Having gone through the responses so far all but a literal handful want this planning application  thrown out.

Around 50% state very clearly that they actually want the golf course left as it is with the vast bulk of the remainder saying that if it is ever to be developed then the priority must be for recreation and public open space.

Keep them coming in …

I have just heard from the City Planning Department that the building at the derelict filling station at Neville’s Cross will be demolished starting next Monday (22 October).

 I just hope this is a pre-cursor to a planning application to re-develop the site. While we really don’t want much more in the area, this has to be the exception. It is a blot on the landscape and needs dealing with sooner rather than later.

Now is the time for residents to get their objections in to the proposal to develop Mount Oswald Golf Course as the clock is ticking on the formal consultation period.

Individual letters tend to have much more force than petitions or standard copy letters.

Address objections to David Thornborrow, Head of Planning Services, 17 Claypath, Durham DH1 1TH. [The case officer is Peter Herbert.] The planning reference number is 4/07/00944/OUT/PGH.

Yesterday and today we put out over 1,400 survey leaflets over the Neville’s Cross city council ward asking for feedback on what residents feel about the future of Mount Oswald.

I am quite clear that the current planning application from Banks is totally unacceptable. The area is not zoned for housing and although it is cited for low density high class business/science park use in the Local Plan what Banks are proposing (developing 40% of the area for this purpose) is well beyond what is acceptable.

The traffic implications are also bad news. The application includes up to 2,000 parking places, so the local road network would have to cope with upwards of 4,000 additional traffic movements per day. Anyone who has used the A167 through Neville’s Cross as most residents do, knows all too well that it is close to gridlock at times; the effect of 4,000 extra journeys does not bear thinking about.

I have already had initial discussions with the planners in the County Highways Department and it is clear that they also have significant concerns in that area too.

All this leaves me wondering what exactly is going on here. The application weighs a lot (two massive files each about 10 cm thick) and must have cost a lot (the application fee to the Council is £25,000) but the content seems to be outside all sensible parameters.

This is why I really want to get some feedback from local residents about the future of Mount Oswald. I cannot believe that this is the final shot from Banks and as the local councillor I need to know what my constituents think.

If the overwhelming view is - leave it alone, then I will fight for that all the way, but people have also been asking why have we had all the extra houses in the ward (a 50+% increase in the past 20 years) without any extra facilities.

IF the Local Plan is used to force through some development at Mount Oswald, then we need to know what people really want to see and what residents priorities are to improve the area overall.

SWo if you are reading this and you have a survey sitting on the mantelpiece, please return it to the FREEPOST address given on it.

This week Banks have submitted their expected planning proposal for the Mount Oswald Golf Course. The main headlines are:

• 40% development of the site (against the 10% in the planning guidelines) - it looks a lot more than that to me!
• 30 “executive homes” at the south end - the commentary seems to indicate a value of £1 million for each property.
• A “prestige business park” across the whole of the northern end.
• A substantial public park across the centre.
• Parking for 2,000 cars.

The planning application has been flagged to go to Committee and can be inspected at the City Council Planning Office at Byland Lodge during normal working hours.

The planning reference number is 4/07/00944/OUT.

E-mail me to let me know what you feel or to find out more.