Anstey Residents Group Have Your Say

There's nothing better than a good debate, so feel free to air your views by posting a comment. (ARG is not responsible for the views expressed on this page. In addition, the Committee would like to remind our 'posters' that they should attempt to be moderate in their language and avoid any comments that might be construed as being offensive.)

No.	Date Posted	Posted By	Comment
1029	Fri 23 Dec 2011, 00:05	Bill	Coincidentally, the Prestbury covenant was attached to the land in the 1930s, which is the same decade as the covenant on the Bass sports ground. The developers would have obtained planning permission in normal course, because covenants are legally not "material considerations" when planning applications are being processed. Any battle over a covenant then comes later, being ruled on by a Land Tribunal. In the Prestbury case it was somewhat foolish of the developer to start building before the covenant issue had been decided - they were probably betting that no one would take issue over it. Here, if MC adopt ARG's Covenant Solution, then the issue will not arise.
1028	Thu 22 Dec 2011, 19:22	Hazel	An interesting piece in today's Telegraph where TaylorWimpey had to take down houses and garages in Prestbury, Glos. 'The decision was a triumph for residents who had compaigned to stop the homes from being built on land protected by a historic covenant.' Perhaps the covenant is worth more thn the paper it is written on!
1027	Mon 19 Dec 2011, 14:45	Bill	Well, it's all very quiet, isn't it? I wonder what is going on behind the scenes. My guess is that Molson Coors, along with any other developers, are waiting for the National Planning Policy Framework document to be taken forward into law (sometime in 2012?). If, by all accounts, it is going to make building developments so much easier to achieve, then there is not much point in them doing anything beforehand. So, as we wait, may I take the opportunity to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
1026	Sun 6 Nov 2011, 08:52	ARG	Peter, there are presently no discussions taking place with Molson Coors.
1025	Sat 5 Nov 2011, 18:14	John	Peter; see comment 992, this is a long standing issue brought to the attention of ARG that a lot of people both belonging to different community groups and also non-affiliated have invested a lot of time and effort; please do not belittle this initiative to try and make our environment an even nicer place to be!
1024	Sat 5 Nov 2011, 17:17	Peter	Oh that is so clever - I've heard of a smoke screen but not a s--t screen! The Alton Society newlsetter says you are having 'discussions' again with Coors. Don't you think you owe your supporters an explanataion?
1023	Fri 4 Nov 2011, 18:31	ARG	Check out ARG's new Anstey Park initiative on the News tab.
1022	Thu 20 Oct 2011, 13:44	ARG	It is with great regret that we've learnt of the recent death of ex town councillor Robyn Fitzer. Cllr Fitzer served on the town council from 2003 to 2011 and was mayor in 2007/2008.
1021	Sun 16 Oct 2011, 11:44	AnnB	It would seem that HRH Prince William is in full support of protecting playing fields and is heading up a campaign to maintain these valuable open spaces.
1020	Fri 7 Oct 2011, 08:08	Jim	From the little I have read about the localism bill, it seems to me that it will be ideal for someone like Coors, indeed perhaps the sharp suited Coors guys are hanging around waiting for it to come into force. Apparently the planning process will swing in favour of the applicant as long as the benefits obtained from granting the planning application are kept by the local community rather than given to central government. So that lovely income from extra council taxes on the new houses that will be built, the 'investment' in local sports facilities, etc. will all become strong arguments for voting in favour next time.
1019	Thu 6 Oct 2011, 19:30	Tony	Time to sweep away the cobwebs from the previous posting...! The quoted draft NPPF has some serious contradictions. Whilst many are pinning their hopes that the 'localism' part of the government's planning reform will take care of future 'planning raids' by Molson Coors, we cannot be entirely sure as the other more controversial part of the reforming bill seems to be directly at odds with the protection that it might afford. That the government is now prepared to compound a misjudgement of presentation with another is a cause for concern. Alton, because of its location on the edge of a National Park, is particularly vulnerable to excessive and inappropriate development. I would hope and expect that our local representatives are vocal and pro-active in defending us from the excessive attentions of predatory developers.
1018	Thu 8 Sep 2011, 18:11	Bill	Rachel - The draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was issued in July for a consultation period due to end some time in October. It will then be introduced as a bill in Parliament in the Autumn. So in theory it is not yet in force, but there have been several claims in the media that the Planning Inspectorate(PI) have been instructed to take the NPPF for action now. With respect to the recent Hub appeal, both parties were invited by the PI to submit their views as to how the NPPF affected their respective cases. Then in his judgement at Para 33 the Inspector stated "The comments made on the draft NPPF recently published for consultation, have been considered. I have accorded the comments and the policies little weight since the NPPF is in draft form and therefore subject to change." Well said the Inspector!
1017	Thu 8 Sep 2011, 13:37	Rachel	Does anyone know when the new planning regulations come into effect? See reference 1 and reference 2.
1016	Fri 2 Sep 2011, 14:44	Ann	Anon, I am not sure I understand your comment -who are you referring to? If it is the letters page of AH only one of them came from ARG.
1015	Fri 2 Sep 2011, 14:24	Anon	Doesn't take much to wind you lot up does it!!
1014	Fri 2 Sep 2011, 12:09	Ann	Interesting to see the number of responses to the letter from Councillor Smith, in this week's Alton Herald.
1013	Sun 28 Aug 2011, 09:00	Patrick	My boots fit just fine. What's Cllr Smith on about?
1012	Fri 26 Aug 2011, 16:37	ARG	Following the dismissal of Molson Coors appeal, ARG would like to thank and acknowledge all the people who have supported us over the years and months of fighting the threat to Anstey Park. Particular thanks are due to those stalwarts who have been persistent in writing to councillors, planning authorities and more recently, the Planning Inspectorate. The importance of these representations from the public are incalculable as evidenced by the Inspector's references to the number of objections to various aspects of Molson Coors proposals. I'm sure that without such a spirited response from the Alton public [...and beyond], we might be looking at a different result. It remains to be seen what Molson Coors reaction will be but let's hope that they will be magnanimous in defeat and abandon their plans for Anstey Park and their Anstey Road sports ground. A bit of harmony would be welcome after the last few years of strife...!
1011	Fri 26 Aug 2011, 15:24	Jim	If Coors has an ounce of decency in them they will honour the covenant, and leave the football ground for use as a sporting facility.
1010	Fri 26 Aug 2011, 14:07	Peter	Don't hold your breath Ann, do you really think its over?? Think you should put celebrations on hold until you see what MC do with their sports ground!