|
FIREWORLD at WEEDON
The Planning Tortoise
Meets the
Central Government Obstacle Course
by
Norman Dickerson
Chairman of the Fire Services National Museum Trust
I am pleased to report that in December 1998 the joint planning application from ourselves and Cavalry Centre Ltd was finally presented to the full Daventry District Council Planning Committee. We attended in force and were very pleased as we listened to speeches giving full support from elected members and officers alike.
There were two applications, one for the building work (Site plan) and one for changing the use to a Museum and Retail mixed use (Use plan).
The Site plans were agreed with 'only' fifty-seven (yes, 57!) conditions - most of a minor technical nature. Although costly, these should satisfy the queries raised by the various departments and objectors. We saw no significant problems with any of these conditions.
The Use plan again received full support and was agreed subject to only twenty (20) conditions. The really important one from our point of view is that Cavalry Centre are not allowed to open before us, i.e. 'No retail floor space shall be open for trading before the Fire Museum is first open for visitors.'. This of course guarantees our continued close partnership to achieve both our aims.
There followed a brief but wet celebration with our Cavalry colleagues and we were talking in terms of a 12 to 18 month short term target period. Then came Christmas and the New Year.
* * * * *
The New Year feeling of progress and immediate action has unfortunately now been marred by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions deciding to use their powers to review the granting of approval of our application by 'calling in' the planning consent.
We know that this will almost certainly involve a five (5) month delay and probably a Public Enquiry of up to six days.
We are now in discussions to see if there is anything we can do to speed up the process as we find it confusing that there should be a need for a public hearing when there are no objectors who wish to address the hearing!
In the meantime the opening of the Museum Office at Weedon will go ahead and we will use the time to press ahead with restoration and recording work.
I had asked Neil Wallington to delay this edition of Saved so that we could announce the result of the Planning Committee meeting but with the unexpected D of E action it has become even more important for our friends to be fully informed of the facts rather than be disheartened by rumour and misinformation.
As long as we use the next few months in a positive and helpful way there should be no need to let this latest development dent our enthusiasm for the creation of our Fire Museum.
Thank you for your continued support.
|
