Newsletters

1 November 2007 - Status of planning applications (pdf 24Kb)

1 Recent Applications:
Brewery:
The retrospective Application (number 071084) for use of one of the buildings on the site as a brewery has been given temporary approval until October 31st 2010. This is hardly surprising in view of the established light industrial units on the site. The fact that the building had been in use as a brewery for over a year without Planning Permission was not considered to be a reason in itself to withhold planning permission.

It is interesting to note that the Colchester Borough Council has said that “temporary use hereby permitted is not appropriate for a permanent permission because of the location of the site within the countryside and on the edge of the Dedham Vale AONB”.

There is a restriction that no retail sales shall be carried out from the unit at any time. The reason given is “to protect the amenities of the surrounding area and to comply with the Council’s retail policies”. (This must surely mitigate against approval of any retail element associated with a future Horkesley Park Application).

Mobile homes for Permanent Accommodation:
Application number 071086 was registered on August 2007 for permission to use three mobile homes on the site for the permanent accommodation of agricultural/estate workers. As we said in our last letter, we have written to the Colchester Borough Council objecting strongly to this proposal on the basis that the Site is not designated for residential use of any kind in the Colchester Borough Plan and that to grant permission would create a very dangerous precedent. We have made the point that Buntings have other properties adjacent to the site which could be used for accommodation of staff if they so wished. This Application has yet to come before the Planning Committee and no date has been set.

2 Status on Horkesley Park proposal:

We now understand that the major proposal for the Horkesley Park Heritage and Conservation Centre will not now be re-submitted before the New Year. We have no details of this at present but indications are that Buntings are still talking of 500,000 visitors a year and a £20m investment. It is not clear why the major publicity campaign launched by Buntings last Spring and Summer has not so far resulted in an Application this year.

The only certainty is that we will be ready for the new Application when it comes and will keep you fully informed.

Once again, I hope this brings you up to date with recent activities. As we approach the seventh anniversary of the first Application for the John Constable Countryside and Heritage Centre, our resolve to prevent any inappropriate exploitation of the London Road site is as strong and steadfast as ever.

Thank you for your continued support.

23 September 2007 - Buntings recent applications (pdf 31Kb)
Buntings have submitted retrospective Planning Applications for two of their activities on the London Road site that have been on-going for some time; Mobile homes for Permanent Accommodation and Pitfield micro-brewery.
Buntings lost their appeal against a decision by the Babergh District Council in July 2006 requiring them to remove lighting from the Anchor Inn. In their appeal Buntings indicated that they needed the lighting to attract passing trade. Would the same apply to Horkesley Park?

20 April 2007– Buntings announce a series of ‘consultation’ events (pdf 25Kb)
Rosenthal Lecture: In association with the Nayland and Wiston Conservation Society, we are holding a lecture in Nayland Village Hall on Thursday,May 17th at 7.30pm entitled: "Who owns Constable's Country". After six years of existence, this will be our first fundraising event.
e-mail: We are trying to build up our e-mail data base for speed and cost of communication. Please send your e-mail to info@stourvalleyactiongroup.org.uk and we will add you to our list.
Widen the message: Please let your friends and acquaintances see this letter and encourage them to join us. This letter and all our information and how to join is on our web site at www.stourvalleyactiongroup.org.uk.

24 February 2007– Buntings will re-submit again (pdf 28Kb)
Buntings have told us that they are nearly ready to re-submit their planning application for the Horkesley Park Heritage and Conservation Centre. SVAG now has in place village co-ordinators throughout the Stour valley who will be distributing leaflets and posters and we would ask you to help in distributing and displaying these resources.

October 2006 – Latest situation (pdf 10Kb)
A meeting of SVAG members was held in Great Horkesley Village Hall on September 19th 2006 attended by over 120 people from all surrounding villages. Strong opposition for the plans continues to be expressed from a very wide cross-section of the community.

10 April 2006 – Buntings withdraw again (pdf 38Kb)
Bunting’s Application withdrawn on the basis that ‘they want to do further work’. Any re-submitted Application will be treated as a new Application and will therefore be subject to the same consultation process as the September 2005 Application and under a new number.
This includes Highlights of the 2005/6 SVAG campaign. This is a thorough summary of the previous campaign and we encourage you to look at the full text.