EmailMe Form - Allington's Bluebell Woods Phase 4 access refused

Re: APPLICATION NO: 18/501745/REM – PHASE 4 - The decision of refusal taken at the Planning Committee on 8 November 2018 was the correct one. At this meeting the legal officer advised members that they could refuse this application on the grounds of harm - surely there is no greater harm than the total destruction and dissection of this ancient woodland.  He also said the members must consider layout and not access – and should refer to this access as a ‘route’.  In the residents of Allington’s view you cannot consider layout without including the access.   It is fundamental to the viability of Phase 4 – DO NOT be intimidated on the play on words and consider what is right in accordance with the revised regulations from the NPPF. It is a simple fact that ANY route through this woodland is contrary to the revised NPPF and if it transpires that this case goes to appeal be assured that your refusal decision is robust and fully compliant with the NPPF and can be sustained.  The National Planning Policy Framework was revised during 2018 since the secretary of state approved this site for development and this irreplaceable ancient woodland and veteran trees is now protected by the Revised NPPF paragraph 175C.  The result is we now find ourselves with a situation where the revised Framework clearly states this ancient woodland should be SAVED but the planners are endeavouring to persuade members to reverse their ‘refusal’ decision because the planners are adamant that MBC would incur heavy legal costs if it went to appeal.  This was a democratic vote taken after a full discussion of the facts, the NPPF now protects ancient woodlands and INSTRUCTS local planning authorities in paragraph 175c if there is loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats the application should be refused unless there are ‘wholly exceptional’ reasons. Are there any ‘wholly exceptional reasons?’ An access road across the middle of this ancient woodland will cause untold destruction of ancient/veteran trees, soils and irreplaceable habitats and is protected under the Revised NPPF.  We have not heard of any ‘wholly exceptional reasons’ that override this revision in the NPPF.  Five years ago when the outline planning application was submitted to MBC the regulations did not offer the same protection BUT in 2018 they do and therefore this vote to refuse the application should be confirmed.  This was a democratic decision taken at this planning meeting and it should remain. It is your duty to abide by the revised regulations of the NPPF, which is now in place to protect our woodlands from harm and our group appeal to you to once again REFUSE this application.  Thank you for your continued support of Allington, its community and the Bluebell Ancient Woodland.