Madam, I write to correct the inferences your article entitled 'Saving Sellack from developers!' make.
Mr Gartside infers that the current administration at Herefordshire council is responsible for the planning approval for six homes at Sellack. Planning permission was granted in 1994 by the then Independent controlled South Herefordshire District Council. There was significant opposition to this application in 1994, however Planning Permission was granted. This would have been the time for debate - not now some fifteen years later.
The current council had no option but to allow the planning approval, granted back in 1994, to be exercised after the main fire damaged house at Caradoc Court was reinstated. This has been now been completed to the satisfaction of Herefordshire Council and is back to its former glory.
It has been suggested that the planning approval should be withdrawn. If this could be done it would involve compensation to the current owner of the loss in value of the land with planning permission. This is a very large sum and would fall directly on the tax payers of the whole county.
Under our current planning rules it is unlikely permission would have been given however the authority at the time was of a different mind, favouring the reinstatement of the fire damaged Grade One listed Caradoc Court as more important than six houses nearby.
I write to put the record straight as the Cabinet Member responsible for planning matters at Herefordshire Council.
John Jarvis, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Strategic Housing