QUENTIN DAVIES MP URGENTLY APPEALS TO SECRETARY OF STATE TO CALL IN PLANNING PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP THE LADY ANNE’S HOTEL AND TO ESTABLISH A PLANNING INQUIRY

Quentin Davies today issued the following statement, “I have written to the Secretary of State of Communities and Local Government John Denham as a matter of urgency to ask him to call in this planning application, and establish a Planning Inquiry so that the extremely grave heritage and aesthetic aspects raised by this proposal can be considered with the seriousness they deserve.

English Heritage have also objected to the proposed extension to the Lady Anne’s Hotel. I have looked at the proposals very carefully and have visited the site and entirely endorse their objections.

I learnt yesterday with some consternation that the rumours that the Forestry Commission have entered into negotiations with a developer about a Western by-pass scheme for Bourne which would encroach into Bourne Wood have been confirmed by the Commission.

I have today written to Mr Paul Hill-Tout, Director of the Forestry Commission for England, asking to see the plans and requesting a meeting to discuss them.

Of course Bourne needs a North-South bypass. I have said so for many years and – in vain – lobbied the District Council many years ago to make development on the eastern side of the town conditional on such a by-pass being constructed to the east. I continue to believe that a by-pass to the east is feasible.

In twenty wonderful years as Bourne’s MP I have had many requests to take up personal cases, or causes in the interest of the town as a whole. I have always tried to be as helpful as I could.

In all this time no one has ever approached me to say that what the town needed was a base for gypsies or “travellers”.

My initial reaction when I heard that S.K.D.C. was proposing this was disbelief. There are so many useful things that public money might be spent on. And so strong a case for economy to keep the Council Tax down (a matter on which I think that our District Council – and let me be quite fair to a party of which I am no longer a member – has a very good and commendable record.) Why spend money on something for which there is no demand?