This is the front page story on the June Cranfield Express due out on Thursday. It is made available early in electronic format thanks to the editor Peter Hinson.
Ceasefire on Home Farm
Persimmon has announced it will
“temporarily cease work” on the main
(Home farm) site after mounting concerns
from residents about access to
Lodge Road and Court Road by construction
traffic.
The company, responding to an
enquiry by Cranfield Express stated:
“We fully appreciate that we have a
duty of care for the local community.
Therefore, due to the current situation
and concerns raised regarding
working hours and traffic, we have
made the decision to temporarily
cease work on the main site, after we
have implemented security and health
and safety measures. Work will only
re-commence when the relevant matters
are resolved and the local authority
is satisfied with our strategy to
continue. The county council (sic)
works to the existing highways will
continue to completion.”
A stakeholder meeting last month
was called off at the last minute with
no rearrangement date by Central
Beds. As a result, parish councillors
hosted an unofficial meeting to allow
residents to express their frustration.
They have reported lorries turning
up to work well before the 8 am starting
time for Lodge Road and the 9
am starting point for Court Road.
And complaints have continued that
Lodge Road is not properly washed
each night. The early starts include
Saturday morning. There was even
work on the site, on 29 April, a public
holiday.
Condition 31 of the outline planning
permission for Home Farm provides
the following working hours:
“Works of construction, including the
use of plant, vehicles and machinery
necessary for the implementation of
this consent, shall only take place
(other than as specifically approved
in writing by the Local Planning
Authority prior to any works being
undertaken) between 0800 hours and
1800 hours on Mondays to Fridays
inclusive, and 0800 hours to 1300
hours on Saturdays and not at all on
Sundays or Bank Holidays.”
Its also states that there should not
be any waiting on Lodge Road or
Court Road prior to the permitted
times.
At the same time issues have arisen
about Persimmon’s relationship with
Dennison who control land to the rear
of Maple Way, Willow Springs and
Plough Close. This is where the community
hall and the school playing
field will be constructed.
A representative of Dennison spoke
to the Parish council in April and the
approved minutes state: “PCllr Mrs
D Ball invited the representative from
Dennison Investment to speak regarding
the status of negotiations with
Persimmon regarding the Dennison
land. It would appear that
Persimmon has ‘jumped the gun’ and
building has commenced. Dennison
and Persimmon were in ‘good discussions’
until February of this year,
and then it stopped.
“The commencement of the build
has been stopped by CBC, and
Persimmon and Dennison
Investments are taking legal advice
on their dispute. Councillor Ken
Matthews stated that Central
Bedfordshire Council will not issue
outstanding reserved matters until the
dispute is settled, however certain
works are permitted. Central
Bedfordshire Council has also taken
legal advice, and it appears that
Persimmon may apply for permission
on the grounds of non-determination.
“The representative from Dennison
Investments suggested that Central
Bedfordshire Council must be strong
– and state that there will be no occupations
until the dispute is resolved.
With regard to the 106 monies, he
stated that there are tools that are present
in the legal agreement to make
Persimmon behave, and on the matter
of Martin Wright refusing to discuss
the 106 agreement on the
grounds that it is confidential.
Members were advised that Dennison
Investments did not consider it confidential
and is happy for Mr Wright
to discuss it with the Stakeholder
Group.”
Persimmon in their statement to
Cranfield Express responded to this
as follows: “Whilst we do not agree
with Dennison’s interpretation of the
current situation, we are committed
to working proactively and positively
with the local authority to see the successful
delivery of the Section 106
package which ultimately, will benefit
the local community.”
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