The Orwellianly named “Optimisation Developments Ltd” (who
are actually a subsidiary of Morrison’s) has just submitted an updated assessment
along with some pretty minor revisions to both development proposals for
Bolsover. I don’t know if they ever bother to check what they write but they state:
•
“In summary, the proposal will result in
the demolition of an ‘Undesignated Heritage Asset’ within the Conservation Area
and the development of an area of Identified Open Space. However, this
will not impact on the special character and appearance of the Conservation
Area and it will not prejudice the overall provision of open space in the
town.
It’s the old smoke and mirrors act; here’s a green
space; here’s a development on it; and....... abracadabra....... here’s a town
that has not lost any green space. (Pause for applause and swooning). Who are
they trying to kid? Some Councillors may be taken in but if the Secretary of
State gets to appoint an Inspector he, or she, will expect to see slightly
better reasoning than this desperate attempt to magic away a fundamental breach
of the National Planning Policy Framework.
More interestingly in their rush to justify the
sacking, sorry, development of Bolsover, they let slip that they produced
designs back in December 2011 which kept both the Green and Sherwood Lodge.
Obvioulsy they weren’t going to do anything so foolish as to share them with
the public.
And the reason why they concluded they had to tarmac
the green and demolish the lodge?......As we have said all along without their precious
petrol station the site would be uneconomic. Their justification for which is on
a par with the one that my children used to use.......”Tesco’s have one at
Clowne”. Apparently it’s not enough that the store will be bigger than all the independent
shops put together, they want their petrol sales as well. Next they’ll be
demanding that the traffic is diverted to pass through the store as seems to have
happened in Clay Cross I notice. Is this the society you want to live in where
all the shots are called by big business and the elected Councillors simply go
along with them?
However they have cleared up one little fact for us how
many trees would be lost. And I’m the first to admit I got it wrong. Counting
all the little circles on their map I made it 100 trees......in fact now they
have been asked outright they have been forced to come clean and admit its 130.
By a strange coincidence if the Caroline Spellman the former Minister is right
every tree in an urban area confers £38,000 of economic and social benefits http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jun/15/caroline-spelman-interview-green-growing-rio20?newsfeed=true
It means that far from investing in the town they are not only taking out a million
pounds a year if profit for their City shareholders, and the felling of 130
trees will at a stroke take another £5Million in benefit.
As for the other minor amendments it’s a little like
being told, we’re going to shoot you, but we’ve heard that you don’t feel very
good about it so we thought we’d consult you over the design of the gun we’re
going to use. It makes very little difference
At the end of the day just like the banks Morrison’s
are simply trying to make as much money as they can and to tilt the pitch completely
in their direction. The purpose of an elected Council is to balance their
interests with those of the residents and traders in the town and to avoid all
the problems that occurred with the banks from being replayed here in Bolsover.
However for some people, as Orwell observed, “To see what is in front of one’s
nose needs a constant struggle.”
