a motorcylce repair shop at the bottom of your back garden..
My point is that it is the residents who have to live with the developers plans for ever after and that "No" should mean "NO DEVELOPMENT"
I personally don't see any problem with taking the stance that development shouldn't be allowed to happen if a majority of residents don't want it. It has little to do with the potential dip in property values as you mention. Prices will rise over the long term regardless of what gets built/not built at Lock Hill.
The council by the way is employed by the residents to make decisions on their behalf - this is generally known as a democracy. The people have made their feeligns clear - they want the council to oppose development and that should be the end of it. The should be a limit to the appeal process too, otherwise what's the point of having a planning decision that says "No" to a development?
Perhaps someone should set up a motorcylce repair shop at the bottom of your back garden..
Posted by: Tired, of Maldon on 4:30pm Thu 15 May 08
"The council by the way is employed by the residents to make decisions on their behalf - this is generally known as a democracy. "
Democracy is fine, but you do appreciate that the 100 or 200, at a push say 300 households that don't want this in Heybridge Basin are balanced against the 1000's of households in the Maldon borough who don't give a hoot about it?
Democracy in real terms still hopefully means the few don't have as bigger voice than the apathetic majority (or the majority who don't want the useless council spending more money protecting your old waste ground that isn't commercially viable in its current state.)
As for motorbikes at the end of my garden, I'm sure you'll come along and stand up for my rights just like your expectation of democracy means I'll stand up for yours.
BTW. Democracy and this council is a laugh, the last time there were local elections we didn't get to vote as no one else stood in opposition, I wanted to tick "None of the above" but was denied my pointless protest. I'd argue that realistically this whole country is a democracy for about 12 hours every 4 years, other than that the government get away with forgoing democracy.
"The council by the way is employed by the residents to make decisions on their behalf - this is generally known as a democracy. "
Democracy is fine, but you do appreciate that the 100 or 200, at a push say 300 households that don't want this in Heybridge Basin are balanced against the 1000's of households in the Maldon borough who don't give a hoot about it?
Democracy in real terms still hopefully means the few don't have as bigger voice than the apathetic majority (or the majority who don't want the useless council spending more money protecting your old waste ground that isn't commercially viable in its current state.)
As for motorbikes at the end of my garden, I'm sure you'll come along and stand up for my rights just like your expectation of democracy means I'll stand up for yours.
BTW. Democracy and this council is a laugh, the last time there were local elections we didn't get to vote as no one else stood in opposition, I wanted to tick "None of the above" but was denied my pointless protest. I'd argue that realistically this whole country is a democracy for about 12 hours every 4 years, other than that the government get away with forgoing democracy.
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