Planners refuse to pull the plug on mental health hospital in City Gate
PLANNING permission for 61 major projects in Derby will not be withdrawn, despite council officers admitting that residents were not properly consulted before the developments were approved.
The Derby Telegraph revealed in May that the projects, which include a controversial mental health hospital in City Gate, were not properly advertised by officers.
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The City Gate development
After the series of blunders came to light, councillors agreed to consider whether approval for the projects should be revoked.
But members of Derby City Council's planning control committee last night voted in favour of allowing permission to remain.
Speaking after the meeting, committee chairman Councillor Robin Wood said: "We've had the chance to revoke them, we've had an all-party group looking at them in detail, and the committee has decided not to revoke planning permission for any of them."
Madeline Hackett, who originally drew attention to the planning blunder, spoke in favour of revoking permission for the City Gate development at the meeting, on behalf of Wilmorton's Residents' Group.
She said: "We object on the grounds that the actual site chosen will not contribute or hasten the recovery of anyone being treated there. By allowing this development to commence without full public consultation, both the council and its planning department have successfully alienated the public against any type of community involvement."
The council received 60 objections to the unit after it reopened the consultation process by advertising in the press, once the blunder had been revealed.
Paul Clarke, corporate director of regeneration, told the meeting: "There is nothing in terms of material planning considerations by which to conclude that the planning permission was wrong."
He said Cygnet Healthcare, behind the development, had been asked why it believed the site was suitable for the development.
In response, it said it was close to public transport links, shops and community services such as GPs and dentists, and was neither isolated nor in the middle of a densely populated area.
Councillor Wood called on all those behind future controversial developments to speak to local residents about their plans.
He said: "I do hope lessons have been learned.
"Consultation with local people is always useful, always productive and can prevent an awful lot of misunderstanding."
The committee voted unanimously to accept Mr Clarke's findings regarding the other 60 applications.
Click here to read more about the planning blunders
5 Comments
by Robbo, Derbys
Friday, July 31 2009, 1:52PM
“The way that some council officers and staff are able to get away with what may be seen as sheer incompetence beggers belief. As it doesn¿t directly affect them it¿s the typical ¿I¿m alright Jack¿ syndrome. ALL officers and staff that have failed to carry out their duty should be dismissed and replaced with competent able individuals who at least are able to read and interpret what the current planning laws are. As ever, it will be the immediate local residents that will suffer, and ALL of the local taxpayers that will have to foot the bill for this crass situation that the council is in at present.
Was there also something last week about some of the Councils I.T. systems being out of action for three days because of possible virus corruption ? If so, consideration should again be given to dismissing the Officers and staff responsible for allowing this to happen. In today¿s I.T. environment, this may be seen as neglectful.
After all, it is the Councillors who are reliant upon the so called expertise of Salaried and ¿final salary pensioned¿ Officers and staff.”
by worried, Derbys
Friday, July 31 2009, 12:52PM
“I have recently heard this unit is to house catagory one inmates, if this is the case the residents have every right to be worried it will have an impact on the house prices, not to mention that should one of these inmates escape, there is the safety issue as well. The council has shown its contempt for the people of Derby once again, first in not notifying residents in the area, second, by going against the residents yet again when they opposed the building. The planning department and the Liberal Democrats are obviously a law unto themselves.”
by Onlooker, Derby
Friday, July 31 2009, 12:14PM
“Which members of the council and planning department got paid an extra bonus for railroading this
decision through?”
by Hugh, Derby
Friday, July 31 2009, 10:57AM
“No surprise here then. The same council planning officers who said nothing was wrong with the original 61 applications, now say there is still nothing wrong. And they get to keep their jobs unlike people in the real world who would have been dismissed for far minor misdeeds.
Bet this lot will give themselves a pay rise for fixing the problem!”
by Louise, Derby
Friday, July 31 2009, 8:33AM
“Another mess from the planners and local people IGNORED! It is an absolute disgrace for the council to ignore - not even consult local people - if i were local i would seek further legal advice as i dont believe the council have acted appropriately?????”