News Archive
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25th November 2004
PDNPA have issued an enforcement notice in respect of Backdale. Save Longstone Edge has issued a press release welcoming this action.
23rd November 2004
Objection lodged to planning application for Arthurton West.
11th November 2004
At the annual contributors meeting the representatives of the PDNPA said they were about to issue two enforcement notices and hoped this would happen by 20 November.
20th August 2004
The PDNPA at last approved a report recommending enforcement action. The SLEG Committee will be keeping up the pressure to ensure that this decision is followed through.
18th June 2004
The PDNPA had earlier published their report proposing enforcement action. SLEG had written welcoming the decision to take action at last but pressing for a stop notice or injunction as the enforcement proceedings could drag on. Meanwhile further damage would be done to the Edge
At the meeting Beverley Primhak, PDNPA solicitor, pre-empted discussion on enforcement, and the meeting resolved to defer enforcement whilst the threat of judicial review is dealt with.
Bleaklow’s solicitors had written to the PDNPA warning them that they intended to institute judicial review proceedings on two grounds:
* The proposed ‘sterilisation’ of the minerals rights north of the county road will reduce value from Bleaklow’s ownership of the land.
* The enforcement action should not take place because there is no specific reason now. The site has been operated in the current fashion since the eighties without challenge, and there is no reason now to take this action.
SLEG is not not convinced that there is any valid reason for further delay and will be considering what further action can be taken.
May 2004
Glebe Mining have been consulting about new proposals for Watersaw Rake and are preparing to submit a further planning application and will be holding an exhibition at Great Longstone on 11 May 2004.
23rd April 2004
Planning Control Meeting
The PDNPA’s Planning Control Committee heard from Julian Tippett, Save Longstone Edge’s Secretary, and decided to commission a technical report to be considered in June. PDNPA issued a press release.
20th April 2004
Save Longstone Edge’s committee met to consider the latest report to the PDNPA Planning Control Committee meeting on Friday 23rd April. This indicated yet further delay until a decision could be reached “in due course”. This angered the committee who decided to press for much greater urgency.
26th March 2004
The PDNPA Planning Control Meeting today raised the temperature. Clearly members had read our letter, and both Peter Thompson and Andy Tickle from CPRE argued forcefully for enforcement. Andy was quite scathing but raised no hackles among members. Then Committee member Lynn Crowe said she was mortified at the officers' approach and moved the meeting to decide on enforcement that meeting.
We think everyone was amazed that the officers had so misjudged our feeling and that of members. In the end it was resolved that the officers will bring a report to the next meeting, other things being equal recommending enforcement. We felt after the meeting this was the best we could hope for, as members need to see the implications of enforcement in a report before deciding.
23th March 2004
The PDNPA have published their report for consideration on Friday 26th March. The Committee of Save Longstone Edge are meeting to discuss what response to make.
February 2004
Just before Christmas the PDNPA served a Planning Contravention Notice on the operator at Backdale (Merriman) and the owner (Bleaklow Industries). The PDNPA have reported that after a delay answers have now been received to the questions contained in the PCN. They will consider the answers carefully with a view to submitting a report and recommendations to the PDNPA Planning Control Committee, for the end of March or end of April.
As a reminder the point at issue is whether the operator is mining in accordance with the terms of the permission granted in 1952, the questions in the PCN being designed to determine the method of mining being used. We are convinced that the operation is in fact quarrying and is outside the term of the permission. Consequently we shall be working to find out what the questions and answers are in some detail, and will be urging the PDNPA to issue an enforcement notice, and if that is ineffective, a stop notice. It now looks as if we are approaching crunch time.
As for Glebe Mining on the western end of the edge, we understand the consolidating agreement is on the brink of being signed, all formalities having been completed. This will clear the air here, letting us concentrate on any new applications Glebe might make.