TATE Action Group Meeting 25th October 2017

Present: Peter (Chair), Nicola (secretary), John R, Bern, Shirl, Keith, Nick, Graham

Agenda

  1. Previous meeting
  2. Matters arising
  3. Meeting 24th October with CPO
  4. Conference telecom with QC, Stuart etc
  5. Preparation of guidance for our supporters on ES addendum
  6. Position on Neighbourhood Plan referendum. Do we encourage supporters to vote?

Minutes

Item 1 Previous meeting

There were no outstanding actions from the previous minutes

Item 2 Matters arising:

Regarding the ESI report Peter had previously phoned Andrew to ask him to look again at his conclusions as Rockspring had now completely changed their approach to dealing with contamination. Peter had heard nothing but it was agreed that he would try to contact Andrew again to request either an update to the report or a refund (Action PL).

Item 3Meeting 24th October with CPO

Peter reported on the meeting he had had with Tim Hill. Peter discussed the Environmental Statement (ES) addendum that had just been submitted by Pegasus for consultation. Although Julia Reynolds still has a number of conditions with regard to dealing with contamination TAG say this is still not a proper approach. It potentially exposes LCC to risk as they could be deemed complicit if the current proposed approach to dealing with contamination proves inadequate (and/or dangerous). BAE specify that multiple lines of evidence are required but there are only 2 photographs of TATE from 1946 and 1967. Peter thinks that in light of the new ES LCC could alter their approach to dealing with contamination and will email Andrew to suggest it (Action PL).

The TAG meeting discussed what conditions might be imposed around contamination and phasing if the appeal were allowed. Nick says the Inspector would formulate conditions and TAG should be asked to contribute.

Peter had also raised the counting of Help to Buy in affordable housing with the CPO and the fact that this has now been disallowed.

Item 4Conference telecom with QC, Stuart etc

Peter had discussed the guidance to supporters on the ES addendum that TAG were preparing and will send this to the legal team for approval. The asbestos related death was discussed. Additionally BAE say that the confidence scrape needs to be to the WWII level but this will come with its own problems. The “acoustic bunds” are actually confidence scrape mounds which BAE guidance says should be in a country park setting where there is minimal chance of disturbance. Stuart had said he wanted Peter Village to be present for the last inquiry week. Peter (L) wants to do the closing speech and the TAG meeting agreed they could not think of anyone better to do it. Nick said to make sure the inspector had a copy of his statement.

Item 5 Preparation of guidance for our supporters on ES addendum

This was discussed and updated with reference to:

  • Changes to parking proposed by John Booth
  • Impact on air quality of traffic lights
  • Contamination – reference to heavy metals and explosives.

Peter will issue this once the legal team have reviewed it along with guidance of how supporters should submit comments (Action PL).

Nick said there ought to be a legal view on the ES addendum as these should only be issued for minor changes and so may not be allowed.The Inspector will need to make a decision on it. Peter will ask Andrew Crates about the legality (Action PL).

Peter had listed extra contamination issues to bring up with the legal team(Action PL):

  • Information on legal claim re asbestos health death.
  • Use of quarry/borrow pit for asbestos? Refer to aerial photos and Mr Swallow’s use of them. Trial pits in that area.
  • How to clear overburden to reveal top of WWll ground level? Particularly difficult in Group 1 area.
  • In summary of test holes 56% of samples contained asbestos fibres.
  • Trial pits in quarry/borrow-pit? No mention from Mrs Gill, but results in ES addendum.
  • Extra burning grounds? Chorley has three.
  • Contamination in non-ROF areas.
  • What did the ‘proving’ building in 11B do?

Shirl would review the EIA documentation (Action SD).

Graham and Peter had spoken to Richard Brace who used to play on TATE with Richard Moore (George Moore’s son) in the 60s. He spoke of tunnels with buried vehicles and was also aware of the asbestos stripping which was loaded onto trucks but may not have been taken off site. Richard would hopefully make a statement to the inquiry.

Peter discussed the possibility of finding other asbestos related deaths but Nick felt this might be discounted as it was historic.

There was also a discussion of why BAE had written to Rod Morley (Rockspring) on 6th July 17 and how this tied in with Patricia Gill saying she had requested their input.

Item 6 Position on Neighbourhood Plan referendum

It was agreed that TAG would put out an email to supporters encouraging them to vote in the referendum on 7th December. Nick suggested that it could also be advertised on the local online community “NextDoor”. Nicola would send John an invite so he could post something on behalf of the PC (Action NM).

Additional Discussion

Graham raised the addition of 17 further documents on LCC planning portal and the possibly inconsistencies between these and older documents. Peter would ask Andrew what we should do with these, what are they for, what weight do we give these and can we comment on them? (Action PL).