No debate over Commercial Yard, Teesdale Mercury

No debate over Commercial Yard

Jul 10, 2002

A HUGE row looks inevitable at Teesdale Council this afternoon (Wednesday).





A last-minute decision to over-rule a bid to get the controversial planning permission rescinded for housing redevelopment at Commercial Yard in Barnard Castle.

The councillor behind the bid, Newton Wood, is furious that he first heard this news when the Teesdale Mercury phoned him for a comment.

Chief executive, Charles Anderson, had told us on Tuesday: "It is not going to be debated because we feel, having looked at it in close detail, that it is not competent."

He said the motion to rescind had been placed on today`s agenda in good faith but legal advice had since been sought, and the matter would not go ahead, with the agreement of council chairman, Phil Hughes. There were other

ways of dealing with concern over a planning decision, including the three-day intervention period after any decision was taken, during which members could have interceded and did not, he added.

This was unwelcome news to Newton Wood, one of eight signatories asking the matter be re-opened, after planning permission was granted in April.

A furious Coun Wood told us: "I find it incredible that he has told the Press this before he has told me. I leave it for the electorate to decide what they think of this decision and his actions. I think this is lacking common courtesy. I should have been the first person for him to have discussed this with. I am now considering making a public statement and I will not let the matter rest."

The row coincides with the handing in of a petition this afternoon to the council, with over 1,500 signatures (see letters page 4) opposing the decision and the subsequent loss of businesses there.

"It is because of the petition, in which over a thousand people said they wanted it opened up again, that we are doing this," said Coun Wood.

"I also feel it wasn`t treated fairly at the council meeting and there were some inaccuracies in the planning officer`s report. Several things have come to light since the planning application was approved which need to be aired in public."

He had checked the council`s standing orders ­ its rules ­ to ensure his bid was in order, and the matter had been placed on the council`s agenda for this afternoon.

District and town councillor, John Watson, also one of those wanting the decision reviewed, told the Mercury on Monday night that he too had not heard anything about the matter not going ahead.