News and views

Planning Inspector DISMISSES Miller Homes appeal against the refusal of planning permision for building houses and flats on the Secret Garden

A welcome surprise today in the form of an early decision by the Planning Inspector to DISMISS the appeal by Miller Homes and the University against the refusal of planning permission for the housing development on the Tapton Hall and Experimental Gardens site. We thought that we might have to wait another four weeks for a result.

Basically, the inspector agreed that the development along the frontage Taptonville Road would damage the character of the road and degrade important views from Taptonville Road and Taptonville Crescent. He did not have any major objections to the development scheme for the northern part of the site but has opted to dismiss the entire scheme.

We are not sure where this decision will leave the development scheme, especially as there is still a 'live' planning application, which presumably could still be pursued subject to suitable modifications to take the Inspector's judgement on board. This would involve considerable revision of the proposals for the southern part of the site, which may alter the economics of the development.

As part of the work done in preparation for the inquiry the Council is now actively considering Joan Sewell's recommendation that the gardens of Tapton Elms, Pisgah House and Taptonville Crescent be added to Sheffield's local schedule of historic parks and gardens. Also, Sheffield City Council has also now issued a Tree Preservation Order for the whole site. While neither of these things will prevent development going ahead, they should have an impact on any revisions to the planning application.

Meanwhile BANG has also suggested to our Councillor, Paul Scriven, that the Tapton Hall site should be considered as a potential site for the relocation of St Luke's Hospice, with the restored historic gardens providing a fitting setting for the hospice as well as much-needed open space for Broomhill. If you have any opinions on this issue please come along to BANG's meetings (see events on the home page) or get in touch by email.

For a full report on the public inquiry, that allows you to download and read BANG's case and evidence, follow this link.

New to the area and wondering what all this is about? Follow the link to our campaign page to catch up.

Excel Car Parking Services accused of 'sharp practice'

There has been a flurry of letters in the Sheffield Telegraph from people who have been sent letters demanding payment of fines for illegal parking in the Broomhill shoppers' car park,which is on the roof of the shopping centre (Somerfield etc). The car park operates with a number-plate recognition camera that records when cars enter and leave, and compares the car registration with the data entered into the ticket machine. If the user mis-keys their registration, or fails to pay for the time taken to manoeuvre as well as to park, the company issues a fixed penalty notice. Even where customers can prove that they did in fact pay to park, the company imposes a £10 'administration fee' for having wrongly issued a penalty notice.

Not only are car park users angry and upset, but the shop keepers are too, as many people are under the mistaken impression that the car park is owned by the shop keepers and they often find themselves dealing with the distress that Excel is causing. And there is knock-on impact on trade. Somerfield has now started to reimburse the 60p Excel parking charge to its customers (although it seems not many people know about this)

One of the Excel victims has contacted BANG to say that a fight-back campaign is underway and some people have refused to pay the fines and charges in the expectation that if Excel takes them to court, they will almost certainly lose. In fact they have just lost a court case in Mansfield which has significant implications for Excel and other private parking companies. See http://www.chad.co.uk/news/Judge-says-Excel-parking-fines.3903396.jp