Email exchange between Paul Rawson and Lucinda Lambourne continued

PR replied to LL:

"We will carefully reform our plans for future use, but have some urgent priorities elsewhere for now, so when we are ready in a few months, we will of course bring them to you in order to give you opportunity to comment further."

Email exchange involving Lucinda Lambourne and Paul Rawson regarding the Yarlington Lodge Drive

PR sent LL email regarding the Yarlington Lodge drive and in the email stated:

"Following your comments, and those of some other neighbours, plus the present sharp reduction in the market for events, which may last many years, we have decided on a different approach. We will retain the buildings in residential format, with no events venue at all."

LL replied to PR: 

"That is really good news you have moved away from an events venue and glad that Yarlington Lodge and the other properties will continue to be for residential use. I hope the proposals will be in line with the current size and scale of the existing homes and that the occupiers can be part of the Yarlington village community which is what we all want. I look forward to seeing your plans."

Freedom Of Information Request filed and submitted by Charles de Salis

Freedom Of Information Request filed and submitted by Charles de Salis:

Dear Sir or Madam,

This letter is an application to the SSDC under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, for all information relating to offers of hospitality and gifts made by the Newt in Somerset, and its associated companies, to members of the Council and its employees.

It is written on behalf of a number of local residents who are concerned for transparency and accountability in the Planning process, and directly as a result of receiving reliable information that more than two current members of the Area East Committee have stayed gratis at the Newt. I should stress that our concerns extend to all current, past and future Planning processes, in relation to all developments by the Newt within Cary and Tower Wards.

Specifically, in relation to meals, accommodation or other hospitality, we request all information (in whatever form- verbal, electronic and written) held by yourselves, which relates to invitations issued at any time by the Newt, by Emily Estate, by their associated companies in Italy and South Africa, or by their employees and principals, made to any Councillor, Parish Councillor or any employee of the Council, or to their immediate families. In each case, this should include the date of issue, issuer, response if any, whether such invitations have been taken up, on what date, by whom, and any declarations of interest that have resulted together with the dates on which they were made.

In addition, we request details, in the same terms as above, of any and all gifts offered (and of gifts accepted), including free entrance to the Newt Gardens.

We appreciate the work that gathering this information will involve on your part, and have taken the liberty of copying Mr Paul Rawson, of the Newt, who will no doubt be able to help you in providing detailed answers to the questions above.

I understand that you are obliged to provide me with answers in full within twenty working days of receipt of this letter, sent by email today, and I look forward to receiving them.

Yours sincerely,

Charles de Salis

Count Charles de Salis, Yarlington House, Yarlington, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 8DY

North Cadbury and Yarlington Neighbourhood Development Plan

North Cadbury and Yarlington Neighbourhood Development Plan. A meeting of the village will be called to discuss appropriate responses.

Download the North Cadbury and Yarlington Neighbourhood Development Plan.

In the short term, here are comments received from Martin Leay, Planning Consultant, retained by the village: 

Dear Charlie,

North Cadbury and Yarlington Neighbourhood Development Plan

The Neighbourhood Plan, according to the online programme is not due for draft plan consultation until early 2021 and an External Examination by an Examiner in the late summer of 2021. The indication of potential development sites, as of August 2020 is simply a map where landowners have made a submission to either SSDC or NC&Y as to the potential development opportunity of an identified site. For Yarlington Lodge, reference NCY02, this covers a very large area beyond just the built form of the house and outbuildings.

At this stage and subject to a good deal of further consultation and review, followed by a referendum for adopting the Neighbourhood Plan, the owners identification of Yarlington Lodge Estate, as a potential development site, carries very little weight and no justification or certain expectation that the site will be found suitable for development – which at this stage appears unspecified in terms of scale or type.

When the options consultation takes place and followed by the draft plan consultation (target dates September 2020 and early 2021) it will be important for Yarlington residents to make their views known.

Conclusion

At this stage, in relation to an imminent planning application being submitted for Yarlington Lodge the early stages of the neighbourhood plan process are of little, if any, relevance.


All best,

Martin J Leay

An examination of the presentation document circulated to Planners and Area East Councillors for their meeting in early June

An examination of the presentation document circulated to Planners and Area East Councillors for their meeting in early June, shows much more fully developed proposals for the Yarlington Lodge site.

Notably, the drive and drive entrance opposite Rookery, which was the subject of the the meeting between Koos Bekker and Caroline Chichester-Clark described above, were shown then as already closed-up. All visitor access to the site is given as coming through a new entrance higher up the lane.

Freedom of Information Request filed, submitted by Adam Chichester-Clark

Freedom of Information Request filed, submitted by Adam Chichester-Clark.

Download Adam's Freedom of Information Request.

Koos Bekker visits Caroline Chichester-Clark to discuss Yarlington Lodge

KB visits Caroline Chichester-Clark to discuss Yarlington Lodge. Account of the meeting (as provided by Caroline).

He asked me what concerned me most about the issue of Yarlington Lodge. 

I said:

• Unacceptable amount of increased traffic, noise, pollution etc. He said they could perhaps close the drive opposite me and have an in/out drive at the top of the hill just below the de Salises’ drive (more on this anon). He ignored points about noise travelling and my comment that we hear A371 and A303 when wind is from those directions, despite latter being a couple of miles away. I said closing the drive opposite us would certainly be an excellent idea because it is very dangerous (see our damaged wall and wrecked side door). He asked how fast our broadband is? I said good enough for our needs, people working and home-schooling etc.
• Unsuitable and dangerous lanes for numbers envisaged. He ignored the point.
• Noise from large gatherings as well as traffic. He ignored the point but Paul has since told me there will be no fireworks, no outside music.
• Destruction of yet another particularly delicate, beautiful part of rural England of which so little is left. He didn’t address this. I said the magic and charm of Shatwell has been destroyed. He said it is looking better now.
• Lodge will be used by rich clientele who will contribute nothing to village life. He didn’t comment. I pointed out he has good access roads at the Newt, a new slip road, a car park, plenty of space and could build a venue up there which wouldn’t bother anyone. He said he had been approached by the richest indian family in the UK who wanted to book the Newt for a family gathering and they couldn’t be accommodated at the hotel (I understand this.) As you know, apart from 60 beds, he wants a car park for up to 150 cars and venue space on footprint of riding school for up to 200 people. He didn’t seem to understand this would swamp a village of approx. 90 people (I think he confuses ‘towns’ and ‘villages’ as you have pointed out). 
• I also said Yarlington Lodge had never been part of the Hadspen Estate. I asked Koos why he bought it and he said "because it is beautiful!" I imagine he could, so he did.
• I also asked how we could be sure this proposed development wouldn’t turn into something bigger a few months/years down the line. He said that would be up to the planners (ie: no concern of his). He may not realise he is in danger of destroying the very thing he values: priceless peace, beauty, untrammelled rural landscape?

CONCLUSION: I cannot gauge whether it matters to Koos that the entire village and wider parish are, as far as I am aware, against this proposed development. It seems his attitude is: “all will be well in the end, people will come round to it”. But the tarmac will have been laid, huge numbers catered for and the village and landscape, in my view, blighted. Once changed from residential to commercial use there little chance of going back.

A widely-attended meeting was held by Lucinda Lambourne

A widely-attended meeting was held by LL, to which all in the village were invited, to discuss latest developments and future actions. 

The principal conclusion of the meeting is that any proposal by the Newt which involved a change from residential use for Yarlington Lodge should be vigorously opposed.

Response to Charlie Ellingworth from William Wallace

Response to CE from William Wallace.

From: William Wallace - Councillor

Date: 1 August 2020 at 20:13:44 CEST

To: Charlie Ellingworth

Subject: RE:  Yarlington Lodge and The Newt

Thanks for your email Charlie ,  We have received a presentation from the Newt along with their plans . Although not in my ward of the Blackmoor Vale it is within Area East SSDC for consideration . I hear your comments and concerns and will bring this up if it comes to Committee .

I’m not sure what stage this application is at the moment but no doubt we will hear soon in these confusing times . Have you spoken to Henry Hobhouse about this ? All Best – William.