REPEAT OFFENDERS - It's no wonder that Extinction Rebellion is gathering such momentum with councils all over England carrying on as if there was no crisis. The carbon footprint for Herstmonceux village has rocketed because of all the failings of the members of Wealden to tackle climate change and set a good example. Wealden's councillors have granted planning permission for hundreds of houses without solar panels or electric vehicle charging points. If this example by every town and village in the United Kingdom, then our country would be one of the worst polluters in the world on a per square kilometer basis. The councillors you voted for are partly responsible for killing hundreds of species. It makes us want to glue ourselves to something. Peacefully mind you. This village is a contender for the Greenhouse Gas award 2019.

Christopher Bending is the head of planning and environmental services at Wealden District Council. During the reign of Kelvin Williams and now Mr Bending, this council have been unable to supply low cost, hence low carbon housing, nor answer the question as to where is the land they are supposed to have identified for such climate friendly development.

This council has refused planning consent for a home that only cost £25,000 to build, because it was on an industrial estate. The occupiers were forced to move and face potential demolition of the building, though it would have to be rebuilt to comply with Health & Safety Regulations and is a permitted development.

The point here is that a family is now homeless as a result of the failure to provide land for self-builds.

This is the subject of correspondence with Nus Ghani and James Brokenshire, the MP for Wealden and the Secretary of State for planning.

Kirstie Leighton was threatening High Court proceedings, presumably to rack up costs and financially cripple the family they made homeless. We hope that is not the case, but that is how things were shaping up. The situation has since stabilized. Wealden appear to favour large scale industrial units like those adjacent at Swallow Business Park, Diamond Drive.

Is there a hidden agenda here?

Christopher Bending was replaced by Stacey Robbins as Head of Environmental Services. As of 2020, Mr Robbins is calling the shots at Wealden.

RAKING IN THE CASH - Never mind climate change, these large units near Hailsham reveal no climate mitigation features. Council's don't want small units that attract no commercial rates, They want huge buildings like this one to stack their coffers with money. Never mind all the forest fires in Brazil and Russia.

SCORCHED EARTH POLICIES - Wealden have declared a Climate Emergency. We await their Climate Action Plan with eager anticipation. If the plan does not work, this view could soon become an arid desertified version of its former self. Copyright photograph © July 2019 Climate Change Trust Hx.

LINKS

https://www.lgbce.org.uk/

Abbott Trevor - Alcock Charmain - Ditto - Arnold Chris (Christine) - Barakchizadeh Lesley - Paul Barker - Bending Christopher

Black Julian - Boakes Beverley - Bradshaw Clifford - Brigginshaw Marina - Brown Ashley - Coffey Patrick - Denton Joanna - Douglas Sheelagh

Dowsett Timothy - Flemming Mike - Forder Ralph - Garrett Martyn - Goodwin Daniel - Henham J - Holness Derek

Hoy Thomas - Johnson Geoff - Kavanagh Geoff - Kay Ian - Kay I. M. - Barbara Kingsford - Lant Charles - Mercer Richard

Mileman Niall - Moon Craig - Moss Douglas, J. -  Nuttall Christine - Pettigrew Rex - Phillips David - Robbins Stacey - Scarpa Victorio - Scott Trevor

Kevin Stewart - Wakeford Malcolm - Whibley David - White, George - Williams Kelvin - Wilson Kenneth - White Steve