18th October 2005

Dear Editor,
RE: NSE appeal Substation refusal

The National Society for Epilepsy [NSE] has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against Chiltern District Council's [CDC] decision to refuse permission for a new electricity substation. This was refused in March 2005 because the proposed access is considered to be dangerous and the site is located in the Green Belt. There were 49 letters of objection from local residents and the highways authority submitted a report about the danger of the access proposals.

In total disregard for CDC's decision, the highways authority and local opinion the NSE has now submitted a 16 page appeal document accompanied by 15 appendices. In this document Mr Tristram Reynolds, the planning & property development professional who joined the NSE as director of Estates last year, states "The decision by the District Council to refuse permission is one of the most surprising I have ever come across. It elevates Green Belt policy to an absolutist level of interpretation. It perversely attaches far greater weight to highway design criteria than to electrical safety."

Mr Reynolds' argument is very concerning since the safety being debated relates to a well known blind spot at the junction of Foxdell Way and Chesham Lane where the footpath changes sides and many children cross the road on their way to and from school each day. Why did Mr Reynolds wait 6 months before filing this appeal if electrical safety is truly of such importance? Surely, it would have been much faster to resubmit modified plans with safer access proposals?

Perhaps the real reason for this substation is "to anticipate future needs" as was stated on the original application. The NSE master plan for total redevelopment of their site funded by a high density housing estate on Green Belt is currently the subject of another appeal which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is expected to determine shortly. Surely this substation couldn't be part of the NSE's preparation for this major redevelopment, or could it?

Whatever the motivating factors behind this proposal, the fact that visibility is poor where the footpath changes sides at the junction of Foxdell Way and Chesham Lane is obvious to anyone who knows the location. Unfortunately the Planning Inspector will be fed the one sided views of the NSE's paid experts unless people write to object and inform the Inspector of any incidents or near misses that they have experienced. The deadline for letters of objection is 11 November 2005 and people should write directly to the Planning Inspectorate at: Room 3/07, Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN quoting ODPM Appear Reference(s): APP/X0415/NO5/1188992.

Yours sincerely,
Martin Callaghan
For and on behalf of SENSE