2nd April 2014

*** AS WE KNOW SO YOU KNOW ***

 

1. We have submitted that the ERYC has misled (twice) the Planning Inspectorate as to the suitability of our Village Hall for holding the Inquiry in its entirety;
   
   
2. The Respondent ERYC is NOT representing residents in these matters (for either appeal);
   
   
3. At the Inquiry residents/you only have an opportunity to ask questions of the public servants of ERYC and also the evidence from the developer through ourselves.  In order for that to happen you have to be able to attend and pass our Counsel a note of what you want asked, and in addition you can make your own statement and have your own say but SOF (Rule 6 party) are the only means by which you get to ask questions of the ERYC and developer.  Unless the venue is the Village Hall we cannot see how this can happen;
   
   
4. Neither the Ward nor Parish Council are a Rule 6 party and are therefore in the same position as any lay person making a statement but they cannot ask questions within the Inquiry;
   
   
5. SOF are a party (Rule 6) to the first appeal but were prevented from becoming a party to the second because our evidence opposing it would not be ready in time.  The appeals were conjoined by a Case Officer at the Planning Inspectorate solely on the basis of the developer’s submissions and knowing both ERYC and SOF opposed it;
   
   
6. The Public Inquiry timetable was set by the developer, St Modwen;
   
   
7. Both appeals are due to be heard together at County Hall, Beverley starting 29th April 2014;
   
   
8. All parties exchanged evidence on 1st April 2014 including SOF (SOF received two boxes of further evidence from both the developer and ERYC and are waiting to hear about a third box from ERYC which they appear to have failed to serve three weeks ago);
   
   
9. As of Friday 28th March 2014 (see previous News Update and red SOF files at PO and Dr Mitchell’s surgery) both ERYC, Hull City Council and Lord Haskins of Skidby of Humber Local Enterprise Partnership wrote to the developer asking them to withdraw the appeals within 7 days and enter discussions following the Siemens announcement last week – this has been followed by further correspondence from Hull City Council today.  Therefore, SOF pruned our evidence in case the Inquiry does not continue but we also have to submit rebuttal evidence by 15th April 2014 so can submit further evidence then (which will also take into consideration the evidence served on us 1st April 2014);
   
   
10. Today we have submitted to all parties that we consider a stay (postponement) of these proceedings to be necessary in order for us to become a Rule 6 party to the second appeal and be able to obtain our evidence to oppose it and have said:
    
    1. “We seek parity with the other parties whose resources, as we have pointed out in our covering letter with our statements, are disproportionately greater than our own, and who are both only doing their jobs - in the case of one we are funding them and in the case of the other it is a tax deduction.  We are all doing considerably more and in an environment, as you will see from our statements, unsupported by both Ward and Parish Councillors and you will have noted the Planning Inspectorate’s recommendation for a report to the Local Government Ombudsman about their conduct.  
       
       
    2. We assert our right to be properly heard, just as we are properly represented by Counsel (acting under the Direct Access scheme, as is Counsel for the developer Appellant).
       
       
    3. You will further note that in the event the appeals are discontinued we have requested wasted costs for and on behalf of the Access to Justice Foundation which is the normal course for pro bono cases”
       
        
       
       
11. Today the Planning Inspectorate has emailed to confirm that they have yet to appoint an Inspector for the Inquiry.
    
    
12. We have copied in both the Leaders of ERYC and Hull City Council and Lord Haskins of Skidby Chairman of Humber Local Enterprise Partnership on our evidence which supports SOF continuing to be informed, included and involved on behalf of us all in any discussions, negotiations or considerations about Melton Fields/ old Capper Pass site and development which may affect us all in North Ferriby notwithstanding Parish or Ward boundaries.
    
    
13. Please note there is another Public Inquiry into the whole of the East Riding of Yorkshire Strategic Development Plan (you may have come across it as DSP – Draft Strategic Plan – or as Forward Planning) later in the summer and we have put in our paperwork to be heard and included as it will affect us all until 2029 (it is the development plan for the whole region for the next 15 years). 
    
    
14. As you will have seen from our previous News Update the developer St Modwen is pushing for North Ferriby to be developed into a Town and the ERYC are saying that this is “progressive” but should be considered in with the, currently, Draft Strategic Plan at the later Public Inquiry in the summer (that means decided by Central Government). This concerns us as Elloughton-cum-Brough became a Town via the “backdoor” and we do not want the same happening to us.
    
    
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