LETTER TO THE EDITORS (Somerset County Council appears to be ignoring its own planning policies) (Somerset Liberal Democrat Group)

Somerset Liberal Democrat Group <info@somersetlibdems.org.uk>

LETTER TO THE EDITORS (Somerset County Council appears to be ignoring its own planning policies)

January 10, 2012 1:20 PM
By Gloria Cawood

Dear Sir,

We should all be concerned that Somerset County Council appears to be ignoring its own planning policies.

The officers agreed that Somerset County Council's land bank was sufficient. Aggregrate Industry's proposal to deepen Torr Works Quarry to just above sea level and increase out-put from 6m to 8m tonnes a year was nevertheless agreed. Four members of the Regulation Committee voted for and four against. The casting vote of the Chairman decided the matter.

Pleas from the public for extra monitoring of the water issues fell on his deaf ears. The environment could suffer from de-watering, farmers lose their springs and bore-hole supplies and concerns from BANES that the Bath Hot Springs could be lost have been ignored.

We should be extremely concerned about what has happened in this case. And as the new national planning regime comes in, we should be afraid that economic considerations alone are over-riding while the future environmental and social impacts on others who live and work in the area are treated with such contempt.

Yours faithfully

Gloria Cawood

County and District Councillor