Cople “Golf Course” News

Update - May 2011

From Dave Hodgson May 4th 2011

Dave Hodgson is the current Mayor of Bedford Borough

From: "The Mayor" TheMayor [at] bedford.gov.uk
Date: 4 May 2011 12:01:18 GMT+01:00
To: "Claire Boardman"
Subject: RE: Proposed Golf Course Actual Waste Management Site Cople
 
Dear Claire
 
Thank you for your emails. Having gathered further information about this, I must say I am not in the least bit surprised that local residents are extremely unhappy about the noise, disturbance and general disruption caused by this site. Having been dragging on since planning permission was originally granted back in 2000, clearly the priority must be for the tipping and landscaping works to be completed as soon as possible. While it is extremely unsatisfactory that the works continue, it would of course also be unsatisfactory if the site were abandoned in its current state, so what is important is the completion of the works and restoration of the land in the swiftest possible manner, with the least possible disruption to the local community. The works must not take a moment longer than is necessary. By that I mean it is essential that the conditions attached to the most recent planning permission are met, and that there is absolutely no slippage at all in the clear timetable set out.
 
As you will probably be aware, I am specifically precluded from any involvement in planning applications. However, with the determination having been made by the planning committee in November for the extension of the permission, I have been provided with details of the timetable of works set out in the conditions. That states clearly that importation of materials must cease by 30th September 2011. I am adamant that this deadline must be met, along with all of the other conditions set out. If re-elected I will make sure planning officers carry out their enforcement duties and do not allow disruption to continue for residents any longer than is clearly stated in the permissions granted to the developers.
 
I can understand your scepticism as to whether we shall ever see the golf course that has long been promised. I have checked the position on this matter, and should the owner decide that a golf course is not viable on the site, he still must to restore the land to the agreed profiles and does not have planning permission a) for any alternative use or b) for the importation of more waste material over the already approved amount. Again, it comes down to the absolute imperative that the land must be restored and landscaped as agreed as soon as possible.
 
Thank you again for contacting me about this matter. I look forward to working with you and other residents of Cople on this issue if I am re-elected.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Dave Hodgson
Mayor of Bedford Borough

Update - April 2011

Claire has taken this opportunity to raise the problems that Cople suffers with the nearby "golf course" construction with John Guthrie, the Conservative candidate, standing for election as Mayor of Bedford at the local elections which take place on May 5th 2011.

Claire sent John a copy of a detailed letter she had written in October 2010. This letter describes the history and the current problems endured with the golf course construction.

Hello John,
 
I met you at Judith Howard's last week and I mentioned the proposed golf course which directly affects my house and my quality of life. I have sent you the letter of objection that I wrote at the latest application stage, which gives an outline of the problems we have endured as a result of this site.
 
I think the village of Cople has been completely misled by the original application and we have had to endure considerable disruption. I certainly feel that Mr. Moore has been granted a license to make money at our expense. With the present economic situation, it seems unlikely that this site will ever be transformed into a golf couse. There is a surplus of golf facilities in the area already.
 
This leaves us all with concerns as to what this site will become in the future and as to how many more years of noise and disruption we are going to have to endure before the project is completed.
 
Yours Sincerely, Claire Boardman (Mrs)


 
After a follow up reminder John has replied to Claire's letter
 

From: "John Guthrie" john.guthrie10@btinternet.com
Date: 11 April 2011 14:46:59 GMT+01:00
To: "'Claire Boardman'"
Subject: RE: Cople Golf Couse/ Waste Management sitement
 
Dear Mrs Boardman,
 
Thank you very much for your note. Your letter, I can assure you, was placed in my 'To Do' list - I am quite meticulous in managing my workload. The list is quite long because there are many residents who do not feel that they have been treated properly or professionally by officials.
 
Your (excellently structured) letter was a devastatingly clear and detailed indictment on how the Council have failed in their duty to you and other residents.
 
At the moment, I am - like you - a member of the public and not in a position to do anything to sort out the appalling indifference that has been shown to you.
 
As I am standing for public office, it is quite right that you would wish to know my view in writing.
 
Were I to be elected Mayor next month, I would send your letter to the Chief Executive asking that he and the officer in charge of Planning meet with you - in Cople - as a matter of urgency. I would also be present. An agenda for the discussion would be agreed in advance. Every single issue of concern you have would be systematically analysed and a clear set of decisions reached.
 
As for enforcement, when we make a decision - it will be enforced. Otherwise there is no point in making a decision.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to do so - by email or on the telephone, 07976 960388.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
John Guthrie

2008

The rest of this page relates to articles written in 2008 or earlier

Golf digging As I understand the situation:

Planning permission was granted in 1999 to build an elevated golf course to the west of Cople. This planning application expires in October 2008.

The "elevated" work involves a large amount of importation for "land fill" and as a consequence the site has now been reclassified, or considered as, "waste management"

The operation has not endeared itself to many residents of Cople. There have been complaints of noise (including the beeping from reversing lorries and bulldozers) and dust. People have also raised concerns about what material is being dumped, what monitoring has or has not taken place, mud on the road, how the field will look after the work has been completed, the environmental impact and the water course.

The company has now applied for an extension of another three years to complete the original planning application.

A well-attended, open public-meeting was held in Cople Village Hall on October 23rd. where resident's voiced their concerns with Susan Gaszczak

The deadline for any objections or comments from the public was October 31st 2007.

The Bedfordshire Borough Council will consider this extension/change in January 2008.

Council Meeting 24th January 2008

The planning extension was considered by the council. Claire and Peter were allowed to address the committee for which we have a lot to thank them for their time and commitment. In summary the following decisions were taken

  • A two year extension (from October 2008) has been granted with conditions
  • The reversing "lorry beepers" are to be replaced with quiet "white noise" alarms
  • Work may only take place Monday to Friday 7.30am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm
  • The work is to be phased with landscaping after each phase
  • Noise, dust and mud-on-road to be controlled

The concerns of residents has been an important consideration. The council has agreed to monitor the site and ensure the conditions are met.

A full report of the meeting and all conditions can be found on the council web site [this link was for the old council and is now out of date].

If the above link fails you should be able to locate the report from this web site: [this link was for the old council and is now out of date] and clicking on the following links

  1. Council and democracy
  2. Committees and panels
  3. Calendar of meetings
  4. Select January 2008
  5. January 24th select the link: Development Control Committee 24/01
  6. Item number 6 regarding the Cople Golf Course

Three Counties Radio 13/11/07

Claire Boardman took part in a Three Counties local radio item about the Golf Course.

Claire informs me that further issues were raised including the removal of trees, barn-owl protection and person(s) living on site.

Claire's synopsis...

I was live on the Breakfast Show with Roberto Perrone and Katherine Boyle at 7.30 am on Tuesday 13th November 2007.

They asked me about the problems we face : noise, dust, mud on the road, early start times.

They asked me if it was irritating and said that it was a huge difference between a golf course on your doorstep and a waste dump.

They asked Mr. Moore if he still intended to build a golf course, he said "yes." They asked if I believed him. I said "no" as there was nothing to indicate that a golf course would be built.

A listener rang in to say that a similar case had happened near St. Albans. They feared it has now had contaminated waste dumped on it and he said it is a mess with no golf course ever being built.

They then interviewed Richard Watts, Deputy Director of the Environment at Beds County Council.

He was asked about the history of the site. He said that waste material had to be imported to create a golf course.

Katherine asked him if re-landscaping normally takes this long. He did not know why it was taking this long and stated that the company has asked to extend the life of the permission.

Mr. Watts said that the application goes to Committee on January 24th. He was asked to reassure the residents of Cople that there will be a golf course. He said that he couldn't pre- empt the decision of the Committee. He said that the County Council have to control the importation of the waste material but if the company decides not to go ahead with the commercial operation that is out of planning control. He has no idea whether the company will create a golf course.

Katherine asked him if this is a landfill site by stealth in that the residents of Cople were never given the option to object.

Roberto said that it was interesting that the company do not have to carry out the promise of a golf course as a condition. He then asked what protection do the people of Cople have. Mr. Watts replied that the local people have raised interesting points as to noise, dust, hours of operation and the behaviour of the company and this would all be considered at the committee meeting.

Katherine asked if the company was in the golf business. Mr. Watts replied they were G. Moore Haulage Ltd and Katherine replied, that doesn't sound very 'golfy' to me.

Roberto said that the company has applied for planning for a golf course but they don't actually have to deliver a golf course. Surely a flaw in the planning law. Mr. Watts said they would expect the developer to bring forward a golf course. The Council's job is to make sure a golf course is laid out.

Another listener rang in to say that a haulage company applying to make a golf course is clearly a wolf in sheep's clothing. He said that the Council should hang their heads in shame.

My thoughts are that at the moment there are no detailed golf course plans and that there doesn't seem to be a reference to the amount of waste [400,000 cubic metres] in the original planning application, only the new one. Surely one goes with the other and how can the Council therefore ensure the layout of a golf course.

Private Eye 9/11/07

The magazine Private Eye, issue 1197, page 12, Rotten Boroughs, reports on a number of "golf courses" that are being built or re-landscaped using a large quantity of landfill. Apparently classifying a site as "construction for recreational facilities" avoids landfill tax, profit £100 per load.

Update

Received from C Boardman, 06/11/2007

Clarification from David Peachey,Principal Enforcement Officer at the County Council.

On 29th October the County Council served a temporary stop notice and breach of condition notice on the operator, G. Moore Haulage Ltd.

The purpose of the temporary stop notice is to impose an immediate ban on any activity taking place, including use of the access by HGVs, before the permitted start time of 0730 hours. A site notice and a copy of the temporary stop notice are displayed at the entrance to the A603 in order to warn persons other than the operating company of the consequences of contravening the temporary stop notice. The temporary stop notice will expire after 28 days [ i.e. on 26th November ], to be superseded by the breach of condition notice which will take effect the same day. The breach of condition to 'bite' thereafter until such time as it is withdrawn or overridden by a grant of permission.

David Peachey asks that anyone observing or suspecting any further breaches to contact him on 01234 228728. He recently visited the site and found the dust emissions were found to be unacceptable so he is writing to the operator to warn him about that also.

The County Council are doing everything they can to enforce the original planning conditions set by the Borough Council but their hands are tied to those conditions.

We now wait until the new planning application goes to Committee probably in January.

 

Correspondence

From C Boardman, 02/10/2007

Subject: Golf Course planning application
 
I detail below some of the key points regarding the Golf Course development.
 
1) Cople residents, even those living close to the new Golf Course development, have not received any notification of any of the planning applications even though it is affecting them. I have only become aware of it because I have complained to the Borough Council about the noise and pollution, particularly during the Summer.
 
2) Planning application has been made for an extension of 3 years (ie 2011) to allow the owner to complete landfill works to raise the level of the site to 5 metres.
 
3) In order to do the landfill, they have asked to be allowed to continue to deliver waste materials from 7.30 am to 6.00pm for 6 days per week.
 
4) Our experience is that they are not adhering to these times and during the Summer have started as early as 6.00am causing a nuisance to those living around the site (Rye Crescent, Willington Road and Grange Lane) but being heard as far away as Woodlands. There are constant dust clouds again causing nuisance and pollution to Cople residents.
 
5) There seems to be no guarantee that we will end up with a golf course for which planning was approved in 1999 and all that is assured, if the application is approved, is that we will have 3 more years of disruption while the landfill is increased in height.
 
We need to act now as objections have to be in by 10 October 2007 [this was subsequently extended to 31st October]. Further details can be found at [this link was for the old council and is now out of date] found under the following links> Environment and Planning> Planning applications> Weekly Planning Application and Appeals List> September 2007.