A brief thought occurred to APTSec; if the applicants are proposing to develop the Inverness Airport Business Park over a 50 year period this takes us to 2061. The developments for the A96 Corridor were supposed to take place in several phases, with the 'last' being from 2036-2041 - well beyond any statutory plan period and set of reliable population statistics on which to assess need.
The current planning application for the New Town runs to 2046, with a few 'extra' houses thrown in.
What do you think are the odds that an updated application for the New Town could be submitted extending the development period (to about the same as that of the airport 2061) spreading out the build rate and/or increasing the numbers of units?
Friday, 8 January 2010
"People cannot beat Mother Nature"
"As the past few weeks' events show, our transport system remains vulnerable to bad weather. It does not take much to knock our networks out of action."
Huw Morris, Planning Daily
Full item here
Huw Morris, Planning Daily
Full item here
Keep up to date with latest on salt supplies and school opening
APTSec has been checking The Highland Council web pages as regularly as possible.
For the latest news releases, particularly on schools and weather go to the bottom of their home page
For the latest news releases, particularly on schools and weather go to the bottom of their home page
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
17 days continous working...
Councillor John Laing, Chairman of the Transport Environmental and Community Services has been paying tribute to those who have worked hard over this period of difficult weather conditions, he said:
"... many snow clearing staff had worked 17 days continuously to tackle the disruption caused by a combination of heavy snow and sub-zero conditions, while many home care workers had gone beyond the call of duty to maintain services to older and vulnerable people by walking miles to get through to the homes of clients."
My father worked for 51 years for British Rail, firing steam engines or driving locomotives at all hours of the day and night, in all weathers. I don't think we should take for granted the people who, often times, work the unsocial hours to make sure that we can all get where we need to go. Of course this is not to forget the many other occupations where workers need to work unsocial hours such as heath service professionals and police officers.
(Please feel free to add to the list of those you feel need recognition.)
Mr Laing also recognised the role of members of the public who have cared for others. The full item is here.
An update on how the council is coping can be found here
"... many snow clearing staff had worked 17 days continuously to tackle the disruption caused by a combination of heavy snow and sub-zero conditions, while many home care workers had gone beyond the call of duty to maintain services to older and vulnerable people by walking miles to get through to the homes of clients."
My father worked for 51 years for British Rail, firing steam engines or driving locomotives at all hours of the day and night, in all weathers. I don't think we should take for granted the people who, often times, work the unsocial hours to make sure that we can all get where we need to go. Of course this is not to forget the many other occupations where workers need to work unsocial hours such as heath service professionals and police officers.
(Please feel free to add to the list of those you feel need recognition.)
Mr Laing also recognised the role of members of the public who have cared for others. The full item is here.
An update on how the council is coping can be found here
Use land more efficiently says CPRE
Planning Daily reports that Fiona Howie, head of planning and regions for CPRE, said:
"With a population that is expected to continue to grow we have to use land more efficiently."
"We need to build more homes, especially affordable housing, but we also need to devote space on our densely populated island to producing food and energy, while still allowing people to access and enjoy open and unspoilt countryside.
"Planning for housing is fraught with uncertainties. Current projections fail to take adequate account of wider considerations, such as changing economic conditions and the effect these can have on migration levels."
TO read the item click here
Housing the Future: An analysis of the Government’s household projections and their use in planning for housing is available here.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England web site is here
"With a population that is expected to continue to grow we have to use land more efficiently."
"We need to build more homes, especially affordable housing, but we also need to devote space on our densely populated island to producing food and energy, while still allowing people to access and enjoy open and unspoilt countryside.
"Planning for housing is fraught with uncertainties. Current projections fail to take adequate account of wider considerations, such as changing economic conditions and the effect these can have on migration levels."
TO read the item click here
Housing the Future: An analysis of the Government’s household projections and their use in planning for housing is available here.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England web site is here
'Just Space'
A new site from South of the Border called 'Just Space' which describes itself as:
"This site has been created to encourage and assist Londoners and their organisations – especially those working for a more just and sustainable London – in influencing the Plan. It contains summary information on what the Plan contains, the main concerns and how you can respond. You can see work in progress on responses, challenges and objections to the London Plan."
The 'one minute' key issue section looks at issues such as employment, housing and open space - with play areas.
Further information here
Yet another site dedicated to encouraging people to take an interest in the planning issues that will have such a huge impact on their lives.
"This site has been created to encourage and assist Londoners and their organisations – especially those working for a more just and sustainable London – in influencing the Plan. It contains summary information on what the Plan contains, the main concerns and how you can respond. You can see work in progress on responses, challenges and objections to the London Plan."
The 'one minute' key issue section looks at issues such as employment, housing and open space - with play areas.
Further information here
Yet another site dedicated to encouraging people to take an interest in the planning issues that will have such a huge impact on their lives.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Should economic objectives overide the social and environmental?
A View from 'south of the border':
"The Kate Barker review of land use planning in England will have a dramatic impact on the way we shape the future of our communities. Despite the radical restructuring of planning which began in 2005, her interim report heralds the beginning of a further major program of reform and deregulation. But the analysis in the report is based on a flawed understanding of the purpose of planning and lacks both a rigorous evidence base and a coherent analytical approach. Consequently, its key ideas threaten changes to planning which would damage the UK’s economy, environment and democratic process
Friends of the Earth is deeply concerned that the final Barker Report will form part of a calculated web of other policy documents, including the Energy Review and the Eddington Transport Study, whose proposals will prioritise narrow and short-term economic objectives, will marginalise the voice of communities and will compromise the planning system’s ability to deliver other vital public policy objectives."
For the full article click here
"The Kate Barker review of land use planning in England will have a dramatic impact on the way we shape the future of our communities. Despite the radical restructuring of planning which began in 2005, her interim report heralds the beginning of a further major program of reform and deregulation. But the analysis in the report is based on a flawed understanding of the purpose of planning and lacks both a rigorous evidence base and a coherent analytical approach. Consequently, its key ideas threaten changes to planning which would damage the UK’s economy, environment and democratic process
Friends of the Earth is deeply concerned that the final Barker Report will form part of a calculated web of other policy documents, including the Energy Review and the Eddington Transport Study, whose proposals will prioritise narrow and short-term economic objectives, will marginalise the voice of communities and will compromise the planning system’s ability to deliver other vital public policy objectives."
For the full article click here
Land ownership; the SLP view - 1976
I wonder if 0.1 % of the population of the HIDB area + Perthshire stills owns 64% of the land.
Click here for the source material
Click here for the source material
Friday, 1 January 2010
SPSO Planning leaflets
Latest recycling service - not quite 'planning' but useful nonetheless
APTSec has just discovered this on The Highland Council web pages:
"Do you have an electrical item that’s lost its spark? By the end of January 2010 facilities will be in place at Recycling Centres across Highland to recycle all waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
Householders in Highland will be able to recycle any electrical item with a plug attached, or items operated by a battery. This includes everything from small items such as hairdryers, DVD players and battery operated toys to large items such as fridges, freezers, washing machines and televisions. It also includes fluorescent light tubes, standard light bulbs and energy efficient light bulbs.
Various containers will be on-site for the segregation of different types of WEEE, and trained site operatives will be on hand to assist, and ensure that items are placed in the correct containers. These facilities will help ensure that hazardous items are diverted from landfill and recyclable components are recovered."For full item click here
Council calls for patience during wintry weather
A somewhat belated post on this:
For full item click here
"The Highland Council’s Convener Councillor Sandy Park is calling for patience when it comes to clearing Highland roads and pavements.
Since the recent wintry conditions have started the Council’s entire fleet of 114 road, and 54 pavement gritters and over 200 winter maintenance staff have been working flat out within the Council’s gritting policy to keep roads clear.
Councillor Park said: “We have the longest road network of any Council within Scotland and as such it is simply not possible to treat every road at the same time. 14% of Scotland’s roads are maintained by The Highland Council and we are responsible for 4,200 miles (6,700km) of roads. We therefore grit roads under a priority system which targets roads based on their local importance."For full item click here
The Government's role in land use planning
"The primary responsibility for the operation of the planning system and service lies with local and national park authorities. They are best placed to make decisions about matters which affect their areas. But there can be some occasions when The Scottish Government will become involved in the planning application process. This circular explains the Government's role. "
Click here
Click here
The culture of planning
What do the Government planners think planning is about?
"Planning has an image of being a barrier to development: of having a culture that is too regulatory, too reactive, too slow and too technical.
The planning system manages development in the public interest. It is crucial to everyone's quality of life. To maximise it's impact it should be more efficient, more enabling, more facilitating and understandable to all.
High quality developments will make successful places that are attractive and efficient for residents, employers, visitors and which will contribute to the Scottish Government's core purpose of sustainable economic growth. The need for this focus is even more acute in the current economic climate"
Read more here
Now, what do we mean by public interest?
"Planning has an image of being a barrier to development: of having a culture that is too regulatory, too reactive, too slow and too technical.
The planning system manages development in the public interest. It is crucial to everyone's quality of life. To maximise it's impact it should be more efficient, more enabling, more facilitating and understandable to all.
High quality developments will make successful places that are attractive and efficient for residents, employers, visitors and which will contribute to the Scottish Government's core purpose of sustainable economic growth. The need for this focus is even more acute in the current economic climate"
Read more here
Now, what do we mean by public interest?
Saving money on fuel bills
Published on the Scottish Government web site on 28/12/09
"The Scottish Government is offering households free energy savings advice, access to cheaper energy tariffs and help to access all the benefits households are entitled to, through the £60 million Energy Assistance Package.
Households who call the free advice line - including families with young children, people on benefits and the elderly - can, if eligible, also be offered a range of free insulation and draft proofing measures as well as new heating systems.
Households who received help from the scheme in 2009 saved, on average, £780 on fuel bills.
The free phone advice line number is 0800 512 012 and is open all year round."
Did anyone see or hear any news items on this?
"The Scottish Government is offering households free energy savings advice, access to cheaper energy tariffs and help to access all the benefits households are entitled to, through the £60 million Energy Assistance Package.
Households who call the free advice line - including families with young children, people on benefits and the elderly - can, if eligible, also be offered a range of free insulation and draft proofing measures as well as new heating systems.
Households who received help from the scheme in 2009 saved, on average, £780 on fuel bills.
The free phone advice line number is 0800 512 012 and is open all year round."
Did anyone see or hear any news items on this?
Smiling politcians
So, just how many photographs of smiling politicians can you fit into one glossy brochure?
Click here to find out
One quick question:
If you live in Scotland but are not Scottish, do you have any say in writing the script?
Click here to find out
One quick question:
If you live in Scotland but are not Scottish, do you have any say in writing the script?
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