Ware Online Community Forum

Wareite1969 wrote:... we have councillors having a different opinion from their own officers regarding policy.

In the case of the green belt issue, councillors at the committee meeting were advised that despite it being previously developed land, it was designated green belt and therefore should not available for development. However, councillors decided to ignore this fact and allow the development. They have effectively decided to ignore it's green belt status. Now, you might argue that it shouldn't be in the green belt at all, but the fact is that it's designated green belt in the Local Plan and it's not development committee's role to redraw green belt boundaries. IMHO. By recommending refusal due to green belt status the planning officers were simply doing their job in upholding the council's green belt policy. If councillors then subsequently ignore their own policy (and the NPPF) they should be fully prepared to account for their actions to The Planning Inspectorate.

Oh boo hoo hertford - you've still got Poundland in East Herts finest top notch street 'Maindenhead Street'.

The local councils gave permission for Morrison Hoddesdon n Sainsburys hertford so how can they then turn down Waitrose @ Van Hague's? Yes transport will be a problem but hey they somehow disgracefully gave permission to Asda despite the awful transport problems that will cause.

They are leaving hertford (and whom can blame them) - get over it!

kevin phillips bong wrote:Oh boo hoo hertford - you've still got Poundland in East Herts finest top notch street 'Maindenhead Street'.

The local councils gave permission for Morrison Hoddesdon n Sainsburys hertford so how can they then turn down Waitrose @ Van Hague's? Yes transport will be a problem but hey they somehow disgracefully gave permission to Asda despite the awful transport problems that will cause.

They are leaving hertford (and whom can blame them) - get over it!

Harsh but fair. It's apparently fine to range a new out of town Sainsburys against a Waitrose already competing against an out of town Tesco and then expect them to stay when their lease is nearly up.

kevin phillips bong wrote:Oh boo hoo hertford - you've still got Poundland in East Herts finest top notch street 'Maindenhead Street'.

The local councils gave permission for Morrison Hoddesdon n Sainsburys hertford so how can they then turn down Waitrose @ Van Hague's? Yes transport will be a problem but hey they somehow disgracefully gave permission to Asda despite the awful transport problems that will cause.

They are leaving hertford (and whom can blame them) - get over it!

Just a point of information: It's Poundstretcher not Poundland. One charges a quid the other is more expensive.

Hertford Tory Councillors arrogance appalling. #GoWaitrose #Ware1Hertford0

I know it's a long established rivalry and good fun, but the Waitrose move will unfortunately affect both Ware and Hertford as nobody from either town will park there and then go on to the local shops. For this reason alone this was a stupid decision by EHDC, we would all be better off without a Waitrose altogether than one here.

PS Why not have re enactments of the tussles between Hertford and Ware residents on the river during the Hertford and Ware festivals?

I can't really see that Ian, people from Ware who want Waitrose will already be going to Hertford to shop rather than here.
I would be surprised if it made any difference to Ware at all.

Ian wrote:I know it's a long established rivalry and good fun, but the Waitrose move will unfortunately affect both Ware and Hertford as nobody from either town will park there and then go on to the local shops. For this reason alone this was a stupid decision by EHDC, we would all be better off without a Waitrose altogether than one here.

PS Why not have re enactments of the tussles between Hertford and Ware residents on the river during the Hertford and Ware festivals?

How would local employment be better off by them leaving altogether ? Anyone from Ware drove there and didn't go on to local Ware shops so no change there. Waitrose have stated time and time again that they are leaving Hertford so this decision changes nothing there. Vast majority of staff employed there will, I'm sure, continue to work at the new store and a larger store = more people employed. Local people employed will hopefully spend their money locally in some part therefore economy benefits.

It's not all about the direct spending of the customers but keeping people employed who will then spend in the local economy.

An interesting development (pardon the pun)

http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=31794

"Van Hages application postponed

The planning application submitted by Van Hages for refurbishment and erection of a food store has been withdrawn from the development management committee of Wednesday July 22.

Following publication of the reports for the meeting, the council has received a legal opinion on behalf of a third party which raises issues in relation to the decision made by the committee on March 25 in relation to these proposals.

The council is of the view that the issues raised require proper assessment and it will be taking legal advice.

Given the timescales, it is not possible to do this before the meeting on July 22 so the item has been withdrawn.

The date of a future committee meeting to deal with this matter will be confirmed as soon as possible. "

Some simple digging reveals the third party to be Asda, who are claiming that the decision to grant planning permission was based on "material errors of law".

And Mark Prisk seems to have been active on it as well.

http://www.markprisk.com/news/prisk-ask ... pplication

"In a letter to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Mark Prisk MP asks Greg Clark to hold a public enquiry over Van Hage application in Great Amwell."