Andy D'Agorne

Flashback to 2004: Sacrifice on altar of urban development

For the residents account of this dubious incident see http://www.fulfordfriends.co.uk/articles/4/the-felling-of-two-beautiful-copper-beech-trees

This week saw the climax of four years of campaigning to protect parkland between Fulford and the City of York. The RMBI (care home for retired Masons) want to develop the site to provide a modern care home and build a new access road and housing to raise the funds. Nearly four years ago, independent of the planning application, two grand beech trees were felled as being 'dangerous', sparking protests and a long running opposition to the planned development (See link to 'Fulford Friends' website).

Although not reported in the press, I was one of the objectors who spoke at the public inquiry and the text of my presentation is given below. As the application was refused, the council we represented 'on the same side' as the protesters ( a novel experience!!) but sadly everyone including council officers was embarrassed at the barrister that the council had employed - asking inappropriate questions and singularly failing to challenge on key aspects of the case. He even managed to get off to a bad start to the inquiry by suggesting his practice was to stand when asking questions (when the inspector advised him that the code of practice was clear that he should remain seated when questioning witnesses)

Response from Councillor Andy D'Agorne,

Green Party Councillor Fishergate Ward

 Fishergate ward has its boundary along the line of St Oswalds Rd, so I represent residents living on the North side and on Fulford Rd directly opposite the Sir John Hunt Homes down to almost opposite the Eastern boundary of the site.  My qualifications include BA Hon Geography and member the Local Development Framework Working Group and of City of York Planning committee, although not a member sitting on the day this was determined on account of my having a prejudicial interest through public support for the residents opposition to this application. My evidence relates primarily to the question of impact on historic landscape, open space (as defined in the emerging LDF policy) and impact on the Conservation Areas and draft Green Belt.

I have been involved with response to the applications from the outset, being first elected as councillor in May 2003. In September of 2004 I supported residents in their hard fought attempts to prevent the destruction of two mature beech trees on the site. While there removal was eventually approved by the authority following further tests advised by the applicant's representative Mr Caruthers to evidence their possible instability, this was strongly opposed by local residents and myself to the point of direct action on Sept 28^th 2004  with people willing to risk arrest to attempt to save the 150 year old parkland trees.

Once the trees were felled, there was in fact very little evidence of decay. I cite this to underline our scepticism of authoritative arboricultural reports and statements by the RMBI on the need to remove more mature trees such as the Walnut tree that was referred to in relation to the revised plan for the emergency access route. I refer to this experience to emphasis to the inquiry the strength of local feeling about the importance of this parkland and the role it plays in setting the context for the landscape and Conservation areas.

Moving on to look at the Planning context, I would firstly like to stress that PPG2 states that ‘visual amenities should not injured by proposals for development conspicuous from the Green Belt' ( P29 of committee report) The authority does have a draft Green belt (map dated Mar 2008) that was accepted as being relevant in the city the Secretary of State's ruling on the Germany Beck Inquiry. If anything, approval for that development due to ‘very special circumstances' makes this natural separation of Fulford from the main urban area even more significant in planning terms. I hope that the Inspector will be able to visit the Ings area to appreciate the prominent location of this site in relation to the adjacent green belt /SSSI land and the role it plays for those on the river or riverside path in providing a natural break maintaining the historic separation of Fulford from York. In this respect the Green Party did not accept the officers view in the committee report at 4.3.4. and said as such in our submission to the committee. We stressed that the existing buildings along this line are mostly screened by mature trees and thus have far less impact on the Green Belt than the proposed development. This was in part acknowledged by the planning officer in para 4.3.3 "The site does however have significant visual amenity value ....providing a green edge to Fulford from the Ings."and later " It is important that such characteristics are reasonably maintained as part of any development of the site."

In the context of the impact of the development on St Oswald's Rd, as stated (page 30 of committee report) PPG15 states the desirability of preserving or enhancing a conservation area when considering proposals outside a conservation area that affect its setting or views in or out of the conservation area. While the area near the entrance to Connaught Court will be screened by the retention of trees, the new care home will have a significant impact on the outlook from the ‘Fulford Rd Conservation area', changing it from one with very much a rural fringe to one where the single storey Alms Houses in a parkland setting are overshadowed by a modern two storey building. Again I hope you will be able to appreciate this concern on the site visit.

Moving to the impact on the Fulford Conservation area, and its proposed northerly extension to take in the Sir John Hunt Homes, this extension is something that we have been pressing for for five years, frustrated only by the lack of staffing to carry out the work. While only at the consultation stage, I would urge that some weight be given to the independent character appraisal of the area: Para 5.9 of this document states that ‘20^th century development within the park has left still left significant large areas of open space, including some fine mature trees and a margin of parkland between Main St and the Fulford Ings which helps to preserve the distinction between Fulford Village and the city suburbs and the open space that encircles the settlement. Para 5.11 states that the present Connaught Court while modern, is ‘spaciously planned and well landscaped such that it does not destroy the general appearance of being within the park.'  It is my contention that the siting and scale of the new care home combined with the new access road and parking areas near the proposed bowling green will destroy that appearance.

In terms of the issue of the appearance of the site from the conservation area covering Fulford Rd and the Fulford church the continuous wall and parkland behind can be seen particularly by pedestrians, cyclists and bus users, as well as by those attending weddings, baptisms and funerals at the church opposite. This creates a significant sense of a parkland setting, despite the intervening road. The insertion of the access road will not only visually pollute the current vista from the conservation area, it will also create displacement parking further away and probably into the site on the new roadway when such ceremonies are taking place, creating a much more urban feel to the whole area.

Finally I would like to address the question of ‘open space'. The emerging policy as part of the LDF for the city, taking over from the Local Development Plan adopted for development control purposes by the city in 2005.In response to PPG17 the city commissioned an independent study of open space including extensive public consultation. ‘Parks and gardens were perceived as particularly important to local residents' I wont go into the detailed findings, but I would like to draw particular attention to Section 12 of the study published by the council in Dec 2007 (copy provided) para12.10 which relates well to the application site and the question of pubic access: ‘The significance and value of areas of green and open space across the city extends well beyond that of merely providing an accessible recreational and amenity resource to inhabitants. In particular large areas of green space can have a collective contribution to make defining the character of the local environment. ...Their strategic contribution can include: contributing to defining the local landscape character, helping to achieve a soft interface between urban and rural environments, supporting habitats and local wildlife.

While the planning context for the city is obviously in transition, I would suggest that whether you rely on PPG national policy, the old Local Plan or emerging LDF policy documents and the draft extension to the conservation areas, the proposed development is unacceptable in planning terms and hugely detrimental to the Historic character of Fulford and the City of York. 

Presented to public enquiry 25th Jun 2008

So far the local press coverage of us securing one of the ten 'Cycle Demonstration Town' places bringing in £20 per head over the next 3 years for cycling has been disappointing - A small article that was a straight lift of the council press release, underneath a big feature about the hundreds of cards sent to the family of Ruby Milnes, the teenage cyclist tragically killed recently. So far no one has really made the link that if we want to prevent future tragedies we need to provide top class cycling facilities and educate all road users. In response to those who keep writing letters calling for police action against cycling on pavements, I will be pressing for the council to improve the facilities, if needed by removing roadspace for other vehicles. One place crying out for this is the section of inner ring road from Tower St round to Piccadilly, where the inside lane gets progressively narrower as you cross the Foss bridge. While we can provide more off road routes that can be used by younger children, we need to make all main routes cycle and pedestrian friendly too, as we will be trying to do soon along Fulford Rd.

York Cycle rally ride 22/6/08

Here is a statement I put out in response to the success in the cycle bid:

  Green councillor and cyclist Andy D'Agorne has welcomed news that York is to get government funding as one of ten 'Cycling demonstration towns'.    He said 'This gives York the opportunity to re-establish its position as premier UK cycling city, on a par with European levels of cycling.' York has been selected out of over 70 bidders - vidicating the pressure from the Greens and local MP Hugh Bayley to apply even though council officers initially felt we were unlikely to qualify because we already have relatively high levels of cycling for the UK.  

As part of the process of taking forward better provision for cyclists, Cllr D'Agorne is calling for an annual meeting between the Social Inclusion Working Group and representatives of cycle groups, travel plan officers etc to ensure regular dialogue between those representing the elderly and disabled and those developing better access for cyclists.   "Ive seen the working well in Sheffield, it is something that I hope our cycling champion will take up, given his concern about promoting safety between cyclists and pedestrians" said Cllr D'Agorne The council already has a commitment to re-establishing a Cycle Forum, Cllr D'Agorne believes this should be one of first issues for it to consider, alongside taking forward the cycle demonstration town implementation.  

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Posted by: andydag    in: Latest news

An interesting 'Greenspeak' this evening, discussing the concept of 'peak oil' and the relationship of oil prices to tackling climate change. Can we secure a civilised transition to a low carbon economy or will resource wars and boom and bust economics rule the day? Will rising prices simply mean that more marginal reserves become viable to extract? Meanwhile people are taking more direct action to secure a change in our energy policy:

'Leave it in the ground' are campaigning against plans already approved for a new large scale opencast coal mine in the Derbyshire countryside see
http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/leaveitintheground/

Today Climate campaigners have halted a train bound for Drax power station in North Yorkshire and are planning to occupy it -for latest info see
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/7452395.stm 

Green Party principal speaker Caroline Lucas MEP has pledged the party's support for the pay claim of the Shell contract drivers, who have voted to strike from 0600 Friday until 0600 the following Tuesday. She also reiterated the Greens' policy to levy a windfall tax on oil profits to pay for investment to lower fuel bills.

Dr Lucas said:

"The drivers have our unreserved support in their pay claim. As the demand for oil outstrips supply, Shell profits have soared to £14billion a year - they can afford to pay fair wages. Instead, they choose to squeeze workers for everything they can get.

"It's about time oil corporations were held to account. They are the winners from the fuel crisis. As pensioners struggle to keep warm, workers have their wages driven down and people worldwide fall victim to deadly floods, storms and droughts, the oil bosses pat each other on the back and award themselves another bonus.

"Shell should stump up, pay their hauliers properly right now, and end this strike. Then they should expect a windfall tax on their enormous profits, gained at the expense of ordinary people. We need warm homes, proper public transport and efficient freight transfer, and the oil profiteers should be paying for it."

Well put Caroline! So if you want to support the tanker drivers, dont go to Shell petrol stations and make sure you keep your tank full up! However, I hope that when it runs out you will be volunteering to car share with colleagues and give a lift to your elderly neighbour who needs to get to hospital. The Government may urge people not to panic, but they have to think about contingency plans (or are we going to see squaddies driving tankers next??)

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Posted by: andydag    in: Latest news

Booking discount applies until the end of July, but the cheaper accommodation will get booked up so if you plan to go now is the time to act!

FRIDAY 5th September to MONDAY 8th September

To quote for our organisers "Conference this year - for the first time in over a decade - is in the capital London, and the prestigious venue of SOAS - the School of Oriental & African Studies - next to Russell Square is the perfect place to match the Green Party's rising status, after a record-breaking London mayoral campaign, the successful returning of our two London Assembly members despite fierce competition, and local results seeing the Norwich Greens become the first ever official Green opposition party on a local council.

This Conference will be an historic one also, seeing members vote for the Green Party's first ever Leader, and hustings, voting and the leader's keynote speech will all take place at Conference." http://www.greenparty.org.uk/nextconference

However before you get too carried away, you might want to cost it all up - train fare (book now and you might get tickets for under £100 for both of us) £30+ per night for the room, conference fee (about £150). For the four day attendance Friday to Monday, all in, we are looking at £400 plus food and drink for two of us to go for a weekend in London, for the priviledge of wrangling about wording of some policies and witnessing the coronation of our new 'Leader' (however wonderful and inspiring she might be!). Perhaps we'll wait until it is held in Scarborough again. Now how much was that cheap flight?? (joke)

While researching venues for my mother's 80th birthday I came across this little 'cry' from the official Town Cryer for Penkridge, the 'village' where I grew up, which nicely sums up the present day town where we will be having our family celebration.

OYEZ OYEZ OYEZ

Hear Ye All - With greetings do I come, from the village that the Romans named Pennocrucium.

This busy village, now a Town as even some do say, is bounded west by rail and east by motorway

It has but little industry or commerce to it's name, but through the ancient "Horse Fair" at one time had it's fame.

For this brought to it's hostelries the famous and the good.
Queen Bess (who slept) and those who bought, and Wesley preached and stood.

I wear upon my cloak a badge, which shows the Church and Bridge,
a lively, busy market place - my Town, my home - Penkridge.

The present Town Crier, Bevan Craddock, can be reached via the Parish Administrator at the Haling Dene Centre, Cannock Road, Penkridge, Stafford, ST19 5DT or direct by Email to: towncrier at penkridge dot org dot uk

A handy way to contact your MP and find out what they have been saying in the House on your behalf is to go to www.theyworkforyou.com

Here's a letter I have just sent to our Labour MP, who has never been known to vote against the Government line :

Wednesday 4 June 2008

Dear Hugh,

I hope you had the opportunity to listen to Frank Dobson speaking on
Radio 4 this evening in relation to Gordon Browns plans to extend
detention without trial to 42 days.(try listen again facility) Whatever
you think of his valid points about the Magna Carta and the basic human
rights arguments, the pragmatic points he made about the long term
effects on the prospects for the Labour Party as a whole were very
convincing. Sad when we have to rely on an unelected House of Lords to
protect our liberties against a 'Labour' government.

 Neither you nor I want to see what good work Labour have achieved
swept away by a Tory government, but that looks increasingly likely as
the government makes more and more right wing decisions. Why vote for
Labour when you can choose a party that makes identical decisions, but
based on principle rather than against its principles?

Yours sincerely,

Andy