Roads , Terracing, Car Parking and installation of caravans
Thursday 03/04/2014
RE: Rocklands New development
Dear Clive
I wonder if you have visited the site and seen the consequences of your planning decision and its implementation?
I urge you to visit so that you can see the level of destruction wreaked upon our once beautiful country park.
I would also ask my elected representatives to visit these sites to see for themselves the scale of the damage.
Vantage Point 1: East Hill starting at St Georges Churchyard
Look east and see the dominance of the large 2 story building which is not shielded at all by any trees and bushes - they have all been removed during development.
This contrasts with the previous structure which was well shielded and hidden.
Vantage Point 2: East Hill Next to the development
Trees and bushes removed. View is blocked by large 2 story building which mars the view over Ecclesbourne Glen.
Vantage Point 3 Other side of Ecclesbourne Glen on cliff tops
Look west and see the full consequences of development at Rocklands. Vast number of trees and bushes removed. Large parking areas and roads built.
What was a well shielded caravan park is now fully open and dominates the landscape. There are new lines of caravans in serried ranks running down the hill line.
There has been a large landslip at the bottom of the new concrete access road which has blocked all access to the glen from the east hill.
Could the landslip have been caused by these new developments? Do you actually care?
Can you please confirm that you visited the site and seen these new vistas. If you wish I can send you photos of what has happened.
I urge you to investigate the removal of trees and cover. Our country park is close to being destroyed and yet you seem unable or unwilling to do anything to protect it.
Thjs matter is far from closed and I will continue to do all in my powers to ensure that this wanton destruction is reversed.
Regards
Chris Hurrell
Monday 07/04/2014
RE: Rocklands New development
Good Afternoon Mr Hurrell,
I have now visited the site on 3 occasions, most recently on Friday. I am not awareof any trees having been removed to accommodate the new development.I did note that a number of trees, some distance away from the new build, had been felled by the landslip.
Ihave not found evidence of parking areas or roads being constructed without planning permission. However, I did note that six caravans have been placed in an area which is restricted by a condition on a previous planning permission, and I have advised the site owners that this needs to be addressed. I will continue to monitor the situation regarding these caravans.
In regard to the landslip, the Council has received numerous enquires regarding this,and the statement is on our website at https://www.hastings.gov.uk/community_living/places_spaces_facilities/allotments_parks_beaches/countryside/hcp_nature/#ecclesbourne.
Also, please send any comments orqueries to:
http://webforms.hastings.gov.uk/af/an/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=bpZKSaXNCRg&email=
If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Regards
Clive
Monday 07/04/2014
RE: Rocklands New development
Thanks Clive
Could you please be so kind as to let me know the planning permission references for the following:
1 The planning permissions for the construction of the new car park and the new access roads
2. The planning permission which includes the condition imposed on the 6 caravans.
I have been using the public access system
There are online records on Rocklands going back to the late 1950s but I have been unable to find any references to either of these.
Thanks in advance
Chris Hurrell
Tuesday 08/04/2014
RE: Rocklands New development
Good Morning Mr Hurrell,
Please can you let me know which car park and access road you are referring to? The roads and parking areas I have seen on site seem consistent with plans from the 1970's.
The planning permission I am referring to is HS/FA/78/708 - Siting of ten additional caravans. This consentalso refers to a amenity area and includes a condition (number 7) which prohibits the use of this area for the stationing of caravans. It's seems to me thatsix caravans have been placed in this area.
Regards
Clive
Tuesday 08/04/2014
RE: Rocklands New development - Car Park and access road
Dear Clive
The car park I am referring to is a roughly triangular area which lies to the south of the 10 caravans and the south west of the 6 new caravans.
This car park became visible from the other side of Ecclesbourne Glen about 5 years ago. Prior to that it was not visible.
The roads I refer to are the one that connects this car park to the rest of the site and the road that extends eastwards from this car park.
I can find no references in any planning permissions for the development of this car park area and the roads.
I have aerial photos that show that the size of this car park (and probably its surfacing) has changed since 2004.
If you follow the link http://www.ukaerialphotos.com/viewer.asp?x=583583&y=110303
You will see an aerial photo from 2013 and an aerial photo from 2004 and 1999.
In the 2013 photo the area of car parking is greater and is tarmacced.
The 6 caravans have been installed, many trees lopped and a large area cleared in front of the caravans.
What appears to be a road has been extended eastwards.
In the 2004 photo the area of the car park is smaller and it does not appear to be tarmacced.
The six caravans have not been installed. The tree shielding is still in place. Some preliminary clearing of trees has begun.
In the 1999 photo everything is intact. No trees have been removed and no landscaping changed.
I have a range of aerial photographs dating back over the years which show the changes at the site. I will be happy to send you these if it helps clarify the issue.
Regards
Chris Hurrell
Tuesday 08/04/2014
RE: Rocklands New development - Possible breaches of HS/FA/78/708
Dear Clive
I have had a look at HS/FA/78/708. My understanding is that the planning permission allowed the siting of 10 caravans in a row (which is directly above and in parallel with the new 6 caravans).
I assume that the amenity area referred to is the strip down hill in front of the 10 caravans (now occupied by the 6 caravans).
There are no references to building of road and car parking in this permission.
I believe that the following conditions have been breached in HS/FA/78/708:
4. No trees on the site shall be lopped or felled without the prior written consent of the District Planning Authority(DPA)
7. The play and amenity are referred to in condition 3 will not be used at any time for the stationing of caravans or cars or the pitching of tents.
8. Within 2 months of the date of grant of planning permission a scheme of landscaping and tree planting for the site shall be submitted (or the approval of the DPA and any such
Scheme as may be approved by the DPA shall be implemented within 6 months of such grant or such further amended periods as may subsequently be agreed in writing by the DPA and thereafter maintained.
9 The landscaped areas and the ancient monument shall not be used for the stationing of caravans or cars or pitching of tents.
My reasons are as follows:
4. Many trees have been lopped and felled in this area.
7. There are 6 new caravans on the amenity area.
8. Landscaping has been changed , land has been terraced , trees felled. There has been no maintenance of landscaping and tree planting.
9. Landscaped areas are now used as a car park. This car park is at the end of the road roughly dues south of the 10 caravans.
I have a range of aerial photographs dating back over the years which show the changes at the site. I will be happy to send you these if it helps clarify the issue.
I will respond in due course to your questions about roads and car parking.
Regards
Chris Hurrell
Wednesday 16/04/2014
Breaches of HS/FA/78/708 - Rocklands Caravan Site
Dear Clive
I have had a look at HS/FA/78/708. My understanding is that planning permission HS/FA/78/708 allowed the installation of 10 caravans in a row (which is directly above and in parallel with the new 6 to 8 caravans).
I assume that the amenity area referred to is the strip down hill in front of the 10 caravans (now occupied by the new 6-8 caravans).
I believe that the following conditions have been breached in HS/FA/78/708:
4. No trees on the site shall be lopped or felled without the prior written consent of the District Planning Authority(DPA)
7. The play and amenity are referred to in condition 3 will not be used at any time for the stationing of caravans or cars or the pitching of tents.
8. Within 2 months of the date of grant of planning permission a scheme of landscaping and tree planting for the site shall be submitted (or the approval of the DPA and any such
Scheme as may be approved by the DPA shall be implemented within 6 months of such grant or such further amended periods as may subsequently be agreed in writing by the DPA and thereafter maintained.
9 The landscaped areas and the ancient monument shall not be used for the stationing of caravans or cars or pitching of tents.
My reasons are as follows:
4. Many trees have been lopped and felled in this area.
7. There are 6-8 new caravans on the amenity area.
8. Landscaping has been changed , land has been terraced , trees felled. There has been no maintenance of landscaping and tree planting, in fact most of the trees and hedges have been removed.
9. Landscaped areas are now used as a car park. This car park is at the end of the road roughly dues south of the 10 caravans.
Can you please provide me with answers to the following questions:
· Which of the these planning constraints do you believe have not been broken?
· The reasons why you consider these constraints not to have been broken.
· Which of these planning constraints do you believe have been broken?
· The reasons why you consider these constraints to have been broken.
· What actions are to be taken concerning the broken constraints.
· The reasons why you have chosen a particular course of action (breach of condition notice, enforcement or a retrospective application for planning permission)
Thanks in advance
Regards
Chris Hurrell
Tues 22/04/2014
Rocklands Caravan Park - Building of roads, terracing , extension of car parking and installation of caravans
Dear Clive
As you know I and many others believe that changes have been made to the roads, car parking and landscaping on the Rocklands Caravan site and no planning permission was sought for any of them. I asked you to investigate these changes by email a few weeks ago.
During my on-site meeting on Tuesday 15/04/2014 with yourself, Andrew Blackman of the Friends of the Country Park and Tim Cross of the High Wickham Residents association you again stated that you did not believe any changes had been made to the car park, roads and landscaping within the park and that the roads and car park were all laid out during the second world war and that no changes had been made since the early 1970's.
We then agreed that I would send you a document demonstrating that changes have been made in the recent past, and the attached document shows the changes made to the roads, car parking and landscaping of the Rocklands Caravan site from 1999 to 2014.
The attached document has images in low resolution, if you require higher resolution I can provide.
I would be grateful if you could review it and let me know whether we can now reach an agreement on the following points: that –
1. The car park has been extended in size.
2. The linking road eastwards has been doubled in width and extended in length.
3. Large areas have been terraced for the placement of caravans.
4. An access road has been built below the terracing to give access to the new caravans.
5. Large numbers of trees and bushes have been removed.
Assuming that we now agree on some or all of the above points could you please inform me of the following: which of these changes:
6. you believe required planning permissions.
7. breached conditions of previous planning permissions.
8. you believe did not require planning permissions and state your reasons.
9. you believe did not breach conditions of previous planning permissions and state your reasons.
10. And would you also let me know what course of action will be taken by planning enforcement.
I am aware that several members of the public and Amber Rudd MP have reported/queried these developments at Rocklands to the planning department.
Please could you provide me with the following information:
11. When was your department first made aware of the changes at Rocklands (including tree removal)?
12. Was your department kept informed of the changes at Rocklands by the Country Park Management Team/Rangers?