Tuesday, December 2, 2008

NEW UPDATE RE BENTONS FARM

OCKENDON CONCERNED RESIDENTS’ ACTION GROUP (OCRAG)

NEWS UPDATE RE BENTONS FARM
________________________________
OCRAG email: ocrag@live.co.uk http://www.ocrag.blogspot.com/

Firstly we would like to thank all of the people who submitted letters and emails to the Planning Inspectorate recently to support the enforcement notices served by Thurrock Council on T&S Multiservices. Over 100 of you took the time and the trouble to write individual letters and emails to support our case. OCRAG also submitted a combined letter to the Inspectorate on behalf of all residents.

As we explained in our last update letter in August, the whole matter will now be decided by an Inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate at a public enquiry. This enquiry will be held on 6th and 7th January 2009 at the Civic Offices in Grays. On the 6th January the enquiry will commence at 10 a.m. finishing around 4 p.m. The start time on 7th January will be determined by the Inspector. An independent barrister and planning expert have been appointed by Thurrock Council to argue the case for the enforcement of their notices.

OCRAG have already submitted an official request to the Planning Inspectorate to represent the case for all local residents. Also, all three Ockendon and all three Belhus councillors have expressed a wish to speak on behalf of local voters. We believe that the Inspector may ask at the public enquiry if anybody else wishes to speak, but time constraints may limit the number of people allowed to speak.

Obviously the OCRAG Committee members will be there to represent your views but we would urge that as many concerned residents as possible, that can spare the time, should attend the enquiry on 6th and 7th to demonstrate to the Inspector that this is a vitally important issue to local residents. There will be limited amount of transport available for those people wishing to attend but who do not have their own transport and if this is required please use our Freephone number 0800 083 2596 or e-mail
ocrag@live.co.uk.

We continue to hold meetings and liaise by e-mail with Thurrock Council and all local councillors to ensure that we are all working to present a united front against T&S Multiservices to have the best possible chance of achieving the result that all local residents want.

For anybody wanting further information please contact us on our Freephone number 0800 083 2596 or email
ocrag@live.co.uk and we shall get back to you.

For news updates please refer to the OCRAG blog
http://www.ocrag.blogspot.com/

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

21st November 2008

Monday, September 1, 2008

Asbestos

Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1050955/Britains-youngest-Asbestos-victim-dies-28-Did-contract-school.html

Britain's youngest Asbestos victim dies at 28: Did she contract it at school?

By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 2:42 PM on 31st August 2008
Comments (17)
Add to My Stories
The woman who has just become Britain's youngest victim of a rare form of cancer could have contracted the disease at school.
Leigh Carlisle, 28, lost her two-year battle against the killer disease mesothelioma on Wednesday.
It is believed she must have been exposed to asbestos - almost always the cause of the cancer - as a child.

Friday, March 7, 2008

DRAF MINUTES 14/02/08 PLANNING COMMITTEE

[PDF]
DRAFT MINUTES of the meeting of Planning Committee held on 14 ...
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTMLMr D Duke, spokesperson and Chairman of Ockendon. Concerned Resident Action Group (OCRAG), addressed the. Committee in objection to the following ...democracy.thurrock.gov.uk/CMISWebPublic/Binary.ashx?Document=10876 - Similar pages

Friday, February 22, 2008

Belhus Landfill Site

To read this leaflet please click on the top of it.

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Saturday, February 16, 2008

THE GREEN BELT

THE GREEN BELT IN THURROCK

Approximately 60% of Thurrock is within the Green Belt.

Thurrock Council’s strategic objective is ‘To keep the Green Belt open, and only allow building in the most exceptional circumstances’.

In the Council’s document Thurrock Borough Local Plan, chapter 4 : The Green Belt it states –
The Council’s approach to maintaining strict control over development is to adopt the normal presumption against any inappropriate development in the Green Belt. (4.3.8)

The Council also aims to enhance and improve the natural beauty of the Green Belt, and to increase opportunities for quiet enjoyment of it. (4.3.9)

4.4 POLICIES

GB1 THE GREEN BELT IN THURROCK
Within the Green Belt, as shown on the Proposals Map, permission will not be given, except in very special circumstances, for the construction of new buildings or for the change of use of Land or the re-use of existing buildings unless it is for any of the following purposes:
(i) Agriculture and forestry (unless permitted development rights have been withdrawn):
(ii) Essential facilities for outdoor sport and outdoor recreation, for cemeteries. and for other uses of land which preserve the openness of the Green Belt and which do not conflict with the purposes of including land in it;
(iii) Limited extension, alteration or replacement of existing dwellings (subject to other policies in the Plan);
(iv) Limited infilling or redevelopment of major developed sites (subject to other policies in the Plan);
(v) Mineral extraction.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

The Planning Committee met at the Civic Offices in Grays tonight, 14th February at 7pm.

Our local Councillors, Barrie Lawrence, Amanda Arnold and Charlie Curtis spoke very well and clearly laid out their opposition to the planning application.

OCRAG's chairman was allowed to speak for 3 minutes and summarised our main points of objection.

A majority of the Planning Committee spoke against the development at Bentons and after some debate they decided to go against the recommendation of the Planning Officer and refused
the planning application.

The grounds on which it was turned down was because "it is an inappropriate development in the Green Belt."

Many thanks to all those who came along to give their support. The public gallery was full, with some people standing, which gave the Planning Committee the right impression.

Thanks also to those who sent in letters - the large number of objection letters was mentioned.

Victory




Saturday, February 9, 2008

Site Visit by Councillors




On Tuesday 29th January Councillors on the Planning Committee visited Bentons Farm for a site visit. They were able to see the great changes made to the site. Over 100 residents stood on the pavement opposite Bentons in a silent protest and to register their opposition to the planning application.

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Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Planning Committee next Thursday 14 Feb

The Planning Committee will meet again on Thursday 14th February to make a decision regarding the planning application for change of use of the outbuildings at Bentons Farm.
At the previous planning meeting one of the councillors commented on the large number of people in the public gallery.

Thursday 14th February 2008 at 7.00pm, at Civic Offices, New Road, Grays.

Please come along and support us.

Draft Minutes new link:
http://democracy.thurrock.gov.uk/CMISWebPublic/Binary.ashx?Document=10765

Bentons Farm from the east before August 2007


Saturday, February 2, 2008

QUIZ NIGHT


QUIZ NIGHT

Saturday 1st March 2008

7.30pm

Brandon Groves Community Club

Teams of 8

£3 per person

Bar/Raffle/Fun Night

Ring 0800 083 2596 TO BOOK TICKETS



If you can’t make a table of 8 let us know we’ll make up the team.

OCRAG Freephone number 0800 083 2596

Please note the new Freephone number for OCRAG
Ockendon Concerned Residents’ Action Group

0800 083 2596
www.ocrag.blogspot.com

Friday, February 1, 2008

Saturday, January 26, 2008

EMERGENCY MEETING

OCRAG
EMERGENCY MEETING
Bentons’ Farm
Planning Application No. 07/1309/FUL


Wednesday 23rd January
Brandon Groves Hall – 8pm

As you know a Planning Application has been submitted for change of use of the barns at Bentons’ Farm. If permission is granted it means that T&S Multiservices will be able to operate their business as they wish and residents will have no opportunity to appeal.

So far more than 800+ letters of objection have been received by the Council but Thurrock Council Planning Department have recommended this for approval.

The document recommending approval is full of inaccuracies and was written 15 days before vital information was submitted by our lawyers and before most of the objection letters were received.

This has been called to Planning Committee to be heard on Thursday 24th January. We were not aware that this was to be heard so soon.

This emergency meeting has been arranged at short notice to enable us to meet at the above venue to discuss what action we can take.

Bentons Farm After August 2007

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Bentons Farm Early Morning 6.30am

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Bentons Farm After August 2007 New Gates

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Bentons Farm November 2007

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Demolition Van Early Morning

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Bentons Farm Recent Photo

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Bentons Farm Large Lorry After August 2007




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