Support grows for Post Office Campaign
There has been a huge response to the campaign for a new Post Office in Knaresborough. Hundreds of local people signed the petition in only the first few days.
Local campaigners, Cllrs John Batt and Ivor Fox, said, “Our town was left with just one Post Office after last year’s closure of the Aspin Lane and Stockwell Post Offices. It is not enough for a town with a population of 18,000 and a growing business community. “We are seeking to work with the Post Office and the local community to bring better postal services to Knaresborough. We do not have to accept a poor level of service.” John and Ivor continued, “We think that as part of this campaign it is essential that the Knaresborough community let the Post Office know that they have got it wrong. We believe Knaresborough deserves better.”
Farnham Quarry meeting - 22nd May
The Council for the Protection of Rural England have called a meeting at Knaresborough House at 7.30pm on Friday 22nd May. This is to commence the campaign against the planning application to be submitted by Tarmac. They now wish to develop some of this site into a permanent industrial area and possibly extract more sand and gravel. This could lead to more heavy traffic in the town which we certainly do not need. Please go to the meeting if you want to know more.
READY-MIX PLANNING APPLICATION
A screening letter (a form of pre planning application) was submitted in March to NYCC seeking permission for Ready Mixed Concrete production and heavy vehicle garaging. Unfortunately NYCC Officers are presently refusing to provide details of this letter even though it is more than 2 years overdue. As a result the Freedom of Information Act has been invoked by BLAG and CPRE (Council for the protection of Rural England). The whole of this site should have been fully restored to 'a condition suitable for agricultural use together with a lagoon' by 3 December 2006. This has not taken place and there continues to be a Ready Mixed Concrete plant on site without planning permission.
If a planning application materialises it can and must be defeated and we will be helped by CPRE who are also against it. BLAG is demanding full reinstatement of the quarry as agreed in 1981. A public meeting will probably be called in May by CPRE to enable residents to voice their opinions. BLAG and CPRE strongly believe in proactive action. If we wait until a planning application is submitted we will only have 3 weeks to react. The quarry owners have had over 2 years to put their case together. Any further delay by NYCC in not implementing planning compliance is totally unacceptable.
We must and will be proactive not reactive.
