Railway Sidings Application Withdrawn.

I received an email from AVBC one night last week telling me that the application had been withdrawn. Nothing to get too excited about though as they've still got permission to build rabbit hutches dwellings behind us ... and they'll probably submit a similar application later

I'd have written about it sooner but I received the email the same day our beloved Daewoo Matiz broke down for the final time - that's another blog post waiting in drafts - and it's been a busy week with lots more pressing things on my mind ... OK, I forgot all about it until I checked my statcounter and noticed DEFRA had visited a couple of times lately and wondered why. Actually they'd been looking at the temporary car wash post. The same car wash that's becoming ever more permanent ... but I digress.

Reference: AVA/2014/0790
Proposal: Outline application for residential development with access into the site unreserved. All other matters reserved.

Location: Former Exchange Sidings Bridge Street Langley Mill Derbyshire
Applicant Name: Heanor Haulage Company Ltd And HHLM Pension Scheme

This application has been withdrawn. There will be no further action on it and the file will be closed. We will however keep a record of people who have commented so that they can be contacted again.

The application was withdrawn at the request of the applicant/agent to enable the proposals to be reconsidered.

A similar application may be re-submitted at a later date. If so we will write to tell anyone who has shown an interest so that further comments can be made.

One Way Traffic?

We've just received our parish magazine, and it appears that our illustrious local council has submitted comments at AVBC - on the proposed extra 58 rabbit hutches, oops dwellings (along with the 60 already passed) - for a recommendation of a one way traffic system, using Bridge Street AND Dean Street - ahhh, bless, they'll have to be disturbed - to relieve traffic issues.

Well, they won't take any notice of my comments - they never do - so fingers crossed they WILL take notice of our parish council ...

Glad To Be Back :(

Monday:

H-effin-H have been playing with two cranes, numerous lorries and railway tracks across from us since 8.30 this morning - and they were still at it gone 6.30pm.

It was pointed out by my neighbour that HH waited for me to come home, ha di ha ha :(

Tuesday:

HeanorHaulage clearly hate me, they've been bringing the railway tracks back since 7.30am.

So much for council rules on what they can do on that land and at what time of the day - ie "everything indoors and only between 8.30-18.00".

Deliberately being away for my birthday - and bonfire night - meant that I didn't have to phone 999 when Mr HH and his minion set fire to things. Why he should think bonfire night provides him with a licence to burn old containers etc, behind us I don't know.

On a more positive note, Asda have closed in their loading dock so the lights no longer shine in my bedroom and - so far - they haven't woken me with night time deliveries. I bet that doesn't last.

Wednesday:

Asda clearly hate me. Work is being done on their warehouse extension, which involves enormous amounts of reverse bleep-bloody-bleeping. This is very reminiscent of when they built the damn place only four years ago.

Oh and now their gardener is doing what he does best - using his blower to blow the crap back off the pavement and back on to Asda's, ahem garden ... obviously we have lots of McDonalds plants growing there.

Thursday:

Escaped after being woken by bleep-bloody-bleep before 8.00am.

Friday:

Really fed up of Asda and their new extension being built. The 'cherry picker' is none stop bleep-bloody-bleep. this is whether it goes up, down, left, right, backwards or effin forwards. Every day this week from before 8.00am. I can cope better with their drilling and hammering.

And now H-effin-H are here with their crane AGAIN for the third time. Not sure if the railway tracks are coming or going as the lorries aren't here yet (8.00) and I may have missed them yesterday.

Won't it be fun when H-effin-H build the 120ish new houses behind and next to us ... and extending our little street to serve them all? I'm really looking forward to that ...

Housing Planning Application For Former Railway Sidings

Just been informed by Ali - I haven't looked since early last week - that there are plans in at AVBC for housing on the old railway sidings ... the same ones of ecological value that were illegally dumped on with excavated waste when they finished building Asda ... thus obliterating any wildlife and making damn sure any future plans couldn't be objected to.

AVA/2014/0790

Former Exchange Sidings (Bridge Street)

Outline Application for up to 58 Dwellings, with access into the site unreserved.

30% of the dwellings to be 'Affordable Housing'

17 - 2 Bedroom Apartments
37 - 3 Bedroom Houses
4 - 4  Bedroom Houses

Not bad to say it was only for storing flatbeds, but I suppose it's marginally better than what the teenagers are doing on it.

Hmmm, it goes a long way, right past Argyle Street, I bet they're impressed. Oh bless, they're retaining some existing trees, well there would have been a lot more trees to retain if RG Group, Asda and Heanor Haulage hadn't seen fit to bulldoze them down and cover them with crap.

I will look at the rest of the plans when I have time. Thanks for the info Ali ...

Update 8.12.14

Having just had a check at AVBC to see if a decision on these plans - expected Dec 2014 - has been made. We're now informed that the decision has been put back until May 2015. 

Update 20.06.15

After checking daily from the 29th of May,  I now find the decision has been put back again until 23rd July 2015... 

Tavern Car Wash Not Exactly Permanent

Now I'm back back home and have read my letter from the council; it's clear that this wet pile of tat is NOT PERMANENT, the permission for it runs out 31st December 2014 this time, because - "The development is of a type not considered suitable for permanent retention in accordance with policy EN16 of the Adopted Amber Valley Borough Local Plan 2006".

And "Within one month a scheme for the removal of waste water from the site and measures to prevent surface water draining onto the public highway shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority".

And "Only mains powered equipment shall be used on site. No generators shall be used on site without the PRIOR written approval of the Local Planning Authority" -  I did notice that their opening hours have been extended too:

Between 0900 hours and 1800 hours Monday-Fridays

Between 0900 hours and 1700 hours Saturday

Between 0930 hours and 1630 hours on Sunday.

Therefore I can conclude that this ugly eyesore can remain permanently temporary - with repeat applications being granted permission for years and years and years and years ... we'll see shall we ...

Permanent Car Wash On Tavern Car Park

A permanent car wash and valeting service has been applied for  - AVA/2013/0846 - on the Railway Tavern car park, Langley Mill ... because - ahem - the current permit is running out now. Funny that, we all thought it ran out June 2011.

Apparently they say that everything is already on site to make it permanent, but I do hope they have to make it look less like a pile of junk aka a scrap yard than it presently does or what's the point? ...

Update 1st November: This pile of garbage was granted PERMANENT planning permission yesterday. I can only assume they think it's what Langley Mill amounts to. I bet there isn't a similar heap of junk on Belper's main road.

Potters Langley Mill ... And Smiths

As noticed at AVBC by ALLEY - I've not looked this week, busy, busy, busy :)

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POTTERS SNOOKER CLUB - 51 Cromford Road.

Planning Application AVA/2013/0380 Applicant Mr. Nicholas Henrys (Hucknall)

Change of use from retail units to licensed premises. Refurbishment of interior ground floor area into bar.

It states that the new bar, which will be on the corner of Dean Street and Cromford Road, will show 'live sport' and will put on 'live entertainment' aimed at all generations and all tastes !

Hmmm ...

....

Smiths

Wellingborough-based Whitworth Bros. through Dogsthorpe Acquisitions paid £450,000 for the business assets of Smiths Flour Mills 3 sites in Worksop, Holbeach and Langley Mill and as far as I can see still own the site here in Langley Mill!

Illegal Car Wash and Smiths Flour Mill

Sorry about Asda's lollypop in the way

I've just received a couple of comments by 'Anonymous' on an old post about that heap of tat aka the Diamond Hand car-wash on the Railway Tavern car park. One comment was about the car wash and the other was about the rather hasty demolition of Smiths flour mill.

Because the post is so old I decided to remind you all that the car wash is still trading illegally, as well as making Langley Mill look like a cheap doss hole.

.....

Comments:

I have tried talking to the Parish Council about the illegal car wash but I might as well have been speaking to the ducks on the canal for all the sense you get from them.

Also spoke to AVBC Planning Dept in Nov 2012, Emailed them and rang again on Jan 13 but wasting my time. They're not really interested even though this is a clear breach of the law.

The chap I spoke to said he had written a letter to the owner a while ago but hadn't had a reply. Big wow, so that's it then ... he can sit back, job well done and wait for his pension.

Unfortunately the rest of us have to drive past this eyesore every day. It's a shame because Langley Mill was beginning to look better than it has done for years but this ramshackle excuse for a business adds nothing to the area and it's about time that those who's job it is to regulate these things actually did what we pay them for. ... Well said :)

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lots more already come down further along

 Anybody noticed that the Smiths Flower Mill is currently being demolished, but on Amber Valley Planning Site it states that permission for demolition is not due until 04/04/2013 (AVA/2013/0103).

Work actually started before the application to demolish was even registered. The applicants form was signed 6th Feb and registered 7th Feb but work started before this. How is it possible for them to start demolition before being granted formal approval. Is it the funny handshake brigade at work again? ... More than likely :)

The new Smiths Flour Mill owners are Dogsthorpe Acquisitions Limited. I'm assuming it's the haulage/transport company of the same name based at Worksop. This assumption is partly based on the fact that Smith's is based there too. I am puzzled why Whitworths - who bought Smiths - need to look at my blog to find out how demolition is progressing. I will have to ask ALI for some photos sometime soon ...

Heanor Haulage Residential Development 2013

I received a letter from AVBC the other day telling me that the extension to the time limit for the Heanor Haulage development had been passed, did they honestly think I didn't already know??

My views were taken into account before the decision was made but it was agreed with the chairman of the planning board that the application should be GRANTED (in capitals) blah blah blah.

Seeing as I didn't object to this application in any way, shape or form, this only confirms what I already thought of AVBC, which is that they ignore everything anyone has to say - for or against - as a matter of course, and my email was consigned to the bin.

There are still to be only a maximum of six houses to be accessed from Dean Street so these poor dears aren't too disturbed, whereas we on Bridge street are to have the other possible fifty house tagged on to our street. It's not like we've got enough problems with Asda disturbing us through the night with their deliveries, along with whatever idiot they employ in the loading area who thinks it's a good idea to prepare for each delivery by throwing pallets and cages around.

Then there's the teenagers up and down, up and down, up and down, hour after hour, presumably having been evicted from Asda ... occasionally being chased by police. Where do their parents think they are at 2.00, 3.00 and 4.00 in a morning? Hmmm, I wonder how the poor residents on Dean street would cope with that disturbing their cosy little lives?

Then there's the people who park on Bridge Street who shop at Asda and the post office ... we were promised this wouldn't happen, well it DOES! This road isn't wide enough now for two way traffic with parked cars, can you imagine it serving another fifty houses?

.....

Before any other operations are commenced - 'a new estate street connections are to be formed to Dean Street and Bridge Street'. You know, I don't know why they're bothering them at all on Dean Street, is it worth it for six houses? One of the few things I mentioned in my email to AVBC - which was obviously taken into consideration - was a one way street linking the two streets, not what we really want but it's a better idea than the one they've come up with.

They've got to remove the contaminated ground properly this time (as they should have done before) and presumably not just dump it all next to the railway lines ... this is mainly what I wrote to the council about. I wasn't objecting to the houses, so why this actually needed taking into consideration before it was passed is beyond me as it should have been a matter of course - as it should last time - but some people are above the law, greedy and do things on the cheap, and I wanted to emphasize that NOTHING should be dumped anywhere.

Anyway, the one good bit I found out is that before they start on the houses behind us they've still got to finish building Asda (done) and Heanor Haulage's workshop and offices (not done) ... and they've still got to make a temporary road through from Wesley Street - which Asda seem to own - I bet they're pleased.

There is much more in the letter - ten pages actually - but it's boring, if I think anything else needs adding over time then I will do so - yawn ...

Adoption Of Pottery Lane

From a Comment by fellow grumpy ALI:

Report from page 4 of the January 2012 Parish Magazine :-

ITEM 2 - Adoption of Pottery Lane as a public footpath (£57,000 allocated)

a. Pottery Lane has been adopted as a footpath and will be resurfaced.
b. AVBC will look at the feasibility of including lighting and seats in development.
c. It is anticipated work will commence in the second quarter of 2012.

NOTE: the TOTAL gifted by Asda of £57,000 has yet to be spent, this is from a Report of a Meeting of Connecting Communities on TUESDAY, 29th November 2011 ! ! !

Hopefully we ALL anticipate something being done in 2013 ! ! !

Cromford Road Car Park - Free Short Stay

Information from fellow grumpy ALI

The Cromford Road car park is again under the control of AVBC, after making the choice to return it to a FREE short stay car park. A nominal rent is to be paid to the new landlord.

Please be aware that it is free for ONLY a 3 hour maximum stay, so Council enforcement officers may be keeping a lookout when it reopens for those wanting to stay for much longer periods, thinking they are able to park all day as they did before

...

Thanks ALI. There were 3 ... I repeat THREE police persons stood outside the car park yesterday morning. If we'd had time, I'd have asked them to get the car shifted that was stupidly parked on the corner of Cromford Road/Bridge Street. Neither grumpy nor myself could see around it to check for traffic whizzing down Cromford Road. Grumpy was already having enough problems judging how fast the speeding morons were coming from Station Road ...

Latest Doings In Langley Mill Oct/Nov 2012

As observed by my fellow grumpy ALI ... I don't want anyone to miss these:

1. I see not many local motorists are prepared to pay the new charges on the former AVBC car park (free). We now get idiots parking anywhere they like on the road and side streets causing a hazard to other drivers ! ... on - Cromford Road Car Park 
2. Just noticed we know have 2 illegal car washes in Langley Mill, the one that opened up on Dean Street months ago has only just applied for 'retrospective planning approval' for their 'car valet business' 5 days ago (11th Oct.) according to AVBC Planning Dept. website. So much for following the legal rules and regs. ... on - The Real Pictorial Langley Mill 
3. Well one high street shop has been sold at auction and we ALL await what delights it will offer to us over the coming Christmas period, that's if it opens by then. I refer to what I still call Sutcliffes newsagents, over the road from the Railway Tavern on Station Road. It was a pleasure to see the smiles on the faces of both of the mature ladies who used to serve in his shop (John Sutcliffe) many years ago when I used to say 'good morning girls' as I popped in to pay my paper bill back when 'papers were delivered, happy days ! ! ! ... on - Latest Doings in Langley Mill 
4. The date that I heard regarding the opening of McDonalds was early in the New year, maybe February, but all this bad weather we are having could have an effect on that, we shall see! ... on -  Bad Manners Maketh The Post Office 
5. I've heard the rumour by a few people locally that the access to the new McDonalds will be over a new bridge crossing the river from the rear of Lidl on the Access 26 site. Looked on the Borough Planning website but unable to spot any details, all I could see was the additional erection of 'pedestrian barriers' on the 3 approaches to the Asda racetrack and adjustment to road markings. I keep my eyes peeled to see if any trees suddenly get felled, to give us more proof of this rumour becoming fact! ... on - McDonalds Gets Go Ahead for Langley Mill - Again 
6. Keep your eye on the car park on Saturday 1st December 2012 for new developments ! ! ! ... on - Cromford Road Car Park
7. Now I believe that Asda made a large donation for the upgrading of the Pottery Lane footpath when the store was granted planning permission. We are now entering the twilight months of 2012 and STILL no sign of an ounce of tarmac being deposited on that sorry path. Now perhaps some Councillors might think that the peasants of this parish will have short memories and forgot all about the £50K+ that is sitting in some bank account and hoping they could put it to better use elsewhere. Well I have news for them, my memory is a damn site better than that and will be keeping a close eye on what, if anything, happens in the New Year ! ! ! ... on - Pottery Lane And Another Moan About Slurry Corner ...

Heanor Haulage Residential Development

I've been my nosy self tonight and really wished that I hadn't.

Plans are in today for Heanor Haulage, Langley Mill. The site address for the residential development is Dean Street/Bridge Street so I'm afraid that involves us far more than I was hoping. As if we haven't had enough to put up with already.

Application - AVA/2012/0994

 Heanor Haulage Ltd Wesley Street Langley Mill Derbyshire NG16 4AL

Application to replace extant planning permission AVA/2009/0471 for outline permission for residential development

 A decision is anticipated on 21/Jan/13 under the Delegated Powers.

I suppose this could just be a cheap way of extending the current passed plans, rather than starting from scratch as they're probably due to run out. Whatever, we can't wait ...

Update 26th October:
Our letters were sent out by Amber Valley Borough Council yesterday, the important people were sent theirs on the 24th (I'm not important). The strange thing is they still send letters to all the places they surely know don't exist at these addresses. What a waste of money! These include:

1. CJ Car Sales.
2. Delta Bookmakers.
3. Netto.
4. Insight Glazing.
5. PMB Pallet Express.
6. Heanor Haulage (cough, cough).
7. Chiron Gas and Welding Supplies.
8. The Yard Wesley Street (honest).
9. Pickerings Brakes and Clutches.
10. Les Wilson Freight Express.
11. Potters Snooker Club.
12. Probably several addresses demolished to make way for Asda

I'm not sure that the Post Office is the correct address - but I expect it WILL get there, hmmm, is Asda getting one? Pass - I'm too bored to check further now ...

Update 18th January 2013:
Passed by AVBC on 17th January

Latest Doings in Langley Mill

 As I've mentioned before, not everyone looks at the comments so here's the latest observations by ALI:

1. The demolition of the former CJ Car Sales building has begun, so the opening of the new store can't be all that far away.
2.  Not many local motorists are prepared to pay the new charges on the former AVBC car park (free) on Cromford Road. We now get idiots parking anywhere they like on the road and side streets causing a hazard to other drivers.
3.  Just noticed we now have 2 illegal car washes in Langley Mill, the one that opened up on Dean Street months ago has only just applied for 'retrospective planning approval' for their 'car valet business' 5 days ago (11th Oct.) according to AVBC Planning Dept. website. So much for following the legal rules and regulations.

.....

Yes ALI, I noticed the retrospective plans last week, I had a little titter at the time. Apparently they had permission for one part of the plans, then decided to go ahead without permission for another bit ... presumably the environmentally unfriendly - lets chuck our water down the drains and hope no-one will notice bit. Obviously some people will always think that the rules don't mean them ...

Wheelie Tewwific!

At long last Amber Valley Borough Council have been dragged into the 21st century regards our recycling.

They will tell us in jolly tones that they've listened to us - the council tax payers - about the new recycling service we're getting. Nothing to do at all with the current contract being up (same company, new contract) and the realisation that the inept system we've put up with for years was total RUBBISH!

There was a questionnaire/survey a little while ago - I'd have to check my bossy do this questionnaire now tweets and texts to find out when exactly, and I'm not quite bored enough for that - asking us what improvements they could make.

Well obviously what we wanted was to have all our recycling in one wheeled bin and get rid of the two bags for paper and cardboard and the wafer thin, dribbly bottomed, unlidded yellow and orange plastic tubs for the tins and glass ... and we wanted our plastic collected from the kerbside too.

If I remember correctly, there was also mention of garden waste collection that may be implemented next year, but don't rely on me for this information being a done deal.

Anyway, our new grey recycling bins - which include plastic collection - are on their way to us over the next few weeks and we start to use them week beginning 19th November. There is a separate sleeve/caddy doo dah inside for the glass because if it gets mixed in with the other recyclables it'll be considered contaminated and unusable. I don't think it's too much to ask us to use the bin correctly.

Ahem, it's not often I say this - rarer than hens teeth I should think - but, oh, alright if I must ... THANKS Amber Valley Borough Council for finally asking what we want and actually going on to implement it. There, see. That wasn't too difficult and nowhere near as sarcastic as my second paragraph ...

Asda Island Langley Mill: Safe or Dangerous?

This post is written by a fellow Twitterer (and fairly prolific commenter). He was going to do it as a comment but they sometimes get missed, so I suggested he become a blog author: So, meet dayvee ...

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It all started for me on 17^th September 2010 when my wife and I was taking our granddaughter out for a walk, well she was in her push chair due to her being only 2 years of age.

Walking along Station Rd heading towards Eastwood we encountered the new roundabout at the junction of Cromford Rd.  Immediately something about the island struck me that this was not a comfortable place to cross to make our way towards Eastwood.

The old zebra crossing had gone with nothing to replace it other than a tactile kerb to give the pedestrian confidence.

There was no other option other than use the opposite side of the road which had and still has no footpath.

I was so concerned that I wrote to Asda, several threads of email were exchanged comprising of many questions aimed mainly at safety including photographs to back up the questions, no satisfactory answers came back.

Communications finished 13^th December 2010 and I dare say by more luck than judgement as far as I am aware there has not been an accident involving a pedestrian.

I would like to know if anyone else is aware of an accident on or relevant to the island.

Because of the “Grumpy Old Woman’s BlogSpot” the topic has been revived and it is thanks to Julie that she has allowed me to write, hopefully to raise more local interest in order to highlight safety concerns to the council which in turn they should place pressure or request those responsible to make the roundabout more safe for pedestrians of all capabilities.

(See below in quote the section underlined)

I have recently opened discussions this time with Councillor Kevin Parkinson who appears to have more interest than those in the past.

I forwarded all previous discussion threads including photographs to him asking for the answers to my questions.  He admits that he is not qualified to answer most of them; however he does write in his final thread “Quote”…

To confirm, Asda were responsible for their build which was approved by Amber Valley Borough Council.
As the highway authority we are responsible for ensuring new developers, in this case Asda, fund any necessary road traffic and pedestrian measures that meet the statutory requirements contained in the regulation and best practice available.

In terms of the existing arrangements I am satisfied they meet the regulatory requirements and confirm Asda is a responsible neighbour which is always crucial to secure necessary highway improvements.

Part of the agreement with Asda carried a clause for us to include any retrospective improvements 'should' any new information or persistent concerns occur.

I can assure you, that as local member; I have consistently reviewed the situation around Asda and consulting with our professional officers, remain satisfied.

We all are reliant upon road users and pedestrians observing good high way code disciplines, and the existing highway arrangements very much factored minimising risks.

In terms of the points you outlined, I am not qualified to respond and have asked officers to respond on my behalf.

As I explained, we are currently working with a new developer and are seriously considering our S278 highway requirements to allow that build and fast food operation to occur.

I have a meeting shortly with officers responsible for negotiating these requirements and I will ensure your comments are considered accordingly.
I have also included the Parish Council who should be aware of your concerns.

I have replied to Councillor Parkinson appertaining to the above.

You will see within the above written quote that I have underlined and placed in bold a section where I believe that we the public in numbers could pursue and (for want of a better word), force their hand to make the roundabout more safe for pedestrians to include sound and visual aids.

S278 that Councillor refers to is primarily an agreement between the local authority and developer in respect of what work is to be done, the price and other bits and bobs, not necessarily safety crossing aids.  It may be they were not placed in the contract due to price, which in my opinion is not serving the public well.

Change can only be considered if we have hoards of Langley Millers raising issues of complaint

I would also be happy to read your thoughts and ideas regarding the roundabout.

If anyone is interested in viewing all the questions that has been placed to Asda and councillor Parkinson, also the photographs (to get a feel of where we are with it) I will be only too happy to post them, just let me know. 

Only for fear of boring you is the reason why I have not posted them here and now.

As and when I receive information or updates I will post them.

Many thanks GG

dayvee

(David Vowles)

I'm Still Here

Just in case anyone was at all concerned - Oh you weren't - I am still here. I have several blog posts partly written but haven't been in the mood to finish any ... But I will be back ;-)

I tiny update on things concerning a car wash on a pub car-park in Langley Mill - with no current planning permission - but which has now acquired ultra-bright advertising frills and several not so bright black bin bags piled up for extra tat effect.

Ahem, a fellow twitterer - and commenter on my blog - got the 'bit between his teeth' and made a proper tweeting nuisance of himself (my hero, ha ha) regards this car wash.

The upshot is that a councillor has made enquiries and now filled in an enforcement form about this pile of garbage using lots of - yes, I too hope they're on a meter - water in the centre of Langley Mill ...

Poundland For Heanor Retail Park?

I put this in my 'rumours' the other day, but I've since had a few moments - because I've had enough of looking at Androids for two minutes - to cruise a little further away from Langley Mill in the planning applications at AVBC.

I find that you have to be relatively sneaky to spot a 'new' shop taking over by looking here, but the application is:

AVA/2012/0433 Heanor Retail Park Unit 4 High Street Heanor DE75 7EX (where Peacocks is now)

For:

Advertisement consent for 2 blank fascia signs and replacement signage

The applicant is:

POUNDLAND

The total lack of punctuation above is nowt to do wi' me, I know's how to punctuate (mostly), I just copied it from AVBC ;-)

Righto, back to really important stuff ... which Android is to be my delicious choice today? Eeny Meeny Miny Mo ...

.....

Update 17th May 2012:

This application and one connected with it - AVA/2012/0431 - have both been withdrawn (16th May).

So now we'll have to wait and see ...

McDonalds Gets Go Ahead for Langley Mill - Again

The most recent planning application for a McDonalds in Langley Mill - AVA/2011/0443 came up at the planning board last night (16th April) with a recommendation that it be passed, so it's fair to assume with AVBC that it would be.

This means that we'll soon be spoilt for choice on which way to waddle for our fast food breakfast/dinner/tea/supper or even a snack if we get peckish in-between.

Of course, I suspect that most of us will go by car ... thus preventing many an unsightly grease splat in the middle of the road - when we get squashed by speeding traffic near the exceedingly dodgy Asda roundabout - because we're not really quick enough to get across (even with pedestrian splitter islands) ... hmmm, or is it only me that gets over-stodged and too tired to walk after the smallest amount of fast food? Which is a shame because I like it - yum.

Mind you, this isn't the first time McDonalds have had a planning application in Langley Mill passed. They got planning permission to build a 60 seater restaurant in 2002, roughly (or even exactly) where KFC now stands ...

Update 26th April:
For some weird reason I keep forgetting to add this pertinent bit of info - probably because the vast majority of this post was written on 19th July last year; in anticipation of it being passed on the 22rd July 2011 as McDonalds expected.

Ahem, not only are we getting this totally unnecessary artery-furring (possibly brutally halal slaughtered) fast food - and I use the term 'food' loosely - restaurant. It will be 'open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with 3 deliveries a week' - or so it says in the documents over at AVBC.

So there you have it, when Asda wake me in the night, I'll be able to stomp down to McDonalds and calm myself down with a dollop of unhealthy fast food gunk ...

A Langley Mill Eyesore

Oops, I've just twittered about this - and been retweeted, thanks Sarah - and then realised that I'd not yet published my blog post on the subject, and ahem, this was written on January 9th. It didn't get published then because I wanted a photo of the eyesore. grumpy went and took one or two but the camera focused on a lamppost that was in the way. I then got sidetracked  by other stuff - as you do - so now I've whizzed across Asda's car park and taken a few snaps myself.

We've just passed one of Langley Mill's most grotty eyesores, namely a car-wash. It sits on The Railway Tavern car park at 188 Station Road. It's ugly, shabby, and as far as I can tell ... illegal.

They did apply for - AVA/2009/0538 - and receive, a TEMPORARY 2 year consent for this pile of green, yellow and blue garbage - aka a portacabin and portaloo - to sit on the car-park, but the permission for it ran out in June 2011.

I quote: 'This permission is valid for a limited period only, expiring on 30 June 2011. On or before that date the use hereby approved will cease, the building(s) approved shall be removed from the site and the site shall be restored to its former condition, unless a further application has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority'.

I can't find any more applications regards this site, so why are they still making Langley Mill look even shabbier than it needs to be. I'm not saying they do a bad job, on the contrary, they probably do a very good job and they must work hard as they always seem to be busy. But the very nature of their temporary permission has created an unnecessary long term eyesore.

Rant over for the day ...