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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2014 16:54:22 GMT
The documents are online now. What do you think of them? I see that Imran Atcha is now admitting to being the brother-in-law of Ismael Rhyman (or 'Ismail Rhymansaib', as he rather oddly spells the name). No admission of other family connections between Gymnasian and the city council, though.
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Post by Joe K on Jan 4, 2014 10:42:59 GMT
It looks dubious (again) but with only an onscreen keyboard right now, I'll have to put off comment for now. It's taking too long!
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Post by Joe K on Jan 7, 2014 12:19:10 GMT
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Post by Joe K on Jan 8, 2014 0:24:00 GMT
This is rich. A new document has been added, a plan which suggests that the FC own more than the fenced off area, but are, as it were, 'allowing' the public to still use it. They still can't claim that this extra portion has been used for 'grazing' purposes, and good luck persuading anyone that the path they are going to try to close isn't a public right of way...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2014 15:22:53 GMT
When the lease was signed on 1st August 2011, the whole blue shaded area did become the property of Gymnasian; it's simply that very few members of the public were aware of this fact because it wasn't advertised. That's the issue that must be hammered home to the media and others who seem to be in favour of the development.
Paths in a public park are neither public rights-of-way nor highways unless they are officially recorded as such. Unfortunately, there are no public rights-of-way in that area, the only the highways are Albany Street itself and the alleyway between Albany Street and High Street.
I don't know if you've noticed, but Imran Atcha now claims that there are four parking spaces on site. As I have mentioned before, there are no lawful parking spaces on site. He must be counting land at the hammerhead, which is legally classified as highway and therefore no-one is allowed to park there because of the double yellow lines. There is also the unlawful parking space nearer to the entrance. I must tell the county council about the parking that is taking place from time to time on land that they classify as highway land. I also notice that some highway land next to the allotments has been unlawfully fenced off for some years now.
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Post by Joe K on Jan 9, 2014 3:00:45 GMT
I missed the bit about parking spaces, but while it turns out that there are so many exemptions to the prohibition on parking in that hammerhead that there is little danger of prosecution (even though you might expect enforcement officers to post tickets first, and leave it to the car owners to challenge), you certainly couldn't describe those spaces as designated for parking.
I note also that Highways, in the form of Alison Curtis, have objected to the plan:
Our Ref: G/2014/031336 Your Ref: 13/01311/FUL Date: 6 January 2014
Dear Gavin,
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 HIGHWAY RECOMMENDATION
LOCATION: St James City Farm Albany Street Gloucester GL1 4NG PROPOSED: The Erection of a new all weather 40x20 riding arena/menage on the St James City Farm Site adjacent to St James Park. Complete with new exterior fencing, lighting and drainage. Currently used as animal grazing space and exercising paddock for a variety of large animals.
The proposal seeks permission for an all weather riding facility totally 800sqm. As such the proposal requires a Transport Statement to be submitted with the application. The Transport Statement is required to be composed in accordance with the DfT Guidance on Transport Assessment including pre-application discussion and scoping with the Local Highway Authority. I refer to the above planning application received on 3rd January 2014. I recommend that this application be refused on highway grounds for the following reason:
In sufficient information has been submitted to enable the Planning Authority to adequately assess the highway impact of the proposal and as such may increase conflict among motorised and non-motorised users and thus would fail to provide safe and suitable access for all contrary to paragraph 32 of the NPPF.
Yours sincerely,
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2014 17:02:34 GMT
Yes, I noticed the Highways letter, but I suspect that all that is required is an impact assessment, which probably wouldn't be too difficult to do.
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Post by Joe K on Jan 11, 2014 17:28:56 GMT
These are all the comments for the new application, including yours and mine, Kay:
Dear Gavin, I have tried twice to make a comment on the planning application for St James City Farm (your ref 13/01311/FUL) and each time the system has reject my statement. I am therefore emailing you the substance of my comment: 'As vicar of St James Church, which is next door to St James City Farm, I would like to formally state my full support for the application. I think the addition of a riding arena will greatly enhance the work of the farm and be an asset to the community.' Kind regards Tom Wilson Vicar
Gavin Jones, via email. 2nd January 2014 Objection to riding arena, 13/01311/FUL Dear Mr. Jones, The above application has now been validated, according to your website, and yet at the time of writing (4.30pm) there are still no actual documents to be viewed under the application number. The clock should not start ticking until residents can see the documents. Another complaint that I have relates to the information that is currently available; you have lied about the current use of the site. Your description of the site states: “Currently used as animal grazing space and exercising paddock for a variety of large animals.” Firstly, the existing paddock was only supposed to be used on a temporary basis, and has never had planning permission for change of use from utility grass in a public park to grazing land (which presumably comes under a different planning use class). Secondly, only part of the application area is currently fenced off as a paddock; the rest has never been used by the city farm at any time. The only reason that the city farm needed to use part of St. James’ Park as an extra paddock in the first place was that they turned one of their paddocks into allotments, thus depriving the animals of grazing land. I question where the current animals will be grazed if this planning application is allowed and the temporary paddock is turned into part of the riding arena.Will the other large animals be got rid of? The three or four ponies will surely take up the grazing land in the other paddocks. Further objections will follow once I have had the chance to view the documents. Yours sincerely, Kay Powell.
This is my objection to the re-submitted planning application, 13/01311/FUL | The Erection of a new all weather 40x20 riding arena/menage on the St James City Farm Site adjacent to St James Park. Complete with new exterior fencing, lighting and drainage. Currently used as animal grazing space and exercising paddock for a variety of large animals. | St James City Farm Albany Street Gloucester GL1 4NG Despite the claim that the original submission was withdrawn because of lighting detail issues, that submission was riven with flaws, and the council/farm failed to notify residents of its existence and then, after promising that the consultation period would be extended after new documents were produced, failed to do so. It was therefore inevitable that the application would be withdrawn, as it would otherwise be dogged by this feckless behaviour. Besides the fact that the public 'consultation' the Friendship Café speak of is practically non-existent, one concrete barrier to this development is that the area chosen for the arena, if it could even be said to have been earmarked for such a purpose originally, is only half the area required. If the council turns a blind eye to this fact, and gives some kind of dispensation allowing for more land to be grabbed, that would be the height of arrogance, and simply reward, or at least excuse, incompetence. I should like to see the City Farm inviting residents to a genuine consultation before any further plans are advanced. There are many things the Friendship Café could introduce in our ward that could be an asset to the community, but to introduce effectively by stealth something that would eat up a large chunk of the park and only be used by a small section of the community is not one of them. Especially if the FC will not guarantee that existing livestock on the farm will not suffer, or even be removed, as a consequence. Joe Kilker
I wish to comment on the application for a Riding School at Gloucester City Farm. As a local resident, I consider the City Farm to be a great asset to Tredworth. The Friendship Cafe are very good managers, and it is excellent for community cohesion. I am in favour of this proposal, as local children would have the chance to go riding. It builds links with Hartpury College, and some may take a course there as a result of this facility. This is the case for my daughter who has been a volunteer at the City Farm. It also makes the area safer, St James' park does not always feel safe. Yours sincerely Louise Spira
I would like to comment on the proposal for a riding school at St James City Farm. The farm and Friendship Cafe have given my children the unique opportunity to participate in funded horse riding lessons at the Summerhouse Equestrian Centre. The lessons were extremely enjoyable and of immense benefit to my children. Had the lessons not been funded or available I, as a single parent, would not have been able to afford to give my children the experience. I feel a more local riding school would be of huge benefit, appreciation and popularity within the local and wider community and would offer parents and children an opportunity and experience that otherwise may not be readily available or accessible to most. Therefore I support the application on behalf of St James City Farm Riding School. Many thanks. Donna Annakie
Dear sir/Madam, I am writing the following comments in support of the riding school being proposed for the St James city farm. It is an excellent idea and would prove invaluable for many of the residents of the city of Gloucester and its suburbs to have such a facility within the inner city, something traditionally which would only be confined to the countryside areas of Gloucestershire. I know that there would be a substantial uptake in horse riding as either a hobby or as a competitive sport at the facility, with keen individuals maybe even pursuing careers in related areas at say Hartpury college or at the numerous riding facilities dotted around the country. Regards Saeed Bham
They all seem a little samey, and you have to feel a little sorry for the Friendship Café that evidently, the call for their friends, supporters and aquaintances to spam the site with approving comments met with a lacklustre response. All these three above harp about is how wonderful an opportunity it is for their children, not a word about why it should take up park space, or what could be lost on the farm once the FC get what they've always wanted.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2014 16:58:10 GMT
I see that the BTNP has wholeheartedly endorsed the application. Imran Atcha is now claiming that there will be only 2-3 ponies, but that 40 children will be able to ride them. Allowing for the ponies to rest, that doesn't give much actual riding time for each child. And how many children will be on the waiting list? I bet that there are literally hundreds of children who would like a chance to ride a pony, so I can foresee a lot of disappointment. Raising children's hopes is cruel.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2014 17:05:30 GMT
I just had the brilliant idea of Googling Ismail Rhymansaib, and I see that as long ago as March 2009, the Friendship Cafe were referring to him as their 'Legal Department'. I remember that you told me at some time that Ismael Rhyman was some type of lawyer, so it must be the same person, despite the different spelling. It must be nice to have a lawyer on hand to tell them how to play the council system.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2014 17:21:21 GMT
For some reason, I had it in my mind that there was a full council meeting tonight, but I now see that it is next week. That's a bit of a shame, as I wanted one more 'go' at Paul James and Saj Patel before the end of the consultation period for the riding arena application.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2014 13:56:21 GMT
The City Farm continues to promote itself in the media, including claiming that its Gloucestershire old spot pig, Star, is psychic. They seem to have no shame when bullshitting - or in this case pigshitting.
One piece of good news is that Mrs. Tracey Hergest, who lives next to the park, has objected to the planning application, despite acknowledging that there is very little for young children in the area. Bless you, Tracey. The council has failed to redact her address; perhaps you'd like to have a go at them about this clear breach of their rules, which funnily enough only seems to happen to objectors' comments, never supporters' comments.
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Post by Joe K on Jan 21, 2014 11:10:16 GMT
They still haven't published the comment I made yesterday, so I''ll post it here, along with Lucy Elkova's... I am a resident of Albany St and a young person who used to volunteer at St James City farm when I was younger. I have greatly benefited from the opportunity to volunteer and also I learnt to ride when they arranged for me to have lessons at Green Acre Stables, Lea. My sister could not attend as there were insufficient spaces and so we would love for there to be an opportunity to learn to ride in Tredworth as it would be much more convenient and much more affordable. Lucy Elkova Objection to riding arena, 13/01311/FUL I see that, following my comment about the fenced off area being only half the size of what the Friendship Café actually intend to deprive park users from enjoying, a new plan was added which implies that the original area specified was only ever intended to denote the 'grazing and excercise paddock', and that a further portion of the park, never fenced off, is 'Unused city farm site space currently left for public recreational use and access'. These spaces combined, the implication being, to form the boundaries of the riding arena (with an extra bit 'required for menage construction' but still pushing the 'new proposed boundary line' out further). As a 2010-2011 park consultation held by the city council illustrated, no part of either of these areas was ever presented to the public as a potential site for a riding arena. All it refers to is the 'new farm paddock', when the consultation would have been, one would have thought, the perfect opportunity to sound out residents about an arena if such a project had been envisaged at the time. In actual fact, whatever the Friendship Café says to the contrary, 'public' consultation has always meant private briefings, at meetings where residents were barred from attending. Although you might think that any residents' association meeting would involve residents as a matter of course, the Tredworth Estates Tenants & Residents Association meeting Imran Atcha presented the FC proposal to was for committee members only. Residents wouldn't have even known what was discussed if not for the curious practice of presenting committee minutes at public meetings and vice versa. For the record, the Barton & Tredworth Neighbourhood Partnership did NOT have 'discussions' with its 'members', because it rarely invites opinions from residents on anything, and hasn't held an open meeting in over a year. Certainly, they would not be 'inundated' with support because people in Barton & Tredworth care very little about what the partnership thinks or does. After three years of failing to provide residents with either a newsletter or a community emergency plan, I challenge them to demonstrate otherwise. It's because of this lack of interaction with residents that I object to a plan which may result in serious changes to a community project which, however 'delapidated' the Friendship Café regards it, offers the same attractions to city dwellers it always has - a range of farm animals and information about the countryside, as well as regular petting zoos (rabbits and guinea pigs). It seems as if the council are more interested in getting someone else to shoulder responsibility for the farm's upkeep, and less in what that someone else might be looking to get out of the transaction. I should note, finally, that my complaint about the amateurish way the planning department handled the previous application, with its poor documentation, has apparently gone undealt with, despite several months passing by. Perhaps council employees think that with that application withdrawn, the complaint is also inoperative. If they do, they need to spell it out. Read more: trollhunterx.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=78&page=2#ixzz2r1wG8g89
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2014 16:46:16 GMT
Wasn't that consultation actually carried out in the summer of 2005? I don't know of any other park consultation at any time. There was a public consultation into the future of the Countryside Unit in 2010 (linked to the 2011 budget), which didn't mention anything about any part of St. James' Park being sold off for a riding arena or anything else. I was actually in favour of the city farm being transferred to the Friendship Cafe, but then I had no idea what was actually being planned, as it wasn't specified in any council document.
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Post by Joe K on Jan 22, 2014 10:10:17 GMT
I'm pretty sure it was conducted earlier, but my first question to them was about the timing, and the only response I had from Sue Silk contained the results. I don't have a record of my original query. I may have asked on Twitter, and been told I would get an email response. The planners can get details from the council if they want, but the key point is that change to the original intended use publicised by the farm was never made known to residents. I doubt any outside of the FC's circle of friends can say, hand on heart, that they were aware a riding arena was going to be dumped on this large chunk of park, and I won't be surprised if after the deed is done, there are complaints, a day late and a dollar short.
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