There is a phenomenon in psychology called cognitive dissonance, about how a person deals with holding two contradictory opinions at the same time. Ian Fox’s letters seem to be a case in point. From his partisan tone, it appears that he is a supporter of the Conservative government. He also professes to be angry at the level of development happening in Watford. Yet it is the Conservative government he supports that has trebled Watford’s housing targets to 800 per year, thus imposing on us the development he hates. Facing up to this would be uncomfortable. So he casts around for someone else to blame and chooses the borough council. He justifies this by ignoring inconvenient facts, citing irrelevant ones and resorting to further mutually contradictory arguments.
Bitter neighbours at war over shared drives and private roads in Hinckley and Bosworth leicestermercury.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from leicestermercury.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The future of design guides and codes
The latest proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) take some initial steps in the direction of the wider proposed reforms to the planning system.
Notable here is the focus on good design quality and placemaking, with local planning authorities being required to prepare ‘design guides or codes’ consistent with the National Design Guide and the recently published draft National Model Design Code (NMDC) and Guidance Notes for Design Codes (GNDC).
These guides and codes will need to be tailored to each locality, reflecting distinct character, design preferences and aspirations – based on community engagement. To carry weight in decision-making, they should also be prepared as part of a plan, or as a supplementary planning document.
Peak Wildlife Park to cut energy costs with new Biomass Energy Shed The proposal is needed in connection with the cost-effective running of the wildlife park which understandably has been financially affected by the closure due to the covid-19 pandemic restrictions .
4 March 2021
A major Staffordshire Moorlands tourist attraction has been given planning permission to construct a Biomass energy shed to help cut its electricity costs.
Plans to demolish animal houses and build a Biomass Energy Shed at Peak Wildlife Park on Ellastone Road in Winkhill, Staffordshire have been given the go ahead.
In its application, the park said the Covid-19 pandemic has been extremely challenging and that closures has meant it has had to look at reducing overheads to ensure animals can be cared for.
LAND on the edge of Basingstoke earmarked for 2,500 new homes should be protected, according to a countryside charity. The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) carried out an assessment of the countryside around Cliddesden set to be home to the Upper Swallick development. It claims that the 296 hectare site is classified as valued landscape and it should be protected. CPRE Hampshire claims it has an important contribution to the characteristics of the Basingstoke Open Downs. Christopher Napier, of CPRE Hampshire, said: Landscapes play a vital role in tackling the climate emergency by capturing carbon, cleaning the air, helping to slow flood waters and providing habitats for wildlife.