CLARE HARRISON

Which of the Herstmonceux parish councillors are friends of the Museum heritage asset

PARISH CLERK

Not a lot of change to report here. The new Parish Clerk still appears to be running the show in the background taking instructions from Wealden District Council's legal and planning departments and steering the members (we think) according to instructions from Trevor Scott and David Whibley and then passing those instruction to the Chairman as to how to deal with any particular matter. According to the Hx Action Group, this was how it was with Janet McInnes in 2014 and 2015 during the fated decision to allow 70 houses to be built on a green field site just outside of the village envelope that had been earmarked as not suitable for development.

You may find it difficult to contact Mrs Harrison if the matter is something that the Parish Council are trying to duck. She is known to screen telephone calls that she does not want to deal with and has in the past refused delivery of any unwanted correspondence. Don't bother send anything to her by recorded delivery, even important documents that her council should know about. You are better off serving in person, catching her when she is in a council meeting. But you may be asking yourself why anyone in this position is not signing to collect correspondence addressed to the Parish Council. Is that not misfeasance in public office!

Transparency and accountability in local government are key requirements along with honesty and adherence to the relevant codes of conduct. Come on Mrs Harrison, either get on top of the job or hand over the baton.

FRIENDS OF HERSTMONCEUX MUSEUM

It remains to be seen who on this reconfigured council are friends of the in-progress restoration of the old generating buildings in Lime Park. In the past councillors like Brian Jarman bent over backwards to accommodate the agendas of Ian Kay and Vic Scarpa, who had been instrumental in formulating what amounted to a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, in the deception of the Secretary of State's Inspector R. P.Dannruether in 1986/7. The point here is that such councillors are just puppets more interested in getting a few brownie points and keeping their positions locally - that actually standing up for what is right when it matters.

This was revealed between 1998 and 2000, when the true history of the Generating Works slowly unraveled as archaeologists trawled over the wooden building to find that it was the genuine article. You can imagine the effect that this news had on Douglas Moss, Chistine Nuttall and David Phillips - who had themselves conspired to pervert the course of justice, in the case of Doug Moss and David Phillips, going so far as to falsify photographs to make it appear that the occupier was in breach of an Enforcement Notice - that is in fact defective on several counts and a false instrument.

CONSERVATION PROJECT - At the turn of the century some more enlightened souls followed the work of Thomas Alva Edison in the USA, and other pioneers of electricity for lighting and installed their own private generating facilities in the UK. Charles de Roemer, an electrical engineer, constructed this substantial complex in Lime Park based on coal that was used to produce combustible gas for an internal combustion engine. By 1982, this building was falling over and would have done so, except for the occupation of another engineer who recognised the industrial find and took the trouble to shore up the structure - so beginning the long climb to get this valuable historic asset the recognition that it deserves.

DISCRIMINATION - It is unlawful to discriminate against any person or organisation, with reference to Article 14 of the Human Rights Act 1998. That said, preferential treatment appears to be routinely given to some members of the community, while Wealden DC use their position of trust to give others a very rough ride to foster the finances of those they may have helped in the past for consideration of another kind. Consideration does not always have to be the folding stuff.

The pictures above are some examples of planning consents (or development agreed as permitted) that has been granted in and around Lime Park, Herstmonceux. In the case of Lime and Oak View [lower right], this is a massive house built on green belt without any suggestion of affordability or other special circumstances. Double garages is a luxury not a necessity. Compare the cooperation of Wealden in the procurement of these consents, with the £500,000 spent to prevent the restorations of Herstmonceux Museum. Anyone looking at the facts would have to question why this council is acting so perversely - when planning permission all around the site is being given for much larger developments. To include a grant for 70 houses in the adjacent field. You might ask if the builders were connected in any way with any council member - and if they were if suitable declarations were made.

COUNCILLOR LINE UP FOR 2016

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