Anglesey - Island of Opportunity?

Can Anthony Ridge-Newman secure Anglesey for the Conservatives?

Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) - competes with private developers in North Wales

Readers will be aware of the name Welsh Development Agency which was "disbanded" following a reorganisation by WAG and the organisation which emerged from the ashes is "Department of Enterprise Innovations and Networks" which looks pretty much the same as WDA but re branded.

DEIN and WDA before them secured conveniently located sites along the A55 Expressway and systematically obtained planning permission for various uses including B1 Office / B2 Industrial and B8 Distribution uses.

The function of WDA during the 1980's and 1990's was to facilitate "inward investment" by pump priming the Welsh economy, securing locations and occupiers that might bring quality jobs to Wales. The WDA had limited success and controversy was never far. Starter industrial units was a speciality and perhaps WDA should never have ventured further.

Turning to the bone of contention, we have several WDA / DEIN sites along the North Wales A55 Expressway listed below.

1. StAsaph

B1 Office park location

2. Glan Conwy (sold)

Industrial

3. Bryn Cegin, Bangor

Planning permission granted for B1 / B2 / B8 undeveloped but serviced at considerable public expense.

Now JV between DEIN and private developer.

DEIN just secure permissions that private developers cannot and then use private developers to put the development together.

4. Parc Menai (part)

B1 Office park location

5. Ty Mawr, Llanfairpwll

Cited twice as unsuitable by the Planning Inspectorate for B1 offices.

Planning permission granted for regional shopping centre but application withdrawn prior to public inquiry.

6. Ty Mawr, Holyhead.

Planning permission granted for B1 / B2 / B8 undeveloped but serviced at considerable public expense.

The foregoing schemes have all been publically funded and planning permission given by local authorities that are an extension of WAG itself. Local Authorities are hardly going to argue with WAG.

However applicants are treated differently, public bodies are invariably given preferential treatment whereas private applicants are given a tough time.

DEIN are:

a) Securing permissions on controversial sites that private developers could not.

b) Have substantial influence over Local Authorities

c) Publically funded

d) Unfairly competing with private developers

e) Winning permissions and excluding private developers.

f) allowing the State to monopolise the development sector.

Clearly the State is competing with private developers and there must be legislation to prevent further state interference with the property market.

How long does this farce need to continue before people realise that the state is running everything in Wales from 2 school meals a day plus feee toothbrushes to monopolising development land.

 

Anglesey - Prison opportunity is a mirage

Given the linear coastline of North Wales is defined by the East West A55 then the latest noises are that the prison is UNLIKELY to be sited in Anglesey because alternative sites have been identified that provides a more locationally defensible site.

We believe this could site could be "land known as Greengates farm " located behind the StAsaph Business park chosen for various reasons, including:

1. Midway along A55, hence highly accessible
2. Junction location
3. Greenfield site, 70 plus acres
4. No contamination
5. Adjacent to North Wales Police Divisional HQ
6. Freehold owned by Denbighshire Council
7. Denbighshire LDP written reps deadline end of November 2009

A decision is expected imminently.

Anglesey Council awaits potential Judicial Review challenge?

Anglesey Council may have again granted a planning permission that could be seen as legally unsound where it may have misdirected itself in the eyes of the law and is therefore capable of being judicially reviewed.

This is a high profile site where it appears that the applicant has been treated differently by Anglesey Council to that of its neighbours.

Details will follow shortly....

Anglesey Farmers Market - why is it a closed shop?

Details are emerging that Anglesey Farmers Market (AFM) held at David Hughes school every three weeks is restricting the type and number of retailers which is causing concern amongs excluded parties.

We are aware that the operation, procured with the assistance of Anglesey Council Trading Standards is not providing the enterprise  "springboard" expected by budding entrepreneurs.

It seems many are being turned away and some of those who have tried to conduct their activities in alternative premises (not Council owned or run) have been told they need licenses which will cost £5,000

This matter is now being brought to the attention of the politicians in an attempt to curb officers seemingly weilding excessive power.

Any traders turned away from AFM please contact us.

Watch this space.

Anglesey - Top 10 Eyesores

On their travels, readers will be accustomed to the familiar sight of these buildings that are owned freehold by your very favorite Council.

Since their purchase by Anglesey Council some years ago, the condition of these building seem to have deteriorated further, prompting the question....."Does the Council actually have a plan for the restoration of these buildings and if so why have they not been implemented?"

Given that these buildings were acquired during the Councils previous political rule, then one has to ask....."Why were they purchased, was it because it seemed a good idea at the time?"

Perhaps the new political rulers might wish to consider a disposal however as the property market hit a high-point in 2005 then it looks like they missed the boat on achieving best values.

One to watch....

Ty Mawr, Llanfairpwll - Farcical Public Inquiry expected in 2009 (31C169C/TR/EIA/ECON)

Readers will be aware that Anglesey Council, entertained a planning application at Ty Mawr Llanfairpwll that was less than well put together; heard at two Full Council Committees but mysteriously under Planning & Orders Committee rules adopted especially at those committees but no audio recordings of the vote "adopting Planning & Orders Committee rules" are apparently available.

The Councils Full Committee on 30th January 2009 voted in favour of the previously defeated proposal however under the Planning & Orders Committee rules because the application was with an officers' recommendation for approval (God knows why?) then it had returned to Committee following a months cooling off period from the original hearing of 5th December 2008.

There is evidence to suggest that the application heard before Committee on 30th January 2009 was biased, inaccurate and key facts were misrepresented and naturally this will become further apparent in the fullness of time. We are aware that The Welsh Audit Office have taken a keen interest in the Ty Mawr, Llanfairpwll saga.

Jane Davidson AM, Minister of Environment, Sustainability & Housing has notified Anglesey Council by way of a "call-in" letter dated 30th March 2009 details are reported previously here.

Notice was received via Anglesey Council on Friday 5th June 2009 of a "Public Inquiry" to hear the body of evidence for and against the proposal before a Welsh Assembly Givernment (Planning Inspectorate) Planning Inspector later in 2009.

The developer will be arguing before The Inspector in favour of the proposal. Anglesey Council (with its members having voted in favour of the proposal at Full Council Committee stage) will also be compelled to argue in favour of the proposal. We are aware (of a body of thought) that Anglesey Council may have approved the proposal "just to appear to be in favour of development and jobs" whereas it in fact all along wanted the "problem" to be dealt with by WAG.

A Public Enquiry is a very costly process and normally a developer would expect to get no change from £250k but if costs we're awarded against the developer then this might then add a further £250k leading to a £500k bill for costs.

It is normal to employ "the very best" experts to provide evidence before The Inspector including barristers. Usually the developer and The Council would cross swords but in this instance they are on the same side in trying to get the planning permission allowed. A strange situation as the few objectors will need to club together and pool resources to make their case before The Inspector.

A David and Goliath scenario; furthermore Planning Inspectors very much dislike situations where the Council and Developer are "on the same side" because it means the hearing looks inequitous and unbalanced. Anglesey rate-payers might not think this is so bad but consider for a moment the following:

1. The Public Inquiry cost to Anglesey Council might lead to permission being allowed. This means Anglesey Council have "part funded" the defence of the permission.

2. The Welsh Assembly have provided tokenism to locals after some public unrest in Bangor citing lack of investment and choice in the town centre by announcing "grants for Amlwch, Holyhead, and Bangor" (You will recall WAG already spent £150M trying to improve Holyhead's core over a 10 year period and failed dismally as there are 50 vacant shop units and the Pettifer out of town scheme dominates the retail scene)

Why should permission for Ty Mawr, Llanfairpwll "stand" given the mountain of evidence including National Planning Policy and Anglesey Council breaking six of its own key policies?

3. Anglesey Council with Crown Estate just funded a lengthy court case regarding a marina proposal on mussel beds at Gallows Point, Beaumaris. The legal costs were not disclosed in last weeks single page spread in the Holyhead & Anglesey Mail where Clive McGregor as new Council Leader took the poisoned chalice to explain what went wrong as The Mussel Fishermen won. Clearly the previous Leadership (not Original Independents) took the decision to challenge the Mussel Fishermen but what was the cost?

Anglesey ratepayers need to ask why The Council appears to be backing some developments and not others such as the proposal by StMalo at Llangefni.

The ludicrous side of the foregoing is explained next. If the Planning Inspector finds in favour of the Ty Mawr, Llanfairpwll proposal and that the decision (to approve) should stand......wait for it..........The Welsh Assembly Government can still decide to overrule the Planning Inspectors' decision!!

What a farce! Keep watching...

"Call-in" application - European Funding or mirage?

Since our last post, all appears to have been quiet, or has it?

The "called in" scheme is now being considered by the office of Jane Davidson AM in The Wlesh Assembly Government. Readers may be aware of a suggestion of (approved) WEFO finance for the B1 office element of the scheme.

According to the Daily Post 26/11/2008 p19 the developer is quoted as saying "that the scheme had passed through the first stage of project assessment (to secure WEFO funding) and that the company were is talks with WEFO officials regarding its business plan"

At Anglesey Council's Full Committee of 5th December 2008 that first considered the application it was suggested that WEFO funding was available, the committee voted 14 to 13 against the proposal. However because the Council had "apparently" dispensed with Full Committee rules and adopted the "Planning & Orders Committee Rules (but are yet to subsequently prove it)" then a months' cooling off preiod is given because also the decision went against the officers' recommendation for approval.

At the 30th January 2009 Full Council Committee to again consider the foregoing planning application (after the cooling off period), it was stated by none less than The Corporate Director that "the project had WEFO funding." Indeed this point added weight and credibility to the applicants' development proposal. Was this situation entirely correct or was it misunderstood?

Sources close to those "in the know" in Cardiff have suggested that in the case of the above, WEFO had not provided the developer with a letter confirming that European Funds were available for the project at the time the planning application was being heard by Anglesey Council. Furthermore, it is suggested now that "NO" WEFO funds might be available for such a project, especially given the current economic climate.

Also, the developers have had many companies according to records obtained via Companies House and WEFO would have to be convinced of the applicants trading record met the stringent criteria for European Funding.

Watch this space. 

Anglesey - Council implosion or something else?

Readers will be aware of Wales's Auditor General investigation of Anglesey Council commenced on Monday 30th March 2009.

There nevertheless appears to be great confusion regarding "what exactly" is going on within the Council.

The team from the Wales Auditor Generals office headed by Rod Alcott are conducting interviews of politicians and senior corporate Directors to establish the facts. The Auditor Generals' office have set up camp at Oriel Mon where public participation is invited to help Rod Alcotts team with their enquiries.

We also hear of North Wales Police being called in by a "senior member of staff" with accusations of bullying. Anglesey residents must wonder what on earth is going on, why would the Council seek to have the MD despatched along with other Senior staff?

There are allegations and counter-allegations nevertheless the word amongst those in "the know" seems to be pointing towards a key principle. When decisions are made by the politicians there seems to be a problem in getting those decisions implemented, viz; a lack of co-operation by some Corporate Directors. This has apparently led to an erosion of trust and the situation as set out above.

Fundamental principles are at stake, no less than the "impartiality" of some public servants is called into question. Council workers are, after all, "Civil Servants" who are expected to execute orders regardless of political flags, colours or their own personal political beliefs.

An inability or failure of senior management to act with probity leaves the ruling political coalition with no option but to "cleanse" the Council. If individuals have grievances or bad personal experiences or been given the "rough end of the pineapple" by the Council whether via politician or staff member then it is important you make The Wales Auditor General aware of the problems you experienced.

Business is suffering in Anglesey not only because of the recession but also because of "an image problem" and "an inability to get anything done quickly that involves Council input." Ratepayers whether working or retired are quietly suffering at the "Island of Choice."

No Council in Britain can afford to defy its electorate; the aim should be in providing "excellent public administration" and failure to deliver or be accountable should lead to "a purge" as remember, they work for us!

Anglesey - Ty Mawr "called-in" by Welsh Assembly Government Minister

We can exclusively report that Jane Davidson AM, Minister of Environment, Sustainability & Housing has notified Anglesey Council by way of a "call-in" letter dated 30th March 2009 in respect of the foregoing departure application granted planning permission on 30th January 2009.

In the call-in letter to Anglesey Council the minister states the reason for all in as:

1. That the proposed development raises planning issues of more than local importance.

2. That there are issues which may conflict with National policy in respect of development in the open countryside

3.  Sustainability issues

4. Siting of and impact ofdevelopment in the open countryside.

5. To potentially have an effect beyond the immediate locality in terms of of its impact on other centres within the locality.

The foregoing potentially spells good news for Anglesey and Caernarfonshire as whereas members of Anglesey Council were seduced by the proposal, the silent majority were opposed to the proposal, we hope common sense shall prevail and the Welsh Ministers will "switch off" the permission.

A copy of the call-in letter is below: