You may all know that on 14th May 2015, Kingston Town Planning Sub Committee met for the first time to review St George’s Application and to hear residents’ objections. A small group of residents presented KRA’s case. Subsequently St George’s were given time to respond to some of our concerns and disputed our objections.You can see below the Planning Officer’s report and a sound recording of the entire event here (starts from 1:26:26)...
Despite our very respectable presentation, backed by the signatures of hundreds of objections and with many written concerns from the Residents, it was a very disappointing evening. For one reason or another some Councillors at the Committee were almost too eager to voice their support for the development - albeit with some reservations. It is telling that none of the Councillors asked any policy questions to Developers. The 7 or so staff from St George’s sat there all night watching us in a rather bored fashion, with absolutely zero scrutiny from the Panel.
So it is really up to us to make our concerns heard. Here is what we suggest
WE ALL can do. If you think something else needs to be done,
please go ahead and just do it:
1. Kingston Council is still accepting comments and queries. Please write to: [email protected]. Also If you have collected any signatures and not handed them back, please respond to us with your total numbers asap to our email address.
2. Write or talk to MP James Berry and Ward Councillors. Ask them why St George’s is not getting the detailed scrutiny that we residents all suffer when we apply for planning permission. You can find out more about the policy concerns on this page: http://kingstonskyline.weebly.com/response-letter-summary.html
3. Come and talk to the Council Panel on 2nd June 2015. We need individual residents to give their objections. You can say whatever you want to say or we can draft it together. Please email us if you would like to volunteer on that night.
4. If you can advise or steer us in Legal/Planning/Financial capacity, please let us know asap.
5. Save the dates below and turn up with a neighbour to the Guildhall at 7.30pm on:
2nd June - 15mins presentation by the Developer and response from residents
23rd June - Decision Day.