Hampden Lodge Update

Another planning application has been submitted by Havering Councils developer for flats and now houses on the former care home site. The new application is for the demolition of the existing building and the construction of 30 dwellings, 13 of which are 3 and 4 bedroom houses, and 17 are one, two and three bedroom flats. However there is only provision being made for 36 parking spaces for the whole site.

We have been contacted by lots of residents about the new scheme, with mixed views, most are happy that the scheme has a reduced number of units, however it still does not deal with the extra traffic coming from the site onto Clockhouse Lane and the impact this will have on the surrounding streets and the closeness to Clockhouse Primary School.

The lack of parking provision is also way below what is needed, only 36 spaces for 30 properties, however if you add the total number of bedroom up, you get almost three times that amount, we know some will be for young families, but over time, these young people will learn to drive.

Cllr Mann, Kevin Tonks and Denis Steven all can not understand why the Conservative Administration are hell bent on flogging of this site at any cost and still refuse to look at options for a desperately needed health centre or other community use.

The Councils Cabinet agreed a secret report last year, reducing the amount of money that the developer ad to pay. Cllr Mann has a copy, as all Councillors are allowed to see it, however he has been warned that he can not disclose the contents as it will be a breach of the members code of conduct. However the local Romford Recorder have printed suggestions that over the last 2 years, the price being paid could have been reduced by as much as £1/2 to £1 million pounds.

If this is true, the loss of £1 million in cash that could be spent in Collier Row is a grave indication of the type of people that are currently running Havering Council. Both of your Tory Councillors for Havering Park ward suggested last year that they had “Saved” Hampden Lodge, yet they are both part of the Administration agreeing to sell it off, Cllr Starns is actually a Cabinet member, who voted to sell it off, yet they both protest that they are on your side !

We would ask all residents that have a view to write to the Head of Regulatory Service, at Mercury House, Mercury Gardens, Romford, RM1 3BD with their comments, it would be a great helpful you could copy in Cllr Mann by e-mail at andrew.mann@havering.gov.uk or by post, address on the right of this page.

We are grateful for the developers for agreeing to host an informal meeting at Clockhouse School, for residents to view the plans recently. However we are not sure how much this was politically motivated, as Cllr Mann was only invited less than 24 hours before the event ! Luckily for us, we were able to get three of our members along on the night and Graham and Karen Price and Joe Webster were able to spend some time, talking to local residents about the revised plans which were on display.

Whatever the outcome, it is likely to come before the Planning meeting just the week before the Local Elections on May the 6th how very convenient. We still feel that on balance this scheme is not as good as it could be, we except they have now proposed houses, which the majority of residents said would be acceptable, however there is still a great amount of flats to houses and the traffic situation is still not going to be resolved properly.

Update on 177 - 179 Mawney Road

Update on Planning Application no. P0986.09 in respect of 177-179, Mawney Road

Over fifty Mawneys Ward residents were in attendance at the Town Hall this week, for the Regulatory Services Committee. They were supported by Graham Price, of the Mawneys Action Team.

The application, to provide a residential care home for twelve residents with learning and or physical disabilities who would require constant supervision, had attracted fierce opposition from Mawneys residents. Over 200 had signed a petition, and there had in addition been 163 letters of objection sent in.

Last week, Graham Price had downloaded the committee report and delivered a hard copy to a local resident who had called a meeting of objectors the weekend before the Regulatory Services meeting to discuss it. Immediately prior to the meeting in The Town Hall, Graham Price spoke at length to Mr Andy Green, a local resident who would be making a two-minute speech as the lead objector on behalf of all the other residents who had objected.

Whilst the officers’ recommendation was to refuse the application, when the item was reached, a brief debate ensued as to whether there was a perceived need for the residential care home. Cllr Misir (Tory, Mawneys Ward) received rapturous applause when he suddenly moved the recommendation for refusal, but he rather spoilt the effect of this, when he appeared to second a supplementary motion from Cllr Tebbutt to defer a decision on the application until a later date, so that a stronger case for refusal could be established. Undoubtedly, many of the local residents present were thoroughly mystified and disappointed, and possibly angered, by this confused development.

Graham Price said after the meeting “In the event, I think that the decision made for deferral was a correct one. I had expressed my view to some of the residents, which was that the report seemed to be unbalanced. Several pages were taken up explaining how the proposal met every criteria and all the policies laid down. And then right at the end there was the recommendation for refusal, on grounds that seemed to be very thin and lightweight. The fear that I had was that a straight refusal on the night, for the reasons stated, could quite probably have led to the refusal being overturned on appeal.”

177 / 179 Mawney Road

Mawneys team member Graham Price, has received adverse comments from a number of concerned residents in relation to a planning application for 177/179, Mawney Road.

This is for a change of use from a purely residential home, to a residential institution, to provide a residential care home for twelve residents, with ancillary facilities, amenity space and parking provision.

Graham has spoken to a number of residents in Mawney Road, and has also taken up a complaint received from a resident about the lack of notification. We are aware that there have been over 100 letters of objection sent in, which is a huge number for a planning issue, and we will be monitoring the progress of the application very closely.

Hampden Lodge Refused – for now !

The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association are pleased that the Planning Committee refused permission for the former care home to become 43 flats. Over the last two years, the application has gone from 58 flats, down to 48 and then rather controversially mid way through the recent consultation, reduced down to 43.

Cllr Mann who was joined by Joe Webster and Denis Stevens at the planning meeting said, “I am pleased that the Committee agreed with all those who objected by refusing the scheme, I struggled to find a single positive point, the flats were too high, out of character, a danger to the highway in Clockhouse Lane, loss of light and there is also a lack of education places in North Romford.

However, the Conservative controlled Council need to take some responsibility for this whole debacle, they are the ones that sold the land, (subject to planning being granted) they are the ones that reduced the price by an alleged £1/2 million (as reported in the Recorder) to get shot of it and they are the one who have now made it a planning condition that 100% of the flats are offered as affordable housing to a Housing Association.

Over 1000 people signed the original petition that was presented to the Mayor last year, however it seems that your Tory Councillors are hell bent on doing anything for money, and could not give a damn about what local people want. Earlier this year, Tory Cllr, Geoff Starns said he was resigned to taking the big bucks for the land and at the Planning meeting, Cllr Tebbutt, said it was the Councils job to squeeze every pip of money out of a piece of land they sell, so plenty of hope there then !

Almost every resident we have spoken to would accept some sort of housing on the site and that is what we need “housing” not flats. Havering Council now need to go back to the drawing board, look at what money they want for the site and balance that against what is best for a family town like Collier Row and come up with suitable plans, perhaps houses, maybe a Health Centre.

The developer has spent a lot of money trying to get planning permission and will undoubtedly appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Or will the Tory run Council shelve plans until May 2010 when the next Local Elections take place, hoping people will forget ?

Hampden Lodge Planning Meeting

URGENT – PLEASE READ – Hampden Lodge

As you may or may not know Havering Councils Regulatory Services Committee will be deciding the outcome of the planning application to turn the former care home into 43 flats on Thursday of this week (the 25th).

Over the last 12 months the applicant, Bellway Homes and Havering Council have submitted plans for 58 flats, then 48 flats and now revised plans for 43 flats, the latest revision has included a planning condition that 100% of the flats are for social housing and will be handed to a Housing Association.

This will therefore stop local people actually being able to buy the flats and as you have to offer properties across East London as part of the choice based lettings scheme Havering are part of. There is no guarantee that Havering people will get a flat, if they are approved.

The level of support against this development has been fantastic, with hundreds writing to object and over 1000 people signing the original petition; please join us for the last push at the planning meeting this week at the Town Hall to show the level of objection.

Please meet at the Town Hall from 6.30pm for a demonstration this Thursday, the 25th June, then stay on for the planning meeting at 7.30pm. Your support on Thursday could make all the difference.

Cllr Andy Mann

Hampden Lodge You Tube Video

Local resident and Hampden Lodge campaigner, Jeff Terrell has made a short video and posted it on You Tube, click on the link below to view it.

CLICK HERE TO LINK TO THE VIDEO

Lynwood Drive Planning Application

Another planning application has been submitted by the Lynwood Drive Medical Centre to extend its size by converting the house a no.2 to form part of the surgery.

It also proposes a Change of use from residential to D1 for pharmacy, consulting rooms and administration, alterations to the driveway of 2 Lynwood Drive to form parking for patients and staff of adjoining medical centre located at 2A, 4 and 6 Lynwood Drive.

The pharmacy also seeks permission to be open Monday to Saturday, from 06.00 to 23.00 and on Sundays from 09.00 to 13.00, that is a total of 100 hours a week.

The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association is sympathetic to the needs of the community in improving the facilities available to patients and to improving the care they receive.

However, this site is just not capable of being extending any further; the surgery is already located within three converted houses in Lynwood Drive. The parking situation in the surrounding roads is already at breaking point and the six extra spaces that are proposed will not be enough, as they will be taken up by extra staff parking.

The location of the pharmacy on the junction of Lynwood Drive and Clockhouse Lane will be a traffic nightmare, it is also less than 100 metres from a school, and the traffic at start and finish times is already of concern.

There is also issues around why a Chemist needs to be open 100 hours a week !

Havering Park Ward Councillor, Andy Mann said “This application was refused last summer and as far as I can see, there is no difference to the new plans, I am deeply concerned about a dispensing chemist being available for over 100 hours a week, from 06.00 in the morning to 11pm at night, its not like the surgery is open for 17 hours a day”. “To that end, I will be writing to the Head of Planning at Havering Council and calling in tis application and to express my concerns and objections”.

Council Advertising Income not achieved

Income from advertising on council assets (lampposts, roundabouts, etc) could underachieve by around £300,000 this year according to a report recently considered by the Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Last year, the Council agreed to increase income raised through advertising on council assets from £50,000 to £550,000, however the actual figures have left a large deficit in the planned budget.

Following a question to Council in December 2008, it was revealed that the 2008/09 budget was likely to underachieve by £200,000.

For 2009/10, the figures are looking even less favourable as one advertiser has already dropped out of the contract. Based on existing figures, income may only be £235,000, leaving a shortfall in excess of £300,000.

Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Clarence Barrett, said: “Last year we challenged the Cabinet decision to increase income through advertising on council assets on the grounds that we needed reassurance as to the quantity and quality of advertising and that the income projections were way too optimistic. However, our concerns were subsequently voted down by the Tory dominated Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

“Even given the economic conditions, the need to set income projections at a level which is achievable rather than through wishful thinking is crucial as it impacts on council budgets if the targets are not met”.

Hampden Lodge Public Meeting

The Collier Row & Mawneys team were out in force last night at a public meeting held with local people who are un-happy about Havering Council and Bellway Homes plans for 48 flats on the former care home site.

Over 50 local people turned up at the North Romford Community Centre to have their say. Cllr Andrew Mann was present, along with Havering Park Ward colleagues, Kevin Tonks and Denis Stevens and Mawneys team members Graham and Karen Price. Also present was Romford M.P, Andrew Rosindell and the two Tory Councillors, Starns and Binion (who are part of the Administration selling the land).

Over 20 local people had the chance to speak and ask questions of the Developer, Architect and Cllr Starns who as a Cabinet member agreed the sale of the site. Both Karen Price and Denis Steven were able to ask questions and make comments.

Karen raised the issue around the four story height of the proposed flats and suggested that residents take a trip to Essex Road to see the impact of a four story block of flats next to a two story house, the block is often known as “Tebbutt Towers” after the former Councillor approved in using his casting vote.

Denis Stevens raised issues around the environmental impact of the scheme, in relation to the loss of grass land, the impact of shadows and the loss of sun on local houses and the allotments, which are behind the scheme. He also raised issues around the extra surface and foul water that would be pushed into the over stretched local network and how flooding would be prevented.

Cllr Mann who spoke at length, highlighted some of the faults with the scheme, such as the reduction of 10 flats from the original plans, from 58 to 48, however the new scheme has an increase of bedrooms from 90, up to 103. He also spoke about his anger that the Council and developers have been secretly being doing deals to turn the whole development over to social housing landlords, something that Bellway Homes were forced to admit after being pushed by a local resident.

Cllr Mann said “I have been dealing with anti-social behaviour problems on the former Gobions School site, where developers could not sell all of the homes on the open market and then dumped the remaining un-sold flats and houses onto numerous registered social landlords, thereby creating a mini housing estate, but without any proper provision for the extra young families and children”.

He went on “we will now get the same issues in Collier Row with 48 flats sold not to the open public, not available to local people, but dumped onto a social housing landlord who is then able to offer flats to people form all over East London and Essex, therefore letting local people miss out on the chance of living there.

Local residents last night confirmed that they are not against the development of the site, they are grown up enough to expect some sort of building on the land, however 100% said they would only accept low level two story housing at the most, that do not overlook back gardens and that are available to local people.

It is still not to late to object to the plans, you can do so by writing to Patrick Keyes, Head of Regulatory Services, Mercury House, Mercury Gardens, Romford, RM1 3SL or e-mail planning@havering.gov.uk

Hampden Lodge - New Planning Application

It seems the Conservative Administration at Havering Council are determined to continue with selling off the former care home, Hampden Lodge, in Clockhouse Lane, Collier Row and filling it with dozens of flats up to four stories high.

Following a massive outcry last summer - when Bellway Homes submitted an application for 58 flats and associated parking - they withdrew the planning application as it was set to be refused. Since then, Havering’s Cabinet has reconfirmed its desire to sell of the land, by reducing the cost. Although the amount was contained in a confidential report, the Romford Recorder reported it as approx a £1/2 million reduction.

The new application is for 48 flats and associated parking, a reduction of just 10 flats from the original plan; they will still be three and four stories high. However, gone are the 6 x studio flats and 4 of the 1x bedroom flats, they have now been replaced with 5 x three bed and 5 x four bed flats.

The Residents Associations objections still remain the same as last time, with over development of the site, traffic implications in Clockhouse Lane, out of keeping with surrounding properties, in particular the 3 and 4 story height and over looking into houses in Highfield Road and Clockhouse Lane.

Havering Park Councillor Andrew Mann said “This application is nothing short of a slightly scaled down version of the last application, with only a small reduction of the amount of flats being crammed onto the site, it would seem that Bellway homes and Havering Council have not listened to the many hundreds of residents that objected to the previous scheme”.

Havering Park Team Member, Denis Stevens said “Over 1000 people signed a petition last summer against the plans for the site, all of which, it would seem have been ignored, as the Tory Council have continued to push this application along. Once again by doing a deal that only sees the Council receive the money once planning permission is granted”.

Cllr Mann has called this application into committee, so that if and when it comes before Councillors it can be discussed in full. If you would like to object to the plans, please write to the Head of Regulatory Services at Havering Town Hall, setting out your objections. Please copy in Cllr Mann into your objections.

You can also e-mail your objection to planning@havering.gov.uk Please quote the planning application number when you write, it is P0453.09.

Patrick keyes
London Borough of Havering
Mercury House
Mercury gardens
Romford
RM1 3SL

Please click here to see our previous stories on this issue.

Ascension Road Planning Application

Cllr Andy Mann has been notified by the planning officer at Havering that the planning application submitted for a day nursery for 20 Ascension Road, in Collier Row has been withdrawn by the applicant.

The only reason given by the applicant is "for further discussions with the local authority and clarification of the site ownership and redline boundary".

Applicants are entitled to withdraw before a decision is made, and Cllr Mann understands that the planning officers were set to recommend that this application be refused. They will be entitled to submit a new application free of charge in due course. We will let you know if this happens.

Click here to see our previous story on this issue and to get the full details of the application.

Ascension Road Planning Application

We have been contacted by dozens of local residents who are objecting to plans to convert a bungalow in Ascension Road, Collier Row (pictured above) into a day nursery for forty (12 x 0-2 years and 28 x 2-5 years) children. The centre is planned to be open Monday to Friday, 07.30 to 6.30pm.

The application in full, is to turn the detached residential property into a day nursery for 40 children, to form a drop off area and parking spaces on the front driveway, the installation of a cycle store and new fencing to the rear. There will also be internal alterations such as toilets and play rooms.

The site is planned to have ten members of staff, with only provision in the application for three bays for parent pick up and drop off. They suggest that staff and parents will either cycle or walk, or take the bus to the nursery, therefore not needing lots of parking spaces.

Havering Park Ward Councillor, Andrew Mann said "Whilst the provision of pre-school education is to be welcomed, the idea that a nursery for forty children can be crammed into a converted bungalow in a residential side street of Collier Row is just ridiculous, there would be cars coming and going all day, the plans only allow for three spaces, which is wholly inadequate for this application".

He went on "I have written to the head of Regulatory services at Havering "Calling in" the application, which means officers can not approve the application using delegated powers and it will have to go to a committee of Council Members to decide its outcome. I have also outlined my objections to the scheme"

The Residents Association would urge anyone that is against this plan to e-mail or write to Havering Council to object, please include the address and the application number, which is P0114.09, the deadline in next Wednesday, the 18th February 2009. You should write to;

Patrick Keyes
Head of Regulatory Services
London Borough of Havering
Mercury House
Romford
Essex
RM1 3SL

Or e-mail them: planning@havering.gov.uk

Hampden Lodge - Latest

The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association is disappointed in this Conservative Administration as it ignores public feeling by continuing with the sale of Hampden Lodge, it would now seem, at whatever amount it can get for it. Last month, a confidential report was agreed by the Conservative Cabinet to accept a new offer from the developer at a considerable reduction to that originally offered, the exempt nature of the report does not allow us to print the actual costs involved.

However, if you are to read the summer issue of the Conservatives newsletter they say “Hampden Lodge Flats – Stopped, the Collier Row Conservatives successfully campaigned against the proposal to build yet more dwellings in Clockhouse Lane”. It is a strange boast from them, as the application was actually withdrawn, so we are not sure how they actually “Saved” anything. The words are also hollow, as the secret report pushed through by the Cabinet, just re-confirms the Council commitment to sell the land and the Council will only get the money, if planning permission is granted !

The original planning application for the site was for the demolition of the existing care home and construction of three residential buildings extending to three to four stories in height, to provide 58 residential units, with 58 car parking spaces. However, this application was withdrawn, for no reason by the developers. However, we understand that as we go to print a new application could be submitted soon, for approx 50 flats, a reduction of just 8.

Cllr Andrew Mann said “We are very concerned about this application. Hundreds of residents contacted us to object to this scheme and over 1000 people signed petitions. Almost all of the concerns were about the size and bulk of the development, lack of parking and amenity space, along with the traffic implications in Clockhouse Lane. Over 100 people turned out for a demonstration against the plans for the site”.

Residents Association Action Member, Denis Stevens said “This was a big housing development for Collier Row and has caused a lot of upset in the community, not least because the Council will only receive the money once contracts have been exchanged, on condition of receiving planning permission”.

Sadly, by withdrawing the scheme, the developer has the opportunity to make a fresh planning application, free of charge to Havering in the next few months for a slightly modified scheme, so the plans to build on this site have not gone away. We will be watching very carefully and will continue to fight this scheme.

101 Clockhouse Lane Planning application

We are pleased that the planning application for 101 Clockhouse Lane has been withdrawn by the applicant after discussion with planning officers, who suggested that the application was likely to fail and be recommended for a refusal.

The application was submitted to Havering Council for the part demolition of 101 Clockhouse Lane and the formation of a new access road and four bungalows, this is one more than last time and that application was refused.

For more details, please see the story below;

http://andrewmann.blogspot.com/2008/10/101-clockhouse-lane-planning.html

101 Clockhouse Lane Planning Application

My final words, almost a year ago on the last planning application for this site were “We now wait and see if yet another planning application will be made on this site”. (see previous story by clicking here). And 12 months later, it is here

Another planning application at 101 Clockhouse Lane, Collier Row, has been submitted to Havering Council for the part demolition of 101 Clockhouse Lane and the formation of a new access road and four bungalows, this is one more than last time and that application was refused.
Cllr Mann has “Called in” the application, which means no decision can be made unless it is refused by officers are goes in front of a committee of Councillors to decide. If you live near by, and have an issue with this application, you need to write with your objections by 6th November to the head of Regulatory Services at Mercury House, Mercury Gardens, Romford, RM1 3SL and quote Planning Reference No. P1510.08.

The last application was refused for the following reasons, "By reason of the proximity of the access road and the intensification of vehicular activity close to residential properties adjoining the access road, be detrimental to the residential amenity of neighbouring properties, contrary to Policy DC61 of the Core Strategy and Development Control Policies Submission Development Plan Document".

I can see nothing that has changed to address any of the original concerns. Cllr Mann said "I have almost lost count of the application on this site, I think this is the sixth one since 2002, the last application ended up at a public enquiry meting of the Planning Inspectorate, an independent body that regulates planning appeals. The Inspector agreed with myself and local residents that this site was not appropriate for development".

Hampden Lodge Planning Application Withdrawn

P0713.08 – Demolition of existing care home and construction of three residential buildings extending to three to four stories in height, to provide 58 residential units (6x studio, 17x 1 bed, 32 x 2 bed and 3 x 3 bed flats), with 58 car parking spaces.

Havering Council have this week announced that Bellway Homes, have withdrawn their planning application to demolish the former Care Home, Hampden Lodge and to build 58 flats on the site. It is understood that the plans were to be refused by the Councils planning department.

Cllr Andrew Mann (Havering Park Res Assoc) said “The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association was very concerned about this application. Hundreds of residents contacted us by e-mail or letter to object to this scheme and over 1000 people signed petitions, largely with concerns about the size and bulk of the development, lack of parking and amenity space, along with the traffic implications in Clockhouse Lane”.

Over 100 people recently turned out for a demonstration against the plans on the site.

Residents Association Action Member, Denis Stevens said “This was a big housing development for Collier Row and we feel disappointed that neither the Council nor the developers had the decency to speak with the local residents or local Councillors before making the application; it has caused a lot of upset in the community, not least because the Council will only receive the money once contracts have been exchanged, on condition of receiving planning permission”.

Sadly, by withdrawing the scheme, the developer has the opportunity to make a fresh planning application, free of charge to Havering in the next few months for a slightly modified scheme, so the plans to build on this site have not gone away

The Residents Association would like to thank the hundreds of people who wrote and e-mailed objections and to more than 1,000 who signed petitions. We are also grateful to the one hundred plus people who turned out for a demonstration against the plans. The hard work put in by many residents has been a great help in highlighting the issues about this application.

Hampden Lodge Flats Demonstration

We had a fantastic turnout at Hampden Lodge this morning for a demonstration against the proposed planning application for 58 flats on the site; over 130 local residents joined the whole Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association team in showing their objection to the proposals.

The closing date has now passed to formally object to the scheme, however, we are still collecting letters and e-mails of residents keen to join the campaign to stop this plan. Over 900 people signed a petition and hundreds of other residents sent e-mails and letters.

We now have to wait for the plans to come before a planning committee, in either late June or early July, just as soon as we know the date of the meeting, we will let you all know, so as many people as possible can turn out and show how strongly they feel.

For more details on the application, click here to see the previous story.

58 Flats applied for on Hampden Lodge site

P0713.08 – Demolition of existing care home and construction of three residential buildings extending to three to four stories in height, to provide 58 residential units (6x studio, 17x 1 bed, 32 x 2 bed and 3 x 3 bed flats), with 58 car parking spaces.

The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association is very concerned about a planning application that has been submitted on the old Hampden Lodge care home site. The application to build 58 flats on the one acre site, up to four stories high is a big development in a very small area.

Cllr Mann said " Along with myself, Kevin Tonks, Denis Stevens and local residents, we have delivered hundreds of letters to residents across Collier Row about the application and have already had dozens of replies back to us. This application is far to big for this site, with little respect for traffic and over development and we will fight this all the way"

Many of you have already contacted us to pass on your objections to the scheme. We have been inundated by phone calls, letters and e-mails in the last few days, from residents concerned about the size and bulk of the development, lack of parking and amenity space, along with the traffic implications in Clockhouse Lane.

The site has been empty for over two years, since being closed as a care home. The Council put the site up for sale last year and now a deal has been struck with Bellway Homes to build flats on the site. However, the sale is dependent on getting planning permission, which concerns us greatly.

This is a big housing development for Collier Row and we feel disappointed that neither the Council nor the developers had the decency to speak with the local residents or local Councillors before making the application; it has caused a lot of upset in the community.

We are also very concerned that the Council will only receive the money once contracts have been exchanged, on condition of receiving planning permission. This means if the Planning Committee does not pass the application, Havering Council does not get paid. This in our view leaves the whole planning process with a very dark grey area over it, if Councillors do not approve the application.

You have until 20th May to submit objections to the application; you can e-mail planning@havering.gov.uk or write to Planning Control, Mercury House, Mercury Gardens, Romford, Essex, RM1 3SL. Could we also ask you to copy Cllr Andrew Mann into any objections via the Town Hall or e-mail, andrew.mann@havering.gov.uk

101 Clockhouse Lane Planning application

Another planning application at 101 Clockhouse Lane has been refused following objections from local residents and Cllr Mann, who "called in" the decision so that officers could not decide it using their delegated powers without referring it back to Councillors.

The full planning reason for the the proposed development reads "By reason of the proximity of the access road and the intensification of vehicular activity close to residential properties adjoining the access road, be detrimental to the residential amenity of neighbouring properties, contrary to Policy DC61 of the Core Strategy and Development Control Policies Submission Development Plan Document".

Which in no planning speak means "The reason for refusal will be based on the unacceptable impact of the development on adjoining occupiers".

Cllr Mann said "I have almost lost count of the application on this site, I think this is the fifth one now in about 4 years, the last application ended up at a public enquiry meting of the Planning Inspectorate, an independent body that regulates planning appeals. The Inspector agreed with myself and local residents that this site was not appropriate for development".

We now wait and see if yet another planning application will be made on this site.

Billboard Madness !!!!!

Residents Association Councillor, Andrew Mann (Havering Park) has slammed Havering Council over its decision to lease off parts of its open green space around the Borough. In a secret Executive Decision made last week by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Roger Ramsey he agreed to a 5 year lease with advertising company JC Decaux to erect a 96 sheet bill board at the North Street and Eastern Avenue, Romford.

However, Cllr Mann was banned from talking about it last week, as the decision was confidential, this despite the billboard being built last week and there for all to see, he risked a complaint to the Standards Board of England if he even confirmed the billboard was to do with the Council.

He said “I would never knowing release confidential information, so to be told I could not discuss this issue in public, whilst the 12ft tall by 30ft long structure was built and was there for all to see was madness, I therefore made a request to the Councils Head of Law to make the decision public, and following a Freedom of Information request, this has now been done”

However, Cllr Mann has also accused the Conservative Administration of nothing but spin, after the Council sent out a press release talking about the plans, before the Head of Law had made the report public, potentially leaving the Councils own head of Communication liable to a Standards Board complaint for breaching confidential information”

The Decision was “Called In” by the Residents Association and it is now set to go before a special Overview & Scrutiny Committee this week to discuss why the decision was made in secret and to ask about the reasons behind erecting a billboard in this location.

However, the saga continues as the advertising hoarding erected was not the one in the report, but it has (coincidentally) been erected by an unknown contractor who just took a chance and built it to see if he could get away with it, this is not the first time this has happened in the last 12 months, as signs have been erected at Como Street Car Park and the Ice Rink. So the sign is set to face the bulldozers as it is an unauthorised structure on the highway and the Council has no idea who put it there.

Cllr Mann went on “This whole situation is nothing less than a scene from a carry on film, the Administration seem to be running round like headless chickens, they call this a pilot project to see how it goes down, but they do not tell anyone, make the decision confidential and agree to a five year lease, well that’s some pilot project ! and then, a billboard is erected without planning permission by an unknown contractor, so that has to be bulldozed, and then another one in its place with planning permission can be built, you could not make it up !”

“This is another attempt by the Administration making a fast buck because it can not get its finances in order, the fact that they have overspent £5 million this year is no reason to go about covering every green space and road side green in the borough with a bill board, where will it end, Havering Village Green ? Hornchurch Stadium ? What about Bedfords Park ? This Borough is famed for its green and open space and the Tories seem heel bent on paving the lot over with flats and bill boards”