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Post by memsec on Aug 12, 2014 17:05:37 GMT
We can get our opposition to this heard by writing a comment to the planning application at Harrogate Council here. Letters opposing the application are beginning to appear. Lets add plenty more. uniformonline.harrogate.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=neighbourComments&keyVal=N8I7ZXHY64000I am sure it would be worth letting them know that many Leeds anglers are against the proposal. One of the comments already there is interesting " The proposed site would mean that an active resting site for the local otters be destroyed which as again is stated in their own reports that this is illegal due to the resting sites been PROTECTED BY LAW" Maybe the otter is our friend after all!. It could be a good idea to contact Natural England about the proposasl. Yes, everyone get their objections to Harrogate Council. Just voting against it on this forum won't carry any weight at all. The objections have to be about specific matters - just saying "I'm against it" isn't enough. Note that the Council doesn't have to give weight to just any objection - but it has to consider "material considerations" There's a list of these at tinyurl.com/k4avuya. Re the otters situation, the Applicants have commissioned a report on the impact of the proposal on otters as part of the application - see tinyurl.com/mhd7ckf . If you disagree about anything in that which isn't true, then that might be a cause for objection.
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Post by memsec on Aug 12, 2014 17:07:11 GMT
34 votes with 31 against the scheme pretty good only 1415 (registered forum users)voters still to register their feelings! I wonder who the 2 were who voted FOR it?
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Post by memsec on Aug 12, 2014 17:14:04 GMT
firstly have we got a time, date and place where the planning hearing is to take place and secondly does anyone wish to be forum spokesperson and attend the planning hearing to lodge our objections cos it seems we are on our own in this judging by stans posts on here the club want this to go ahead and us small people have to deal with that and lodge our own objections
The planning application looks like it's a Minor application (there are criteria which define if it's major or minor, I think). Minor applications don't have to go to the Planning Committee, I don't think, but the Head of Planning can decide to send them there if it's a contentious issue. I don't think there's a date set for any planning hearing, but there are deadlines by which the application will have to be decided upon - 6 weeks I think in the case of a minor, ?12 weeks for a major. You can't just go to the planning hearing and lodge your objections. They've got to be in writing, and submitted by 22 (or 29) August - see my other post. There will be a number of groups/people going to the hearing (if there is one), including a rep from at least one other angling club with water in the area, which is drafting an objection. Any objector can attend, but (again, I think) the objectors have to appoint one spokesman to speak for them all.
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Post by memsec on Aug 12, 2014 17:20:35 GMT
I have just read all of stan's posts to the forum members over the last 2 years - it wasn't easy. Not one single mention of the proposed hydroelectric scheme - doesn't that strike you as odd? Stan said we don't have to pay for maintenance so who pays for the thing if the company goes bust like many have before them? Also what is point of an access road and a hard standing area. Most people seem to cope with it fine as it is. Has anyone seen a copy of the lease? I guess that if LDASA isn't paying the maintenance, then UK Hydro will be, and it'll be stated in the lease. If the company goes bust, then it'd be up to the company's creditors and administrators what happens to the scheme, I guess.
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Post by ronny on Aug 12, 2014 17:30:11 GMT
5.3.1 - there basically saying it will kill baby otters, not a problem to me but could be used as leverage
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Post by av1nbarb3l on Aug 12, 2014 17:33:41 GMT
well thats my objection lodged on the link to harrogate council come on lads get yours lodged its easy to do and the more protesting against the better
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Post by memsec on Aug 12, 2014 17:46:08 GMT
I have followed the comments on here with interest. Why is this news to anybody ? It has been known about for a very long time. By all means comment but the right way to do this is via a delegate or at the very least turning up to a meeting and giving your informed opinion. Clubs are run via the people who are appointed to run them , not at the whim of people's wishes on a forum (which can be manipulated for and against without difficulty). I don't have any involvement with LDASA and fwiw have No it's not new news. The EA did a consultation on the project back in March 2013, and published their determination report saying "'yes. it's OK" in October 2013. There was then nothing to comment on or object to until this Planning Application reared its ugly head. Questions for me are: 1. Who decided that LDASA would cooperate with UK Hydro and enter into a lease with them? 2. Was it discussed and agreed (and presumably minuted) at Delegate meetings? 3. Was it discussed and agreed by a Management Committee (indeed, IS there a management committee?) 4. Or was the lease agreed and signed by a couple of Trustees on their own authority? If so, does the LDASA Constitution give them that authority? And if it doesn't, then does the signed lease agreement have any force in law? 5. How democratic is LDASA? Would it have come to a more democratic decision if more members had been willing to get involved and stay updated on things?. Is/was there an issue of not all Delegates turning up to all meetings? Is/was there an issue of members without a delegate not being kept in the loop? Is/was there an issue of Delegates not keeping the people they were delegating for in touch with what was happening? Are those the reasons for the current situation? Frankly, my feeling is that the only thing that can stop the project from going ahead - objections or not - would be for LDASA to pull out of their lease agreement. Could someone tell us if the lease gives LDASA an opt-out (though I can't imagine it will, because if it did, UK Hydro wouldn't have signed it, because they know that without access to their scheme, they couldn't operate it).
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Post by nightline on Aug 12, 2014 18:10:44 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 rushy on Aug 13, 2014 9:01:29 GMT
Well I don't even fish Topcliffe but I am a keen Barbel and river angler who loves being in the countryside with nature. The last thing I want is even more concrete and noise to ruin it and set a precedent - who knows, they could be building one at Hammerton Mill or Hunters Lodge next !!!!! - that's my objection posted . Took 20 minutes.
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Post by rushy on Aug 13, 2014 9:43:55 GMT
Heres the acknowledgement I received .,...................... Dear Sir/Madam APPLICATION TYPE: Full permission APPLICATION NO: 6.23.38.A.FUL 14/02806/FUL PROPOSAL: Formation of new channel adjacent to River Swale, installation of hydroelectric scheme (archimedean screw) with associated equipment, equipment housing, access track, parking and landscaping. LOCATION: Land At 439637 476304 Adjacent To Sluice Park Road Asenby North Yorkshire Thank you for your representation received on 13 August 2014 relating to the above application. Your representations will be taken into account before the application is decided, however we are unable to enter into correspondence concerning the application. The majority of applications are determined under delegated powers and do not need to go to Committee. If the application is to be determined by Committee, you will receive notification of the date of the meeting and details of our “Opportunity to Speak” scheme. More information about the application and planning generally is available on our website: www.harrogate.gov.uk/planning. We aim to determine applications within 8 weeks unless they involve major developments in which case our target is 13 weeks. We will notify you in writing of the decision. Yours faithfully Mr Andrew Moxon Planner ippu@harrogate.gov.uk 01423 500600 Extn 56685
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Post by Eddie on Aug 13, 2014 10:55:09 GMT
Will be putting my objection in soon, but it has just occurred to me, are the swale preservation group, aware or involved in any way?
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m001
New Member
Posts: 36
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Post by m001 on Aug 13, 2014 11:13:24 GMT
For those of you who are on facebook - there is a Topcliffe Weir FB page.
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Post by patterdalewilson on Aug 13, 2014 12:48:12 GMT
The fb link is great m001 there's some good links and also some great pics that put the scheme into perspective. Anyone else think the amalgamation has let us down badly ? I'm disgusted by the idea. Mick.
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Post by gcb on Aug 13, 2014 13:04:13 GMT
Yep - count me in on the disgusted front. 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 memsec on Aug 13, 2014 13:05:40 GMT
The last thing I want is even more concrete and noise to ruin it and set a precedent - who knows, they could be building one at Hammerton Mill or Hunters Lodge next !!!!! - that's my objection posted . Took 20 minutes. Only takes 20 minutes to get something up and posted and to feel you've done something to get this development halted. Even more people should try it! Heres the acknowledgement I received .,...................... ....Thank you for your representation received on 13 August 2014 relating to the above application. .... The majority of applications are determined under delegated powers and do not need to go to Committee. If the application is to be determined by Committee, you will receive notification of the date of the meeting and details of our “Opportunity to Speak” scheme. ...We aim to determine applications within 8 weeks unless they involve major developments in which case our target is 13 weeks. ... So it does look like it’s a Minor application, to be dealt with in 8 weeks after all. It also suggests that it might go to Committee – so let’s make sure we get in all the objections we can, to maximise that opportunity! Will be putting my objection in soon, but it has just occurred to me, are the swale preservation group, aware or involved in any way? I wouldn’t think so, because they weren’t at all interested in commenting on the application to the EA back in March 2013. In fact, I had great problems trying to contact the guy who runs the SWPS and I got the impression that it was more dead than alive!! So I won’t be pinning any hopes on them objecting.
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