“Thanks Chris- I'm sure that will be of help to some. Perhaps it would be useful for the local council to explain this too, especially when embarking on major decisions that will have a big impact on communities!”

“Jo, there are a lot of questions that remain unanswered and I think the planning process is left rather wanting in that there should be more consultation. On the point of objecting or supporting an application, I find that the majority of people do not know how to do this and some think that they need to visit Roman House to place an ojection or support comment or are unaware that the option is available to them at all.
These are available on-line or by posting a letter to the planning dept. Note has to be made of th planning application which must be publicised before a decision is made (recent news shows thatr the DCC failed to do this with 60 applications). Read site notices (must be posted on lamp-posts, buildings or her suitable locatons near to the proposed development) and quote this in your letter to the planning dept. Better still if this is something you feel strongly about, organise your frinds and neighbours and get them to submit letters to the planning dept.”

“Chris- I agree, there seems to be a real inconsistency about opportunities for public objections to planning decisions.
But also the DET have recently hilighted 60+ applications, including for a mental health hospital, that were hardly advertised, and local people not consulted?
I wonder by what process this all takes place- also considering what has happened over the absence of parking provision for staff at the royal Derby- a major oversight?

Perhaps what links so many of these stories is the issue of "planning" processes?

Maybe there needs to be an independent review of local councils' planning depts?

With regard to the Hippodrome- thank God local people have lobbied and raised the profile of this tragedy!

But it also begs the question- how could a Grade II listed theatre/building be sold off in the first place, to any out of town developer?
(I thought ?Derby New Theatre/amateur groups had put in a decent bid- and had that been accepted- look what a different outcome that would have been!)

Who is responsible for these
decisions, and why are local people/interested parties rarely consulted?

Perhaps it all boils down to money, regardless of the merits.”

“I agree with Paul, there is little option. There would have been uproar if the art deco building had been demolished, probably to build around 20 small houses on the site. I've often seen that car park full to overflowing so there can't be too great an increase in traffic volume. I'm sure there will be less noise than a busy pub produces. Five complainants is hardly a massive protest but, as already stated, the elderly carless people in the area will benefit greatly. Sorry for the little corner shops in the area but lifestyles change.”

“Paul - I don't really know. My issue is more with the bigger pitcure of the demise of the 'local' in general than one singular example, even though this one does hold a lot of personal memories for me. Individuals creating imaginery statistics from fairytale surveys backed up with little/no local knowledge add nothing to the debate though.”

“John

what would you do with the site as it is closed and will never be a pub again?”

“"Ask most of the locals that live in the area whether they approve of a Tesco`s and most will be in favour" - what is the source of that research grumpy? Assuming it's not just a claim you've made up to support your opinion. As for your remark about shops, you clearly don't know the area very well. There are several general purpose shops within a ten minute walk. I don't recall one person being in favour of the store in any edition of the DET I have read.”

“Jo, there seems to be a shortage of objections to this application. The Hippodrome has over 60 objections with 12 rather weak letters of support for a car park.
I put this lack of objections to two things, one being the council's failure to effectively publicise the applications and a certain amount of apathy on the part of local people.

The Hipodrome has received a lot of publicity up until the application was sbmitted but the feelings have been running very high and objections have been coming though at a substantially higer level than is normally expected for a planning application. Maybe a better co-ordinated objection for the pub would have been more effective? People need to be kept informed and need to take action by posting objections.

The Incinerator plans have received lots of objections and a delay has been achieved, but planning applications never seem to attract the numbers of objections tat reflect true public opinion.
The Hippodrome case is yet to be considered by the planning control committee and it is yet to be judged as to whether or not the committee of elected councillors is serving people who elect them or the developers.”

“"Brewerys are after all greedier than supermarkets" - but the government slice from alcohol knocks them both into a cocked hat. As at March 2008 - "For every pint of beer sold in the on-trade, the Government receives approximately £1.14 in tax revenue (beer duty = 33p, VAT = 37p, employment taxes = 44p)".”

“As it has been empty for a while as have many other pubs all over the county what would you do -change its use or knock it down as they are the only 2 options available”