17 KNOTWEED - WD/2015/0090/MAO

 

 

 

 

 

WD/2015/0090/MAO - CONDITION 17 - JAPANESE KNOTWEED

 

17. No development shall commence until a detailed up-to-date survey of the presence of Japanese Knotweed within both the site and its vicinity shall be carried out. A resulting scheme for the control of Japanese Knotweed on site, and its eradication from the site, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter the development shall be carried out in accordance with that scheme.

REASON: Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) it is an offence to plant Japanese knotweed or otherwise cause it to grow in the wild. This species has been identified on site and is ecologically and structurally damaging. It must be controlled to prevent its spread both during and after construction, and eradicated from the site (with appropriate disposal as necessary) having regard to Policy EN8 of the adopted Wealden Local Plan. With regard to Regulation 35 of the Development Management Procedure Order 2015, it is essential to ensure the eradication of this invasive species
from the site prior to construction works, therefore the condition adopts the pre-commencement format to protect the environment.

 

 

LATIMER, THAKEHAM, CLARION (GROUP) - LIST OF PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT

 

Peter Rawlinson - Gleeson Strategic Land

Ben Rainbow - Arboricultural & Biodiversity Officer

Steve Tuhey - Managing Director, Thakeham Client

Richard White, Director of Land and Planning at Latimer & Clarion Housing Group

 

LATIMER DEVELOPMENTS - Previously: William Sutton Developments Limited

 

Christopher John Hatfield

Ruth Margaret Cooke

David Simon Fordham

Austen Barry Reid

Rupert Owen Sebag-Montefiore

Mark Christopher Rogers

David Anthony Lewis

Michelle Reynolds

 

Southern Water - Nick Claxton Team Manager – Flood Risk Management & Revai Kinsella, Principal Drainage Officer

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WD/2015/0090/ HERSTMONCEUX VILLAGE CONDITIONS A - Z INDEX

 

 -  Conditions Index A - Z
1. Permission subject to detailed particulars
2. Appearance & Landscape

3. Application for reserved matters in 3 years

4. No dev. without archaeological programme

5. No dev. until written scheme 4. published

6. Contamination to be reported subsequently

7. Details code of construction TB approved

8. Temporary contractor provisions

 9.  Noise restrictions working hours

10. Details brickwork finishes
11. Joinery details, windows, doors

12. Details hard & soft landscaping

13. Details screening, trees, hedges

14. Planting trees Chapel Row, Museum

15. Landscape management plan

16. Wildlife management details

17. Japanese Knotweed survey

18. Access prior to building works

19. Visibility splays entrance A271

20. Internal site access roads

21. Car parking details

22. Garages no commercial use

23. No felling trees hedgerows

24. Tree protection existing TPO

25. Bins refuse collection & disposal

26. Foul drainage sewerage works

27. Surface water drainage

28. No discharges foul water

29. Flood resilient buildings

30. Surface water drainage

31. Light pollution AONB

32  Renewable energy

33. No permitted dev buildings

34. No permitted gates/fences

36. Limited to included docs

 

 

NPPF - NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK A - Z INDEX

 

 

 

 

HERSTMONCEUX ACTION GROUP

 

There has never been an action group representing the interests of so many residents in this peaceful Sussex backwater. To date, planning battles have been contained, such that local people were content to let neighbours object to smaller residential developments.

 

This all changed when a former estate agent was seen surveying Lime Cross and speaking to neighbours about his intention (or the intention of family members) to apply for planning consent for upwards of 70 houses, where for many years Wealden District Council and the Parish Council have been saying there should be no development. Then an opportunity for a windfall £17 million pounds reared its head. We think it speaks mountains that the Parish Council simply redrew the development boundaries to accommodate such a development. It's a 'U' turn with money at the root of the deal. Who then stands to profit. Not the villagers who are all opposed to the plan. The villagers do not want 140 extra houses in Herstmonceux, and that is what will happen if 70 additional houses are built on the field at Lime Cross. We'd like to see some new faces on the Parish Council. Some people who will truly represent the wishes of the people.

 

 

WD/2015/0090/MAO - GLEESON DEVELOPMENTS LTD

 

This application is not only contrary to Wealden's Local Plan, but is considered by many to be downright dangerous. The A271 is a narrow country road that is already overloaded - with many traffic jams in the village high street causing motorists serious delays on occasion. The increase in traffic from a dense residential development at this location is nothing short of madness.

 

 

Proposed entrance to Lime Cross for access to 70 new houses. The A271 is already a busy road. What is not clear from this plan is that the entrance shown in red is just a few yards away from a sign telling people to slow down. That sign is half way up a hill, that has been the site of accidents on the other face. You can imagine the carnage with family vehicles trying to exit from this entrance, which is very narrow. There is no real visibility splay. Vehicles traveling west into the village from Hastings, will be unable to see cars trying to get to school to pick up their children because of the hedge that is not in the applicant's ownership. It is even worse with vehicles heading east out of the village, now coming down a hill - and once again the angle prevents any real advance warning, with just the nose of a car protruding - only visible at the last moment. What should have been provided and is an example of what is required, is the same degree of vision afforded by the access just a little further east for Chapel Row.

 

 

 

ORIGINAL SITE PLAN - You may have noticed that there are only forty-nine units shown on the above site plan - and it is still crowded. It is unclear from this plan if some of the plots shown are garages adjacent to a house. It is therefore open to interpretation. The real problem is that the village of Herstmonceux does need more affordable housing. Gratefully, there are other sites that are far more appropriate, and will not pose injury to a site of considerable local historic interest. This field is way outside the village development boundary. See the official boundary below.

 

 

AFFORDABILITY STATEMENT & CAPITALIST MORALS - OR POLICY FRAUD

 

It is because Council's have been dragging their heels so much and not planning for new housing that we are in this mess. It is not just Wealden, it is ingrained in civil servants to apply rules to prevent development or change. In this case the problem is so bad that central government has had to direct them to change their attitudes. Fantastic, but why give locals the job of developing (in effect) national policy in the first place. National policy is what counts. Where do we need homes in the UK and what elements of the countryside are essential to preserve. It's a balancing act that local officials, with close ties to landowners should not be in a position to profit from. Lord Nolan advised that no council officer should spend more than 5 years in any one council, to prevent cosy relationships forming, this being a trigger to corruption. The next question is, how long have the Parish Council members been councillors?

 

 

MORALLY REPUGNANT

 

Any development where the owners of land take advantage of - the at present - lack of precision in local plans, and fail to observe the rules as to affordable and sustainable development goals, as per the United Nations agendas, is in our view morally repugnant.

 

There is a national shortage of affordable homes, there is no shortage of executive homes that are out of reach of young families.

 

 

 

 

High rents and mortgages are every bit a chain around your neck as with these poor fellows. What gives any human the right to enslave another human being? The answer to that is the State. When the State promotes policies and practices that, in effect, allow one human to profit so hugely at the expense of others - then the State is to blame. 

 

 

 

LACKING PRIVACY - Any houses built here will be overlooked by anyone using Herstmonceux Museum. The reverse is also true. How will planners overcome the loss of amenity for Herstmonceux Museum and ensure privacy for houses in this field. Will it mean windows facing away from the Museum? Would that not mean that the usual way of solar heating a house would be prevented. Why? Because the view shown here is looking north, hence, houses should be facing this way (towards the Museum) to capture incoming sunshine. This is the view from the rear (balcony) of the Museum towards the village.

 

 

COUNCIL OFFICERS HAVING CONDUCT OF PLANNING MATTERS RELATING TO HERSTMONCEUX MUSEUM

 

Charlie Lant

Claire Turner

Derek Holness

Ashley Brown

Ian Kay

Victoria (Vic) Scarpa

Christine Nuttal

David Phillips

David Whibley

Doug (J D) Moss

Christine Arnold

Trevor Scott

Daniel Goodwin

Kelvin Williams

 

 

 

SAD - The wishes of the people could not be more plain. Hundreds of locals in the village are so concerned as to the inappropriate development, that they have hoisted banners or put signs in their windows and on vehicles. A decision that does not reflect the wishes of the voting public is not only un-democratic, it smacks of impropriety. How then did Herstmonceux Parish councillors approve an application that so many of the electorate are opposed to ? To the many attending the meeting it stinks to high heaven - and they said as much on hearing this council's decision. http://www.cps.gov.uk/

 

 

 

HMMMM - Tearing up the green belt for a tidy little profit on windfall sites across England is a harrowing experience for locals who moved to secluded country locations to be at one with nature. Windfall indeed, huge sums of money for property developers who have no qualms about raping the land for personal gain. You may consider that to be immoral like so many other people, but a lot of people turn to the dark side to feather their nests.

 

This is another hole sunk just above the Museum, in line with the water flow to the ancient well that Wealden seem to have forgotten is a feature to be protected from water contamination. We wonder what the shareholders and other investors will make of it when they discover in years to come that the controlling minds of so many corporations banded together to try and get around contamination - in other cases this is achieved with bogus reports. We'll have to wait and see if that comes to pass in this case. Wealden have a duty to protect the historic environment, a duty that have failed to stand by in years gone by, spending enormous sums of public money trying to hide the truth of the Generating Works complex. Around £500,000 of taxpayer's money in fact. In another landmark drainage case they tried to prove that water flowed uphill by erasing the levels on a map. Is this more of the same?

 

 

BRITAIN'S ARE (FOR THE MOST PART) SLAVES, CONTRARY TO THE POPULAR ANTHEM

 

Would you buy a house built on green belt? Anyone purchasing homes in Herstmonceux that destroys open spaces and harms historic interests should be ashamed of themselves. Why encourage greedy property developers to do the wrong thing, when by renting or buying in appropriate development areas you are setting a good example in sustainable terms. Herstmonceux lacks school spaces for additional children, doctors and shops, meaning more carbon miles and global warming.

 

The houses proposed are not eco friendly, have no charging points for electric vehicles and no energy generation or heat capture devices. They are more of the same energy gobbling houses that fat-cat builders love, because that is all they (appear) to understand. We await comment on this and other matters from the Clarion Housing Group Limited, Thakekam Homes Limited and Latimer Developments Limited all partners to this proposal. It is yet to be confirmed just who is doing what and when and we look forward to receiving further information.

 

The case officer is Claire Turner. The permission was signed off by Kelvin Williams, now due to retire in 2019 with Christopher Bending taking over as Head of Planning and Environmental services in 2018.

 

 

 

 

ABOUT JAPANESE KNOTWEED

 

Japanese knotweed flowers are valued by some beekeepers as an important source of nectar for honeybees, at a time of year when little else is flowering. Japanese knotweed yields a monofloral honey, usually called bamboo honey by northeastern U.S. beekeepers, like a mild-flavoured version of buckwheat honey (a related plant also in the Polygonaceae).

The young stems are edible as a spring vegetable, with a flavour similar to extremely sour rhubarb. In some locations, semi-cultivating Japanese knotweed for food has been used as a means of controlling knotweed populations that invade sensitive wetland areas and drive out the native vegetation. It is eaten in Japan as sansai or wild foraged vegetable.

It is used in traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Japanese medicine to treat fungal infections, various skin inflammations, and cardiovascular diseases; one active ingredient is thought to be resveratrol and its glucoside piceid.

 

Japanese knotweed has a large underground network of roots (rhizomes). To eradicate the plant the roots need to be killed. All above-ground portions of the plant need to be controlled repeatedly for several years in order to weaken and kill the entire patch. Picking the right herbicide is essential, as it must travel through the plant and into the root system below.

The abundance of the plant can be significantly reduced by applying glyphosate, imazapyr, a combination of both, or by cutting all visible stalks and filling the stems with glyphosate. However, these methods have not been proven to provide reliable long-term results in completely eliminating the treated population.

Digging up the rhizomes is a common solution where the land is to be developed, as this is quicker than the use of herbicides, but safe disposal of the plant material without spreading it is difficult; knotweed is classed as controlled waste in the UK, and disposal is regulated by law. Digging up the roots is also very labour-intensive and not always efficient. The roots can go to up to 10 feet (3.0 meters) deep, and leaving only a few inches of root behind will result in the plant quickly growing back.

Covering the affected patch of ground with a non-translucent material can be an effective follow-up strategy. However, the trimmed stems of the plant can be razor sharp and are able to pierce through most materials. Covering with non-flexible materials such as concrete slabs has to be done meticulously and without leaving even the smallest splits. The slightest opening can be enough for the plant to grow back.

More ecologically-friendly means are being tested as an alternative to chemical treatments. Soil steam sterilization involves injecting steam into contaminated soil in order to kill subterranean plant parts. Research has also been carried out on Mycosphaerella leafspot fungus, which devastates knotweed in its native Japan. This research has been relatively slow due to the complex life cycle of the fungus.

Two biological pest control agents that show promise in the control of the plant are a leaf spot fungus from genus Mycosphaerella and the psyllid Aphalara itadori. Research has been carried out by not-for-profit inter-governmental organisation CABI in the UK. Following earlier studies imported Japanese knotweed psyllid insects (Aphalara itadori), whose only food source is Japanese knotweed, were released at a number of sites in Britain in a study running from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2014. In 2012, results suggested that establishment and population growth were likely, after the insects overwintered successfully.

Anecdotal reports of effective control describe the use of goats to eat the plant parts above ground followed by the use of pigs to root out and eat the underground parts of the plant.
Detail of the stalk

The most effective method of control is by herbicide application close to the flowering stage in late summer or autumn. In some cases, it is possible to eradicate Japanese knotweed in one growing season using only herbicides. Glyphosate is widely used as it is non-persistent, and certain formulations may be used in or near water.

 

In the UK, Japanese knotweed is established in the wild in many parts of the country and creates problems due to the impact on biodiversity, flooding management and damage to property. It is an offence under section 14(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to "plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild" any plant listed in Schedule nine, Part II to the Act, which includes Japanese knotweed. Within towns householders and landlords in 2014 who did not control the plant in their gardens could receive an on-the-spot fine or be prosecuted. It is also classed as "controlled waste" in Britain under part 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This requires disposal at licensed landfill sites.

The species is expensive to remove. According to the UK government, the cost of controlling knotweed had hit £1.25 billion in 2014. It cost £70 million to eradicate knotweed from 10 acres of the London 2012 Olympic Games velodrome and aquatic centre. Defra's Review of Non-native Species Policy states that a national eradication programme would be prohibitively expensive at £1.56 billion. The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology has been using citizen science to develop a system that gives a knotweed risk rating throughout Britain.

The decision was taken on 9 March 2010 in the UK to release into the wild a Japanese psyllid insect, Aphalara itadori. Its diet is highly specific to Japanese knotweed and shows good potential for its control. Controlled release trials began in South Wales in 2016.

In Scotland, the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 came into force in July 2012 that superseded the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This act states that is an offence to spread intentionally or unintentionally Japanese knotweed (or other non-native invasive species).

In the north-east of Ireland it has been recorded from Counties Down, Antrim and Londonderry. The earliest record is in 1872.

 

 

Geo Environmental Services 01273 832972

 

DRAINAGE ISSUE - We've never seen a site with so many trenches dug and boreholes sunk. The developers are proposing locating houses on the top of a hill leading down to an ancient well that has been in use for over 115 years in its present capacity of providing drinking water to the locality. Are they mad? These property (or those who drew up the original proposals) magnates appear to have let the lure of profits go to their heads. Water flows downhill chaps. This is a basic rule of physics that no amount of smoke and mirrors can get around. Then there is the fact that water is the most powerful solvent known to man. In other words, any chemicals that comes from gardens or other DIY concerning property in this location, will be dissolved and will leach into the ancient well, potentially poisoning those who use that facility.

 

 

SUSSEX INDEX A - Z

 

ARUNDEL CASTLE

BATTLE

BATTLE ABBEY

BATTLE OF HASTINGS

BEACHY HEAD

BEXHILL

BODIAM CASTLE

BRIGHTON

CHICHESTER

CHIDDINGLY - HORSE SHOW and GYMKHANA

CROWBOROUGH

CUCKMERE VALLEY - EXCEAT

DISTRICT AND BOROUGH COUNCILS

EAST SUSSEX
EASTBOURNE

FIRLE

FIRLE BONFIRE SOCIETY

GLYNDE

GUY FAWKES

HAILSHAM

HASTINGS

HEATHFIELD

HERSTMONCEUX - MUSEUM - COSTS SCANDAL - PARISH COUNCIL - ACTION GROUP

LEWES

LEWES DISTRICT COUNCIL

NEWHAVEN

PEVENSEY CASTLE

RYE

SEAFORD

SEVEN SISTERS

SUSSEX

SUSSEX THINGS TO DO GUIDE

THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS

TRUGS

TWISSELLS MILL, OLD HEATHFIELD

UCKFIELD

WEALD

 

LINKS & REFERENCE

 

https://thakeham-client.com/

http://www.clarionhg.com/news-research/2018/march/latimer-to-deliver-70-new-homes-in-herstmonceux/

http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2018 HST &  Max Energy Limited (a not for profit organisation)

 

 UTOPIA

PROFITEERING FROM INAPPROPRIATE HOUSE BUILDING IS ENCOURAGING DEVELOPERS TO DO MORE OF THE SAME ON GREEN BELT