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Post by jgpark on Aug 12, 2014 14:46:38 GMT
The more the better, do it now before it's too late, force a public meeting and then turn up and have your say
Graham
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Post by gcb on Aug 12, 2014 15:08:06 GMT
My comment is up - come on guys!
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Post by nightline on Aug 12, 2014 18:12:12 GMT
Here is the link uniformonline.harrogate.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=N8I7ZXHY64000Each of us need register on the above form and lodge our objections. Bear in mind they ought to be well thought out, well written and concise – also bear in mind that as anglers living away from the area we have to find a way to convince the planning officer(s) concerned with this matter that we don’t just care about this for our own sport. In that event our objections will be dismissed because as far as they are concerned the Fisheries Assessment supports the scheme. We must contest the Ecology Report the Fisheries Assessment and others with reasoned argument. These objections must be put in writing quickly, particularly if you wish to attend the planning meeting; I doubt that you will be allowed to speak if you have not formally objected. I could be wrong but this has been the case in the past. On that subject now is the time for us to get our act together. We need a number of forum members to commit to the above, get the letters in (perhaps help each other with this and encourage/help others to do so). Now is the time for people to get of their a###s and do something and let’s face it is only a letter. I thought about a standard downloadable letter but these things have far less impact with planning officers than something personal written from the heart, with obvious feeling and concern for the river Swale at Topcliffe and the wider effect the scheme could bring to the village. Some of us will have to attend the planning meeting and to that end they should make themselves known now and at some point we need to get together –agree on strategy and even rehearse a little, all singing from the same hymn sheet; we only get one shot now if our trustees have already signed away the option to withdraw ( I cannot believe I have just written that)which it would appear to be the case. – We have not had a response from Graham or Stan to the question about the lease and it’s been 24 hours? I still have not had sight of this Lease/ contract but I understand it was signed a year ago and it is a forty year lease from 7 August 2013 expiring 7th august 2053 and whilst its terms allow the Hydro Company to terminate the lease at any time LADASA can’t. Value of the lease is £100 pa from 7 August 2013 until the hydro starts operating. Plus 8% of the net income from the scheme’s operating income. This is very much at risk when considering what is included as deductions from gross income and when you also consider that at Settle, investors appear to have seen no income. Now is the time lads – let’s hear from you. Duncan
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Post by nightline on Aug 12, 2014 18:31:04 GMT
Geoff - If only - Sylvia Jay's Otter survey report is ultimately in support of the scheme some recommendations are made some quite serious changes and future observations are suggested but the bottom line is if the Otter as a political tool had the power to stop this scheme it is not going to do so . She is highly regarded on the subject and has been observing the Otter population at this location for 15 years. I'm not saying she is right far from it just that she will be difficult to contest and all these so called 'professional' surveys are what planners refer to. Other circumstances would definately have caused the Otter to be drawn like a gun to crush an application for some private enterprsise with no 'green'gov't backing perhaps. Their world (The Consultants) is small and being contentious doesn't go down wel,l perhaps it affects your chances of being considered when the next consultation opportunity crops up particularly if it is for the same company. This is why I did not want to go down this road. It would have been so much simpler for our club to pull the plug. There is still time for this it's up to the trustees!
Duncan
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Post by gcb on Aug 13, 2014 13:07:12 GMT
I am disgusted how the committee have negotiated this deal - seemingly behind our backs. I have been a member of the club for many years but if this goes through I won't be re-joining.
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Post by nightline on Aug 13, 2014 13:41:59 GMT
Geoff there is no committee. From the beginning I knew the implications of a formal objection to planning but believed we could defeat this without having to go down that route on the simpler basis that the club owned the land and could therefore pull the plug. In fact only last week it was still being confirmed to me that the decision was still in the hands of the delegates – they had insisted on no further agreement being made. If that was the case they did not know then they had been lied to and that this lease had in fact been signed a year ago, more lately still I understood that this lease had been signed and I have now read it and know who signed it. However 36 hours ago the president was asked these three direct questions and confirmed in front of witnesses (club officials) that 1. He had read the lease, 2. He confirmed that that he understood it and 3. Was emphatic that this lease was just a simple waiver allowing UK Hydro on to the land nothing more, not the carte blanche 30 page document that I have read and see to be a full lease. I cannot imagine any solicitor not going through this in detail with the signatories, particularly with leasehold documents which in my limited experience are more complicated. This lease allows UK Hydro all the rights they need to proceed up to 2053 subject to planning they could apply for planning to build a block of flats should they so wish.
Duncan
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Post by gcb on Aug 13, 2014 17:07:56 GMT
We have seen in the recent past that a failure to carry out the necessary checks has made the association a laughing stock in the news and mentioned in the courts over serious charges where adequate checks weren't carried out. I think the president should resign as we seem to be constantly lurching from one embarrassing situation to another. This shows the leadership of the club has passed its sell by date and is no longer fit to run a large angling club in the 21st century that is able to represent anglers other than those that mainly match fish stillwaters.
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Post by kevrich on Aug 13, 2014 19:15:27 GMT
linkInteresting video, worth a watch. Kev
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Post by gcb on Aug 13, 2014 19:38:21 GMT
Thanks kev for this interesting addition to the debate. I am left thinking does anybody other than the power companies or those whose research is funded by the power companies actually think these turbines have anything other than a detrimental effect on the locality and its wildlife for such a minute contribution to our energy needs.
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Post by memsec on Aug 13, 2014 20:33:52 GMT
I am disgusted how the committee have negotiated this deal - seemingly behind our backs. I have been a member of the club for many years but if this goes through I won't be re-joining. Any look at the governance of LDASA suggests it’s not set up properly. The structure reminds me of a company being run by discussions at shareholder (delegate) meetings but no Directors and staff (Committee) responsible or accountable for the day to day business of running the company. One might think there’s a conspiracy here, but perhaps it’s just the chance outcome of clueless management? ....I think the president should resign as we seem to be constantly lurching from one embarrassing situation to another... And if he doesn't resign, couldn’t delegates just sack him or vote him out of office? Is it just the delegates who can do that, or can the ordinary members lend a hand too? .... does anybody other than the power companies or those whose research is funded by the power companies actually think these turbines have anything other than a detrimental effect on the locality and its wildlife for such a minute contribution to our energy needs. Yes, I think they’re called the government. Their National Planning and Policy Framework pretty much guarantees local councils granting planning permission to ‘green’ energy schemes. It’s only a few brave councils who seem to disagree – or are informed enough to reject them.
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Post by memsec on Aug 14, 2014 12:24:41 GMT
Bumped
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Post by ronny on Aug 14, 2014 12:29:47 GMT
Just seen toms video of a screw at bainbridge.. Awful looking thing
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Post by nightline on Aug 14, 2014 18:41:18 GMT
My contributions on this forum thread/s were motivated simply by a strength of feeling against the proposed Hydro electric plant at Topcliffe and its total lack of merit. I really felt we could put a stop to it on the basis that the club still had not carried this forward and I could perhaps influence members and Delegates, the decision still being in the hands of the Delegates and no contracts signed. That is what I was told. The fact that I was lied to is now almost irrelevant, except to say we cannot defeat the proposal in the way I had hoped. I have little or no interest in mudslinging or scrutinising the constitution of the club or the behaviour of its officers. Those relevant facts appertaining to this speak for themselves. If I was motivated by these things then I would have tried to help the club years ago by volunteering only then would It be appropriate- if you wish to attack those concerned I believe you should be prepared to replace them and commit to years of service. All of this is a separate matter in which I have no interest in becoming involved. The way forward now is to follow more conventional ways of tearing down this application, scrutinising every component /report of the submission, take issue wherever possible and lodge our objections on Harrogate Borough Council’s web site as a number of people already have done. We have only 2 weeks; by then the fifteen or so formal objections hopefully will swell enough to give a planning committee something to take notice of. By now I think most people know these schemes have little worth and are unjustifiable but it does not work like that. The Government has instructed the Environment Agency to approve all such schemes. It’s (The Governments) support for Hydro Electric schemes will eventually fall away as has happened in other countries but we are behind the times in this and until this happens it is a brave Borough or County Council that defies such directives from Westminster, so we must use all our powers of argument and persuasion in our objections - there is plenty of scope. Duncan
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Post by memsec on Aug 15, 2014 7:57:34 GMT
bump
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Post by rushy on Aug 15, 2014 9:16:32 GMT
I think we should keep the club constitution and this matter apart - certainly for the time being.
One of the reasons I set up Forum AC was to give non attached members a means of voicing their opinions and finding out what was going on in the club. Springer - I'm not sure if you are just winding people up mate but I'd like to hear your convincing argument for 72% of members not having a say just because they are not members of an affiliated club.
Back on subject - As far as I'm concerned the Trustees made a decision and that has gone forward - there's no need to start calling for heads to roll etc. I'm sure , as long standing dedicated members and supporters of LDASA they made their decision with the future of the club at heart. We all have our own opinions either for or against it and after all, this is a forum so its good to hear both sides of the argument , but certainly arguing amongst ourselves is not going to solve anything.
As has been quoted several times already , the best way to voice your opinion and HAVE IT COUNT is to post on the Planning Link
Rushy
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