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Recognising the strength of local feeling surrounding the proposed redevelopment of HMS Ganges at Shotley, Babergh District Council has changed its normal procedures to allow more local people to have their say during the decision making meeting.
Babergh’s Development Committee is due to consider the application to build 325 houses on the site of the disused naval training centre on June 8th. The meeting will be held at Shotley Village Hall from 9.30am onwards, instead of at the Council’s Hadleigh HQ – in order to allow more local people to attend.
The usual rules covering debates on planning applications allows a maximum of two members of the public to speak (one in favour and one against the application). In light of the depth of public interest in this significant application, Babergh has decided to offer more slots for groups or individuals to express their points of view.
Cllr. Rex Thake, Chairman of Babergh’s Development Committee explained that “Babergh’s role as the planning authority is to make a decision on the facts before us. To enable our Councillors to do that as thoroughly as possible, we will be allowing Shotley Parish Council to present its case, plus up to four objectors and supporters respectively to put across their points of view”.
Richard Watson, Babergh's Head of Planning (Control) explained that he expected the various interested parties to organise amongst themselves as to who took which speaking slots.
See Paper E35 (PDF, 315kb) from this meeting and more recent information on HMS Ganges.
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