Objecting to a Solar Park Application

Latest Planning Application (Click image to expand it)


Last year, I objected to a planning application for the installation and operation of a solar park consisting of up to 65,800 solar panels on agricultural land.

You can see my letter of objection HERE. Regrettably, Bedford Borough Council did not agree. Planning permission was granted - see HERE.

One of my objections was that land used to produce food would be lost:

“The UK is a densely populated country and land is a non-renewable source. Solar power stations preclude land use for many purposes: food production – especially with regards to grain crops; and diminishing stock of ‘wild’ country or remote rural tranquility – important for recreation and tourism.

I understand that the land which it is proposed to be developed is classified as Grade 2. Grades 1, 2 and 3 are defined as the best and most versatile – this is the land which is most flexible, productive and efficient in delivering future crops.”

According to the BBC this morning – see HERE, Environment Secretary Liz Truss has said large-scale solar farms are "a blight on the landscape" and confirmed plans to cut a taxpayer subsidy to farmers and landowners for the schemes.

She told the Mail on Sunday the land could be better used for growing food. There is currently a £100-an-acre grant scheme in place, worth £2m a year. Ms Truss said: "I want Britain to lead the world in food and farming and to do that we need enough productive agricultural land."

A proposal for another solar park (68,640 panels covering 27 acres of agricultural land, shown in the image above) is to be considered by Bedford Borough Council on Monday 20 October 2014. There is very strong local resistance to this application - see HERE, reported in our local newspaper Bedfordshire on Sunday HERE (at page 15) but will the objections along with the new government minister’s comments be enough to stop another wasteful “blight on the landscape”.


UPDATE!  Later, Sunday 19 October 2014

The hard copy and online editions of the Bedfordshire on Sunday newspaper reports drawn to your attention above are not as detailed as another online report which can be found HERE.

Amongst other alarming things, the newspaper reports:

“Bedfordshire on Sunday has seen documents which suggest most of those who have responded favourably to the consultation are connected in some way to Prosolia UK [the applicant] or the landowner. StopTheSolarFarm campaigners say when you take these responses out, the true level of opposition is much clearer.”

StopTheSolarFarm have updated their WEBSITE to include newer details including a revised figure for the size of the proposed site which is now said to be over 50 acres (about 25 football pitches!). New details at this stage leave insufficient time for those with everyday lives to get on with (versus those paid to propose, recommend and decide, and those who will profit from something that will be a blight on the landscape) to prepare a considered response given that Bedford Borough Council's PLANNING COMMITTEE meets tomorrow.

UPDATE! Wednesday 22 October 2014

Bedfordshire on Sunday reports HERE that a decision on the planning application has been deferred until after a site visit to be taken by the Planning Committee. Why, I wonder, especially given such a controversial application hadn't the Committee visited the site in advance of their meeting.

Wyboston, Chawston & Colesden Footpath No. A11E

 

A public hearing will be held at Wyboston Parish Village Hall next week on Tuesday 21 October 2014 into a public path order that Bedford Borough Council has made to extinguish a public footpath in Wyboston, a hamlet about 10 miles north of Bedford. I wrote about the order HERE.

 

Anyone can object to a public path order and I have objected to the Wyboston Order on behalf of the OpenSpaces Society. The Bedfordshire Rights of Way Association has objected too. As has Mike Clarke - a member of the public who has probably done more than any one person locally to protect public rights of way in the historic county of Bedfordshire. When consulted in the lead up to the making of the order, The Ramblers Association informed Bedford Borough Council that they would object to the proposed order but in the event, shamefully, they did not object and most probably won’t show up at the hearing.

 

A highway authority (Bedford Borough Council in this case) cannot proceed with an opposed order other than to abandon it or send it to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who can appoint an Inspector to hear the arguments for and against at a formal full public inquiry, or at a less formal public hearing, or by a process of written representations. After careful consideration the Inspector will confirm the order as it stands, or confirm it with modifications, or reject it.

 

The public hearing on Tuesday will be a first for me. I have notched up one public inquiry and two written representations procedures.

 

My hope is that the arguments against closing the footpath forever will be strong enough to convince the Inspector to reject the order thereby keeping the footpath in public use. Public rights of way are part of our heritage, and, in my view they are part of our identity and need to be protected for the enjoyment of all. Bedford Borough Council does not seem to hold the same view.

 

A landowner should not obstruct a public right of way – not least because it is a criminal offence to do so. And Bedford Borough Council should not use its discretionary powers, at the expense of the public, especially at a time when it is trying to save money, to reward landowners who wilfully obstruct public rights of way.

 

Rather, it should carry out its legal duty to protect public rights of way for present and future generations.



Maulden Footpath No. 28 - Confuscation (confusion & cock-up)

The Maulden Footpath No. 28 saga which I wrote about HERE and HERE continues.

Central Bedfordshire Council caused confusion, consternation and inconvenience by submitting a ridiculously late request to adjourn a court hearing – a hearing which it had applied for and which was scheduled for 8, 9 & 10 September 2014 at Luton Magistrates’ Court. The court agreed to adjourn the hearing but then, because of a court official’s cock-up, changed its mind, reinstating the hearing.  The Council then withdrew its application for the hearing with the reservation that it might be reinstated if it chose to re-apply next year. The court agreed. Officially, the court has “administratively vacated the hearing and withdrawn the proceedings”.

This particular chapter of the saga could be said to have started at a meeting on 13 February 2013, when Central Bedfordshire Council’s Development Management Committee considered three applications from landowner Mr Bowers of Maulden. The committee resolved to refuse the application (1) to delete the path under section 53 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981; to approve the application (2) to extinguish the path under section 118 the Highways Act 1980 and; to approve the application (3) to stop up the path under the section 116 of the same Act. This may well be a unique situation; three applications made under separate legislation for the purpose of getting rid of the same public footpath; and then two separate legal processes (and possibly a third) set in train by a council for the same purpose - to close a public right of way forever.

(1) The deletion:
The landowner, Mr Bowers, appealed to the Secretary of State about the Council’s refusal to delete the path. This was dealt with under Schedule 14 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. The appeal was dismissed by an Inspector acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, thereby upholding the Council’s decision. The Inspector’s decision letter can be seen HERE. However, the Secretary of State then changed his mind - quashing his decision, choosing instead to determine the appeal at a public inquiry. An Inspector can dismiss the appeal or direct that the Council should make an order to delete the path.

The public inquiry will be held at Beadlow Manor Country Club on 21^st January 2015. The inquiry is scheduled to last 2 days. A path can be deleted from the Definitive Map if there is cogent evidence that it should not be shown on the map; e.g., if the path is shown on the map in error. In Mr Bowers’ opinion, Maulden Footpath No. 28 should not be shown as a public right of way - hence his application. Although it seems to me that he prejudices that view because he acknowledges it is a public right of way if he also applies to extinguish and or stop it up.

And it seems to me that there is another inconsistency. The route of Footpath 28 shown on the map now is not the same route as that originally added to the map; part of that path was diverted. If the argument is that the path was shown incorrectly on the map then it is THAT route which is subject to deletion, not a different, DIVERTED route. And there can be no doubt of the diverted route’s status – it is a public right of way created by a public path diversion order.

(2) The extinguishment:
The Council made the extinguishment order which, because it was opposed, was the subject of a public inquiry held on 11 June 2014. A council has the power to make an extinguishment order if it seems to it that the path is not needed. It cannot confirm such an order if anyone objects to it on the ground that, but for the order, the path would be likely to be used by the public to a significant extent. The Inspector decided not to confirm the order so the order failed. You can read the Inspector’s decision letter HERE.

(3) The stopping up:
The Council made an application to Bedford Magistrates’ Court for the stopping up of the path. At a case management hearing on 17 July 2013 the court adjourned the proceedings until 15 Jan 2014. At the 15 Jan 2014 hearing the court scheduled the case to be heard at Luton Magistrates’ Court on 8, 9 and 10 September 2014.

Seven months after the court had directed that a hearing was to be held, and just three weeks before the hearing was to start, and crucially only one week before exchange of documents was to be completed, it came to my notice that Central Bedfordshire Council wanted to adjourn the case until September 2015. The council now wanted to await the outcome of the deletion order appeal. (The Bedfordshire on Sunday newspaper, which has published good reports on recent events surrounding Footpath 28, reported the latest twist HERE.)

Agreement by interested parties had to be sought. Unfortunately, there was no co-ordinated effort to keep all interested parties informed. The court and the council certainly did not keep all parties informed so in this situation the passage of information seemed to rely on competence and good fortune, both of which were in short supply.

Although Mr Bowers’ (and possibly others) objected to the adjournment, the court agreed that the hearing could be adjourned, except that a 30 minute case management hearing should take place on 8 September 2014. But the court then changed its mind, reinstating the 8 – 10 Sept hearing. Apparently, a court official had failed to take the relevant Civil Procedure Rules into account when making the decision to adjourn the hearing.

It seems to me that Mr Bowers’ objection to the adjournment was perverse, as was the Council’s decision to request an adjournment rather than withdraw the application which it has now had to do.

At the 11 June public inquiry, Mr Bowers issued a statement orally (strangely, under oath) and on paper, to the effect that the public inquiry into the extinguishment should not proceed until after the 21 January 2015 public inquiry which would decide whether or not the Council should make an Order to delete the path. (That is, Mr Bowers wanted the extinguishment considered only if it was still necessary AFTER the decision about the deletion had been made.) Now though, Mr Bowers was objecting to the proposal that the decision to stop up the path should be heard BEFORE the decision on whether to delete or not. Confused?

For its part the Council could have withdrawn the application much earlier to spare interested parties the resulting inconvenience, expense and confuscation (which should be a legitimate word if it already isn’t). The Council hasn’t explained what had changed at such a late stage that it now considered warranted an adjournment.

Those enjoying this saga can look forward to next year when there will be a public inquiry and most likely a court case. Unless someone changes their mind.

The Open Spaces Society Needs You



Wymington FP5 - Unlawfully obstructed by Network Rail with Bedford Borough Council permission.

When a local authority makes a public path order to create, divert or extinguish a public right of way, anyone can object (oppose the order). Making a public path order is essentially a two-part process – making the order and then confirming it. If the order is opposed then the local authority cannot confirm it. The authority can abandon the order or forward it to the Secretary of State (DEFRA) who has the power to confirm an opposed order as it stands, confirm the order with amendments or to reject it.

The Secretary of State appoints an Inspector who takes into account the arguments for and against before making a decision. The objector has a right to be heard so a local public inquiry (a formal setting where evidence is heard and where witnesses are open to cross-examination) or a hearing (a discussion held by an Inspector - less formal, usually without formal cross-examination) may be convened. Alternatively, a decision may be made following an exchange of written representations.

I objected to the:

• Stagsden Footpath No. 20 Diversion Order last year and Bedford Borough Council decided last month to abandon the order.

• Maulden Footpath No. 28 Extinguishment Order last year. The case was heard last month at a public inquiry. The Inspector rejected the order.

• Wyboston, Chawston & Colesden Footpath No. A11E Extinguishment Order last year. A public hearing is to be convened at Wyboston Parish Village Hall in October.

• Kempston Urban Footpath No. 9 Diversion Order last year. The consideration of the Order is taking the form of an exchange of written statements and I have drafted my statement of case and comments for submission this month.

• Sharnbrook Footpath No. 2 Rail Crossing Extinguishment Order last year. Bedford Borough Council and Network Rail agreed to my suggestion for works to improve the alternative route. I will withdraw my objection on completion of the works and the Council will confirm the order.

• Wymington Footpaths Nos. 3, 4 & 5 and Podington Footpaths Nos. 6 & 27 Rail Crossing Diversion Order (me v “Counsel” for Bedford Borough Council and Network Rail!) and await news of how that case will be dealt with.

Bedford Borough Council is now consulting on a proposal to create and extinguish various paths in Willington and Cople. It seems to me that the proposals could be improved for the benefit of the public. I may have to object.

Anyone fancy joining the Open Spaces Society?

Maulden Footpath No. 28 - Post-public inquiry

Battered and unkempt but hanging in there. Footpath No. 28 could do with a bit of TLC.

 

Good News!
 
Central Bedfordshire Council’s Maulden Footpath No. 28 Extinguishment Order has been rejected by an independent inspector following the public inquiry last month.
 
The footpath, which leads to Maulden Wood and the Greensand Ridge Walk, survives - for the time being.
 
Central Bedfordshire Council made an application to Bedford Magistrates’ Court to close the path but the case was referred to Luton Magistrates’ Court (because the government is pursuing its own case for the eventual closure of the Bedford court). The case is scheduled to be heard on 9th, 10th and 11th September in Luton.
 
The Open Spaces Society considers this to be a further waste of public money, particularly when the council is so short-staffed and strapped for cash. The Society urges the Council HERE to abandon its plan to close this popular route and instead to accept that it should remain a public footpath, open for all to enjoy.
 
The Bedfordshire on Sunday newspaper reports HERE that a spokesman for Central Bedfordshire Council said that they are disappointed at the decision and they will now be considering its implications and their options for next steps.

Maulden Footpath No. 28

It’s not unusual for an unrecorded public right of way to come to light when a path that has been used by the public for many years is obstructed by a new landowner. By unrecorded, I mean not shown on the definitive map and statement.

Mr Bowers of Maulden (a village and parish formerly in the county of Bedfordshire, now in the unitary authority of Central Bedfordshire) purchased a field in 1989. In 1992, he fenced it off thereby obstructing a path in use by the public which prompted an application for a definitive map modification order (DMMO) to add a footpath to the definitive map. Anyone can apply for a DMMO which the local authority then has a duty to investigate.

In 1993, during the course of the DMMO application (a time-consuming exercise which includes investigating user statements showing that the path has been used without interruption for 20 years, researching historic documentary evidence, and carrying out legal and policy procedures), Mr Bowers bought adjoining land and applied for planning permission to develop the whole plot (demolish one dwelling and build another). Planning permission was refused but granted on appeal in 1995, the same year as the DMMO was made to add the footpath to the definitive map. The DMMO was objected to but, following a public inquiry, it was confirmed in 1997. The path (Maulden Footpath No. 28) was now legally recorded as a public footpath. Despite this, Mr Bowers built the house in the period Sept 1996 to April 1997 which had the effect of obstructing the path.

What followed has not been pretty and seems never ending! Among other things it has resulted in mounds of paperwork, numerous councils’ committee meetings, public inquiries, magistrates’ court prosecutions and hearings, and recriminations and talk of common sense where “sense” is anything but common. And all of which has consumed vast amounts of time and money; tens of thousands of pounds at the expense of (1) the landowner, Mr Bowers, who does not believe the path is a public right of way, and (2) by various councils, and therefore the public purse, and (3) members of the public, local user groups such  as the Bedfordshire Rights of Way Association and the East Herts Footpath Society, and national user groups such as the Open Spaces Society and the Ramblers, all of whom are determined to keep the path.

On 11 June, I attended the latest (fourth) local public inquiry on behalf of the Open Spaces Society. Central Bedfordshire Council had made an order in 2013 (against the advice of its officers) to extinguish Maulden Footpath No. 28 to which the Society is opposed.

A public inquiry is not a fun event. And the inquiry into the extinguishment of Maulden Footpath No. 28 was no exception. It was held at a conference centre in Central Bedfordshire by an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The Inspector heard the arguments for and against and will make a decision in due course; he can confirm the order as it stands, confirm it with amendments or refuse to confirm the order. Central Bedfordshire Council’s case in support of the order was presented by a top barrister, a rights of way consultant and the Council’s solicitor. Those in support or opposed to an order and choosing to speak at a public inquiry must state their case and then be subject to cross-examination.

With such strong opposing views, this long-running saga will continue. Already a magistrates’ court hearing has been scheduled for three days in September. Central Bedfordshire Council have applied to stop up the path (close it for ever) using different legislation.

And it seems that there may be another public inquiry in the pipeline. Mr Bowers made an application for a DMMO to delete the path from the definitive map. Central Bedfordshire Council refused the application and Mr Bowers appealed to the Secretary of State. The appeal was dismissed in September 2013 by an Inspector appointed by DEFRA but a public inquiry may be held to review that decision.

Sharnbrook Footpath No. 2 - Update

Back in January, I reported that Bedford Borough Council had made an order to close Sharnbrook Footpath No. 2 - see HERE. It seemed a great shame to me that such an old path should be lost to the public forever, or that it could not, in part at least, be diverted, but Network Rail and the Council argued that it should be closed for safety reasons because the public right of way crossed the railway tracks.

Fair enough. But in my opinion the alternative route (Park Lane, Sharnbrook) was also a dangerous place for pedestrians. It is a busy road - especially so on school days and something of a rat run between Sharnbrook and the A6. Pedestrians have to be extra vigilant when walking on the road and very careful when forced onto the grass verge which is narrow, has an uneven surface and is usually overgrown with underlying and overhanging vegetation.

The order plan can be seen HERE.

I objected to the order, as did Bedfordshire Rights of Way Association.

When someone objects to an order then the order making authority (Bedford Borough Council in this case) cannot complete the process by confirming it. The order can be abandoned or it can be sent to DEFRA who can appoint an official to hear the arguments for and against at some form of public inquiry before deciding whether or not to confirm or reject the order.

However, if objections are withdrawn then the order making authority can proceed. Although in this case there may be a typing error in the order - a legal discrepancy which may mean that Council has to forward the order to DEFRA. The Council does not have the power to amend an order whereas the Secretary of State does.

I said that I would be prepared to withdraw my objection if Network Rail would pay for works to provide a safer and better surfaced path within the verge for pedestrians. They agreed and the council has almost finished the works at a cost to Network Rail of £7,500. (Further works are required to retain parts of the new path, and overhanging vegetation is yet to be cut back.)

If I said that it was a shame to lose this old footpath then it is also a shame that more people did not show an interest, including Sharnbrook Parish Council. I have been informed that when consulted, the parish council considered the proposed extinguishment order and resolved to support it rather than to ask for highway improvements. Bedford Borough Council did not receive a response from the parish council anyway. Poor show parish councillors.

Nevertheless, a good result I think.