“Strange how the initial round of tree-cutting happened on Easter Sunday and Monday - just when no-one can be contacted at the Council to take any action.
Landscaping the area won't replace the screening afforded by the mature trees and bushes that have been ripped out, unless the developer/owner is forced to plant something similar (at huge cost), and I'm sure our lovely council wouldn't insist on that.
As far as I know, the only Planning Notice that appeared only detailed an extension to the buildings, with nothing about a huge expansion of the car park, and associated destruction.
It will be interesting to see just what the Council does do about this. Perhaps if it is kept sufficiently high profile they will have to be seen to be taking action!”

“I've had this from the council:

It doesn't really help the matter and I'm still waiting for an Enforcement Officer to get back to me....

{=====================================}

Dear

I refer to the on-line complaint form which you filled in on the Council's website on the 20th April. I have been asked to respond to it.

I understand your concerns about the use of Site Notices to publicise planning applications. However you will appreciate that every form of publicity has its own shortcomings and advantages - for example a letter sent to nearest neighbours fails to bring notice of the proposal to those who may pass the site. Similarly a notice with a newspaper can be missed. The Council has in the past considered whether or not to do more than is required of it by the law and decided that it was generally inappropriate to do so, would raise inevitably raise issues of inconsistency, and it also took into account the resource implications of doing so. The law in question is to be found in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2010. Since the policy was last reviewed we have developed our website, and as I explained to you, it is possible for you to set up on the Council's website (within the "track an application" section of the Planning part of the website) a "saved search" which provides you with an email alert whenever an application is received in an area which you can define yourself. We also distribute lists of applications received which are sent to the press and borough councillors, as well as being displayed in libraries and on public notice boards. We welcome comments on planning applications.

With respect to the use of a Site Notice in this case I again confirm, as I indicated to you on the telephone last week, that the display of a site notice by the Local Planning Authority to publicise the planning application complied with the requirements of the law and with the Council's own policy

The Council's Complaints Policy expressly indicates that the formal complaints procedure excludes complaints about a rule of law which the Council is applying and for this reason the Council's Customer Relations Officer has advised me that your submission is not being treated as a formal complaint under the Policy. Nevertheless I hope that this email helps you understand why a Site Notice for publicity was used in this case.

{=======================================}”

“More political BS - I had forgotten that Newcastle-under-Lyme was no longer a part of Europe.... silly me....

{==============================================================}

Many thanks for your email regarding your concerns about Hillport House.

After reading through the letter I felt that this was more a local authority
issue rather than an EU one.

Therefore, I have passed on your concerns to your local councillors.

Very best wishes,

Rebecca Harding
UK Assistant to Malcolm Harbour MEP

{==============================================================}”

“You could try Paul Farrelly. He will actually get involved with local issues.”

“Hi LDRick,

I've had a reply from Paul's office who suggested, surprise surprise, that I consult the local council :(

Cheers!

SS.”

“Also, work has recommenced and the site has almost been entirely levelled.

I've given it my best shot but the developers have won sadly.”

“I noticed they were carrying on this a.m. :-( PF is usually more co-operative than that - oh well......
Looks like a delightful 50s/60s monstrosity will be the view for the foreseeable future, until they install some screening, if they install some screening :-(((”

“Apparently, because of the publicity surrounding this they have to submit another application to outline how they're going to landscape the area.

If you'd like to see this it SHOULD appear somewhere amongst this list: http://tinyurl.com/6rwx4ab

Florence house have submitted an application for 15 car park spaces but a rep from Florence House told us on the phone that they required 45 spaces! So, again something peculiar is going on!”

“I doubt the customers will all have cars. And I would be surprised if they had that many staff on. They didn't when it was Council run. There's a bus stop right outside as well.
Sounds rather dodgy, as usual.

I'll keep an eye on the planning apps to see what they come up with next.”