We Asked Mayday Saxonvale Some Questions - Here Are Their Answers

 

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Following the mess at Saxonvale, Frome getting even messier, we asked Mayday Saxonvale some questions. Here are their answers. Residents can make up their own minds as to whether they answered our questions and what they think of the answers.

Questions from Somerset Independents To Mayday Saxonvale

We asked you Mayday Saxonvale on multiple occasions how it would be tenable for two applications, given that Mendip had approved one scheme before you submitted Mayday. Mayday Saxonvale never provided an answer. 

We listened to residents and businesses and objected to the Acorn proposals, with our Leader Andrew Pope speaking at the Planning Board. But the fact remained that Mendip approved it. 

There is already legal action as we reported on a long time ago. This was confirmed by legal at the Mendip Asset Management Group (AMG) meeting yesterday. 

So is Mayday now going to cost the taxpayer even more money in legal costs? 

What will you do when Mendip is scrapped and the New Council comes into force?

Are you just giving people false hope now? 

Have you tried to get Mendip and Acorn to stop their scheme? If you did, why weren't you successful?

Mayday Saxonvale's Answers

 

"Approving the signing of the S106, MDC will contravene planning law on two main counts.

Firstly, now that the Mayday recommendation is a matter of material consideration, Acorn’s application should now go back to the Planning Board meaning no consent should be signed until that is done.

Secondly, the ownership of Saxonvale is passing across to Somerset so in the S106, the enforcer and the enforcee are the same person. There is no provision in the text of the S106 for this. We will update with more information on the legal position in due course.

However, as we stated above for the first time, the council set out its position on the comparison of the two schemes. They confirmed the Acorn scheme will be re-evaluated and MDC are not bound to proceed. They confirmed they have the mechanisms to consider other options, such as Mayday Saxonvale, and proceed with them if they wish.

Mendip Council leaders have made choices and we will be holding them to account."

 

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Somerset Independents are a residents group that puts residents first. We stand up for residents.

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

Saxonvale, Frome - The Lib Dems' Mess at Mendip Gets Even Messier - Brownfield Last, Frome's Green Fields First

 

Dodgy Council, Dodgy Councillors

One of our Official emblems

 

"Two big developments at the same site? Ridiculous...This mess is going to drag on and on, way past when Mendip District Council will cease to exist in 2023. It will be a mess inherited by the New Somerset Council, via the courts. The legal bill will cost the taxpayer a lot of money." Andrew Pope, Leader of Somerset Independents

Somerset Independents puts residents first. We have stood up for local residents and businesses in the face of Mendip District Council's mess at Saxonvale, Frome.

Our Leader Andrew Pope spoke at the Planning Board against the Acorn proposal that was so reviled. We listened to residents and acted for them.

But as reported by us, the dodgy Planning Board approved the Acorn proposal. Mendip District Council also owns the land. This is a clear conflict of interest, which Mendip claims to have managed. 

Sadly, Mendip cannot be believed, because they have not managed conflicts of interest elsewhere, including councillors voting through a planning application on land owned by a fellow councillor - and claiming that they didn't know him!

This was the "Sandys Hill Lane" development on the outskirts of Frome, near the McDonald's and Sainsbury's complex. Land involved in that application is owned by Councillor Philip Ham. 

 

Councillor Philip Ham
(Photo: Mendip District Council)

Our investigation was reported in Private Eye and remains one of the most popular articles on this website.

Mendip has dodgy councillors and is a dodgy council. We've proved it time and time again. We tried to get them to reform their ways. Our campaigns have succeeded, including at Easthill, Frome and in reform of the Planning Board. But Mendip had already made a mess at Saxonvale, a brownfield site, dithering and delaying while approving development on the green fields around Frome.

Brownfield land has come last at Saxonvale, but greenfield development in Frome has preceded it, including at Sandys Hill Lane. It's tragic. It's wrong.

So when we heard that an alternative proposal was being proposed for Saxonvale, we were curious about it.

We asked Mayday Saxonvale on more than one occasion how they proposed to manage having two planning applications being approved for the same site. They did not answer. But that situation has now occurred. It happened at the Mendip Planning Board last week.

And to make matters worse, this week, the Asset Management Group approved the signing of the Section 106 Agreement for the Acorn development, further sealing the fate of the Saxonvale site, which remember, Mendip owns.

At the Asset Management Group (AMG) meeting this week, the legal adviser Lesley Dolan stated, when asked by "opposition" (hardly!) Councillor Tom Killen (Conservative) that there was no reason why they could not agree to allow the S106 agreement to be signed.  

 

No councillor voted at that meeting against signing the Agreement between Mendip and Acorn. The head financial officer, Richard Bates, also said there was no alternative but to do so.

 

The AMG resolved to sign the S106 with Acorn, but councillors claim that everything is hunky dory. IT ISN'T. Actions speak louder than words. It took the Lib Dems at Mendip years to get to this point and Mendip dithered and delayed.

Tory Councillor Tom Killen said at the AMG meeting that he was "proud" that the Council had bought the land when he was Deputy Leader of Mendip. That's some claim, given that it has generated zero revenue since Mendip bought it. We discovered this during our investigations of the Mendip accounts and our objections to their governance in managing public money.

 

 

What is a Section 106 (S106) Agreement?

It is an agreement between the planning authority (Mendip District Council in this case) and the applicant / developer (in this case Acorn). It places obligations on the developer. 

It is usually the last part of planning permission before the final go-ahead is given as permission. So when the Planning Board gave permission to the Acorn proposal a long time ago now (Somerset Independents opposed it and our Leader Andrew Pope spoke against at the Planning Board), it was subject to this S106 agreement being agreed. 

So technically there is an opportunity to stop the development, but Mendip District Council have shown no sign of stopping it.

What Happens Now?

At the AMG, the legal adviser mentioned that there was legal action - a Judicial Review relating to the demolition at the Saxonvale site. 

Also at the AMG, the THREAT (not realised yet) was made via Councillor John Clark that if they agreed to sign the S106 there would be a Judicial Review. In reality, it was not clear what Cllr Clark was threatening as he did not seem to understand what he was threatening (such is the way with Green councillors). We believe this Judicial Review is threatened by Mayday Saxonvale.

So if that were to occur, there would be at least two pieces of legal action, putting even more delays in the way of actual development going ahead. Saxonvale remains a derelict site.

Andrew Pope, Leader of Somerset Independents, says:

 

Andrew Pope

 

"How can you have two developments at the same site? Mendip District Council that own the land on behalf of Somerset residents, are playing everyone for fools!

 

This mess is going to drag on and on, way past when Mendip District Council will cease to exist in 2023. 

 

It will be a mess inherited by the New Somerset Council - the unitary authority that nobody wanted other than the Tories and the Lib Dems who have benefited from it - via the courts. 

 

The legal bill will cost the taxpayer a lot of money and it will be Somerset residents who will pay. It's just wrong and a terrible mess created by the Lib Dems."

 

We asked Mayday Saxonvale to respond to the situation and have received an answer from them, which we have published. Residents can make up their own minds as to whether they have answered our questions or not.

Who Are Somerset Independents?

We are a campaign group formed by residents to stand up for residents across the County of Somerset - North, South, East and West.

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

Yes, Another Strike - This Time it's the Posties at Royal Mail

 

CWU picket line at Bridgwater Royal Mail

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Somerset Independents puts residents first. Residents and workers are feeling the pinch. It seems like everybody is going on strike, and inflation is very high. The two things often go together, in a wage-price spiral of inflation. 

Meanwhile, the Tory Government is doing nothing to help and is replacing its "Leader" with another hopeless joke.

So we report on another strike. This time it's the workers at Royal Mail, a.k.a. the Posties.

So your mail might not be delivered on some days. But it will be delivered eventually.

Somerset Independents does not often repeat press releases in full. However, on this occasion we will and we will offer Royal Mail the right of reply. It's up to Somerset residents to decide on the merits of the industrial action. Darren Granter, who is CWU Rep at Bridgwater, told us:

"I would like to apologise to all those living in the Taunton/TA 5,6 and 7 postcode areas for the disruption of their mail service during this strike action.

The Royal Mail postmen and women throughout the country-115,000 of us-were left with no choice but to take industrial action following the recent attacks on their pay and working conditions by Royal Mail.

Earlier this year, Royal Mail announced a £758 million pound profit, but then imposed a 2% pay increase without any agreement with the CWU.

However, £400 million pounds was given to shareholders in addition to large bonuses to senior management.

Royal Mail seem to have forgotten that this huge profit was enhanced by the postmen and postwomen working throughout the pandemic, as 'key workers', often putting their own families and loved ones at risk.

Later start times impacting on deliveries, annualised hours and reduced sick pay are just a few of the changes Royal Mail are looking to impose.

Sickeningly, it was announced this week that Royal Mail are offering £1,000 to £1,500 to their managers as a 'thank you' bonus, in addition to their normal pay, for attending work during our strike days."

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

REVEALED: We Uncover The £4.29 MILLION Cost of Weston's Repeatedly Delayed "SEE Monster" Arts Project

 

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"Unboxed, the project in control of See Monster and funded by the government, said its exact costs will be made available to the public once the project has been completed." Charlie Williams, Weston Mercury, 24th August 2022

UPDATE (31/8/22): The House magazine has written an article about the "Carnival of Brexit - How The Government's £120m 'Festival Of Brexit' Went Rogue" and names SEE Monster as part of it. We have published a new article on this here showing the duplicity and hypocrisy of Liberal Democrat councillors taking Festival of Brexit money having openly criticised and opposed Brexit.

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Somerset Independents puts residents first. When Weston-super-Mare residents expressed their concerns about the SEE Monster project, its costs and delays, we listened. And we acted.

Local media outlets including the Weston Mercury, quoted residents who were worried about how much the delayed SEE Monster arts project was costing and why it was delayed. Residents were also worried that the project would make Weston a "laughing stock".

Residents say that other things in Weston needed fixing, including the roads and the buses but also many other things. Those are the right priorities, not an arts project, they said.

Yet Lib Dem councillors such as Mark Canniford and officers at North Somerset Council are spending council money hyping up "SEE Monster", despite:

• repeated delays
• "arts" being the wrong priorities and 
• the massive cost, which we now reveal.
  

We now reveal that after an investigation by our Leader Andrew Pope, that we know how much SEE Monster is costing... so far.

£4.29 million

... and counting.

This is based on evidence that we have seen of invoices by New Substance - who are running the project - to the funders. Funding is ultimately coming from the taxpayer and the citizens of our country. Somerset Independents stands up for taxpayers, for residents and citizens.

These invoices have been paid by the funders who are Festival 2022 Limited, a.k.a. Unboxed.

The total amount spent on "SEE Monster" may be more than this £4.29 million now. 

We have offered New Substance the right of reply, and the opportunity to correct these figures, or to give us the total budget, but have had no response at the time of publishing.

We have also asked North Somerset Council a set of questions about SEE Monster, and await answers. This includes questions on how much council money had been spent on this project.

Who Are Somerset Independents?

We were formed by residents to stand up for residents.

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

NIMBYs, YIMBYs and Image Laundering: The Life of a Passionate Somerset and Bristol Wildlife Campaigner

Yanley, North Somerset

 

"I couldn’t believe the council and developers were trying to tell us they could enhance the ecology of a nationally rare habitat by building over it...ecologists need to be truly independent...you wouldn’t eat at a restaurant that hired their own food safety inspector so why should we accept less for our irreplaceable environment?"

Western Slopes

Somerset Independents puts residents first. Our Constitution also commits us to protect Somerset's wildlife, ecosystems and countryside.

North Somerset is being invaded by the urban sprawl of Bristol. England's "green and pleasant land" (words from our unofficial national anthem Jerusalem) is being built upon. 

You may have heard of "NIMBYs" (Not In My Backyard) which is a frequently-used attack by developers and some councillors on local people who oppose their developments. 

For example, this accusation has been thrown at the Keep Wrington as Wrington campaign in North Somerset, which Somerset Independents advised in its early stages. "NIMBYs" was also thrown at the Easthill campaign in Frome, East Somerset - another campaign that we advised and won (see photo above approved for use by campaigners).

Easthill, Frome
Saved With Our Help

But have you heard of "YIMBYs"?

And did you know that conservation organisations are allowing developers to launder their images by doing "partnerships"?

Andrew Pope interviewed Danica Priest, originally from Virginia in the United States of America and now living in South Bristol.  

Andrew Pope

 

Like Somerset Independents and our supporters, Danica is campaigning against developers, councils, so-called "independent" ecologists and conservation organisations who - against their better judgement - allow both to launder their image. Here is what Danica told Andrew.

 

Danica Priest

 

Andrew: Why did you get involved in campaigning?

Danica: "It started with the Western Slopes/Novers Hill and snowballed when I realised how bad the planning system is, especially compared to Virginia where I grew up. The lack of regulations for environmental issues like erosion control, sewage dumping and endangered species protection is insane.

 

Yanley, North Somerset

 

"I couldn’t believe the council and developers were trying to tell us they could enhance the ecology of a nationally rare habitat by building over it. My dad worked in the housing industry for over 40 years so I grew up around construction sites and that just felt like pure gaslighting to me."

Q: What do you want to achieve personally in your campaigns?

A: "I’m hoping the wildlife habitats under threat of development will be protected permanently and all removed or kept out of the local plan. Especially The Western Slopes/Novers Hill (private and public sections), Yew Tree Farm, Brislington Meadows, Ashton Vale, Marksbury Road, Yanley/Woodsprings greenbelt land and the south Bristol greenbelt.

 

Ashton Vale

 

Danica: "I’d also love to see greater protections for wildlife and priority habitats and a requirement for truly independent ecologists for surveys. I always say you wouldn’t eat at a restaurant that hired their own food safety inspector so why should we accept less for our irreplaceable environment?

Planning wise I want to abolish the loop holes that allow developers to get out of their affordable housing requirements and other promises to contribute to the local community. It’s disgusting that Developers have more safety nets for their profits than vulnerable families have for their children.

I also want to end the unrealistic housing targets and delivery tests which are the root of all these issues. People have been misled to think higher targets = more houses built = lower prices = end of housing crisis. That’s not reality though. People forget developers are not charities and they will build when and where it’s most profitable for them. The current system results in less density, fewer green spaces, less farmland, less wildlife, fewer council homes and higher prices. Everyone loses except for developers, investors and landowners."

Q: Who and which organisations or councillors do you believe are your allies in what you want to achieve?

A: "Bristol Tree Forum definitely deserve a medal for all the hard work they do. Manor Woods Valley group and Crox Bottom have been fantastic allies along with other green spaces and friends of groups.

We’ve also been lucky to have some supportive councillors from all parties fighting in our corner.

Richard Eddy, Ed Plowden, Tony Dyer, Tim Rippington (all Bristol City Council) and Ash Cartman (Executive Member, North Somerset Council) have all gone above and beyond to help."

Q: Who and which organisations or councillors do you believe are your enemies against what you want to achieve?

A: "Most of the property industry organisations and neoliberal think tanks are against us which is to be expected since we are a threat to the broken system they make billions from.

YIMBYs (Yes In My Back Yard) are the most vile of those, especially on Twitter. There are a few awful yimby councillors in London. Luckily most that ran didn’t win their elections which tells you a lot about public opinion.

I’m sure the Bristol City Council Planning department heads are not my biggest fans either. I hope we can be friends someday though, I don’t like having enemies."

Q: Who may be fair-weather friends?

A: "I hate to say it but many of the wildlife charities have partnered with big developers so we can’t trust them anymore. Avon Wildlife Trust have been supportive of the slopes so I appreciate that it might have nothing to do with various local branches but I’ve definitely lost respect for the national Wildlife Trust and The Bumblebee Conservation Trust for supporting Redrow, who want to build over Yew Tree Farm and RSPB for partnering with Barratt Homes."

Q: Who may be hidden enemies (e.g. infiltrators)?

A: I’m not aware of any yet. I don’t think an infiltrator would be too successful since we don’t really have many secrets.

Q: Do you think that you need to get elected representation on councils to achieve your objectives, or is this just one way of achieving what you want?

A: "We can’t achieve much without the support of the Councillors on the planning committee so it’s essential we have supportive elected representatives."

Q: How long are you personally prepared to give to achieving your campaign objectives?

A: "Forever. I’ll never give up. This is my life now."

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future. 

We exist to protect Somerset's wildlife, our ecosystems and countryside.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.