If Policy H6(a) is still a material consideration, and the holder of the actual planning consent does not exercise his right prior to June 2002, I would like to remind you that the approval of the Local Plan by Members in Full Council is scheduled for June.

We wish to close by thanking Cllrs Bullock and Price for genuinely listening to our concerns.
If Cllr Bullock’s motion fails, that does not mean that the direction was wrong, but that this Council was not ready for it.

REPLY:
From: Cllr Mrs Paulson-Ellis, Chairman of Western Area Planning Committee

"The planning permission for the Telephone House is valid for five years and attaches to the site rather than the applicant. Development in accordance with the permission may therefore commence at any time before it expires and therefore this permission will not be further influenced by any considerations on the Local Plan Review.

The Members' Local Plan Working Party has not yet considered the representations received on the Local Plan Review. It is not likely that these will come back to Full Council before June 2002, as there has been a considerable response, with a number of extremely complex submissions which require additional research. Policy H6(a) clearly remains in the Local Plan Review - Deposit Copy until Members consider any amendments.

It is normal practice (in accordance with government guidance on plan preparation) for sites to be excluded from Local Plan allocation policies once they have achieved a planning permission. However, the final decision will be for Members when they consider the responses to the Local Plan Review - Deposit Copy and the proposed content of the Local Plan Review - Second Deposit later in 2002."

Bizarrely, Policy H6(a) allocated for Telephone House was identical to the two refused planning applications for the Telephone House development. [1st: refused at delegated officers' level - 2nd: refused by the Councillors of the Western Area Planning Committee]. Policy H6(a) is the most controversial document, produced by the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, leading to the Telephone House Debacle.

1 year later, February 2003 - CALA Homes move in - Demolition of Telephone House Will the planners for Telephone House NOW realise, how small this site is ? Will the planners for Telephone House NOW realise, how many flats they want to cram onto this site?

The Telephone House Neighbours Association informs on CALA Homes (South) Development : CALA Group acquired the controversial planning permission for the high density development of Telephone House site, Church Road / York Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1, Kent.