904_cannon
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Why are the EA and local planners so secretive?
Very recently there have been rumors that there have been no fewer than three hydro schemes planned for the river Wear within Durham City ('City' - In truth it no bigger than a market town) but when enquiries were made of both the EA and Durham County Council planning dept I was told that they had no knowledge of applications, and if they had they could not release the information.
Next in the local weekly rag we see:
MULTI-million pound plans have been unveiled to secure and create up to 800 jobs by building offices and leisure facilities on the former Durham Wasps ice rink site.
A business consortium wants £27m invested in redeveloping the Freeman’s Reach ice rink site as a first step towards realising a vision to regenerate Durham City’s riverside under the Durham Riverside Renewal project.
Leaders want to build 8,000sq metres of high-quality, eco-friendly offices, a restaurant, cafe and kiosk aimed at tourists.
They say the plans would create one of the most carbon-friendly city centre developments anywhere in the UK.
The first phase would be occupied by National Savings and Investments (NS&I), which plans to move across the River Wear from Milburngate House – which is also set to be redeveloped.
A hydro-power water turbine would harness the power of the Wear to produce electricity.
Following phases would be let to other businesses.
The scheme would be delivered by a consortium led by Carillion Developments, Arlington Real Estate and Richardsons Capital LLP, which recently won the contract.
Allan Cook, managing director of Arlington Real Estate, said: "I am so proud that we have been selected to bring forward this new phase of regeneration in Durham which will be sympathetic to the historic environment and architecture of the area as well as provide new amenities and enhance the local economy
So much for local democracy and openness
For many years there was a hydro plant on the river at the above mentioned site, together with all the associated problems. From memory the then NRA was only too pleased when it was shut down. Low flows meant it hardly produced any electricity; migrating fish unable to ascend the fish passes (several within about 150 yds) and almost 24/7 'fish snatching' all led to severe headaches for the NRA and local anglers alike.
Why then are the same people (now under the banner of the environmentally friendly EA) trying to hide plans that will ruin what they themselves claim to be the best sea trout river in the country (and a fast recovering coarse fishery) AND, again according to the EA, the country's 2nd best salmon river.
If anyone reading this is from the North East get yourselves along to the EA's Fisheries Forum, Newcastle 20th June, to tell them of your anger at its apparent double dealing. Anyone requiring more info I'll forward on to your e-mail address.
Incidentally the ATr is hoping to have its own regional forums merged with the EA Forums, and appoint regional contacts for all hydro matters - not too sure how the EA react to that.
Very recently there have been rumors that there have been no fewer than three hydro schemes planned for the river Wear within Durham City ('City' - In truth it no bigger than a market town) but when enquiries were made of both the EA and Durham County Council planning dept I was told that they had no knowledge of applications, and if they had they could not release the information.
Next in the local weekly rag we see:
MULTI-million pound plans have been unveiled to secure and create up to 800 jobs by building offices and leisure facilities on the former Durham Wasps ice rink site.
A business consortium wants £27m invested in redeveloping the Freeman’s Reach ice rink site as a first step towards realising a vision to regenerate Durham City’s riverside under the Durham Riverside Renewal project.
Leaders want to build 8,000sq metres of high-quality, eco-friendly offices, a restaurant, cafe and kiosk aimed at tourists.
They say the plans would create one of the most carbon-friendly city centre developments anywhere in the UK.
The first phase would be occupied by National Savings and Investments (NS&I), which plans to move across the River Wear from Milburngate House – which is also set to be redeveloped.
A hydro-power water turbine would harness the power of the Wear to produce electricity.
Following phases would be let to other businesses.
The scheme would be delivered by a consortium led by Carillion Developments, Arlington Real Estate and Richardsons Capital LLP, which recently won the contract.
Allan Cook, managing director of Arlington Real Estate, said: "I am so proud that we have been selected to bring forward this new phase of regeneration in Durham which will be sympathetic to the historic environment and architecture of the area as well as provide new amenities and enhance the local economy
So much for local democracy and openness
For many years there was a hydro plant on the river at the above mentioned site, together with all the associated problems. From memory the then NRA was only too pleased when it was shut down. Low flows meant it hardly produced any electricity; migrating fish unable to ascend the fish passes (several within about 150 yds) and almost 24/7 'fish snatching' all led to severe headaches for the NRA and local anglers alike.
Why then are the same people (now under the banner of the environmentally friendly EA) trying to hide plans that will ruin what they themselves claim to be the best sea trout river in the country (and a fast recovering coarse fishery) AND, again according to the EA, the country's 2nd best salmon river.
If anyone reading this is from the North East get yourselves along to the EA's Fisheries Forum, Newcastle 20th June, to tell them of your anger at its apparent double dealing. Anyone requiring more info I'll forward on to your e-mail address.
Incidentally the ATr is hoping to have its own regional forums merged with the EA Forums, and appoint regional contacts for all hydro matters - not too sure how the EA react to that.
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