Roger Gambba-Jones

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story is the journalist's mantra (ALLEDGEDLY).  A bit extreme I know, but reading the headline on the front page of a local newspaper this week, it's difficult not to see some grain of truth in it.

The current owners of Spalding's one and only power station, have suggested that they might want to do the same thing all over again.  As part of their initial publicity, they've suggested that they would consider making some sort of financial contribution to the local community.

Now remember, this is their suggestion, no planning application has been received and at the moment SHDC haven't got any details on what the power company are proposing.  So, suggesting that a payout is on its way, is not only grossly premature, it's also potentially inflammatory. 

I have no doubt that those members of the public, who already see the district council planning dept as the ‘Dark Destroyer' of our beloved rural communities, have immediately taken this headline to mean that a deal has been done and what follows will just be a rubber stamping exercise all for show.

Apart from the fact that it won't even be SHDC determining the actual application, it will be the Secretary of State for something or other, the planning issues will still have to stack up.  So, even though SHDC won't be determining the actual application, it is a statutory consultee and will therefore be asking the development control committee to approve or otherwise the comments to be submitted.  The DC committee will be asked to consider a report based on planning considerations only - not on the size of any potential contributions that might or might no be forthcoming!