Dear TSAG members,
Interesting timing!
Pigeon has removed its “Columba Park” website, the website used to promote the Land North of Taylors Farm development during the Local Plan process and public consultation.
Interestingly, the webpage appears to have been removed shortly after TSAG highlighted its contents within our planning submissions and drew attention to the fact that the public consultation material identified Bishops Stortford Wastewater Treatment Works as the proposed destination for foul drainage.
We will leave readers to draw their own conclusions.
Whether the website was removed because the consultation phase has ended, because information has changed, or because residents started highlighting discrepancies is something only the developer can answer.
Fortunately, TSAG kept a copy before it disappeared!
Why is this important?
Because it allows residents to compare what was originally promoted with what has subsequently been submitted as part of the planning application.
Perhaps the most interesting example concerns sewage.
The Columba Park website stated that foul drainage would be directed to Bishops Stortford Wastewater Treatment Works at Jenkins Lane.
TSAG repeatedly argued throughout the Local Plan process that this was unrealistic. There is no obvious connection on this side of the M11 and providing one would be technically challenging and expensive.
When the planning application was finally submitted, the proposed destination had changed to Takeley Wastewater Treatment Works instead.
In other words, the planning application appears to confirm exactly what TSAG and local residents had been saying all along.
This also raises an important question. The Planning Inspector scrutinised Land North of Taylors Farm based on the information presented during the Local Plan process. If key infrastructure assumptions such as the foul drainage strategy have changed, is the development now being applied for really the same development that was allocated through the Local Plan?
This is significant because Takeley Wastewater Treatment Works is already subject to capacity concerns and Thames Water has acknowledged infrastructure constraints in relation to the proposal.
Thankfully, TSAG kept the receipts!
You can view the archived webpage HERE
Finally, well done to every TSAG supporter who has taken the time to submit comments and objections.
The developer may not like the level of scrutiny this application is receiving, but that is exactly how the planning system is supposed to work.
We are already seeing the benefits of residents’ involvement. Additional information has been requested by Uttlesford, inconsistencies have been identified and important questions are continuing to be raised.
Your efforts are making a difference.
One thing is becoming increasingly clear:
The more closely this application is examined, the more questions seem to emerge.
Thank you for your continued support.