WD/2015/0090/MAO - ESCC HIGHWAYS SCANDAL

Inexplicably, East Sussex County Council turn a blind eye to access deficiencies.

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

 

 

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What visibility splay? Have East Sussex County Council gone mad. The hedge on the left prevents any car coming from the proposed site entrance, from seeing to the right. From this one easily obtained picture it is obvious that the approval of this entrance for up to 70 dwellings is a rubber stamp job by ESCC Highways. The proposed new entrance is cluttered, so introducing a dangerous situation that could affect hundreds of travelers on the A271. Drivers coming from Windmill Hill will see the nose of a vehicle and may be forced to brake hard, when the driver seeking to exit Lime Cross, is forced to put the nose of his vehicle in the path of oncoming traffic. Approval of this application without any real investigation of the facts smells to high heaven. Who is scratching who's back and why? This was formerly application WD/2014/2663/MAO.

 

 

 2017 - 2018 LATEST

 

Gleeson Developments Limited appear to have sold their interest in the land to Latimer Developments Limited, This rather dubious planning consent is being developed with the Clarion Housing Group Limited, who in turn have included Thakekam Homes Limited as partners or agents to the project. 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.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

HMMMM - Yes, it's another hole and just above the Museum, in line with the water flow. We wonder what the shareholders and other investors will make of it when they discover in years to come that the developer(s) knew what they were doing would be bound to cause issues in the future. 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. In another landmark drainage case they tried to prove that water flowed uphill. And in yet another case, they tried to tell two High Court judges that they could deprive a member of the public of the right to toilet facilities. See our Potty Training article if you fancy a laugh.

 

 

CONDITIONS WD/2015/0090/MOA

 

Through 2017 to April 2018, and again in June of 2018, the new owners of the site have been digging trenches all over the field, filling them with water and watching the water levels for absorption rates. Rather disturbingly, there is a rumor about a proposal not to provide proper drainage as required by the Conditions attaching to the proposed 70 house development.

 

As yet there have been no proposals to prevent the seepage of household chemicals and herbicides, an example of which is Roundup, from reaching the ancient well that feeds water to a number of concerns in the vicinity, and is considered to be a historic asset of some note. Not to mention the bottling opportunity that this well represents by way of a utility, as a means to generate funds to help with the maintenance costs attaching to Herstmonceux Museum.

 

Even more of a worry is that from a recent telephone conversation between a planning consultant working for the Herstmonceux Museum Limited, the current case officer (as at 2 July 2018) appears not to know of the duty that her Council owes to the historic environment. Even where this is clearly set out in the National Planning Policy Framework document dating from 2012.

 

 

 

This is the view from the proposed field exit. As you might agree a driver seeking to pull onto the A271 would not be able to see past the hedge to his or her right. You can just see the 30mph speed signs on the right above the hedge, hence the closeness of the speed sign island to the suggested site entrance. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sussex Express

 

SUSSEX EXPRESS 23 JANUARY 2015

Some residents have raised concerns that a 70 house development could be built on land in Herstmonceux.

The HX Action Group claim houses could be built on land at Lime Cross after a proposal for development on the site was unveiled in the Herstmonceux Neighbourhood Plan.

The Action Group claim 94 per cent of residents questioned in a recent survey about the parish said they wanted to see smaller pockets of developments built over 14 years and not one large development in the village. The plan also proposes 30 extra houses for land on Windmill Hill and Cowbeech. The group said small scale developments would be better for the village as it would enable new residents to integrate more easily, ease traffic congestion, lighten public service pressures on school, doctors and transport. It said it is not opposed to a Neighbourhood Plan but wanted alternative sites and suggestions proposed to meet the housing target, as it felt the council had not made residents aware of plans for a larger estate.

A spokesman for the group said: “70 houses was the original quota for the whole parish. Now it has become a 70-dwelling village housing estate. The threat is that large developers start trying to pick off large sites along the A271, smearing together Windmill Hill, Herstmonceux, Magham Down and Cowbeech. Local character would be lost and the road turned into a rat run to Hailsham and Eastbourne.”

Herstmonceux Parish Council which drew up the plan said it has not been possible to find smaller sites because they are either inside or on the edge of the village boundary. A spokeswoman said: “The plan has raised many challenging issues. Although local people said they preferred this to be done by choosing small sites, it has not been possible to meet the target in that way. The choice of sites is either inside or on the edge of the village boundary – all the smaller sites suggested are beyond the village edge and/or are in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which has a higher level of protection from development. The draft plan includes one site each in Herstmonceux, Windmill Hill and Cowbeech with two crucial goals in mind. First, to use the housing schemes to maximise important community benefits, e.g. affordable housing, self-build housing, improved community facilities and second to minimise the impact of development on the precious landscape character of the parish. Of course, not everyone agrees with the proposals; some will be more affected than others. However, the risk in not having our own plan is becoming greater as the demand increases for housing development in our area.”

The concerns were raised after the parish council unveiled its pre-submission Neighbourhood Plan with 17 policies relating to parish development. The council is asking for residents to review and comment on the plan. The plan will give residents more of a say on developments in the area. It will become a statutory planning document carrying significant weight in informing local planning decisions by Wealden District Council. Comments will be analysed before the final plan is drawn up and residents will have another opportunity to comment on the final plan. Comment on the plans before the end of the consultation on January 24.

http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/county-news/concerns-over-housing-plans-in-herstmonceux-1-5815244

 

 

 

Typical scene, a truck brakes before entering the village of Herstmonceux. This is the pattern of most drivers using the A271. The truck is already past the entrance before braking. It is much worse in peak times, where there is pressure to keep up with traffic flow. In our opinion the approval of the proposed application without carrying out a full risk assessment presents an unacceptable hazard to road users and is irresponsible behaviour on the part of East Sussex County Council. We would thus ask for an investigation into what appears to us to be maladministration. 

 

 

 

This is no coincidence. Almost all of the vehicles approaching the village are doing well above 30 miles per hour past the proposed site entrance. These pictures were all taken at about 8:00 am on a weekend in January 2015 during a 5 minute photo shoot - so no traffic going to work.

 

 

 

At peak times, the village of Herstmonceux frequently comes to a standstill. Imagine then the chaos with 70 more householders trying to join the A271 on a hill just before a traffic jam, with aggravated motorists accelerating down this hill into the path of those residents in Lime Cross. Note the more suitable junction in the distance, the turning into Church Road, where there is a triangle and a proper visibility splay. The existence of the triangle speaks for itself. That turning was considered to be dangerous without such as feature. How then can ESCC Highways ignore their own precedent?  This picture was taken early on Saturday the 31st January, when nobody is traveling to work.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

TRAFFIC JAMS JULY 2013 - The final stage of work to connect residents in Herstmonceux up to a new water main will take place during the school summer holidays.

Installation of the new 530-metre-long pipeline in Gardner Street, Herstmonceux, took place earlier this year. James Smith, delivery manager for South East Water, is quoted as saying: “Our workforce will be back in the village on July 29 to complete this essential scheme. The new pipeline will mean an end to disruptive bursts and a more secure water supply to the village now and in the future. “The work will take place away from the shopping area so customers can continue parking outside the shops should they need to stop off.”

To ensure motorists can continue using the road, construction will take place using temporary traffic lights with the work anticipated to complete by Friday August 30. Work to install the new pipeline began on January 3 2013, but difficult ground conditions and a high number of utilities within the road hampered progress.

James continued, “I am sorry that work to complete the installation of this pipeline has overrun, but by completing this work during the school summer holiday disruption to both residents and motorists should be limited. “I would like to thank the local community, businesses and motorists for their continued patience and reassure them that we are working to complete this project as quickly as possible.”

South East Water’s £127,000 investment in Herstmonceux is part of the company’s £390 million programme of investment between 2010 and 2015 which will, says the water company, ensure that clean, safe water continues to be delivered to its customers.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Rather surprisingly, ESCC Highways supports this application, though how anyone exiting the development site via the proposed access will be able to see through this hedge is beyond us. The same applies to drivers approaching the speed signs from the direction of Hastings. They will have no idea that a cavalcade of mothers doing their school and shopping runs will be coming at them from behind this hedge, and that they cannot see further than their noses - the noses of their cars poking out menacingly. In this picture you might appreciate that the photograph was taken from a sensible visibility splay for the turning into Church Road.

 

Conveniently, ESCC base their approval on information from 14 years old surveys, but say they hold good today and see no reason why there would be any accidents, but also fail to mention that there has been an incident or two. What ESCC are actually saying is that in 14 years there has been no change in the number of vehicles using the road. Nonsense! Of course their are more cars on the road. The fact is that the average speed past these signs is around 43 mph - not 30mph. Drivers exiting the village on their way to Hastings as they accelerate down the hill towards Lime Cross Nurseries are also doing well over 30mph before going through the traffic calming island. What a clutter.

 

The picture below shows a view from the Jubilee Walk north to Herstmonceux Museum. The planning proposal will fill this view with 2 storey houses, so obscuring it forever, preventing access to and enjoyment of this historic building by the public. The oak tree on the right in the picture, is seen center of the quadrant to the east in the site block plan.

 

 

 

Herstmonceux Museum is one of the rarest buildings in England. Any failure to secure such associative views for tourists and to promote tourism, and to make historic buildings accessible to the public, is contrary to National Planning Framework Policies (NPPF). This ought to have been a conservation area, and probably would have been one, if the council concerned was more alert to conservation issues. Clearly, this has been clouded by previous failures and the fear of having to pay compensation for Human Rights violations retrospectively.

 

The omission and the manner in which the applicant's have sought to hide the facts from Wealden councillors, is seen at paragraphs 2.15 to 2.18 of their rather lengthy document. The fact that Wealden has no Local List, is a potential problem for developers looking for planning limitations, but, in this case the onus was on the applicant's to seek redress from the County Archaeologist and of course, English Heritage, where the Monument is on their At Risk register. There can be no doubt that the developers knew a lot about Herstmonceux Museum, where they visited the site on two occasions and spoke with the curator, in a conversation with the applicant's on the subject, to include mention of a (potentially ancient) right of way for coal deliveries to the old generating buildings - also not mentioned in any report.

 

Likewise, the desk based archaeology report by Sally Dicks BA MIfA, as approved by Duncan Hawkins BA (Hons) MSc FSA MIfA (November 2014), takes no account of the existence of Herstmonceux Museum, and for that reason fails to address the loss of access and visual enjoyment by the public, where that is of paramount importance according to NFFP, Section 12, from paragraphs 126 to 141. The report is thus silent, where noise is required. Whereas, had it not been deskbound, a site visit would have revealed the existence of the generating buildings in the context both of local history and the landscape - as it affects ramblers and tourists.

 

CGMS CONSULTING - Fiona Williams and Jason Clemons - The view that will be destroyed is shown in pictures numbered 19-21 and 34 of their Heritage Statement. Contrary to the conclusion as to inter-visibility (@3.4), Herstmonceux Museum is and has been for many years more of an attraction to walkers and locals, and is not particularly visible from within Lime Park - Lime Park being a private area, not open to the public, and also the Museum being tucked into one corner and bounded by shielding trees - in particular a large Holm oak that obscures the building. With the above in mind and that there is a duty to maintain access to and enjoyment of historic buildings for the public, the views expressed by the CGMS report are not accepted as taking into account the intrinsic positioning with respect to the village and the industrial function - that will be hidden forever if the proposed development takes place. The worst section of housing in this regard is the centre quadrant, defined as being in between the two footpaths shown at 4.1 of the applicant's Heritage Statement.

 

Full marks though to the London based experts for making a case out for the applicant, that only a planning expert would be able to reveal, and one versed with those tenets of the NPPF document and local history. It appears from the credentials of the professionals employed that no expense has been spared. We might also give the benefit of the doubt to the applicant's that this application was made in good faith. Where, having employed such prestigious firms, they might reasonably have expected comprehensive assessments.

 

It seems that the subject matter is more properly a subject for English Heritage and the department for Culture Media and Sport, both of which agencies had yet to be consulted by the applicant or Wealden council - when on the 21st of January, the application was withdrawn.

 

RAF HERSTMONCEUX - Finally, the building is not only a monument to the early electricity generating industry, it is also RAF Herstmonceux, from when it was used in World War Two as a hospital for wounded airmen, a radio outpost and bomb shelter. Lime house was used to billet RAF officers at the same time and Lime Cross recreation ground was the prisoner of war camp where Italian prisoners were held during hostilities. This important fact relating to what comes under the heading of Industrial Archaeology should also form part of the deliberations concerning heritage.

 

 

 

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?

 

 

 

Sir Winston Churchill's famous wartime speech: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." 

 

Should perhaps be re-written: "Never in village planning history was so much made by so few at the expense of so many." 

 

 

WINDFALL TAX & LAND VALUE CAP

 

If ever their was a case for a windfall tax this is it. As an example let us say that 50 houses are built that are for regular landlords. 50 X £350,000 = £17,500,000. That is seventeen and a half million pounds, one hell of an incentive for a land owner to turn his back on the true requirements of the village for low cost local housing and the need to preserve the character of the village.

 

Now let us look at a genuinely affordable housing scheme involving 50 house. 50 X £70,000 = £3,500,000.  That is £14,000,000 less for the developer. This would be £14 million that is earned on the backs of all of those men and women in the UK who cannot afford to buy their own home, because we keep giving planning consents for houses that nobody can afford, to keep the rich, rich and keep the ordinary man further and further away from home ownership. In other words, more deeply enslaved.

 

Where a developer benefits from a hastily re-drawn village plan, and especially where those houses in the offing do no qualify against houses that the state requires to be built, the profits ought to be clawed back to go towards the building of genuinely affordable housing.

 

 

 

Lime Cross field, is seen at the bottom right of this plan outlined in red, with the footpaths shown in yellow. Plainly, it is well outside the village development boundary that is outlined in black. The size of the proposed development is almost a second Herstmonceux village, consolidating and pulling into the adopted village development boundary, Chappell Row and Lime Park. This is surely the worst case scenario - where planning should be balanced - so work from the village outward with even distribution around the compass.

 

 

ROLLING STOCK FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

 

Alternatively, land for building should be capped at genuine agricultural values, where affordable housing is concerned. Councils are required to provide a rolling stock of land for affordable housing. Have they? not on your life. Every council we have written to have confirmed that they have no land for affordable housing.

 

The day they scrapped council house building, was the day that house prices started to go crazy. How any government could possibly leave it to private developers to build affordable housing, when property development is about profit, escapes us. There is little profit in affordable housing. Why? Because to be affordable, an ordinary wage earner should be able to afford a mortgage.

 

Where the Conservatives have done all they can to keep wages low, including Zero Hour Contracts - another form of slavery, they should have made sure that house prices, largely revolving around land values, was index linked. They were not interested in that, they were only interested in artificially keeping the economy looking as though the UK was prospering - to get themselves re-elected. Basically, it's election fraud. Massaging the figures in such manner is no different to any other form of corruption. The Labour party is not much better, borrowing sums that we stand little chance of paying back without causing hardship to millions, to keep unsustainable policies alive, also to get re-elected, instead of developing policies that will last, and are fair to the youngsters starting out in life.

 

 

SUSTAINABILITY TEST CASE

 

This is surely not what the Secretary of State is advocating, where the drive at the moment is for a closed loop economic cycle. The Secretary of State should thus be invited to call in this application if it is passed, either locally or on appeal. For it strikes at the heart of sustainability and what constitutes sustainable practice. It could thus become a test case.

 

 

 

 

A mortgage that is too high, is 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. If as appears to be the case at the moment, the State wish to change that practice, with the provision of affordable housing, then the State should take care to ensure that the little fiefdoms that have had it all their own way so far, are brought back into line. It is up to you which political party you vote for. As soon as you are 18, why not vote for Financial Emancipation. You will need to find a party with a manifesto that radically revises current planning practices. It will be a kind of economic revolution that the current slave traders (banks and landlords) are sure to stage the equivalent of a Civil War. Bribery will rule supreme, as the establishment will not want their boats rocked. Zero Carbon and Affordably housing - who ever heard of such a thing. Next minute, we'll all be back in the jungle swinging from trees. Oh yes please!

 

 

CONSULTEES - NOT CONSULTED

 

Two glaring omissions are that of English Heritage and the Department for Culture Media and Sport. We are shocked to learn that English Heritage has not been approached, where it is their Monument at Risk programme that is on the line.

 

It is equally disturbing that where tourism is one of our biggest exports, that a unique historic building is in danger of being excluded from any existing or future tourist route. This application is demonstrably insensitive to the need to attract overseas visitors to country (as well as city) attractions.

 

New analysis from VisitBritain reveals that more international tourists are traveling across the country than ever before, with spending hitting new record levels in the majority of nations and regions for the first 9 months of 2014.

The new figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the first 9 months of 2014 overseas tourist spending reached new records in Wales (£303 million), Scotland (£1.5 billion), London (£8.9 billion), East of England (£693 million), North West (£849 million) and the South East (£1.7 billion).

Compared to the same period in 2013, from January to September 2014 overseas visits grew at a faster rate to Wales (14%), Scotland (12%) and Yorkshire (12%, reaching a new record of 1.08 million) than they did to London (6%). 

Welcoming the figures, Tourism Minister Helen Grant said:

"Britain has so much to offer tourists and it’s fantastic that more of them are exploring the country and helping to drive growth outside of London. I want overseas visitors to experience the very best of Britain and with a record £22 billion expected to be spent this year the tourism sector is well placed to keep up this momentum, as part of the Government’s long-term economic plan."

Patricia Yates, VisitBritain’s Director of Strategy and Communications, said:

"Inbound tourism is an export industry at which Britain is demonstrably successful, with further growth predicted this year. VisitBritain will continue to focus on the rebalancing of this growing industry in 2015 to benefit the whole country. Next week we will launch a £3 million Countryside is GREAT campaign to showcase the beauty of our countryside – from Cornwall to the Lake District, Pembrokeshire to the Scottish Highlands."

 

 

 

 

TOURISM STATEMENT

 

In all the documents cited so far, there is no "Tourism Statement." Herstmonceux is a village that depends on visitors for income. The sites that tourists are likely to visit close by are Batemans and Windmill Hill. Some of these visitors, whether industrial archaeologists keen to see one of the last coal fired power stations (Battersea) or Rudyard Kipling fans, will want to see the sleepy little village of Herstmonceux where an electrical industry thought leader, The Baron de Roemer, was building his electrical supply empire, having sated his own desire for clean light and cooking. Not that long ago we lost the Truggery, and to many that was a tragedy in tourism terms - and all because our local councils had no real vision. 

 

 

Herstmonceux Parish Council

 

CABINET MEETING - A flock of councillors meet to vote on the latest hack decisions. Baaaa. Too right!

 

 

Our local councils do not seem to understand or value what they have on their doorstep and cannot thus be trusted to appreciate the cultural aspects of their knee-jerk reactionary planning. They are sheep, blindly stumbling from one disaster to the next catastrophe. Why? Because visionary leaders don't go into local politics. Local politics is all about local greed and favours for the fortunate few. It should be about providing an affordable tree to swing in for our new shoots.

 

 

The post windmill at Windmill Hill in Sussex

 

This is the windmill at Windmill Hill, that ground the flour that was baked by electricity at Herstmonceux. The proposed 'Edison Walk,' would take ramblers from Herstmonceux Village to see the site of the old Bakery, then along the public footpaths in the field the subject of this application, to see Herstmonceux Museum, then across to Windmill Hill to see where the flour was milled - on the way to Burwash, to admire Rudyard Kipling's water mill and turbine driven electricity generating set. Thousands of people each year visit the many windmill sites in Sussex. The link with electricity for baking and back again to windmills, and then to modern wind turbine electricity generation, is a fascinating technology tie up. History repeats itself.

 

 

Public footpath from Wartling to Herstmonceux

 

Another interesting ramble would be from RAF Wartling, along this public footpath, to RAF Herstmonceux. The Chain Home, early warning radar stations from WWII are very a very popular subject with schools and colleges. This walk would give students of industrial archaeology a snapshot of the interaction between RAF operations and the integration between villages. Herstmonceux Museum was the hospital for wounded airmen, while Lime House billeted RAF officers. The clear line of site that exists as of January 2015, will eliminate the opportunity for walkers to see this in the flesh - to be replaced by a housing estate for a get-rich-quick scheme.

 

 

There are 15 National Trails in England and Wales, covering about 2,500 miles of some of Britain’s finest landscapes and taking in some great historical sites – including Hadrian’s Wall. In Scotland, there are four officially designated Long Distance Routes, plus 16 routes in Scotland’s Great Trails, covering over 1,300 miles of breathtaking landscape from the Borders to the Highlands.

 

Britain’s cities aren’t short of scenic walking routes either. Get Walking has plenty of shorter routes to help you discover some of the hidden gems of cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham and Swindon.

 

It is said that there is a walk to suit every season in Britain. The Isle of Wight Walking Festival is the UK’s largest walking festival, and the best way to enjoy the island’s mild spring weather. Celebrate the summer with a mix of mountain walking and great entertainment at the Mourne International Walking Festival in Northern Ireland. The annual National Trust Walking Festival is perfect for autumn family walks, and if you’d rather see Britain at its wintry best, join in one of the hundreds of walks that make up the Festival of Winter Walks.

 

 

Hammering home a borehole at Lime Cross, Herstmonceux

 

Lime Cross, Herstmonceux March 2015 - Surveyors make an borehole. The water table was confirmed here on site as being 4 meters from the surface, meaning that this area of land also shares the water with Herstmonceux Museum. Herstmonceux Museum does not have mains water supplies, but relies on an ancient well adjacent to the field the subject of this planning application. It seems from this that any houses built here are bound to cause long term contamination to the water table. Imagine a leak from the soil system into the water table. How would that affect those locally that depend on water from wells?

 

 

It is well known that tourists plan holidays according to a theme. The theme in London, or London's top ten include: 

 

1.  British Museum

2.  National Gallery

3.  Natural History Museum

4.  Tate Modern

5.  London Eye

6.  Science Museum

7.  Victoria and Albert Museum

8.  Tower of London

9.  Royal Museum Greenwich

10. Madame Tussauds

 

Herstmonceux's top ten theme tour of the UK might include: 

 

1.  Science Museum, London

2.  Battersea Power Station, London

3.  Amberley Museum

4.  Rudyard Kipling's Batemans

5.  Jubilee Walk & (proposed) Edison Trail

6.  Herstmonceux Museum, Lime Park (from the Cuckoo Trail)

7.  Windmill Hill

8.  The Truggery

9.  Herstmonceux Observatory

10. RAF Wartling

 

 

 

 

This is a specimen tree that over the years has become a landmark that walkers and residents associate with the village and the Cuckoo Walk. In our opinion the tree should be protected by a Tree Preservation Order. The reasoning behind this is simple logic. As you can see from the pictures above taken in January of 2015, there is a branch seen in the picture on the left that has broken off from a limb clearly visible in the picture on the right. Being just 25 feet from a public footpath and with much of the north-east side of the tree actually overhanging the public footpath, it is obvious that this tree is not receiving the care it deserves and should thus be granted protected status - especially as it presents a danger to the public. Because of course this is a "public" footpath. How the tree warden missed this is beyond us.

 

For some reason Wealden seem not to care about this tree, or the safety of the public, but by contrast, have paid particular attention to a sycamore that is nowhere near a public footpath and not even in the same field. How then do you explain the interest in one tree, but not another? Is to to do with land ownership? Or is it that this council have another hidden agenda? 

 

Public rights of way – footpaths, bridleways, and byways – are all ‘highways’ in law. This means they get the same protection from the law as a road does. They have to be kept open, they can’t be obstructed and they have to be usable. The duty to keep them open and usable lies with the local highway authority (the county council, or else the unitary authority where there is no county council).

 

Since the 1950s, county councils and unitary authorities have been required to keep a record of public rights of way. This is called the definitive map and statement of public rights of way. Where a path is shown on this record, that is conclusive proof of its public status. You have the right to apply for a path to be included on the definitive map and statement – this is the common method of proving that a way is public.

 

 

 

Money is being spent on this site - as the JCB digger seen here in December 2014 confirms, but not on keeping the landmark oak tree safe for passers by.

 

Concerning Herstmonceux Museum, Wealden have spent thousands of ratepayers pounds doing their best to keep non-native weed trees close to a historic building. Odd to say the least. Malicious even we hear you say. Possibly! Whatever is the cause of the inconsistencies in case handling, it is not logical - hence it appears irrational, nor is/was the blight in keeping with the duty to protect historic assets. The officer signing recent correspondence relating to the above is David Whibley, presumably on the instructions of Kelvin Williams. Bearing the above bang-up-to-date example of inconsistent behavior in mind, can we trust this council to consider the issues relating to the planning application under consideration in unbiased fashion? Is has been confirmed that the local councillor, Andy Long, has not been in touch with Lime Park Heritage Trust to speak about any of these issues. It leaves one feeling unrepresented. Are councillors paid to represent the people?

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Email Hx Action Group at hotmail.com

 

The wishes of the people could not be more plain. Hundreds of people 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 in 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/

 

 

HERSTMONCEUX & PARISH COUNCIL CONTACTS

 

COUNCIL OFFICERS HAVING CONDUCT OF PLANNING MATTERS RELATING TO HERSTMONCEUX MUSEUM

 

Charlie Lant

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

 

 

 

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 MEMBERS SITTING ON - AREA PLANS SOUTH

 

Andrew Long - (no email address)

David White - cllr.david.white@wealden.gov.uk

Diane Dear - cllr.dianne.dear@wealden.gov.uk

Charles Peck - cllr.charles.peck@wealden.gov.uk

Chris Hardy - cllr.chris.hardy@wealden.gov.uk

Chris Triandafyllou - cllr.chriss.triandafyllou@wealden.gov.uk

Daniel Shing - daniel.shing@wealden.gov.uk

Dick Angel - cllr.dick.angel@wealden.gov.uk

Barby Dashwood-Morris - cllr.barby.dashwood-morris@wealden.gov.uk

Barry Marlowe - cllr.barry.marlowe@wealden.gov.uk

Bill Bentley - cllr.bill.bentley@eastsussex.gov.uk

Brian Jarman (deceased)

Brian West -  (retired)

John Blake -  cllr.john.blake@wealden.gov.uk

Lin Clark - cllr.lin.clark@wealden.gov.uk

Nigel Coltman - cllr.nigel.coltman@wealden.gov.uk

Nigel McKeeman - cllr.nigel.mckeeman@wealden.gov.uk

Raymond Cade - cllr.raymond.cade@wealden.gov.uk

Robert Standley

Ron Cussons - cllr.ron.cussons@wealden.gov.uk

Stephen Harms - cllr.steve.harms@wealden.gov.uk

Stephen Shing - cllr.stephen.shing@wealden.gov.uk

Susan Stedman - cllr.susan.stedman@wealden.gov.uk

 

LOCAL NEWSPAPERS CONTACTED

 

Sussex Express - sussex.express@jpress.co.uk
                          amie.morrell@jpress.co.uk

 

Eastbourne Herald - eastbourne.herald@jpress.co.uk

 

The Argus - lucy.pearce@theargus.co.uk

                  emily.walker@theargus.co.uk

 

LINKS & REFERENCE

 

http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/more-water-works-set-for-rural-village-1-5310560

http://www.sussexmillsgroup.org.uk/

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-culture-media-sport

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

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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