Thursday, December 20, 2007

PLANNING APPLICATION

To see the planning application, published on the evening of Thursday 20th December 2007 :


Consultation Details

Consultation start: 15th December 2007
Consultation end: 22th January 2008



http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/development/content.php?page=application_details&module=DC&status=1&location=South%20Ockendon&authority=1&caseno=&pageno=1&details=07/01309/FUL

You are able to comment on the application on the Thurrock Council website.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

URGENT NEWS UPDATE

OCKENDON CONCERNED RESIDENTS’ ACTION GROUP (OCRAG)

URGENT NEWS UPDATE

DEVELOPMENT AT BENTONS FARM

Since our last note to you in early November, the Committee has been chasing the Council Officers through every means at our disposal, to get answers to a number of issues, some of which remain unanswered, or at the very least, an unsatisfactory response.

Despite the earlier meeting with Council Officers, they still fail to adequately answer the most basic of requests. We set out below a number of points which you may find alarming:

Q. The Council gave extensive time to submit a Planning Application, what is the current status?

A. A PLANNING APPLICATION REF 07/01309/FUL WAS SUBMITTED ON 17/12/2007 FOR A CHANGE TO B1 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE, WITH 21 DAYS TO OBJECT.

Q. What is T&S Multiservices doing on the Bentons Farm site?

A. CONTINUING TO RUN A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS AND ADVERTISING THIS AS BEING THEIR HEAD OFFICE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 5 MONTHS.THE COUNCIL SAY “THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS” – WHY?

Q. T&S Multiservices continue to park “plant & equipment” on site (including decontamination units, which are being used for removing contaminants, including asbestos) in areas not covered by the original Stop and Enforcement Notices.

A. WE HAVE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO EXPLAIN WHY AND TO EXTEND THE NOTICES TO COVER THE WHOLE OF THE SITE.

Q. Why were T&S Multiservices allowed to fell the trees and rip out the shrubs?

A. THE COUNCIL HAVE NOW CHANGED THEIR VIEW AND ADMIT THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED, ESPECIALLY AS THERE WERE CONDITIONS ALREADY IN PLACE APPLICABLE TO THIS SITE, WHICH HAVE BEEN BREACHED.
WE HAVE ASKED THE COUNCIL WHEN THIS MATTER WILL BE ENFORCED, INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TREES.

Please raise the questions posed above with the following officers of the Council: Remember –

THE COUNTIL’S SLOGAN IS “PUTTING RESIDENTS FIRST”. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE THIS IN ACTION? IF YOU WISH TO FORMALLY OBJECT TO THIS APPLICATION, PLEASE WRITE TO THE FOLLOWING QUOTING REF. NO. 07/01309/FUL

Terry Hipsey,
Leader of the Council,
Thurrock Council,
Civic Offices, Grays RM17 6SL
Tel: 01375 366321
thipsey@thurrock.gov.uk
.
Andrew Millard
Head of Strategy
Thurrock Council,
Civic Offices, Grays RM17 6SL
Tel: 01375 652652
.
Paul Clark
Principal Planner
Thurrock Council,
Civic Offices, Grays RM17 6SL
Tel: 01375 652273

OCRAG will continue to fight to stop these business operations at Bentons Farm, but we still need your active support. We have engaged a specialist solicitor to advise us with regard to future actions.


IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PASS ON ANY COMMENTS TO US, PLEASE USE OUR WEBSITE: http://www.ocrag.blogspot.com/

Season's Greetings

This letter was received by some residents on the 19th December 2007.
_______________________________________________________________________

THURROCK COUNCIL
Development Control, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex RMI7 6SL
Please dial direct: Paul Clark 01375 652273 Fax: 01375 652787
My Ref: 07/01309/FUL

17th December 2007
Owner/Occupier
…………………
South Ockendon
Essex


Dear Sir/Madam,

Town and Country Planning 1990
Planning Application (Council ref: 07/01309/FUL)
Proposal: Change of use of outbuildings from workshop to store and from workshop and office to office B1
at Bentons Farm Mollands Lane South Ockendon

The Council is currently considering the above planning application. I am writing to ask if you have any comments on the scheme. You can look at the application at these offices between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday. A duty planning officer will be available during the hours of
9am to 12.3Opm, to answer question you may have regarding this application. You can also telephone or write to me and I will try to answer your questions about this application.

Any comments should be received in writing within 21 days of the date of this letter. Even if marked confidential, your letter can be read by the public. If I do not hear from you I will assume you have no comments to make.

If you are not the owner of the property you occupy, please inform the owner and any other person who may have an interest in this application.

Yours faithfully,


Paul Clark
Principal Planner
_______________________________________________

To: Planning Division, Thurrock Council 071013091FUL 1763
Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex. RMI7 6SL Paul Clark

Re: Change of use of outbuildings from workshop to store and from workshop and office to office BI.

Bentons Farm Mollands Lane South Ockendon

• My observations are on the attached sheet.

Signed: _________________________________________ Date:

Address: _____________________South Ockendon Essex

Head of Strategic Planning and Delivery

Saturday, December 15, 2007

'Putting residents first'??

Do you think that it is acceptable that Thurrock Council have allowed an Asbestos Removal Company to operate from Bentons Farm for 4 months without planning permission?

Have your say - leave a comment on the blog!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Bentons Farm

The business of T&S Multiservices continues to operate from Bentons Farm without planning permission. Decontamination units still remain on site and vehicles are coming and going night and day, seven days a week.

An extension to a building to the south side of the property has been started and was reported to planners. Officers visited the site and requested that the extension should be removed but it is still there.

It is very important that we all contact our MP Andrew Mackinlay, our Council Leader Mr Hipsey, and Angie Ridgwell Thurrock Council's Chief Executive to express our concerns about the situation. They need to get the message that we are ALL worried and upset about what is happening.

amackinlay@parliament.uk
thipsey@thurrock.gov.uk
aridgwell@thurrock.gov.uk


This blog has been set up by the OCRAG committee to keep everyone informed about the latest developments and to give others an opportunity to comment or ask questions.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT

PLEASE SEND THIS BLOG TO ANYONE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED

http://ocrag.blogspot.com/

Vans



Friday, November 23, 2007

Asbestos

Asbestos

The greatest single cause of work related deaths in the UK.

So says the Health and Safety Executive 'HSE'

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/

Decontamination units at Bentons Farm.


Decontamination unit at Bentons Farm.

Just because the large gates are closed doesn't mean that nothing is happening!!

Assisting the local community at large

OCKENDON CONCERNED RESIDENTS’ACTION GROUP (OCRAG)

URGENT NEWS BULLETIN - DEVELOPMENT AT BENTONS FARM

The meeting held at Brandon Groves Club on the 18th October was very well attended and a fighting fund established which is being used to retain a team for legal advice on planning law.

The committee met with planning officers and Councillors Lawrence, Curtis and Maney at the Civic Offices when a number of questions were put to the officers with NO SATISFACTORY OUTCOME. Councillors Arnold and Johnson were unable to attend.

NOTE: Mr R.’ asbestos business is now fully operational from Bentons Farm.

Ask your Council why this asbestos company is now operating without planning consent?

Decontamination units and other business related vehicles are going to and from Bentons Farm continually.

Ask your Council why they are allowing this to happen without planning consent?

Enforcements and stops have been put in place to prevent Mr R. carrying out certain tasks involving his asbestos business but he ignores these.

Ask your Council what action they are taking?

Your Council has given Mr R. guidance and invited him to submit a planning application to operate his asbestos business from Bentons Farm.

Ask your Council what he is applying for and what guidance they are giving us – their constituents?

OCRAG can fight to stop Mr R. operating his asbestos business at Bentons Farm but we need your active support. Please raise the questions posed above with the following members of the Council.

Please contact:
Anne Esplen
Group Leader Dev Services
Thurrock Council
Civic Offices, Grays RM17 6SL
Tel: 01375 652268 (dd)
aesplen@thurrock.gov.uk

James Game
Business Improvement Mgr
Thurrock Council
Civic Offices, Grays RM17 6SL
Tel: 01375 652708(dd)(dd)

jgame@thurrock.gov.uk

Thurrock Council has a duty of care to us but have been unwilling to fulfil their obligation to us


ASK THEM WHY?


8 November 2007/bulletin