To my surprise, I got an email reply from the Rt Hon Dominc Grieve, well from another assistant, called Janet (unless that's an alter ego that only comes out at night).
It seems he has lifted a right honorabl finger or two in the interests of the environment :-O
Thank you for your e-mail of 20 June about developments in Beaconsfield including the change in the use of the Old Hare pub to a restaurant, and the proposed Burtley Wood MSA.
As you will know, there is, unfortunately, no planning restriction to prevent the conversion of the Old Hare from a pub to a restaurant as it is not a change of use in planning terms. I am, however, trying to ensure, along with many others, that the external and internal character of the pub, which is a listed building, remains as it is.
So far as the Burtley Wood MSA is concerned, I agree with you entirely that it would be a serious environmental blight on the area. I will be giving evidence at the Planning Inquiry in respect of it on 18 July: I have already given evidence against the MSA at Mount Hill Farm.
It will be for the Inspector to decide where, if at all, a MSA should be located in relation to the sites that have been selected. If you have not already done so and you wish to register your opposition, then you should write to the Inspector about the matter.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Dominic Grieve MP
I emailed my MP yesterday about a proposed Motorway Service Area at the end of the M40, to be built on umpteen acres of ancient woodland.
and I got a reply :-O
Some property developing arsehole has decided that what people need after a long journey down the M40 is a MSA just before the end of the motorway. Or maybe its for the people who've done 2 miles from the London end and need a break, because as we know, 'Tiredness Kills'.
So it obviously makes perfect sense to mow down 40 acres of ancient woodland in the green belt to provide this facility. I noticed that our MP was mentioned in an article in the local paper lending his support to a campaign to stop the conversion of an old pub in the town into a Pizza restaurant. Clearly, this is a worthy cause (although the pub has gone downhill a lot and has poor beer), but I hadn't seen him commenting in public about the threat to Burtley Wood.
I learned from his research assistant (who entirely predicatably goes by the name of Pippa), that he doesn't read his email, but she will pass my request for an update on what he's doing about the problem onto him, and he will be in touch with me shortly.
I await his response with bated breath.
The property development frenzy in the south East of England has made it economically viable for developers to buy perfectly sound houses, demolish them and then add as many houses as they can get away with on the site.
Our town is full of such sites, and it makes me cross.
A company called Luxor Developments in association with The Hall Partnership recently bought the oldest house in our street (for £600k apparently). They submitted a planning application to demolish this house and build 2 new houses on the plot.
Their mistake was to quickly cut down, on the same day as the application went in, a splendid Magnolia tree which would have interfered with their plans. This tactic meant that no-one could put a tree preservation order on the tree, but also had the effect of prompting most of the street (26 in all) to object to the application.
I just learned that it has been turned down. Yay!
Presumably they'll either appeal or re-apply with something slightly less extreme that allows the neighbours to retain at least some of the current light in their garden. No doubt eventually they'll get their way, and make a few hundred grand for doing not very much.
In the meantime, there's a street full of people highly motivated to put as many obstacles in their way as possible.
Every so often, amid the run of the mill spam, I get something of such extraordinary crapness that I feel like sharing it.
If anyone can work out what this bloke is on about, please let me know.
Dear Director,
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We like have A sample to this shipping co_operate in
your prices to the purchasing department of enyi enyi investment party.
And according to the prices,to confirm the prepare covering.
Note the will be prepare immediately as soon as you accepted our co-p.
As soon as we received the copy we will submit the same to the board for your payment establishment.
Likewise i will like to are request for an urgent visit to Cotonou in Republic Du Benin to meet the board members for contract agreement signing.
After the contract agreement signing,the purchasing department will pay to your company 50% of the total amount by T/T in advance to enable you start making supply and 50% balance by confirm L/C in your favour.
Looking forward to hear from you and expect to receive the mail respond urgently.
Thanks and best regards.
Pascal.Enwere.
Recent gifts of a (mercifully small) number of knitted cardigans for our daughter have rekindled my hatred for this item of clothing. Not that I'm not grateful for the presents, but something should be done about them.
I know the cardigan has a long and distinguished history, but it is forever associated in my mind with a horrid rust coloured thing my parents made me wear when I was about 10. Even at that tender age I resented every fibre of the wretched thing and am convinced being forced to wear it at every event when 'Sunday best' had a huge impact on my social development.
My mother also remembers it (so it must have caused much unpleasantness for it to linger in her mind for 35 years) but claims I 'looked lovely in it'. I bet she's still got it, in an old M&S bag at the bottom of her wardrobe - the only reason for a retired couple to continue living in a 5 bedroomed, double garaged 4 story house is so that she never has to throw anything away, but that's a subject for another day.
Having watched a number of dramas unfold in the home of Ken and Deidre over the years, one of the constant backdrops has been their kitchen, in particular the old copper jelly moulds hanging over the cooker. But things have changed (and not for the better)!.
For years there's been one shaped exactly like a knob and a pair of balls, and now it's been removed!!! On a high definition telly, you'd probably see a tell tale shadow marking the outline.
I will be writing to Granada to complain that this subtle and witty comment on Ken's drives and motivations appears to have fallen victim to what used to be called the Mary Whitehouse brigade.
This sets a bad precedent - they'll be checking for in appropriate juxtapositioning of plums and bananas on the Fruit and Veg stall in Albert Square next.