So we see flimsy non planning arguments now being prayed in aid of this volte face – such as ‘a building site brings employment’ – yes, but only temporarily and ‘it will produce Council tax receipts into the future’ – yes but at what long term cost to both the countryside and the community? And none of these are planning reasons for giving approval.
Not much progress on the Neighbourhood Plan front either because of a patent lack of enthusiasm for NPs displayed by the authority. Only two parishes have managed to get to Reg 16 stage and both have had to go to public hearings with an unknown result for both so far.
The only hope is that the delayed (because of lack of officer resources) draft Development and Site Allocation document will strengthen the environmental planning courage of the authority to ensure that it does its best to preserve what will now be left of the 83% of Rother which is included within the High Weald AONB.
