The Caston Blog

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Breckland Reneges on Land Sale

by Webmaster - 18:56 on 23 June 2010

The area of land adjacent to the Caston Telephone exchange, together with the green area in front of Coronation Terrace, was agreed to be given by Breckland Council to the Caston Parish Council as a local amenity.

Caston Parish Council was to take responsibility for this area and were to pay for the legal costs involved in the land transfer. Caston Parish Council applied to Awards for All and were given a grant to cover these legal costs which was subsequently granted. The deal was agreed in 2009 and the matter was being progressed by the council's legal team and Caston Parish Council's solicitor. Legal costs have been incurred by both parties.

Earlier this year Breckland Council indicated that they were to change their mind on this grant of land adjacent to the exchange and would seek planning permission for a pair of semi-detached houses to be built on the area but would still continue to grant the remainder of the land to Caston Parish.

Caston Parish Council have strongly protested this change of policy by Breckland Council for several reasons. Clearly the building of houses on this area of land would mean a loss of the established trees on the site and would be detrimental to the appearance of the area, not to mention the loss of a playing area currently used by local children.

The Chief Executive of Breckland Council has recently written to Caston Parish Council advising them that Breckland will continue to pursue building permission for the site, despite the parish's protest, as they wish to sell it for the building of houses in order to raise revenue for Breckland Council. They have now said that only in the event that planning consent cannot be secured would they reconsider the decision to transfer the land to the parish

There are many who feel that this decision is to the detriment of our village and wish to see this building plan rejected.

If anyone wants further information they can see the record of proceedings in the Caston Parish Council Minutes available on the web ( http://www.castonparishcouncil.co.uk/minutesagendas.asp ) or can contact the Parish Clerk for more information that is in the public domain.  Copies of the diary of events on this matter are available from the Parish Clerk should any parishioner require one.

If you have a view on this there are two actions you can take.  Please enter your thoughts right here on this page so others can see them and then write to Breckland's Planning Officer to make your views known.  If you are in favour then the scheme will almost certainly go through.  If you are against the scheme and do nothing then the scheme will almost certainly go through.  If you are against the scheme you need to make your views known.

Comment from Concerned resident at 11:36 on 26 June 2010.
I feel strongly that this is an outrageous decision by Breckland Council, and is part of an 'amenity grab' - with the potential loss of the use of this land by local children. Another point is how is this going to be presented at the development control committee - when the council itself wishes to seek planning permission for semi-detached houses on the site? I would be in favour of contacting the Look East news desk and the EDP in order to fight this decision. It is a story that would probably get considerable traction in the media, and a media approach is probably the best way to stop this loss of amenity. If there is strong opinion against this decision by Breckland Council, then people need to make their voices heard and we need to organise a proper media campaign. So I'd encourage people to say what they think on this blog.
Comment from Malcolm Valentine at 08:18 on 06 July 2010.
That piece of beautifully shaded land along with its neighbour is one of two plots where most of the local children and their friends congregate and play. It is a safe area as those approaching the village can see them, their bikes, footballs and other toys.
To desecrate it for a few pieces of silver is not worthy of our local council.
Comment from Helen Maxwell at 11:20 on 14 July 2010.
Regarding the sudden change by Breckland Council to its decision to grant Caston Parish Council two small pieces of green space in the village is shameless.

It is even more shameless if it feels that it can retract on its initial agreement and then push building permission through its own development control committee! Had the land belonged to anyone else I doubt that this permission would be granted.

This area can be seen as an open green space on entering the village and has been used for some time now by local children to play on. The area also includes three established trees which would be lost if the proposed building goes ahead.

We don’t want houses crammed onto this small green area - leaving aesthetics aside, practical issues such as parking in Coronation Terrace and vehicle access to the telephone exchange will become a nightmare! Get a grip Breckland - there are many other ways that you can make money other than retracting on legal agreements and spoiling small open spaces in local villages!
Comment from Steve Farmbrough at 15:05 on 14 July 2010.
I cannot believe Breckland are even considering building 2 properties on this piece of land. If anyone else was to buy it and apply for planning, they would throw it out at the first stage. If their "planners" let this one through, they can call themselves anything but "planners". Not impressed at all.
Comment from Pat Butterfield at 19:02 on 14 July 2010.
What is the matter with Breckland Council!! You cannot give something to someone, i.e. Caston, and then want to take it back, ridiculous! That piece of land is ideal for children to play on where they can be seen to be safe. Caston has no where else for the kids to go and play and enjoy themselves.
Comment from (No Name Given) at 16:22 on 15 July 2010.
What a silly idea already we do not have enough carpark spaces,access is already cramped, then with BT trying to park for service work in the exchange, where do they suggest the driveways to the plot go, not another potential driveway onto the Attleborough Rd, its an accident in the waiting. Leave the kids to play, what harm do they cause? answer none. Kids need space otherwise they get bored.
Comment from (No name given) at 15:32 on 20 July 2010.
I think we should embarrass Breckland Planning and get the EDP involved. Does anyone have suitable contacts?
Comment from graham at 11:01 on 22 July 2010.
Can we get the tree preservation council to put an order on the trees that would stop the council in they tracks, maybe to trees are a home to some rare insect or something?
Might be worth looking into
Comment from Helen Maxwell at 13:11 on 29 July 2010.
Just to let people know that 19 letters re:Breckland's reversal on land decision and proposed future buildng on the green space have been lodged with Caston Parish council.
Please anybody else who would like to voice their opinion send letter to the Parish clerk. The more objections we have the stronger our collective voice. Thank you.

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