Please don't go to sleep. This is important.
The Strategic Plan sets out in outline what the Local Development Plans have to say. And they determine whether planning applications are granted. It you do - or don't - want development in that field near you. THIS IS YOUR BEST OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE.
The new plan is not greatly different to the old except it takes development out to 2035 with, for example, in the Ellon-Blackdog corridor, in addition to sites for 825 houses already in the pipeline (I guess mainly Castle Meadows and Trump/Menie), another 800 are planned up to 2016 with a further 1,500 to 2026 and 1,500 to 2035. That is roughly equivalent to a whole extra Ellon.
The plan claims to be concerned about climate change and economic development and contains an interesting section on waste with the Ellon-Blackdog corridor identified as an area of search for new waste processing facilities.
Please look at the documents at http://www.aberdeencityandshire-sdpa.gov.uk/DevelopmentPlan/StrategicDevelopmentPlan/2011_10_07MainIssuesReport.asp.
I'll comment more here once I have digested all the documents but I am happy to answer your queries here.
Showing posts with label waste. Show all posts
Showing posts with label waste. Show all posts
Extension to Wester Hatton refused
It's not all Trump/Menie here ... and occasionally all councillors agree!
On Tuesday the local planning committee here refused a twenty year extension to the period of operation for a landfill site at Wester Hatton, Aberdeenshire. The planning service recommended grant.
Oddly given the usual enthusiasm for moving Grant or Refusal by local members, three local councillors spoke expressing various shades of opinion before the final and fourth local member, Cllr Paul Johnston moved refusal. I was starting to think I'd have to move the motion .... and there was even a pause before Jim Gifford seconded Paul. This is an interesting one that will almost certainly go to appeal - there is simply so much money at stake. But just how long should a community have to suffer a landfill site?
This one was granted planning permission when I first became a councillor (in fact it was the first planning application I ever spoke on - the first item of the first committee meeting I attended and I was then the local member and had the priviledge of speaking first). It was granted for a limited period of ten years - its then expected life. But it operated for only two or three years without serious problems (some smell to some properties to the north) and then closed. Another landfill opened in the locality not operating to quite such high standards was able to undercut its prices. And yet another landfill opened nearby more recently. It seems that even without this site there is sufficient landfill capacity in the area for decades ahead. So the need case was dramatically different and the weight on this was the serious difference between the views of the planners and those of councillors.
But what now happens to the site? Are the previous conditions for restoration robust enough?
On Tuesday the local planning committee here refused a twenty year extension to the period of operation for a landfill site at Wester Hatton, Aberdeenshire. The planning service recommended grant.
Oddly given the usual enthusiasm for moving Grant or Refusal by local members, three local councillors spoke expressing various shades of opinion before the final and fourth local member, Cllr Paul Johnston moved refusal. I was starting to think I'd have to move the motion .... and there was even a pause before Jim Gifford seconded Paul. This is an interesting one that will almost certainly go to appeal - there is simply so much money at stake. But just how long should a community have to suffer a landfill site?
This one was granted planning permission when I first became a councillor (in fact it was the first planning application I ever spoke on - the first item of the first committee meeting I attended and I was then the local member and had the priviledge of speaking first). It was granted for a limited period of ten years - its then expected life. But it operated for only two or three years without serious problems (some smell to some properties to the north) and then closed. Another landfill opened in the locality not operating to quite such high standards was able to undercut its prices. And yet another landfill opened nearby more recently. It seems that even without this site there is sufficient landfill capacity in the area for decades ahead. So the need case was dramatically different and the weight on this was the serious difference between the views of the planners and those of councillors.
But what now happens to the site? Are the previous conditions for restoration robust enough?
Beachwatch 2009
Thanks for Rob for organising this again and to the team including a local fishing boat that turned out to work (and drink tea).
Marine litter is a problem. We picked up lots of small pieces of plastic which can be injested by animals. See Adopt a Beach for more information
Please do sign the petition asking for a government action plan to reduce marine litter at http://www.adoptabeach.org.uk/pages/beachwatch_petition.php
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