From: Reppke, Charles
Sent: 19 September 2011 15:35
To: McCallum, Fiona
Subject: FW: Dunoon

Attachments: Flooding; Retail Impact

 

Please circulate to ppsl members but not bruce marshall he has declared an interest

From: Sandra Sheldrick  
Sent: 19 September 2011 13:58
To: Reppke, Charles
Cc: Gilmour, Angus
Subject: Dunoon

 

Sent on behalf of Bruce C Weir

 

Dear Charles,

 

I refer to our telephone conversation on Friday and our numerous discussions over the last few weeks.

 

As discussed on Friday I have a number of concerns about the way our application is being treated and although the National Grid site is the subject of a planning application in its own right we have had to continually draw comparisons between the National Grid site and our application.  I make no excuses for this as they are inextricably linked due to retail capacity issues.

 

During our conversation you confirmed that you would be prepared to provide this email to Councillors in advance of Wednesday’s meeting and I would be grateful if you could do this. 

 

I have two principle concerns about the planning applications that are being put before the committee on Wednesday and I have detailed these as follows being as brief as is possible.

 

1.       Flooding – given that it is important for the planning department and planning committee to understand how much floor space can be developed on the National Grid site I find it incredibly frustrating that National Grid have not been requested to prepare a detailed flooding design at this stage which would confirm one way or other whether the size of store suggested by National Grid can be accommodated.  

 

Indeed, I have had three recent situations where I have been asked for this information at PPP stage and I am at a loss, as is my flood consultant, as to why both the flood officer and SEPA have not requested this information.

 

I attach a self-explanatory email from my flood consultant which was sent to your flood officer.  Given that there are a number of issues still to be addressed I just cannot understand why the Council and SEPA do not want to establish this to confirm whether 1 sqft or 34,000 sqft can be developed on the National Grid site. 

 

2.       Retail Impact -  I understand that the planners have never been keen to grant our planning application and this has been reflected in the recommendations that have been made to the planning committee.  I have absolutely no problem with a difference of opinion, however, we have never achieved a situation where we understand what the planning departments concerns are on a number of Retail Impact issues.

 

This continues to be the case and has been further compounded by the lack of response from the planning department and through the reading of the National Grid recommendation which is to grant planning permission on their site.  

 

I have attached a very brief email from my planning consultant to the planning department which raises a number of issues.  I think that you will see from the tone of the letter it is one of frustration at not understanding the position and also the unfairness in how our application is being viewed in comparison to the National Grid application.  There are a number of contradictory positions being taken by the planning department and I would respectfully request that these need to be addressed in order for the planning committee to take a fair view on the applications.

 

I do not intend second guessing what will happen at this week’s PPSL Committee, however, I would like to take you up on your kind offer of a meeting between the planning department and ourselves to try and understand and agree our respective positions.  I note during our conversation that you were happy for this to take place regardless of the outcome on Wednesday.

 

Finally, I do appreciate the time you have taken to discuss these matters with me over the last month or so.  CWP remain committed in trying to deliver an appropriate sized foodstore in Dunoon and indeed we are continuing our efforts to identify other development opportunities within Argyll and Bute. 

 

I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

 

Regards

 

Yours sincerely

 

Bruce C Weir                                 

      

Sandra Sheldrick

PA to Bruce C Weir

CWP