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In
early February 2004 a Hi-Mac style digger was used to do some earthmoving
works on the North side of Chesham Lane 50 yards or so Northwest
of Cricketfield cottages. This only took a day or so and had no
significant impact on the roadway.
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In
June 2004 further construction works were undertaken over several
days. A surprisingly wide road entrance was established. This goes
a few yards into open farmland and then stops abruptly. It has been
professionally kerbed and surfaced with tarmac.
Research at CDC reveals that a planning application for a single track
access road (with passing places) to Skippings Farm was made in 1998
and amended in 1999. The stated purpose was to provide an access road
for farm traffic to get to/from Skippings Farm without going through
the main NSE Centre. The application stated there would be no increase
in traffic on Chesham Lane. Public notification was minimal but two
objections were raised. Agricultural use of land merits special treatment
within Green Belt areas and the application was accepted on 1 July
1999. |
Since
the road application in 1999, NSE farming activity at Skippings Farm
appears to have ceased. Certainly, there has been no need for farm
access via a new roadway because none has been built during the last
5 years. There is no discernible sign of farm activity today (June
2004).
The minor works undertaken in February aroused a little interest in
the local community - but its purpose was not understood. Presumably
it was too small for CDC to recognise as a genuine start of a roadway,
so the NSE had to undertake the more substantial works in June 2004.
At this time sense identified the underlying planning
application. |
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We
are left with the conclusion that the commencement of work just within
the 5 year deadline is defensive and prevents the application lapsing.
However, as Skippings Farm is not in use (and no information sense
have seen suggests any intent to bring it back into use) we conclude
that it is unlikely to be used in the foreseeable future for the purpose
upon which planning permission was originally granted. |
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field between the new road entrance on Chesham Lane and Skippings
Farm is Green Belt. It is also within the Colne Valley Park. Although
the workmanship of the kerbstone work is of a pleasantly high standard,
it does not fit in with the character of Chesham Lane in that area. |
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What a great place for fly-tipping! Within a week or so of the bollards being removed, a couple of hundredweight of old tarmac appeared overnight.
GOOD NEWS! - September 2004.
CDC state they that by its size and nature they regard the works as unauthorised and in breach of planning control. CDC require the NSE to reinstate the field boundary or make a retrospective application (by no means likely to be approved). |
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Update September 2005
A Year has passed.
What has changed? |
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The harvest is in.
Otherwise - not much. The unauthorised 'development' remains as it was a year ago. Oh - there's the 'Do not dump here cos you're on TV' notice, but hey, is that an improvement? |
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Skippings Farm remains as it was a year ago - pretty much unused (except, notably, on the single day the Planning Inspector made a formal site visit).
There is still negligible farm traffic (the purpose of the NSE's original application for an access road). |
The Colne Valley Park within the Green Belt remains as unspoilt as it was a year ago. And as much under threat.
(This is the view from Skippings Farm back to Chesham Lane, i.e. the route the 'Road to Nowhere would follow, if permitted). |
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This is the view from the public footpath from Cricketfield Cottages on Chesham Lane to Skippings Farm. The proposed 'Road to Nowhere,' if built, would run from halfway up the left-hand side to the Farm ahead. Would it help the amenity and tranquility of the Colne Valley Park?
Of course not. |
