Application Status

To our knowledge no application has been submitted

 

Redesigned and Updated Website – www.hemingfordsactiongroup.co.uk

 

Thanks to a huge amount of work by one of our Ambassadors - Phillip Cooke – our website has been completely redesigned and substantially updated. In future copies of our regular monthly updates to both Grey and Abbots Parish Councils will be published on this site. The site can also be easily accessed by typing ‘SayNo2MickGeorge’ in any search engine

 

New Draft Waste and Minerals Local Plan

The final draft was discussed at CCC Economy and Environment Committee Meeting on October 17th. The Plan and Appendices are available on the CCC Website –and are also be available to download from our new website later this week

When the new plan is considered at this week’s meeting it will be subject to further delegated amendment and then be made available for General Consultation for six weeks (eight if over the Christmas Period) between November 2019 and January 2020. However any representations then made will be considered by Government Inspector who, it is envisaged, will hold a Public Enquiry in 2020 with the intention of publishing the final approved plan in late 2020

We have examined this latest document with great care and are seeking an urgent meeting with our lawyers on a whole list of concerns we have including the inclusion of the ‘Astro Turf’ site as an existing site and the proposal that whilst there be a list for Mineral sites there is ‘no need’ for one for Waste

 

Hemingford Golf Club Site, Astro Turf Site Activity, Golf Shop and Driving Range

Staf at The Golf Shop and Driving Range Staff have now been made redundant and both facilities closed on 30th September. It is our understanding that these properties have been purchased by Mick George Limited. We also have been led to believe that the operator of the Restaurant and Conference Centre has been given notice to quit by next Spring and that property has also been purchased by Mick George Limited

In September we wrote to Andy Moffat at HDC to ask why the Golf Club Site is being used for purposes not permitted under present planning permissions. We have also asked if HDC have been involved in pre-application discussions in respect of any part of the site. As of today we have received no reply and will take the matter up with District Councillors and write to HDC legal department.

We note the lack of progress in clearing the Astro-Turf site and the correspondence that has been exchanged. Now that MGL appears to have influence over buildings that do adjoin that site the importance of it being closed has grown

 

Sub-committee to assist with the process of preparing a detailed proposal for the Hemingford Golf Club to be granted the status of a Community Asset et seq

We have commissioned a feasibility study from Sanders Boston :

Purpose to identify the art of the possible with an indication of potential cost

 

For the purposes of the Feasibility Study  we would consider:

 

-          The relationships of the pitches to one another, their orientation and how they are sighted across the existing sloping site

-          Future supporting sport and leisure facilities with their size and location identified

-          Potential conversion of existing buildings on site to support the pitches and future facilities

-          Site access arrangements under the revised A14 development

-          Project risks

-          Project cost

 

In terms of outputs this would provide:

 

-          Site location plan with pitch, building and future sports facilities all to current Sport England design standards

-          Potential design solutions for the existing buildings with changing rooms to FA and SE design standards and future phases of development

-          A cost plan based on latest cost data and current projects for new pitches and building refurbishment

 

All of the above would be presented in a document that can be used for:

 

-          Funder discussions

-          Pre-app planning advise

-          Operator interest

 

General

There is a tendency to assume the problem will go away. We do not believe that to be the case. We know there are presumptions that there will eventually be a housing development but as this is not included in what is now HDC’s current and approved plan ‘housing’ will not be considered until 2030 and so far as we can tell MGL appear determined to press ahead with their application for the recycling plant.

 

Iain Muspratt – The Hemingfords Action Group

13th October 2019

 

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