From: brain37@live.co.uk
To: npcu@gowm.gsi.gov.uk
Subject: Re: Anaerobic Digester, Sellindge, Kent (Tara Dickenson).
Date: Sat, 7 May 2011 21:23:36 +0100
Thank you for your letter of the 28th April, concerning the Anaerobic Digester in Sellindge, Kent.
With respect, what annoys me about this whole episode is the way that the planning for the Digester was passed. We are supposed to live in a democracy and if there is a case where this has been ignored then this is it. Our government is quick to get involved with international problems such as Iraq and Libya, where it has the audacity to preach democracy. When we get a problem in this country everyone in authority just looks the other way. How can it be called a democracy when 2000 people, four parish councils, our local district council, MP and county councillor are against the scheme but it is allowed just because a hand full of people at Kent County Hall agree to it? This is absolutely immoral and virtually a dictatorship. As I said in my letter, at least two of the planning committee were asleep during the debate?
The Planning Officer for KCC stated during the meeting that if the application is rejected it will cost the Council a lot of money when the applicants appeal. What should have happened is that the applicants Countrystyle Developments, should have been told that there is too much opposition to planning being granted and that they should look for a site away from a residential area. All that KCC were worried about was the cost to them and not the welfare of the residents in Sellindge. I always ask the question, would you like to have an Anaerobic Digester in the locality where you live; of course the answer will always be NO?
Most of the residents from Sellindge who attended the meeting were elderly, people who have worked all of their lives and contributed Tax and National Insurance all this time. They religiously pay their house tax and in many cases have fought for this country or like me, did compulsory military service and faced Hitler's bombs during the war. What happens, we get kicked in the teeth just so that a few people can make money at our expense? There was no consideration about the attitudes and welfare of the local people and our government goes on preaching to other countries.
In you letter you said that the PM and Minister has to delegate to the Civil Servants but we elect the former and not the latter. When the elections are due they soon start appealing to us for our support. In deed, I have have received many letters through the email asking for such support with AV. All the people of Sellindge want is to live in a nice environment and not have to put up with 100 lorries a day delivering waste food to a site on the edge of the village in the path of the prevailing wind. If the Digester process is so vital then why doesn't the KCC allow it to be built in another part of the countryside that is away from any residents? There is ample space available as we live a farming county.
Finally, a few years ago Countrystyle applied to build a waste disposal plant in Hollingbourne near Maidstone. This Plant was very close to where the Leader of Kent County Council lived. The result was that the MP Hugh Robertson, Leader of KCC Sir Sandy Bruce Lockhart and the present Leader Paul Carter were dead against it. Mr Robertson stated that he was concerned about the impact on the landscape, the smell, large vehicle movement and the need to conserve the Kent countryside, which he reinforced as being the Garden of England. He said that Hollingbourne had already suffered enough through the introduction of the M20 and the High Speed Rail Link. All of these apply to Sellindge.
Will you therefore approach Mr Eric Pickles and ask him to intervene on our behalf and not just contact us the voters, when he needs support?
Thank you.
Fred Turton.
PS. In your letter you said that a copy of the planning decision notice was attached. It was not included.
To: npcu@gowm.gsi.gov.uk
Subject: Re: Anaerobic Digester, Sellindge, Kent (Tara Dickenson).
Date: Sat, 7 May 2011 21:23:36 +0100
Thank you for your letter of the 28th April, concerning the Anaerobic Digester in Sellindge, Kent.
With respect, what annoys me about this whole episode is the way that the planning for the Digester was passed. We are supposed to live in a democracy and if there is a case where this has been ignored then this is it. Our government is quick to get involved with international problems such as Iraq and Libya, where it has the audacity to preach democracy. When we get a problem in this country everyone in authority just looks the other way. How can it be called a democracy when 2000 people, four parish councils, our local district council, MP and county councillor are against the scheme but it is allowed just because a hand full of people at Kent County Hall agree to it? This is absolutely immoral and virtually a dictatorship. As I said in my letter, at least two of the planning committee were asleep during the debate?
The Planning Officer for KCC stated during the meeting that if the application is rejected it will cost the Council a lot of money when the applicants appeal. What should have happened is that the applicants Countrystyle Developments, should have been told that there is too much opposition to planning being granted and that they should look for a site away from a residential area. All that KCC were worried about was the cost to them and not the welfare of the residents in Sellindge. I always ask the question, would you like to have an Anaerobic Digester in the locality where you live; of course the answer will always be NO?
Most of the residents from Sellindge who attended the meeting were elderly, people who have worked all of their lives and contributed Tax and National Insurance all this time. They religiously pay their house tax and in many cases have fought for this country or like me, did compulsory military service and faced Hitler's bombs during the war. What happens, we get kicked in the teeth just so that a few people can make money at our expense? There was no consideration about the attitudes and welfare of the local people and our government goes on preaching to other countries.
In you letter you said that the PM and Minister has to delegate to the Civil Servants but we elect the former and not the latter. When the elections are due they soon start appealing to us for our support. In deed, I have have received many letters through the email asking for such support with AV. All the people of Sellindge want is to live in a nice environment and not have to put up with 100 lorries a day delivering waste food to a site on the edge of the village in the path of the prevailing wind. If the Digester process is so vital then why doesn't the KCC allow it to be built in another part of the countryside that is away from any residents? There is ample space available as we live a farming county.
Finally, a few years ago Countrystyle applied to build a waste disposal plant in Hollingbourne near Maidstone. This Plant was very close to where the Leader of Kent County Council lived. The result was that the MP Hugh Robertson, Leader of KCC Sir Sandy Bruce Lockhart and the present Leader Paul Carter were dead against it. Mr Robertson stated that he was concerned about the impact on the landscape, the smell, large vehicle movement and the need to conserve the Kent countryside, which he reinforced as being the Garden of England. He said that Hollingbourne had already suffered enough through the introduction of the M20 and the High Speed Rail Link. All of these apply to Sellindge.
Will you therefore approach Mr Eric Pickles and ask him to intervene on our behalf and not just contact us the voters, when he needs support?
Thank you.
Fred Turton.
PS. In your letter you said that a copy of the planning decision notice was attached. It was not included.
