Shooting Lodge on the South Downs - Planning Hearing

As the Lewes District Council did not advertise the upcoming public hearing I have written to residents in my ward alerting (see below).  

What does it concern? It relates to the operation of a shooting lodge on a 6 day a week basis in the season which is associated with game shooting on the South Downs. Where is it? Here is a map of the area:

Lodge is shown with a red circle. Footpaths & South Downs Way in green. Public Right of Access to Open Access Land shaded in yellow. Click image for larger map. © Crown Copyright 2015. Extract from OS Map OL11

For more information on the planning application see links below. For related information click on these headings:

Attending a public hearing 

Further reading

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Dear Residents,

Last year a planning application was submitted to extend the use of a building on the South Downs as a ‘shooting lodge’ to host shooting parties throughout the shooting season on a six-day a week basis. The current situation is that the applicant has appealed. As a result there will be a public hearing on Tuesday 25^th August.

Lodge is shown with a red dot adjacent to the Kingston & Iford Hill Site of Special Scientific Interest

Details of this appeal are: 

Application Number: SDNP/14/05468/CND

Application Summary: Variation of condition 1 attached to planning approval LW/09/1177 to vary the use of the building as a facility connected to game shooting and agriculture, the use shall only occur between Monday to Saturday 7am-5pm

The hearing into this appeal will start at 10:00 on 25 August 2015.

The venue for the hearing is: The Stanley Turner Ground, Kingston Road, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 3NB

To see the documents go to: http://planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications/

Then put in the application number: SDNP/14/05468/CND    Here you will see the inspector’s letter and all the application documents.    

To write to the inspector use one or all of these emails:

teamp13@pins.gsi.gov.uk  or cassandra.low@pins.gsi.gov.uk or enquiries@pins.gsi.gov.uk

or go via: www.planningportal.gov.uk/planninginspectorate

It is important to quote ref: APP/Y9507/W/15/3002162

A number of people have asked me about the procedure relating to planning hearings. I have been in touch with the Planning Inspectorate and here is their answer:

“Anyone is entitled to attend a hearing without prior notification.  The Inspector will conduct the hearing and all procedural matters will be under the guidance of the Inspector after he or she has formally opened the proceedings.  If you wish to submit representations before the hearing, you should send these to the relevant case officer and it will be for them, on consultation with the Inspector, as to whether they are accepted. Anything submitted on the day of the hearing will be for the Inspector to decide whether to accept.”

Speaking: “You do not need to give prior notification. You simply attend on the day and the Inspector will guide you from then on.”

If you need to confirm anything please contact the Inspectorate: Customer Support Team, Planning Inspectorate for England:  0303 444 5000  enquiries@pins.gsi.gov.uk

Here is an extract from the Planning Inspector’s letter of the 16^th June: 

As your local district councillor, I urge you to consider whether or not you support the application, as once the inspector has made his decision there will be no further opportunity to object to the shooting activity. 

Regards

Vic Ient

Lewes District Councillor - [Kingston Ward: Falmer - St Ann Without - Kingston - Swanborough - Iford - Northease - Rodmell - Southease - Piddinghoe] 

T: 07788720929     E: vic.ient.libdem@gmail.com    W: https://sussexcampaign.wordpress.com/