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PUTNEY'S
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT TONY COLMAN
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For
many residents
of Thamesfield,
planning has
been the most
contentious issue
for some time.
Following hot
on the heels
of the Putney
Garden Centre
debacle has come
a development
near Putney Common.
After
many letters
of objection
from residents
whose houses
backed on to
the proposed
development,
and some intense
lobbying, the
Committee decided
late last week
to postpone a
decision on the
application so
that further
views could be
taken into account.
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The
residents, apart from having serious objections on many grounds
to the specific development, and concerns about previous applications
on the site, complained to me about the consultation process
for local residents. They had been told different things by
different people, and felt excluded from, not included in
the consultation.
London
is such a built-up city that we all feel rather hemmed in.
But everyone has a right to object to proposed building developments
that are unneighbourly. The planning consultation system is
a way of making your views known on the built environment
of your own neighbourhood and contested planning applications
are a sign of a vibrant local community. The problem is of
course that a local planning authority can ride roughshod
over the clearly expressed wishes of the local community,
as Wandsworth did in the case of Putney Garden Centre. When
a Council becomes so over-weeningly arrogant, the only remedy
for residents lies in the ballot box.
For
information - The planning system is under review at present
and a consultation paper has been issued which proposes some
major changes. To have a look, or submit some comments, log
on to http://www.planning.dtlr.gov.uk/
and follow the links.
Two weeks ago I referred to Wandsworth Council's Freedom Pass
Scheme and the unfairness of taking these passes from residents
who had previously been entitled to them. As it happens, I
have been approached again this week by a constituent whose
pass was taken away from him two years ago. After my intervention
then, his pass was restored. Now, two years later, he has
had his freedom pass taken away from him again. This man suffers
from degenerative illnesses that impair his mobility. He is
in his sixties. If he was considered disabled enough to qualify
for a pass two years ago it beggars belief that he is now
fit enough to do without. For this constituent, Cllr Lister's
"brighter borough" has a very dark side indeed.
Please
contact me for any further information about local government
finance or any other issues. If
you want to write to me, please e-mail colmant@parliament.uk,
or Tony Colman MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. I have
a small website hosted by www.epolitix.com
- if you log on, click on 'webminster', and then search for
Putney.
To
check if I am your MP, please
log on to www.locata.co.uk/commons
and enter your full postcode.
I
am setting up a website at the
moment, and will publicise it
as widely as possible in the
next few months. I am actively
looking for a company to help
me set it up, host, maintain
and update it, so if you know
of someone, please do let me
know.
Tony
Colman MP
colmant@parliament.uk
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First
Putneysw15.com Diary Entry 8.11.2001
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