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Everyone is invited to attend the
PUBLIC INQUIRY
into the
APPLICATION FOR VILLAGE GREEN STATUS
to be held commencing
TUESDAY 15th JUNE 2010 at 10.00 a.m.
and continuing as necessary on the following days
16th – 18th June,
and then on
22nd – 25th June 2010
at
PINCENTS MANOR HOTEL
PINCENTS LANE
CALCOT
READING
______________________________________
Correction and public apology.
It has been pointed out that the earlier statement saying that the public would be allowed to speak is incorrect. It has been known at another public enquiry that members of the public were invited to speak, however the directions from the Inspector who has conduct of this inquiry do not include this opportunity, although there is no reason why the public should not be allowed to attend however a request has been made that these proceedings are allowed to be conducted without interruption or unruly behaviour from the general public. The writer is grateful to the solicitors representing the land owners for pointing out this error.
Again, the writer expresses her sincere apologies to all concerned and hopes that no inconvenience has been suffered.
_________________________________
Update 13th April 2010
Village Green Application
We are adding this latest information to correct the totally incorrect and mischievous rumours currently being circulated concerning the ownership of the land at Pincents Hill. The land will not be taken away from the current owners, Alasdair Barron and Blue Living.
If we are successful in making this land a Village Green this does not transfer the ownership of the land to the community or give it exclusive possession - the land remains in private ownership - but the effect is to severely limit the rights of the landowners so that, in effect, existing activities may continue as they exist, but little more than this. It does mean however, that the owners are not able to build on the land or erect new fencing to exclude the local inhabitants from the site.
In a sense, possession of the land is shared between the owners and the community, with the result that neither is able to exclude the other, the law creates a public right to land, but in a private form.
We are not "stealing" the land but just trying to protect the status quo. Greens are an ancient form of commons, but they are recognised as having a modern contemporary significance, particularly because of their potential to act as a reservoir for natural resources and their enjoyment. This has, by use, become a 'public' open space. The area of land is situated, as many are, between urban developments, outside the settlement area, in what has been called a 'strategic gap' and we consider that it should be reserved as a permanent open space and this Landmark protected from development.
We have no wish and are not trying to steal the land but are trying to preserve and conserve it for future generations - not forgetting the current one of course!
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We need more letters and photos, the letters to show 20 years or more use, to say how long you have lived at your current address and if you have moved in that 20 year period, where you were before. That you used the land because you thought you had the right to do so, what you used it for (walking with or without dogs, sports, jogging, kite flying, etc.) and the three main conditions for proof that it can be made into a Village Green are that it was used:-
- without force
- without secrecy; and
- without permission.
Any help with proof of use is much appreciated. The e-mail address or postal address to send them to is at the bottom of this page.
.
At a GREN meeting tonight at the Methodist Church in Tilehurst all four political parties supported opposing Blue Living's Planning Application, indeed Alok Sharma tonight pledged his continued support in this fight. He was very vehement that Blue Living will not succeed in building their Eco-Town on Pincents Hill, he is a lot more confident than the writer. It is to be sincerely hoped that he is proved right. Thank you Alok; perhaps the writer is a lot more cynical about planning issues but very grateful for all your help with the printing and distribution of flyers, etc.. Both Naz Sarkar and Martin Salter are also against this development too, as a group we are grateful for all the support that has been given, especially by the members of the general public - a Big Thank You to everyone, we couldn't have achieved the result we have without you.
UPDATE ON PINCENTS HILL
Residents 1 Blue Living 0
On Wednesday 24th February the Eastern Area Planning Area refused Planning Consent for Blue Living Application - unanimously. We honestly thought that West Berks would decide in Blue Living's favour. We are very glad to be proved wrong.
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Although having achieved a very big milestone in this campaign to prevent Blue Living from building on Pincents Hill it is only one step in what is going to be a very long fight. Blue Living unfortunately are not going to pack up and go away - they have invested too much time and money to do that The Save Calcot Action Group anticipate that there are two ways this application can go.
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They could go straight to Appeal but there are 18 policies of both West Berks and the South East Plan that are contravened by this application and they will still have to prove that this application outweighs all the objections.
The second option is to withdraw this application and start again. However, before they can do that, they have the hurdle of the Village Green Application to overcome.
The Village Green Application is due to be heard at Pincents Manor Hotel the last two weeks in June Tuesdays to Fridays and if any one has any photographs that they could either e-mail to the link on this or the SaveCalcot websites showing people using Pincents Hill for walking, jogging in fact any legal amenity act or letters stating that you have used Pincents Hill for recreation use, specially appreciated would be letters from people who have used the land for 20 years or more, but any letters are appreciated. We would be grateful - we need your help.
Thank you to all members of the general public who have supported us, please keep doing that as we are working to preserve our much treasured bit of the countryside. We owe a big debt of gratitude to the officers of West Berks who have had to work between a rock and a hard place, and also we must thank our local councillors who we doubt ever had to preside over such a difficult and we suspect "different" Planning Meeting. We never expected to hear such a slanderous and derogatory attack from Blue Living's representative towards the Committee. We should thank him for convincing the Committee to unanimously vote against BL's Planning Application.
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IT CAN STILL BE BUILT ON IN SPITE OF BEING LEFT OUT OF THE ldf
22ND january 2010
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We would like to correct the assumption that because Pincents Hill has been left out of the draft LDF it cannot be built on. This is nonsense, firstly, there is now a six week consultation period on the draft which can be altered, secondly once the proposed LDF is forwarded to the Secretary of State it could also be amended to include Pincents Hill in the final version.
Blue Living's Planning Application is pending on Pincents Hill and this has to be heard and could well be approved and even if it isn’t, it could still go to Appeal and be granted. West Berks Planning Committee and various other bodies will be making a site inspection on Wednesday 17th February at 09.30. We would urge as many people to visit the area at this time to show how well used this area is.
So the fight must go on - so please attend
THE PLANNING MEETING ON 24th FEBRUARY
AT LITTLE HEATH SCHOOL AT 6.30 PM
Also as a Group we owe a debt of gratitude to Martin Salter who has been and is still fighting in our corner, thank you Martin and also many thanks to Alok Sharma. Martin for firstly bringing the group together, getting us started and encouraging us and secondly to Alok for all his help and support and attending the Group meetings. They are still very much supporting the residents and deserve all the accolades in this fight not to mention our own committee who has worked so hard. We would hope that the continuing support by all parties is politically non partisan and given freely as a sign of truly and truthfully representing the local residents which is surely the purpose of seeking public office.
The application for Village Green status is to be heard in March and we need proof of the use of Pincents Hill by the local residents other than letters of support by which we assume that photos, videos, proof of activities, etc are needed. If anyone has copies of anything they would allow us to use could you please e-mail Joan Lawrie Joanjlawrie@aol.com or post or deliver to: Joan Lawrie, c/o Tilehurst Parish Council, Highview (off Royal Avenue), Calcot, Reading Berks RG31 4XD office hours 9 - 3.30pm
Further updates can be viewed on our websites www.savecalcot.co.uk and www.savepincentshill.co.uk,
