‘Residents picket Havebury Meeting’
Tuesday, 22nd September 2015.
A group of residents protested outside a meeting of Havebury Housing Association with Haverhill Town Councillors, held at Castle Manor Academy on Monday, 21st Sept.
The CEO for Havebury, Karen Mayhew, was invited to discuss Havebury HA developments in the Town.
Residents spoke to members of the Havebury Board on their arrival and to Town Councillors arriving for the meeting. Cllr Maureen Byrne presented a petition, signed by over 950 local residents and calling on Havebury to abandon the garage site developments, to Karen Mayhew – the Chief Executive for Havebury. Karen Mayhew, Philip Sullivan and Paul Edwards spoke to residents attending the protest to explain the position of Havebury and assure them that residents views had been considered.
During the meeting Havebury advised that they had, as is practice, sought advice from Planning Officers prior to submitting the applications and had taken full account of advice given. It was for that reason that they decided to appeal the decision – despite the overwhelming rejection by Councillors.
GAG members are appalled that the democratic process can be usurped by developers and Planning Officers determining applications outside the consultation forum.
Cllr Byrne said:
‘It is outrageous and beyond natural justice that the carefully considered judgement of local representatives, reflecting the views of their community, can be ignored in this way. It is clear that Officers did not robustly defend the appeal and there are substantial deficiencies in the information provided to the Planning Inspector. The appeal decision is flawed – the cost of judicial review in the High Court precludes residents from challenging this perverse decision.’
Roger André, Secretary to GAG said:
‘Whilst Havebury have established consent for the Nayland Road development the Directors should have regard to their obligations to the local community. The impact of this development on the amenity of the community should lead them to reconsider the potential damage to their reputation against the provision of merely 3 homes.’
The CEO for Havebury, Karen Mayhew, was invited to discuss Havebury HA developments in the Town.
Residents spoke to members of the Havebury Board on their arrival and to Town Councillors arriving for the meeting. Cllr Maureen Byrne presented a petition, signed by over 950 local residents and calling on Havebury to abandon the garage site developments, to Karen Mayhew – the Chief Executive for Havebury. Karen Mayhew, Philip Sullivan and Paul Edwards spoke to residents attending the protest to explain the position of Havebury and assure them that residents views had been considered.
During the meeting Havebury advised that they had, as is practice, sought advice from Planning Officers prior to submitting the applications and had taken full account of advice given. It was for that reason that they decided to appeal the decision – despite the overwhelming rejection by Councillors.
GAG members are appalled that the democratic process can be usurped by developers and Planning Officers determining applications outside the consultation forum.
Cllr Byrne said:
‘It is outrageous and beyond natural justice that the carefully considered judgement of local representatives, reflecting the views of their community, can be ignored in this way. It is clear that Officers did not robustly defend the appeal and there are substantial deficiencies in the information provided to the Planning Inspector. The appeal decision is flawed – the cost of judicial review in the High Court precludes residents from challenging this perverse decision.’
Roger André, Secretary to GAG said:
‘Whilst Havebury have established consent for the Nayland Road development the Directors should have regard to their obligations to the local community. The impact of this development on the amenity of the community should lead them to reconsider the potential damage to their reputation against the provision of merely 3 homes.’
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