Proposed flats Upland Road

[louisiana]

The planning application for eight flats (up from 6) on what was the back garden of a house at 379 Upland Road (Lordship Lane end) goes to the Dulwich Community Council meeting

date: 3 July 08

time: 7pm

venue: Herne Hill Baptist Church, Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill SE24 9HU (is this even *in* Dulwich? Why not somewhere in the neighbourhood?)

I objected to the application, but I cannot attend this meeting.

The report from the Council planning people is a whitewash. It's totally pro the development, despite the fact that the planned development contravenes official guidelines e.g. UDP density guideline for this area is 200-450 hr/ha, but this development is 473 hr/ha.

I feel that my views expressed in my objection have not been fairly represented in the planning department's report e.g. I was adamant about over-development of the site, but nowhere does the four line summary of my objections state this or anything similar; nor does the report's section on Density and Residential Amenity (section 5.4) mention this fact. A convenient omission, considering even they admit that the development is over-dense according to the official guidelines. I'm quite angry about my views and objections being conveniently misrepresented in probably the only document the decision-makers will see (the planning department's 6-side summary of the case and recommendation).

There have been several other objections, which is presumably why it's going to the DCC.

I'd be very interested in speaking to anyone who intends to attend this meeting, or hearing any views from anyone on this.

 

[Amelie]

Lousiana

It is always open to you to make a formal complaint both to the Chief Planning Officer and the Chairman of the relevant Committee about your views not being properly represented. Every local authority has a complaints procedure and it should be on the website.

[louisiana]

That is a very good point Amelie.

Unfortunately that will make the third (no, fourth!) letter of outrage I need to draft this week. I've just finished one to Virgin about the Thursday morning train to Carlisle. Then there's the one to my mobile phone operator (who failed to fix a problem for 15 months). Then there's the Carlisle-Whitehaven train operator (Northern - appalling conditions as only one carriage on train). Then there's my incompetent insurer, who assures me he will do something, and then a letter arrives two weeks later showing they understood not a damn thing; going since December. You get my drift.

I could do with some kind of letter of outrage template, with appropriate paragraphs to be deleted/modified: call centre menu trees; lateness; overcrowding; failure to respond; failure to resolve; failure to do the thing they promised; failure of their 'technical' team to know anything technical; facile excuses; failure to deliver on charter promises; illiteracy; misrepresentation; economy with the truth...