The two Pocklington Provincial Tories Cllr Claude Mole and Cllr Kay West remained silent at Thursdays planning committee on the subject of bungalows in relation to application for the erection of 225 dwellings at land south east of Groves Farm, West Green, Pocklington.

At every application Pocklington Provincial can have up to four voices speaking for the residents:

1. An objector
2. Cllr Claude Mole – Conservative
3. Cllr Andy Strangeway – Independent
4. Cllr Kay West – Conservative

Of these only Cllr Strangeway and a resident spoke out against the application.

Cllr West sat on the committee (apart from when she stormed out of the room) but made no mention about the lack of bungalows. While Cllr Mole sat at the back of the room and never even bothered to register to speak.

The next time this application goes to the planning committee all four listed must speak out in favour of bungalows.

If both Cllr Mole and Cllr West fail to do so it will confirm my address to be correct.

My Address

“I believe it would be appropriate to give some background to planning for the benefit of the public here today.

• Government Policy

It is the Government policy to build houses. The Government is Conservative. 8 out of 11 on this Planning Committee today are Conservative Councillors including the Chair. All Conservative Councillors agree to put party first. As such they will support the Government. This means residents are at best second.

• ERYC Local Plan

When the Local Plan was consulted on Pocklington Provincial had three ERYC Conservative Ward Councillors and Pocklington had a Town Council dominated by Conservatives. As such the Tory mantra, especially regards Pocklington Provincial, was enshrined in the ERYC Local Plan. Build, build, build. Parking and infrastructure was given next to no consideration for Pocklington.

• Neighbourhood Plan

A Neighbourhood Plan is there to shape planning and can only be produced by the Parish/Town Council. The Conservative Pocklington Town Council have failed to produce a Neighbourhood Plan since 2011. Seven years.

• Conservative Group Planning Meeting

The Conservatives sitting on this Planning Committee have held a Planning Meeting to discuss the applications prior to coming into this room. But of course this is not pre determination!

• Decision Known

The decision is already known with regards this application.

• Members

From the report to Planning Committee I referred members to policy H1 – Providing a mix of housing and meeting needs.

Then I quoted page 128, part 7.10 “Whilst not fully in accordance with the housing mix of market housing set out in the SHMA( Strategic Housing Market Assessment) etc..”

This is smoke and mirrors. It is NOT in accordance forget the fully.

This application must be refused as it fails to comply with the required housing mix. Pocklington is in dire need of bungalows and there are non in this application.

• Finally 

A reason for all the house building in Pocklington are commuters from Leeds. It is reasonable for Pocklington residents to enquirer why very few houses are being built in North Cave with the easy access to Leeds via the M62.

Thank you.”