Email Circulation List
If you would like to join the email circulation list, which is sent by
"blind copy" e-mail i.e. others should not see your address, tell me
via
.
Other information emailed via this circulation list includes the events and news
etc. Read on for policy information etc.
The Website's Policy in Respect of the Email Circulation List
The purpose of the emailing list (Planning) is to inform people of the planning applications presented and the decisions of the planning authority (North Herts District Council) and therefore allow people to become more aware of what is being proposed and giving the opportunity to comment to the planning authority, supporting or objecting.
During early 2005 there was a reasonably controversial application, to which I added some comments. I received 2 or 3 replies which questioned whether I should be doing that.
My intention was to highlight what I thought the issues were, in order to allow people to consider them. I hadn’t intended to force my views on others, just highlight particular issues that people might want to consider.
I thought I should check to see if I had over-stepped the mark and also to check what people wanted from the service.
I asked people on the email circulation list to vote for one of the following:
1 Would you prefer to receive the planning emails with no comments whatsoever attached?
2 Restrict comments to those that add information, e.g. make the location clearer? Or
3 Are you happy for comments to be added that might make people aware of some of the wider issues or that perhaps express concerns that have been made to me by residents, so that you can give them some thought and make up your own mind?
The email list at the time consisted of about 110 names which, very approximately, covers about 25% of the households in Pirton. I was pleased with the number that responded, about 37%, which I have taken as a reasonable response. I have included a cross section of the comments received below.
The votes came out at
20% for 1, i.e.
don't add anything (and I normally don't)
7.5% for 2, i.e. only add restricted comments, e.g. explanation of location
72.5% for 3, i.e. add comments about wider issues
(Excluding a vote for me to cast as I liked!)
The gist of those commenting seemed to be “add comments, but if they didn't agree they were perfectly capable of making up their own minds”, which seems to be a pretty healthy attitude to me.
The vote was overwhelmingly for 3, however I would like the service to be seen as reasonable and hopefully impartial even it were to directly affect me, so I will instigate a few changes, whilst erring towards option 3. The policy will be as follows:
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I will only comment on the applications, which I think are mostly likely to be most controversial (or when others draw my attention to that) or where the location is one which people might not recognise and therefore might not fully appreciate the impact. |
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If anyone feels strongly that my comments are wrong then I will also circulate their comments – see note 1 below. |
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If an application directly affects me, i.e. is close to my property, I will acknowledge that fact in the comments. |
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I will add a note to the emails – see note 2 below. |
Note 1 - Providing the comments are sensible, reasonable, not defamatory and I have the permission of the person making the comments, however I reserve the right to edit the comments if necessary and to add further comments (mine or other peoples) if I feel that helps provide a balanced response.
Note 2 - Any comments appearing in respect of a planning application are intended to highlight further details of the site in order to help people identify the location or assess the potential impact by highlighting some of the potential issues. It is not intended to influence your decision or to represent a particular view. In all cases you should seek more detailed information (usually available for the planners, NHDC website direct, via this email or via the Pirton website). In all cases you should consider the issues raised, other issues, advantages and disadvantages AND MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND! Remember if you feel strongly you can, and should support or object to the planning authority.
I have considered some sort of chatroom or discussion forum on the website and I will keep an open mind on this, but it could be an administration headache, given the potential vociferous nature of the discussion, the need to ensure that people who are both pro and con are aware of it and the fact that most discussion would end up taking place after the application has been considered!
In short make up your own minds what is good for the village, but do give it some thought and do let the planning authority know your views
Jonty Wild
Cross section of comments received:
I am very disappointed to see your alarmist conjecture being publicised via your e mail list. You should acquaint yourself fully with the facts before spouting forth your uninformed opinions.
I believe it's impossible to have too much information so I vote for 3.
I'm not going to vote, but I'm going to give you my vote to do with what you wish - I think if you're taking the trouble to do this (which I appreciate greatly) then you can decide how you prefer to do it!
Item 2. As I can read comment and make up my own mind
Option 3 would seem to be the most informative and useful, and so gets my vote.
Option 1 without a doubt. I have noticed over the years that some of your views on planning applications have been ill-informed.
I think that no 1 is safer.
I vote number 3. But used with discretion so that it is for the public good. People can then make up their own minds.
The diatribe below (my comments at the time - JW) has many coulds and mights and what if's but leaves the reader with the prospect of the imminent metropolitisation of Pirton and the end of Rural life as we know it. I also have no axe to grind on this issue but I do feel that a regular bulletin on planning matters is an innapropriate place to promote your personal views on a particular application.
Option 3. I like to made aware and make my own mind up.
My vote goes for number 3 - comments are a good idea as they reflect thoughts/comments on any given application
I vote for No 3 - I am more than happy for you to draw attention to wider issues otherwise very important points that you raise might get overlooked.
Happy to receive your comments – doesn’t mean I’ll take any notice – but you might alert me to something I’ve missed - so a vote for 3
think you normally give a balanced view, so No3 please. I believe you provide an invaluable service, being central to many key issues
