IN reply to the letter from Gareth Jones (Barry & District News, February 23) accusing me of ignoring the views of local people regarding Cemetery Road, this is simply untrue.
I considered very carefully those views, including the ones I received from people who were supportive of the application but told me they did not wish to publicly say so as they feared they would be shouted down. Local/public representations that are made are a material consideration when dealing with planning applications and what Mr Jones and others need to understand is that the weight to be attached to public concern depends on the degree to which it can be substantiated by evidence.
Recent poor decision-making by some members of the Vale’s planning committee support this view.
Here are some examples: l Fuelled Renewable Energy Plant, refused by committee following public concern, overturned on appeal at public local enquiry with costs awarded against the council of £60,000-plus.
l Sainsbury’s Park Crescent, Barry, refused by committee following local concern, overturned on appeal.
* And the biggest folly of them all, White Farm, awaiting appeal by public local inquiry following refusal by committee which I predict is going to be lost by the council with costs awarded against them.
We need some local councillors to stop jumping on every available bandwagon for short-term political advantage and return to some honest politics and start behaving responsibly. Poor planning decisions are losing money and reputation, when the council is struggling to fund essential services for those in need.
Andrew Dobbinson
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