Among their many duties, one of the most important roles of councils is to decide on planning applications. Whether it’s at a town council level, where decisions are made on whether or not to object to the plans, or at a borough council level, where plans are considered and approved, there are always major decisions being made over what can be built in your area. Some of these decisions are bigger, and more controversial, than others. Here are some of the big planning decisions that are still up in the air:
Bilbao Court Flats Plans to build nine flats on the site of former garages in Bilbao Court have raised concerns over the availability of parking and landscaping in the local area.
Controversial plans to build nine houses in the Whitchurch Conservation Area are set to be considered by the town council tonight, as residents step up their campaign against the plans.
Nine houses have been proposed for land adjacent to Church Street at The Lawn, the former home of noted judge Lord Denning. Concerns have been raised over the impact the development would have on the conservation area, as well as on the environment and traffic through the town. Whitchurch Town Council’s Development Committee will review the plans this evening, and decide whether or not to make an objection to the proposals.
Plans to build nine houses in the heart of Whitchurch have raised controversy amongst residents of the town. The houses are proposed on a patch of land at The Lawn, adjacent to Church Street and the River Test. The Lawn is the former home of Lord Denning, one of the most notable judges of the 20th century and one of Whitchurch’s most famous sons. The plans have proved controversial to residents of the town, who have raised concerns over traffic, the impact on the conservation area and impacts on the environment. The Advertiser has broken down the ongoing situation here:
Whitchurch Town Council has co-opted a new councillor following a full council meeting on Monday night. Councillors voted at a full council meeting to co-opt Dr Jessica Mercer into their ranks, which will bring the council to 12 members. Cllr Mercer said that she would contribute her skills working with charities and government to the council, helping to use her expertise on pressing matters such as climate change. Councillors met at a full council meeting of Whitchurch Town Council on Monday, February 1, to discuss a number of matters, including the co-option of a new councillor. Only one application form was presented in the meeting papers, that of Dr Jessica Mercer. Cllr Mercer gained her PhD in geography from Macquarie University, in New South Wales, Australia, in 2008, having previously been a disaster management co-ordinator for the development assistance agency ADRA Mongolia.