April 2015 Newsletter

I attended a meeting on 11 March with representatives of NHDC and Stevenage Borough Council about the transfer of ownership and management of Norton Green Common to Knebworth Parish Council. The discussion was very constructive, and all parties confirmed that they could envisage no major obstacles to the transfers taking place. The legal process will take some time, and the Parish Council have yet to ratify that they wish to take on this expanded role, but I believe that this meeting was a milestone towards the goal of improving the Common as an important piece of amenity land within the Parish. The Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government has confirmed that an inquiry will be held under Section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 into the application for planning permission for the Swangleys Lane Solar Farm. Datchworth Parish Council plan to submit evidence and make a representation to the inquiry. They are looking for financial support from other Parish Councils and other interested parties. The inquiry will examine the appropriateness of developing this installation on this site in the Green Belt. On a separate, but related matter, the planning application for the solar generation facility at Three Houses Lane (ref. 14/02360/1) has been amended and is being reviewed by NHDC. The scale of the installation has been reduced, to 5MW, but it remains in the Green Belt. Nicholas Pellett is leading the objectors to this application. Knebworth Parish Council are opposed to the application. Steve Deakin Davies is looking for singers to appear in a video for the Knebworth Festival, on 26 June. Lots of events and activities are planned for the day, including a video featuring Knebworth singers, each singing a line of ‘Perfect Day’, along the lines of the famous BBC video. Contact Steve on 07508832581 for more information.

Links

NHDC Planning Portal: via www.north-herts.gov.uk.
Swangleys Lane Solar Farm: knebworthsolar.co.uk.
Three Houses Lane Solar Farm: saveourherts.com.
Knebworth Festival: facebook.com/Knebfest or Twitter @knebfest or stevedeakindavies@hotmail.com.