The Castle & The New Inn news. I am sorry to say that my applications for The Castle & New Inn for Asset of Community Value were turned down by the council. I don`t intend to appeal. The temporary landlord of The Castle has e-mailed me to say that the new freeholder wants my details. I might be able to meet him to discuss the future of The Castle. In the meantime I have made an online objection to the planning application for demolition of The New Inn and replacement by eight flats. My objection is detailed below: THE TEXT OF MY OBJECTION I E-MAILED TO SEVENOAKS DISTRICT COUNCIL TODAY. "I am writing on behalf of The New Inn Supporters Group to strongly object to the the above application. The loss of The New Inn would have a detrimental effect on the social life of the community as it is the only pub in St Johns Hill to open most afternoons and evenings. The Castle is due to cease operating as a pub in the next few months and The Rifleman has only restricted hours. The loss of The New Inn and the imminent closure of The Castle gives the lie to the assertion of the planning application para 6.5 that "there are a number of other drinking establishments in the immediate vicinity". If both the New Inn & Castle close, there won`t be. The NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK SECTION 8. PROMOTING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, PARA. 70 states "planning policies & decisions should: Plan positively for the provision and use of shared space, (such as local shops, meeting places..., public houses) to enhance the sustainability of communities.. Guard against the unnecessary loss of valued facilities and services." Sevenoaks Council therefore has a duty to protect our local pubs. I am also objecting on the grounds that the proposed development would be out of scale and harmony with the existing buildings and dominate the street scene. It is in effect a three storey building as there are flats with dormer windows in the roof. The proposed development would by virtue of its height, scale and position of windows, have an overbearing impact that would be detrimental to the privacy of the occupiers of residential properties at the rear. There are no on-site parking facilities planned for the residents of the proposed flats. The proposed parking on the pavement will not be sufficient for the eight flats. The site is too narrow, sandwiched as it is between a petrol station and a bus stop. It would lead to additional parking onto roads in an area which already has high a level of on-street parking. For the above reasons I would strongly urge you to refuse this planning application." I will also be contacting the local councillors Ann Dawson and Simon Raikes for support. ACV listing would really have come in handy now but it was not to be. Strictly speaking as things stand now, the council is not obliged to take into account the loss of a pub. That is why I have included other reasons to object that they are obliged to consider. Finally I will be writing to chase up Sevenoaks District Council for a reply to my February letter asking what policies, if any do they have to protect local pubs. I will keep you posted. Ian McMillan.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 22:58:51 +0000
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