Episode 2

Any policy and law is up for interpretation. Which is proved by the fact that planning officers from other towns are able to interpret' the policy and find 'material considerations' to allow people to rebuild their barns. So this has led me to think about how the personal values, experiences and ethics of an individual can thereby effect the quality, financial lives of many people and families. The very sad part is that i do not think that these people actually realise...or maybe they do! It does raise a very debatable question..how answerable are they and to who? Our own life experiences shape our character and effect any professional decision we make, let us hope that future decision makers have wide life experiences.
Which brings me on to the next episode-
I am speaking to planning, actually that is not entirely true as they do not want to speak 'please put it in writing' So i have put pencil to paper and drawn a garage with a rectangle attached- i wait with baited breath for the predictable 'your kindergarten drawing does not meet with the Wrexham development plan policies'

So if this happens we will then appeal, if this fails we will sell - I caravan site in the countryside will probaly meet with their policy.

What is good for the goose...

Why over the border is it acceptable to rebuild an identical fallen barn but in Wrexham it is not??????? Equal opps?????? Is it my name? Is it my hair colour? Is it my gender? Is it my profession? Is it ... Is it...Is it because I live in Wrexham?
http://www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk/pdf/YC4174_Planning_App_P08_0504.pdf

And another granted but not in Wrexham:

http://www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/CARMS/meetings/pla2005-12-15min.pdf

"It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price

Thoma Sowell's words not mine! I have been thinking and trying to take a step back, While thinking and dwelling on the psychology of committees (yes I know...but I need to make sense of it and understand!) Allen defines committees in one short sharp sentence:'Committee--a group of men who individually can do nothing but as a group decide that nothing can be done.
(Allen, F, 1894 - 1956)


Perhaps I am being too harsh after all what is probably true here is that 'Any committee that is the slightest use is composed of people who are too busy to want to sit on it for a second longer than they have to' (Whitehorn). So considering this in relation to our refusal, out of 20 members only 7 were present at the site meeting, which means a majority of 4, which actually amounts to only 1 fifth -1/5th of the committee 'sitting on it seconds longer than they had to' -This does make me consider the democractic validity of the decision and brought about reality...the magnificant 7 decided our future!!

Perhaps some training from Freud would have helped 'When making a decision of minor importance, I have always found it advantageous to consider all the pros and cons. In vital matters, however,... the decision should come from the unconscious, from somewhere within ourselves. In the important decisions of personal life, we should be governed, I think, by the deep inner needs of our nature."

Click here to see the minutes for the site meeting http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/MinutesData/Planning/pl18072008m.htm

Headlines 'Dream home' ...a last attempt...

David came home tonight and asked if i would like to read the evening leader 'No thanks, I'm busy' 'Are you sure? Look I'm sure you know her' pointing to my name. I immediately glowed scarlet at the sight of my name on page 5, it could have been worse page 3!! but to be fair to Matt (the author) he did quote me and the council officers word for word, either a very fast typer or a recorder turned up very high, as every time I turned my head when I spoke the microphone didn't catch my voice. Now everyone knows I live in a garage!!

Even though I have mentally prepared myself for 'plan E' I am sure the disappointment of a refusal is going to cause me to become cynical but “Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist”(Carlin, 1937) I am an idealist and i just wish people would come to live in 'my world' instead of me joining theirs.

Click here Evening leader article: Dream Home

Planning update

Planning committee on Monday, 3 minutes of begging and putting forward a 'passionate plea' (committee member who was against us, 2008) for a home and financial survival, the entire situation was not dissimilar from holding out a hat and earnestly appealing for survival! Normally pride would have probably got in the way but i was not begging for a handout, freebie or to be given anything physical, just a word...'Granted'.
The democracy was evident and i was pleasently surprised-with numerous positives and some council employees negatives but the overall decision was for a site visit...to see what is left...oh,... dearrr, A gable! I doubt the 'deserted travellers site look' will prove favourable for us.
Oh, that reminds me, the good news is at least we have some people who want to buy Loweroak, as to comply with council policy it is no use to man, goat, pig, industrial, haulage, sheep, martian or dog as it is outside the 'settlement' and in the 'countryside' emmm this makes me ponder i have a title for the wxm leader (incidentally they called today for a story!I could not think of anything worse than me standing, pointing to the fallen bricks.....cringe)

Planning names

Latest update: Due to various local planning polices the application has been refused (by the planning officers, so it is now being referred to the planning committee) as it is classed as a 'new dwelling in the country side' and is therefore harm full to the environment..... emmm and my large millions of pages application isn't I could go on but i am going to save my energy and direct it to something useful...I'll change my name by deed poll i will now find the most common surname which has been granted planning in Wrexham...

Fingers crossed

It is now submitted. The plans..., not my application to a 'mind retirement home'.
Hypocrasy! All the policies for this and that -environmental, sustainable, eco, access and future istic building regulations, most of which I do agree with. But there is a Big- HOWEVER, I have just sent in an aplication which was aprox 33 pages- then I have had to copy it 4 times at least 130 pages of wasted ink, electricity, paper etc- I am sure in this techno, electronic year2008 we live in, this is not necessary.
On the good side my local MP visited our 'gable end monument' and has pledged his support. Little words of support mean alot and I have been surprised where these have been delivered from. Thank you -
So, in the mean time , I will continue to clean bricks (1 a day is enough!) and plant my gold plated potatoes with my fingers crosed.

Plans

I thought it would be a good idea to include a copy of my plans, then it becomes a little clearer. I will have to work out how to rotate the picture, until then try to think of it as neck exercises...and tilt...