16 March (Part 3) - Arthur Daley isn’t dead
Working
on a tip off, I asked the Bexley Council Monitoring Group if they could take an
interest in the new cab office that has appeared in the centre of Bexley
Village. If you haven’t noticed I have been rather busy lately. Peering through
the windows, there appeared to be a fully kitted out taxi office inside as well as
the more obvious ‘Opening Soon’ signs which adorn the exterior.
The neighbouring property owners had no idea what was going on beyond the
obvious. The proprietors of the adjacent Bar Lorca and Ex-Service Men’s Club specifically
said that Bexley council had not given them any opportunity to object.
A call to the planning office at Wyncham House elicited the information that
there had been no formal application, though they were aware of the development.
"Do you know who is behind it?” asked my man from the BCMG “yes said the
planning man”, (whose name I have but see no need to reveal). “It is Mark
Campbell.” “Is that the same Mark Campbell who is the son of deputy council
leader Colin Campbell?” asked the fearless Mick Barnbrook, for the interrogator
was he, and after that fact was confirmed the conversation suddenly became very
frosty. The man from Bar Lorca claimed to have captured the councillor on site on his CCTV.
At yesterday evening’s planning meeting, Mick asked Susan Clark, Head of
Planning Control if what he had heard from Wyncham House was all true.
Everything was, she confirmed. Mark Campbell was the man and as of yesterday
evening there was no planning application. Is one needed? If not, you would
think Mrs. Clark would say. Planning Committee chairman Peter Reader was able to hear the conversation
and said it would put him in difficulties as he has a financial interest in the adjacent
wood merchant - I think they were just a client of his, so all perfectly legit.
There is I suppose nothing illegal about spending large sums on equipping a taxi
office without any guarantee of being allowed to operate it, although maybe the
advertising signs fall foul of some regulation or other, but it looks so very
presumptuous doesn’t it? My dad’s in charge so no one can stop me. Open for business and ask
for permission retrospectively; doesn’t everybody do that?
An enquiry to a nearby minicab office revealed that they had heard that Bexley
Cabs is due to open on 26th March and they believed that it wasn’t possible to
apply for a Public Carriage Operator’s licence before planning permission
is obtained. It was also claimed that it isn’t legal to refer to a Cab in
business material, it must be Minicab, but I shall have to take his word for that.
There is going to have to be a lot of fast-tracking to get all that formality
completed in the next ten days, there isn’t even a Licensing meeting scheduled
before then. Another councillor privy to Mick’s conversation cheekily
whispered into his ear, “it looks like a brown envelope job to me”. That implies
money will change hands. I doubt it myself, why spend money if there is a better way?
If you can remember
1st
January you may recall a somewhat similar story blogged there.
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