23 August - A Planning mystery
The Planning meeting Agendas since 2015 have been
checked again with the same result. The intervals between meetings are longer than one might expect and only
two of the addresses in which Mr. Singh had an interest get a mention. The reasons for that remain unknown.
Maybe I am not good at searching.
I
am not a big follower of Planning meetings but as 238 Woolwich Road was so
controversial I kept a copy of the audio from June and August 2020.
The document shown here is the Minutes of the June meeting, It does not begin to do it justice.
Former Councillors John Davey, Linda Bailey and Val Clark were scathing about
the application calling it horrendous and likened it to Armageddon.
Councillor Slaughter was even more so pointing out that if such a proposal was
made before the edifice was constructed it would not be deemed acceptable. The vista
from neighbouring houses had been utterly destroyed and it could never be
restored because of the large number of trees that had been uprooted.
Three neighbours put forward their objections and Mr. Singh spoke in favour. What he said has been
on
the record here since 2020.
The 48 minute audio recording confirms that the plans had been rejected previously, gone
to Appeal and been rejected by the Inspector. An enforcement Notice had been
registered with Bexley Magistrates’ Court but due to Covid was not making rapid progress.
The Councillors said the revised plan was very little different to what had been
rejected before and picked a number of holes in it. Despite being recommended
for approval they decided that a site visit was essential.
A second meeting in August had various Councillors reporting just how ugly and
damaging the construction was. Mrs. Slaughter said it was worse than she had
imagined and former Councillor Sue Gower and Labour Councillors said much the same
thing. They could not support the plan.
However Councillor Brian Bishop reeled of a number of things which he felt
mitigated the damage being done and proposed that the slightly revised
application be accepted, however his colleagues were having none of it and he
could not even find a seconder. The plan was rejected once again. Councillor Brian Bishop abstained.
Councillor Brian Bishop did not declare a close association with Mr. Singh and
Mr. Singh never did get rid of the monstrosity he had created at 238 Woolwich
Road. The Enforcement Notice was quietly forgotten.
What was the Planning Department thinking of recommending a scheme for which
they had issued an Enforcement Notice and every Councillor apart from Brian Bishop condemned?