Welcome to our new colleagues from the Shine Festival and from Netherton.
Remember
- estherslist.org to help others and share yourown applications
- ianjarvis.co.uk our new website plus blog, where you can find these notes (minus zoom link)
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Nicki Shepherd:
Nicki has collated an excellent resource of websites, documentaries, and books which I am happy to share with everyone. She has said that you can share it further.
Contacts for Nicki are in the document which I have put here in the Blog page.
You might like note that Dr Jenny Goodman as recently produced a book called Getting Healthy in Toxic Times. It is a wealth of discovery and includes two chapters on radiation.
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Solar Farms and related Battery Stores
Solar Farms are taking over our farmland – a present day threat.
Las week I spoke briefly about Solar Farms (or Parks – sounds nicer doesn’t it?) and associated battery storage. Our newish Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Angela Raynor, has recently overridden a county council to approve two of these so we have a big battle on our hands.
Here are two excellent documents to help you get them refused. Watch out for the appeal though as it’s Government (Labour Party) policy. Not ‘legal though.
Each covers a different scope so both are worth studying.
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Government Consultation – **IMPORTANT**
You should know that there is a Government consultation on suggested changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), last issued in December 2023. You will find it here:
If you look at the pdf file offered, you will note the vertical lines in the left side margin which note the Gov suggested changes. (Labour must have been working on it for a while.)
There are no suggestions for telecoms in Ch 10 (other than the paragraph numbers as some earlier have been removed, and some added) but as all of it applies to all applications for planning approval, It is worth your while to have a look.
This document forms the bedrock of GUIDANCE – we have often quoted Lord Gill from a few years ago saying it should not be treated as statute:
“the guidance given by the Framework (the NPPF) is not to be interpreted as if it were a statute. Its purpose is to express general principles on which decision-makers are to proceed in pursuit of sustainable development.”
Para 70 etc in https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2016-0076-judgment.pdf
This video (7 minutes) may give you some ideas – you can quote the speakers, no need to do any more. https://youtu.be/jPuMc_2KleA
You can of course write whatever you like and related to telecoms here are some things you might like to reflect on:
- Add a paragraph to stress that comment from Lord Gill.
- ‘Health’ and ‘healthy environment’ are mentioned many times in the rest of the document, why does it not apply to telecoms?
- Is the ICNIRP report fit for purpose?
- There is no definition of “sustainability”, it would be helpful both to for those case officers, policy makers and the people to have this corrected. We all need to be discussing the same thing.
- Is the appeal system democratic? Is it right that one person can override the collective decision of a Council and the local population?
How to respond:- this is the section on the website about responding. Note that you can do it inline, by email or by a letter on paper. (Slightly abbreviated.)
Citizen Space is the department’s online consultation portal and our preferred route for receiving consultation responses.
You may send your response by email to: PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk
Written responses should be sent to:
Planning Policy Consultation Team
Planning Directorate – Planning Policy Division
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Floor 3, Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
When you reply, it would be very useful if you please confirm whether you are replying as an individual or submitting an official response on behalf of an organisation and include:
- your name
- your position (if applicable)
- the name of organisation (if applicable)
Please make it clear which question or paragraph number each comment relates to and ensure that the text of your response is in a format that allows copying of individual sentences or paragraphs, to help us when considering your view on particular issues.
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That’s it for this week, someone has told me that it is a public holiday on Monday, so I will wish you an especially joyous time on that day
ian, as always, thank you for what you are doing.