Stacey and I have submitted our formal letter of objection to the planning application DM/22/00010/MIN seeking consent to extend the time allowed to remove spoil from the former pit heap in Hesleden.
As you’ll note this is simply a summary of our primary ‘material’ objections, and is not intended to be exhaustive. We will update and elaborate on the details of each point of contention when we address the planning committee on behalf of our residents and their representatives.
Letter of Objection re: Hesleden Pit Heap - planning application DM/22/00010/MIN
Submitted on behalf of county councillors Cllr Rob Crute & Cllr Stacey Deinali
A letter of objection to a previous planning application at this location (DM/14/00519/FPA) was submitted to the council in 2014. Many points of contention recorded in that document remain unresolved and form the basis of our objections to the current planning application.
Our objections to the current planning application (DM/22/00010/MIN) can be summarised in the following material planning considerations. At this stage this is simply a list of objections with a brief outline of our objections and is not intended to be exhaustive:
· Loss of amenity for residents in Hesleden and Castle Eden
· Impact on health of dust emissions from the site
· Impact of noise and nuisance from the site
· Traffic generation and associated safety concerns
· Environmental impact on the surrounding area
The comments in the following submission are based on our own personal observations and follow regular contact over several years with residents in both Hesleden and Castle Eden.
The works to remove spoil from the former pit heap in Hesleden began on site in 2018 and since then residents in both Hesleden and Castle Eden have had to contend with its impact.
Traffic Generation:
This includes the cumulative impact of several wagons (both empty and full, and occasionally unsheeted) passing through both villages leaving behind dust, mud and other debris on roads and pavements, noise from the engines, and damage to highway surfaces and kerbstones at junctions at Gray Avenue and at the Castle Eden war memorial on the B1281.
In addition, the increased volume of traffic continues to cause concern to residents and visitors travelling between Blackhall Colliery, Blackhall Rocks, The Hesledens and a nationally recognised holiday resort and SSSI at Crimdon in the east and the A19/Wellfield interchange in the west.
Dust Emissions:
Residents have reported frequent dust emissions which have an impact all year round. This is reported to be particularly bad during the spring, summer and autumn months when dust is blown across the whole settlement of Hesleden, with dust accumulating on vehicles, drying clothes and window/door ledges. Residents report that during these times they are not able to leave their doors and windows open, nor are they able sit outside their homes or enjoy their usual outdoor activities.
In terms of health deprivation Hesleden is ranked in the lower quartile nationally. It is a particular concern that frequent dust emissions from the site are having an additional adverse impact on residents’ health, and also on their quality of life.
Environmental Impact:
It is noted that the development site encroaches onto Hesleden Dene. Images show a sheer drop from the working site, down what appears to be a limestone cliff and into the Dene itself. For many years this area has thrived as a natural habitat for birds, insects and flora and there are concerns that this development has had a negative environmental impact at these locations. An extension of time allowed to remove spoil from the former pit heap will continue to erode the natural habitat.
Site Restoration:
From speaking to residents we know that one of their major concerns, notwithstanding the issues mentioned above, is the management and restoration of the site after works have been completed.
Before the initial planning consent was granted back in 2016 the developer had assured the council and residents that the works would be completed within 20 months and that site restoration works would return it in a better condition than it was before works commenced. Images of the site today raise concerns that those promises are unlikely to be met. This has eroded trust in the development and the developer.
It should be noted that we have not yet seen the planning case officer’s report so our objections are likely to be extended prior to the date of the planning committee meeting.
In that regard we would ask the council to take this document as a formal OBJECTION to the above named planning application. We will expand on our comments when we have the opportunity to address members at the forthcoming planning committee meeting.
Cllr Rob Crute & Cllr Stacey Deinali
Blackhalls Ward