Letter to Editor: The truth about the Stort Crossing and why the planning committee are not deciding its fate.
Politics / Sun 20th Feb 2022 at 01:23pm
Dear Editor,
NEXT week, an application to double the size of the existing crossing between Harlow and Gilston and to build a new crossing will be seen by the planning committees at East Herts Council and Harlow Council.
Many residents rightly feel passionate about it and so I want to address the truth about this.
Can the Planning Committees stop the crossing?
The planning committees are not deciding upon whether to build the bridge or not. In fact, they have very limited, specific powers to turn it down. If they do turn it down and the decision is appealed (which it would very likely be), the application would go to an independent inspectorate, who has even more limited grounds upon which to reject it.
Therefore, the planning committees are not deciding upon whether to build these crossings. Those decisions, in Harlow’s case, were taken seven times in the past five years.
The committees will decide as to whether there’s any planning reasons, in law, to reject this proposal. The truth is, there is a very small chance it will be rejected.
Most importantly, the committee is bound by the 2020 Local Plan, which included this crossing.
When was the decision made?
The decisions as to whether to build the crossings were taken seven times in the past five years.
It is not political, but factual, to say that on all seven occasions it was the then Labour Council, that voted to build these crossings.
At no point was the proposal properly consulted upon. Instead it was unanimously passed by the then administration.
What could have been done to stop the crossings being built?
The most direct answer – if the Labour Council had consulted on their Local Plan in late 2020. The proposal was included in their legally-binding 2020 Local Plan.
They did not put this plan out for full consultation and therefore residents were not aware and therefore, did not have their chance to reject this idea.
The Local Plan cannot be changed and the planning committee are bound by it.
What would happen if the planning committees reject the proposal?
The committees, because of the 2020 Local Plan, have very few reasons to refuse the application.
If they chose to vote against it, one of two things will happen.
It will be appealed and cost the council (taxpayers) hundreds of thousands of pounds – because the decision to build the bridge has already been taken – and the development will still happen, because the inspector will say the decision has already been taken seven times and the Local Plan binds those decisions.
Or, the Government will intervene, because the decision has already been taken. The committee are bound by the 2020 Local Plan.
What is the likely outcome?
The crossings will happen. Not because of any decision by the planning committees. Indeed, the planning committees could reject the plan, and it could still pass.
But because of the decisions of Harlow’s Labour Council between 2017-2020.
That is the truth about this case, not political points-scoring, but the truth about this.
Regards
Jayne Saunders
Pittmans Field, Harlow
Neil Warner-Baker
2022-02-20 14:10:17
I would strongly disagree, the 2020 Local plan is very short on details of the Sustainable Transport Corridors (stc) . that would become the Central and Eastern Stort crossings but it does clearly state that they must aspire to a 50% shift towards sustainable transport. Other legally binding documents state this more forcefully. The Devil is in the detail, so they say and there is no binding agreement that the developers can throw any old highway plans upon the Planning Committee and that they are bound to rubber stamp them, indeed this would reek of 'predetermination' and the flurry of legal challenges against it. Please do not forget that The Gilston Area neighbourhood plan, which is part of the East Herts District plan objects to the crossing in their present form. This Plan is as legally binding as our own.
Angela Kurton
2022-02-20 14:33:14
I’m not clear on the point of this piece, as it appears to suggest that there is nothing to do except to roll over and allow ‘nature to take its course’. (It seems to be a ‘pro’ stance concealed as a ‘reality check’ and I believe the writer to be playing politics.) However, we simply cannot lie back and let this go unchallenged, in all conscience. The purpose of Wednesday evening’s Planning Committee dialogue is to GRANT (or otherwise NOT GRANT) planning permission. If NOT GRANTED, logically, there would need to be a process of revisiting the plans. And this is precisely what we need.
Mark Aiton
2022-02-20 14:57:36
I agree with Angela we simply cannot just roll over and do nothing... "They did not put this plan out for full consultation and therefore residents were not aware and therefore, did not have their chance to reject this idea."... if you don't know about something how can you appose, surly if they done this under the radar and didn't fully inform or held vital information back, is that not a legal point of 'error' that can have it reopened for discussion
Henry Jackson
2022-02-20 15:25:37
Clearly this writer is not a fan of Google when they say the plan was not consulted on. A simple web search shows there was a six week consultation period. That's the truth.
Julie Taylor
2022-02-20 15:40:13
Hi Jayne The local plan also states that the strategy is to protect and enhance the important parts of Harlow which offer residents a good quality of life. The district’s natural assets, including the River Stort and protected areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Local Wildlife Sites, will be protected and enhanced. The crossing over The Stort is barely mentioned and gives no detail whatsoever. Are you saying that the whole application is a farce Jayne? That it's predetermined? Because that's what I think you are saying. There's a lot more to the application than councillors agreeing because of the Local Plan. There are 900 documents on that application including stipulations by a number of agencies and bodies which have to be adhered to. There are numerous reasons why they may reject or refer the application. Apart from that Local plans can be reviewed and amended.
Matt
2022-02-20 15:54:56
The former Labour administration had every opportunity to modify or reject this plan, but chose to support it without proper public consultation. Their own adopted December 2020 Plan clearly shows the East Stort Crossing. If they now protest or vote against, they will show what they truly are: unprincipled, opportunistic charlatans.
Nostradamus
2022-02-20 16:27:02
The Environment Agency objections where never answered and the hggt's own consultants said the Eastern Crossing raised road would create more flooding. The damage to Harlow and the Valley makes the decision unsafe. The Eastern crossing was originally potentially far less damaging bridge but changed, there doesn't appear to have been any consultation on this. Since local plans were drawn up by hggt rather than by consultation the law was changed in 2021, biodiversity needs to be increased by 10% but the flood plain will be destroyed and biodiversity here decreased. The legal action by the of Hunsdon House, stakeholders in the development stopped the previous planning process on the grounds that granting permission was illogical and would expose Harlow Council, East Herts Council and the developers to being sued. There have been no notifications from East Herts Planning Portal indicating any new submissions to those registered to receive such so what has changed. Hunsdon's actions in exposing the errors in planning also opens the door to Judicial Review. The new Harlow Council has a duty to protect Harlow and should vote against the crossings and the non sustainable transport plans and in necessary initiate the judicial review themselves. Note Harlow Tories may be compromised by links between the council and Chelgate Consulting who have been advisors to hggt pfp. Failure to stand up for Harlow on behalf of Labour or Conservative will not be forgiven or forgotten. SOS . Any new Eastern crossing may prove to be bed of nails
Joss Noone
2022-02-20 16:36:01
My understanding is that the consultation was done during the height of lockdown, when we were forbidden to travel outside our own town or village. I recall as I wanted to view the plans, however, they were not available in Harlow but these were on display in Bishop stortford. HAD I KNOWN OUR GOVT WAS BUSY PARTYING..I WOULD HAVE IGNORED THEIR ADVICE.
novoman
2022-02-20 16:36:58
https://fb.watch/bi9u9faw_o/ Just substitute Stort River Valley and appropriate uk Harlow names in the You Tube video. The Stort Valley is sacred there's even an ancient temple there. Pity the same Harlow Councillors who are supposed to be working for us , who couldn't see the monster warehouse at Kathryns and shed crocodile tears are still in post. Incompetence. Perhaps others might step up in the future election and put a one way system and several sets permanently red traffic lights on River Way.
Nicholas Taylor
2022-02-20 16:38:05
The Harlow Alliance Party would like to make the following points: Firstly, Labour controlled Harlow Council took specific steps to ensure that it's consultation on the Local Development Plan (LDP) was kept to a bare legal minimum, even residents living around sites set to be developed were not consulted about such plans. Secondly, the Conservatives made no representations to the Planning Officer who was appointed to look at the 'draft' LDP, only the Harlow Alliance Party attended all the examination hearings and raised objections. Thirdly, when I attended public consultation meetings and looked at the literature produced, plans for the sustainable transport corridor was just shown as doted lines, there were no specific details. For instance, they included a line across the allotments adjacent to Fernhill Lane, when asked the representative could give no information about the future relocation of these allotments. Fourthly, the Conservatives have always favoured development to the North of Harlow (far fewer votes to be lost when compared to the sites to the South and West of the town). Fifthly and most importantly, Council across Hertfordshire and Kent are now challenging the number of homes that the Government have specified need to be built in each District. Basildon has become the latest, throwing out their LDP only three weeks ago due to public opposition to the building on Green Belt land Sixthly, the Council's who have created the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (which has not been subject to any consultation), should re-visit their Local Development Plan, in the meantime these two Planning Applications should be paused. LETS NOT FORGET, COUNCILLORS ARE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT US, NOT PROPERTY SPECULATORS AND HOUSE BUILDERS.
Joss
2022-02-20 16:46:10
Well said Nichols Taylor..Our Council are supposed to serve and protect us, Not Property speculators...
Angela Kurton
2022-02-20 16:48:10
In response to Julie’s excellent point, predetermination of this application is a critical concern.
novoman
2022-02-20 16:56:17
https://fb.watch/biaD-TTBRC/ Better link to You Tube video hopefully. Worth a watch.
Nostradamus
2022-02-20 17:01:57
Idiot novoman, it's on Facebook "Juice Media", whole series of relevant videos
novoman
2022-02-20 17:31:43
https://youtu.be/eQaeu_1uGcY try this there's many excellent videos from Juice Media exposing dumb government thinking in Australia, and that's prevalent here, as evidenced by the government spending more money on protecting and propping up fossil fuels and nuclear power than on green solutions to Climate changes. Boris even signed a deal with Australia recently that supports their coal industry. Also on You Tube search Juice Media, my point is that Harlow Council was suckered and both Labour and Conservative parties failed us and missed the damage the Crossings schemes basically the plan engineered by Grant Shapps to unlock greenfield sites by building ill considered damaging roads.
Nicholas Cox
2022-02-20 17:56:05
This article is incorrect at every level. We do not live in Russia, Belarus, or Myanmar (Burma) Harlow and East Herts District Councils derive their power from the will of the people and we the people are free to withdraw our consent at any time. By convention, this consent is confirmed every four years, but this is this not set in stone by any constitutional doctrines. If next week the two councils pass this plan than it will only happen if we the local people allow it to happen. Blame will not rest with the government or the councils, it will rest with us, the people. The real question is, do we care enough to stop it?
Julie Taylor
2022-02-20 19:11:33
@Jayne, As a representative of The Friends of Latton Island I would like to invite you and your brother, Russell, to visit the site where the crossing and road is proposed prior to the meeting on Wednesday. I know the weather is awful but what do you say? You can message me via our website friendsoflattonisland.co.uk
Tomcat
2022-02-21 04:47:44
Here we go again Politics, Politics, and more politics! Its Labours fault, Its the Conservatives fault, ItsDamn Politics causing all the issues here! The councils are there for the people not Damn Politicians to say its everyones but themsleves that has caused the issues we live with! Lets face it the whole damn thing is wrong and if you really care about the locall people you will all get together and stop this monstrosity every happening!
Nicholas Taylor
2022-02-21 09:03:50
Just to make a point again, Councils are required to review their Local Development Plans (LDV), Harlow Council as I understand it intend to start this process at the end of this year. The LDV of East Herts was created much earlier that Harlow Councils and therefore should be reviewed sooner, time therefore to look again at the number of homes that are planned on land to the North of Harlow.
Marie Compton
2022-02-21 11:13:20
The fact remains that Harlow and the surrounding region will see an influx of new firms wanting to establish along the strategic London to Cambridge corridor. These will attract people and jobs. It will spur the long awaited regeneration and uplift of the town centre as a hub for leisure and culture, revitalising the town. It is obvious that this will require new housing and infrastructure. The town is already bursting at the seams. There is nowhere left to build in the town. The only alternative is to build outside and to change the boundaries to create a single authority, encompassing the greater town. It is the same any development is proposed; everyone accepts the need, but nobody wants it on their doorstep. It must have been the same when Harlow New Town was proposed, destroying the environment of the old villages and hamlets of Harlow, Potter Street, Netteswell, Great Parndon, etc.
Neil Warner-Baker
2022-02-21 11:34:11
The town is not bursting at the seams, it is the shear volume of cars and pot holes on the road and parked by and on our paths that are the problem. For a number of years our Councils have tried to add bus lanes, but until Essex County Council start funding a cheep and pleasant Bus or\and tram system as a practical alternative... All is to nought
Marie Compton
2022-02-21 12:08:43
NW-B, I agree regarding the number of cars and the need for an expanded and cheap public service transport alternative. However, as far building new houses in the town, I do consider that there are no species left without loss of green areas, which nobody wishes to see. The only space left is between Newhall and Old Harlow, which already being developed. After that is completed, there is nowhere left.
Nicholas Taylor
2022-02-21 12:48:54
Marie, Harlow Council have identified 20 sites on it's Local Plan for development, including over 500 homes when the hospital moves. The difference between now compared with when Harlow New Town was formed is that thousands of people came to Harlow when firms re-located here. Whatever is said, building 20,000 plus homes will not be accompanied by the number of jobs needed to be created locally, the new estates (sorry villages!) will form just a soulless commuter belt. As for the Harlow-Cambridge corridor, this is just a developers charter along 32 miles of open countryside. The town centre as seen by the Tories at Harlow Council will just be a new housing estate full of tower blocks and little if any room for new leisure and cultural facilities. Harlow Council have been suckered by neighbouring authorities, who will reap all the financial benefits. In the meantime, Broxbourne are looking to provide more shops and facilities at Brookfield Farm (free parking) and EFDC are doing much the same and building a multi-storey carpark with 50 electric car charging parking spaces.
Simon
2022-02-21 14:25:06
We are to believe that permission cannot be withdrawn. Such a shame, Johnson and his stooges ignore laws and rules but on this occasion - they cannot act and its labour's fault.
Kim Oconnor
2022-02-21 19:19:22
Save our stort
Margaret Miilington-Blake
2022-02-21 20:33:25
The Councillors on the Planning Committee sit in a quasi judicial capacity (unlike other Committees) and may judge only on the basis of the extensive papers laid before them; not dissimilar to juries in a court of law. They must not be susceptible to ‘predetermination’ nor be influenced by external factors or pressure. It is not an enviable task. If they act on whim, the Council could be subject to highly expensive legal costs in vain. It is a difficult process and they bear responsibility for the consequences.
Neil
2022-02-21 20:39:00
Nicholas Taylor, your description tends to suggest that our previous administration were a bunch of retards….’suckered’. The former Labour administration have repeatedly supported the entire Harlow Gilston project since its inception in 2017 and have repeatedly voted for it. They knew full well what they were doing and failed to hold serious public consultation.
Neil Warner
2022-02-22 13:00:59
As a point of clarification, I am not the same Neil as the one that made the former remark, I do understand his frustration. I would like to make a reminder that we should remain respe tful in our comments..
Lynda Barker
2022-02-26 09:05:51
Regardless of which political party is in power, Harlow Council has been rotten at the core for years. Well paid (over paid) senior staff who only have their interests at heart. Not the town's or the people of Harlow. Unless their are rich or property developers of course. When when people recognise this.
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