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amenity · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 775 Location: Dovercourt

On the 03 06 07 an application was presented to TDC No 07/00928/Ful

That permission be granted for construction of Office Building with off street parking.

This site is behind and in the garden of 10 Marine Parade Dovercourt.

Well the building does not on the face of it look like an office, more like a chalet style bungalow. This could be said to be a good thing after all who wants to live near an ugly or spartan building?

Although no written evidence has been seen I am reliably informed that an application has now been tendered with the planning department that 10 Marine Parade might get permission to be converted into five flats.

Environmentally one might argue that concreting a large part of the back garden is a bad thing because surface water will shed into the sewerage system for instance and gardens are in all areas under threat.

What will be the effect of introducing so many more cars into this area where parking is tight to say the least sometimes?

Should this application be considered in the round after all The Co-op have recently been granted about twenty flats just opposite, do the Co-op hav a view?

Etc Etc, any ideas?

You have only untill 07 07 07 to put in an objection. Thats 3 days, ouch.

pepsi · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 161

There is one thing with all this garden development that really concerns me.

For quite a few years now, it has been recognised that our gardens are often the only large scale haven for our native fauna to surive in.

It is fact that we would have lost even more of the bird population than we have already done if it had not been for peoples gardens.

By developing garden sites to the extent which is being allowed in Tendring, we are helping to sign the death warrents of even more of our native speciies of wildlife.

amenity · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 775 Location: Dovercourt

Be lovely Pepsi if this (your point) was considered a planning issue. I agree with you it ought to be and probably will be in years to come when it is all too late.

I made a mistake in the date for objections its actually 11 07 07. any time up to the end of the day.

pepsi · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 161

As you say amenity, when it is all too late.

On a personal note, we have experienced a bit of subsidence on our conservatory, house is fine, got in the insurers and, of course, their immediate solution was to cut down everything green within a 20 metre radius of the end of the conservatory including 2 oaks which have TPOs on them.

I am currently trying to think of a way in which I can prevent the destruction of the Oaks [they are actually on land next to our boundry] and not be too heavily penalised by the insurance company.

All ideas and suggestions are welcome.

amenity · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 775 Location: Dovercourt

Pepsi,

Sorry to hear of subsidence in property, by what route did the insurance company come to the conclusion that it was the trees that are causing the problem?

Quite often down pipes are the cause did they investigate this potential?

amenity · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 775 Location: Dovercourt

Thinking about this subsidence further Pepsi maybe they have examined the drains and found roots breaking them up(if they are clay pot type) but really the drains are usually leaking first and the roots sense where the water is coming from, so expensive as it is replacing the clay with plastic sorts it out.

My sister had trouble once with roots lifting her parque flooring or so the insurance company said but it turned out to be simple damp and the blocks swelling.

amenity · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 775 Location: Dovercourt

Going back to back garden development;
No 10 Marine Parade is about to have an application put in to convert the house into five one bedroom flats. And according to the application, no parking at all is to be provided.

Bit different to a few years ago, now the burden of parking falls on the community.

No doubt the future owners will sign an agreement not to own a car.

pepsi · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 161

I believe that the the TDC Replacement Local Plan states that they want to reduce the reliance on cars and are therefore reducing the number of car parking facilities for any future development.

A development near me for a large number of 3-4 bed houses is only allowing 1.5 car spaces per property, of course when visitors arrive they will be parking in front of the exisiting residents homes and along the sides of the narrow roads.

The current law makes it illegal for someone to block your vehicles access to the public highway[ if you cannot get out of your drive then they are causing an obstruction] but it is not illegal for anyone to block your access back onto your own property.

BTW no drain problem, they were checked, so no damp areas for roots to search for.

amenity · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 775 Location: Dovercourt

Do you think it is subsidence or settlement Pepsi?

Sometimes, like in the summer of '76 the drying of the ground caused no end of settlement problems.

pepsi · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 161

Well the house is fine, the conservatory is approx 9 years old but insurers put it down to subsidence as they have discovered the dreaded "roots" Smile

amenity · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 775 Location: Dovercourt

Pepsi have a look at this site there is reference to trees, worth a read.

http://www.johnbellman.co.uk/howSubOccurs.htm

pepsi · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 161

Thanks Amenity, there is some possibility that this could be settlement rather than subsidence but I do not think the insurers will see it as that. My main concern is to try and save the oaks as I hate to see large native trees cut down unless it is absolutely essential.

amenity · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 775 Location: Dovercourt

Thought this was rather apt.
Written by a neighbour.

Here's the famous original version

A GARDEN is a lovesome thing, God wot!
Rose plot,
Fringed pool,
Fern'd grot—
The veriest school
Of peace; and yet the fool
Contends that God is not—
Not God! in gardens! when the eve is cool?
Nay, but I have a sign;
Tis very sure God walks in mine. 10

Here's my neighbours version

My Garden is a lovesome thing, My Plot!
My plot,
It's cool,
It's where I've got—
The goldfish pool
and peace. And yet the cruel
government contends its hot—
Hot building land! My garden, just a fiscal tool?.
Nay, but I have a scheme;
I'll smear it all with vanishing cream.

Lin · Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 568 Location: Gt Clacton

Hi Pepsi
found this web site that should interest you regarding the part that our back gardens play in the eco system.

www.bugs.group.shef.ac.uk

Keep our 'wildlife corridors ' green...

amenity · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 775 Location: Dovercourt

amenity · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 775 Location: Dovercourt

While on trees. Sorry it is so lond but worth reading, I hope?

Hope disappears as Bramley’s ancient woodland and wildlife faces the

The UK’s leading woodland conservation charity and local supporters are extremely disappointed and frustrated by Judge Sullivan’s announcement on Wednesday the 4 July, not to allow a judicial review to take place on the proposed National Grid development at Bramley Frith Wood.

The development of the sub-station at Bramley Frith will mean the permanent destruction of further parts of this ancient woodland and its unique biodiversity and habitat within, including protected species such as dormice and great crested newts. More recent proposals currently being considered by the planning authority for further development at the wood could also cause further damage to the habitat. Subsequently we have now requested Natural England to consider protection through SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) status, as the wood is known to contain an exceptional number of ancient woodland indicator species.

Although the development has been in the pipeline for some time, National Grid submitted formal applications very late in the process, then unhelpfully declined to provide third parties with application details and information when requested, thus considerably reducing the time available to mount an effective challenge.

Graham Bradley of the Woodland Trust adds: “What is most alarming for us about the case is how it has highlighted the extent of tactics used by large organisations – in this case National Grid - whose priorities leave protection of the environment a poor second. We know of at least 12 other National Grid substation sites near or within ancient woodland across England and Wales and fear that these may also be threatened in a similar way to Bramley. In our opinion this case proves that it is essential that National Grid is held environmentally accountable and planning applications should be required that allow proper examination of the proposal and the associated environmental impacts.”

Andrew Cleave MBE, who ran the now closed Bramley Frith Education Centre comments: “I am extremely disappointed as I have worked at the wood for over 20 years. This is a loss for the local environment and all those adults and children who have enjoyed access to this unique woodland over many years. I’m amazed at how large organisations can be allowed to destroy valuable habitats under GPDO regulations in the guise of ‘national interest.”

The Woodland Trust feels that this adds pressure to calls for greater transparency in the future from these organisations and increased dialogue with stakeholder bodies, thus ensuring that all possible alternatives have been investigated fully before commencing with development works.

Ancient Woodland (land that has been continually wooded predating AD1600) is irreplaceable and is the UK’s richest habitat for wildlife being the home to the biggest diversity of individual species in the UK (supporting some 232 species as outlined in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, 1994). Ancient woods form a unique link to the primeval wildwood habitat that may have covered most of lowland Britain following the last Ice Age.

We [the people of UK] must do all we can to preserve these ancient woodlands as they are being destroyed at all too an alarming rate, under threat from various forms of development, including quarrying, airport expansion, road schemes, new housing, industry, and other developments.

(ENDS)

Notes to editors:

For media enquiries contact:
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121,
Email: media@woodland-trust.org.uk

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