Forest Holidays Fineshade Planning Application this week! Weds. Feb. 18

[Rob. M]

The planning decision for 70+ Forest Holidays lodges with allied infrastructure in Fineshade Woods is this week: 7pm Wednesday 18 February. Doors of ENC Thrapston Council Chamber will be opened to the public wishing to attend at 6.30pm. Recently Mark Avery a leading countryside campaigner and blogger joined the debate. His comments are being picked up by national media: http://markavery.info/blog/

Since the last meeting of the Development Control Committee several Councillors who previously voted against the lodges development have visited Sherwood Pines and are reported as having been quite impressed. But Sherwood Pines as its name suggests, is very different woodland and larger in area than Fineshade. To lose day-visitor and wildlife amenity amounting to 1/8 of old mixed woodland at Fineshade remains at risk. If you care about Fineshade's future and like others prefer it the way it is, please spread the word about Wednesdays Decision Meeting on social media. Another good public turnout will help again just as last time. Both local MP's are against Forest Holidays plans and have visited Fineshade but neither have a vote in the planning decision. With Corby destined to grow rapidly around Weldon/Deene, keeping the publicly owned Fineshade Wood primarily to benefit residents of Northamptonshire and our adjacent Counties seems to make planning sense; Forest Holidays already have nine other sites in England but their appetite for more seems insatiable.   

[splash]

I'll be there Rob, I hope you and others are able to make it too.

It seems as if the level of opposition is now perhaps the main/only reason left for ENC to reject this. The more boots on the ground on Wednesday evening the better.

Andy Sawford, our local MP, has sent a letter to all members of the Development Control Committee asking them to reject this proposal, following his visit to Fineshade last week.

Fingers crossed.

[Rob. M]

Hi - agree the more who attend the better! Can anyone confirm whether the Transition bus will be ferrying folk to the Thrapston meeting as mentioned earlier? Strength of local feeling against this proposal is high, though I understand that some decision makers who live further away need encouragemnt to reject the Application. When addressing snail-mail it was surprising how many of the Development Control Committee members live along the Nene Valley A45 corridor. Perhaps due to Northamptonshire being such a long thin County.   

[Rob. M]

Earlier today 17 Feb. I met our District Councillor and gained the impression that he was less confident about getting this planning application rejected on Weds. evening. So much depends upon having a very strong public attendance at Thrapston, Weds. night. Please spread the word on other social media.

[Russell Brown]

The Guardian article links to a petition against the development addressed to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government here:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/forest-privatisation-by-the-back-door

Interestingly, it's shot up by several hundred this afternoon. Unfortunately, the incumbent Secretary is one Mr Eric Pickles who's not got the best record in listening to local opinion in these parts

[Russell Brown]

...and the ENC Development Control Committee went against the recommendation of their Planning Officer and REFUSED the application

Nobody, with the exception of the chap from Forest Holidays and the Planning Officer, spoke in favour and a number of Councillors noted the fact that no members of the public commented in favour of the application.

So is it over? Maybe.... but maybe not. Forest Holidays can appeal and that would be the start of another battle but for now Fineshade is safe.

[Rob. M]

Good news for all who know and enjoy Fineshade Woods as they are! The battle is probably not over but this wise decision is a positive step. It should also spotlight other natural areas threatened by Forest Holidays (FH). Hampshire County Council had better watch out as they face the FH Planning Application within their South Downs National Park area. The Forestry Commission (FC) scored a brilliant own goal last night when one Councillor noted that Forestry had objected to the smaller Jacks Green holiday park proposal - because it would disrupt and displace wildlife in the area!  For more detail about the ENC decision meeting see: http://markavery.info/blog/  Fineshade 8

[Fineshade..]

Not really stopping...I live too far away.....
Just wanted to say well done on helping to get the development of cabins in Fineshade Wood refused....

One of my favourite places for many reasons and I'm delighted....more than delighted with the result....x

[Rob. M]

King's Cliffe resident and Save Fineshade campaigner Mark has posted an interesting account of the ENC Fineshade planning decsion meeting at http://www.kingscliffe.org.uk/fineshade-dormice.html  As mentioned, Sheena Hackett spoke very well for her Parish, also emphasising that not one local Parish Council had supported Forest Holidays Application. Later this was echoed by several Development Control Committee members as they stressed none among the many hundreds of letters received from the public favoured the holiday lodges.