Watford's West Herts College responds to 'wild and unfounded' planning row claims (From Watford Observer)
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Watford's West Herts College responds to 'wild and unfounded' planning row claims
1:53pm Wednesday 10th March 2010 in
West Herts College has responded to “wild and unfounded claims” made during an ongoing planning dispute with its neighbours and Watford Borough Council.
The college, which is currently putting the finishing touches to a new multi-million pound campus building in Hempstead Road, has been ordered to remove three chimneys after complaints from neighbours.
The chimneys, which sit atop an outbuilding yards from residents’ gardens, were ruled by councillors to be unlawful when an application for retrospective planning permission was turned down at a meeting last month – much to the relief of residents in Cassiobury Drive who claim the structures have and will continue to have an impact on their gardens.
College principal Elizabeth Rushton, however, has hit back at their claims in a letter to the Watford Observer.
“Some residents have used their influence and connections to make wild and unfounded claims that the college has acted illegally, that the flues are emitting noxious fumes which are poisoning their children, and that the noise from the service area will be higher than the planning limits. All are groundless
West Herts College Principal Elizabeth Rushton
She said: “The council went against the advice of its own officers in rejecting the college’s revised proposals. “We have all along strived to work openly and considerately with the community. In particular, for those few local residents affected by the college’s new campus, we have spent a significant amount of additional money to provide screening, well beyond that required in the approved planning application.
“Some residents have used their influence and connections to make wild and unfounded claims that the college has acted illegally, that the flues are emitting noxious fumes which are poisoning their children, and that the noise from the service area will be higher than the planning limits. All are groundless.
“We are currently considering what our next steps will be, but come what may, we want to reassure the wider community that these issues affecting the service intake area will not affect the opening of Watford’s brand new college campus with its excellent modern facilities to new students this September.”
Comments(15)
Veritas
says...
3:30pm Thu 11 Mar 10
I hope Ms Rushton takes
the option of dealing with all the Fib Dem Libel and slurs especially by "Sharpe" funny they are the first to cry foul, yet the same rules don't apply to them.
Time to take the gloves of Ms Ashton and deal with this inept, lying Council once and for all, a bit worrying that she feels that certain people can use influence, shows how fair the Fibs are!!!!
lawyer
says...
4:32pm Thu 11 Mar 10
animal lashing out hopelessly in self
defence.
What does Ms Rushton mean by
trying to undermine the residents who have their concerns and are entitled to a peaceful and smoke free existence.
She has witnessed democracy in action and a planning committee with
enough sense to stop a development referred to as 'an infringement of human rights' .
She has a huge poblem there and has wasted millions of tax payers money on a gamble that lost.
Ms Rushton is more worried about her job than the residents of Watford.
The college is using the shield of education to decimate a neighbourhood.
Trying to find a parking space in that area now is impossible during the day
when I want to take the kids to visit
'Watfords jewel' Cassiobury park.
A couple of hundred parking spaces for 8000 students,
well done Watford college !
alan burtenshaw
says...
5:11pm Thu 11 Mar 10
Veritas
says...
5:54pm Thu 11 Mar 10
Who is Molly!!!!! A bit of Hypocrisy, eh.
I am entitled to an opinion if you and your cronies don't like it tough!
Where were all the planning inspectors paid for by the tax payers, when this debacle was going on?
At least the college is replying, to the "lawyer" Why did the planning committee approve a scheme with in adequate parking? The buck stops with the council, does it not!
Veritas
says...
10:31am Fri 12 Mar 10
We are getting there slowly, serious questions have been asked of Dotty and her Cronies about planning issues at the Council, and Ms Rushton is very succinct in her questioning.
Funny the Fibs try and say all the other parties voted with them, yet as pointed out in today’s letter section, the Fibs have by far the biggest majority and call the shots!!!!
Keep it up Sharpe, I'm surprised you have not resorted to litigation(you go on enough about libel) with all the slander from the college, could it be you are in the wrong, I hope Ms Rushton takes you to court before the elections that will hopefully lose you a few more votes from the "turkeys."
I see Burkenshaw trying to defend the Aldenham rd fiasco as well, seems that the Bushey council and residents are also questioning Watford Planning decisions, what do you have to say about that Bertie?
alan burtenshaw
says...
8:25pm Fri 12 Mar 10
ps. do try and check your spelling and punctuation before sending the next response. I do so hate such poor attention to detail.
Veritas
says...
10:58pm Fri 12 Mar 10
We minions are not capable of understanding " the way a planning committee works" but I can tell you one thing, we can see the results of it around Watford, a mess!!!!!
Now this College fiasco, Imagine "lawyer" can't find parking now to visit the park, and the college is not even open!!!!!!
Such a patronising, disingenuous lot you Fibs are
More the fool you are, if you don't know who Molly is.
Hope we see more letters about your "planning committee," in the mean time we have to suffer more of your dodgy comments, Me, I believe Ms Rushton.
I'm sure Sharpe will slip up more in the coming weeks, as the pressure builds up to the ending of the gravy train he and Dotty are on.
Some really good letters in the Observer today, eh your Lordship?
You can't fool the turkeys all the time!
Rob Ridley
says...
7:47am Sat 13 Mar 10
alan burtenshaw
says...
10:51am Sat 13 Mar 10
Rob Ridley
says...
6:11pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Should posters who don't use their own names be addressed as Dear Tosser!
alan burtenshaw
says...
6:36pm Sat 13 Mar 10
WD17
says...
12:42am Mon 15 Mar 10
alan burtenshaw wrote:What utter nonsense, you, as a politician should have thicker skin. There is nothing wrong with anon postings, let the readers decide what to make of the comments from either side and stop suggesting the writer has a problem other than feeling strongly about the lack of planning (mess ) that comes out of WBC.
I really don't know, Rob. If you are prepared to say things that you aren't prepared to own up to then I look upon that as cowardly. Unfortunately there are too many people out there who fit that category, especially Veritas. Being honest seems to be a thing of the past. By the way I couldn't possibly comment on your proposal !! The unfortunate thing is that despite the 'site terms' such things appear. Do you think that the Watford Observer, the hosts of this site, are acting irresponsibly? I'm all for free speech and expressing an opinion but it seems that personal responsibility doesn't count.
Veritas
says...
1:53pm Mon 15 Mar 10
You still have not acknowledged the Council planning departments role is this Fiasco, are you trying to imply they are blameless?
What should worry Watford residents is that you claim that the college just went ahead and built what they wanted and were not bothered with the consequences.
We are worried that this sends out a message to other would be developers that Watford Council is a soft touch, also what role do planning officers at the council have? Maybe in the future they should at least inspect the site of such a major developmet at various stages to avoid any repetition of this mess.
Keep it up Berite, lets hope the electorate can see through all your spin and waffle!
WD17
says...
11:33pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Veritas wrote:Oh they don't half like to waffle but what's worrying is that they're presiding over and sanctioning a degenerate planning department. There IS no planning. WHC is a complete eye sore for WD17. They knew the parking issue was coming years before it arrived and refused to acknowledge it. They pass hideous house extensions one after another. They really need to get a grip before they are forced to adjust the tax bandings for the area.
Good old Bertie, more waffle, where is your pall Molly, so you don't know who Molly is?
You still have not acknowledged the Council planning departments role is this Fiasco, are you trying to imply they are blameless?
What should worry Watford residents is that you claim that the college just went ahead and built what they wanted and were not bothered with the consequences.
We are worried that this sends out a message to other would be developers that Watford Council is a soft touch, also what role do planning officers at the council have? Maybe in the future they should at least inspect the site of such a major developmet at various stages to avoid any repetition of this mess.
Keep it up Berite, lets hope the electorate can see through all your spin and waffle!
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TRT says...
4:27pm Wed 10 Mar 10
The poor management from 1995 onwards has eroded the public trust in WHC and turned it into a laughing stock. It's going to be a hard fight to win that respect back. With the displaced parking problem and now this planning issue, I can't see it happening any time at all.