Ask the audience
Ask the audience
A few weeks in and the Highways Agency respond with no concerns regarding traffic but question the parking arrangements. The Planning Officer seems to be on board with the idea and has offered a few suggestions but the Flood Risk Assessment provided to us by the Environment Agency is being questioned ..by the Environment Agency?!
The document which we received from them a few months earlier showed a 1 in 1000 chance of flooding (very low risk) but it appears they have revised their computer model and we are now in a Very High Risk category. There isn’t any evidence of the building flooding in the past and only anecdotal evidence of the road having flooded but nonetheless, it feels like we’ve had a hammer blow to proceedings.
One thing I take as consolation is the public consultation is coming to an end and the Parish council has responded very positively. They have a few concerns about colours and appearance but seem keen for the building to be brought back into use. The AONB planning officer has been really helpful and is keen to see us use sustainable technologies to power the building and understands the concessions we’re making with having no land.
It’s one of the last things I see on the online portal, but it appears we have had an objection to the conversion on safety grounds. The Highways Agency haven’t raised any concerns but is transpires there have been a few serious cycling accidents since the 80s where people have come over Reebys Bridge too fast and come off. The argument is renovating the hall will increase the risk of accidents but I’m not sure if I properly understand that, as we’re set back from the road by quite a bit really. On our last visit, I only saw 5 cars pass by all day and about a dozen cyclists (all travelling faster than the cars) but none seemed like they couldn’t stop in a hurry. I suggest putting up a sign to let them know we’re there might remove the risk altogether, but we don’t really have any other option but to leave it with the planners until the public consultation ends.
It’s not a great start but I’m sure we can overcome their worries with the application of tea, cake and an honest chat. Hopefully once they realise we’re not bad people (..I would say that though!) we should be good to go.
Some good news though, I got the results back of my first University coursework and have got an ‘Outstanding’ 75% for Advanced Database Development so you know, every cloud!
