May deadline for transport scheme decision
Scores of documents have been uploaded onto a council website giving details of the most controversial planning applications in Bath for 15 years.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has set itself a deadline of May 21 to deal with the applications relating to its Bath Transportation Package.
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And anyone wanting to object to the proposals - which include the Bus Rapid Transit scheme through Newbridge and a new park-and-ride site at Bathampton - will have to get get their heads around the documents quickly.
The deadline for public comments on the BRT is February 23, while comments on the Bathampton scheme have to be in by February 20.
This is in line with a 21-day consultation period for applications.
The council's development control committee will decide on the applications but the schemes may be judged so contentious that they need to be called in by ministers so they can have the final say.
The schemes are part of a £60 million council programme to tackle congestion but have provoked opposition at opposite ends of the city.
The applications are for:
* the new Bathampton Meadows Park and Ride
* expansion of the Lansdown Park and Ride site
* expansion of the Odd Down Park and Ride site
* expansion of the Newbridge Park and Ride site and the Bus Rapid Transit scheme.
There are nearly 200 documents - such as transport and environmental assessments - to accompany this last application alone.
In a statement, B&NES said: "Any representations received by B&NES planning services will be taken into account in determining whether or not planning permission is granted for the schemes."
The quickest link to the applications is: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/environmentandplanning/majordevelopments/Bath+Transportation+Package.htm
Hard copies of the application documents are available to view at the planning services office in Trim Street and will later this week be lodged at the library in The Podium.
More detailed information on the planning process, and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about applications are on the website: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/environmentandplanning/planning/developmentcontrol/frequentlyaskedquestions.htm
14 Comments
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by stacey, Bath
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 8:20PM
“Oh dear. Sorry everyone I have fallen afoul of the delayed posting issue.”
by Stacey, Bath
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 7:19PM
“Once again the Council's Ruling Classes fail to follow their own procedures by allocating less than 21 days to review the application. Oh and the title of the planning permission neatly hides the BRT too doesn't it?
Luckily Response2route have a clear guide to objecting to the BRT on their web site
... and if you follow their guidance you can lodge an objection quicke than Haeberling can say "doing nothing is not an option"”
by Stacey, Bath
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 7:16PM
“Even the title of the planning application for the BRT seeks to cover up what's going on!”
by Stacey, Bath
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 7:14PM
“Once again the Council's Ruling Classes fail to follow their own procedures by allocating less than 21 days to review the application. Oh and the title of the planning permission neatly hides the BRT too doesn't it?
Luckily Response2route have a clear guide to objecting to the BRT on their web site http://www.response2route.co.uk/?p=132
... and if you follow their guidance you can lodge an objection quicke than Haeberling can say "doing nothing is not an option"”
by Jo, Bath
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 2:58PM
“Gee, Gary, thanks for getting back to me so quick, speak to you in the next tea break. Jo x”
by David, Bath
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 1:59PM
“Well, you've got to love the fact that the trees flanking the BRT (to be encased in concrete "tree pits", with the orphan trees "planted at the same depth at which they were previously") are going to be fitted with rabbit guards......obviously just in case Fiver, Hazel, Bigwig and Silver come along and try to make the big, ugly concrete monstrosity their new home.”
by Gary, Bath
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 1:57PM
“Jo. Certainly not. Although I can see why you might jump to those sort of conclusions given the amount of time and energy spent looking out for any coment posted that might mot agree with your view on the BRT.”
by Jo, Bath
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 1:18PM
“Gary, are you Haeberling's son?”
by Not at all happy., roadside lodge.
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 1:16PM
“Hmmm, Thats a nice CCTV camera peering into my bathroom, child's bedroom and back garden...oh, and what a nice set of concrete stairs in the place of that big oak tree. Gosh what an attractive 2.5 metre wall that is and oh, just look at those beautiful blue engineering bricks...now thats what I call "sympathetic".”
by David, Bath
Wednesday, February 04 2009, 11:03AM
“I imagine that any public objections to the BTP will have disappeared down the Guildhall "Memory Hole" come February 24th.
Expect a press release the following Monday featuring Haeberling - fixed smile in place - telling us that she's "staggered by the level of public support the plans have received".”