Save Top Field Campaign

nigelapp

With the campaign to save Top Field underway I thought it would be useful to post some links to various resources associated with the campaign.

Whatever your views please feel free to post links associated with Top Field here and get involved in whatever way you wish

Link to the Comets Hands off Top Field campaign

Save Top Field Facebook Page

Save Top Field on Twitter @savetopfield

Article on the best of hitchin with links to various articles and announcing a campaign committee meeting open to the public at the Angels Reply 7.30pm 10 September 2012

Link to Hitchin Town Football Club who are obviously at risk of being forced to leave their current home.

Also please feel free to share any thoughts about the current proposals.

nigelapp

Quick update. The meeting on the 10th of September appears to have been postponed.

The Save Top Field Campaign issued the following on Facebook

Please not contrary to that posted on the Hitchin Town Football Club site - the 10th SEPTEMBER MEETING IS POSTPONED.We have taken a decision that for the time being we will be holding a series of working Committee meetings in order to define our statement of values and policy regarding the future development of Top Field. We will keep you updated when we can and welcome your continued interest.

If I hear of any changes to this I will let you know.

nigelapp

Great article in the comet by Laura Burge this week regarding developers plans for a Superstore on Top Field

The article can be found here

nigelapp

There have been four new posts by Save Top Field Campaign - Hitchin on Facebook.

The link to the Facebook page is here. However if you dont have access to facebook I will post the information below

Post 1

7 hours ago

Interest is rising - see local peoples opinions in this weeks @thecomet
http://bit.ly/Q5Ikiw

nigelapp

Post 2

More useful information & links from KEEP HITCHIN SPECIAL - see below:

KEEP HITCHIN SPECIAL
(Caring for our Historic Market Town)
c/o 52 Hampden Road
Hitchin
Herts

SG4 0LD
Hi Jackie

I understand John Keene has updated you with the latest info on top field and the attempt by Richard Daniels to obtain a screening/scoping opinion from NHDC before doing an Environmental Impact Assessment which is very expensive and required when submitting a planning application.
It appears that NHDC have put this request in as a planning application on their website because they have no where else to put it. The submission and plans dated 1st August 2012 (copy attached) has to be answered within a 3 week period which has now expired - maybe NHDC have responded but we have no idea currently if they have done so. Richard Daniels can go for non-determination if it is not answered - this goes down well should any planning application go to appeal.

To enable you to understand the requirements of a screening/scoping application the following may be of help:-

www.kent.gov.uk/environment_and_planning/planning_in_kent/planning_in_kent/what_is_a_screening_opinion.aspx

www.richmond.gov.uk/environmental_impact_assessments

www.westdevon.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=18149&cat=2107

Members of the public cannot submit their comments on Screening/Scoping Opinions. If a consequent planning application is submitted comments can then be submitted during the statutory consultation period.

I have written to Tom Rea at NHDC regarding this application and I will send you a copy of his response. As you will be aware the plan as shown appears to have been done to minimise objections from residents but the main issue with this would appear to be the construction of a new round-a-bout on the A505 which could have an adverse affect on traffic flow and the departure from the LDF where any potential future use has been designated as housing.

Best wishes
Chris Parker

What is a screening opinion?

www.kent.gov.uk

nigelapp

Post 3 from the Save Top Field Campaign Facebook Page

Proposed application plan attached for the Top Field - Football club site - retail unit approximately twice the size of Hitchin Sainsbury's.

http://t.co/jh14nq7i

nigelapp

Post 4

Email sent to our Committee by

KEEP HITCHIN SPECIAL - regarding the application
Dear All
Please see below screening application for the redevelopment of land in the green belt for a community sports facility enabling the Hitchin Cow Commoners to sell top field and relocate Hitchin Football Club.

This application is similar to the one submitted for a screening option on top field for use as a retail outlet/supermarket approx. twice the size of Sainsburys in Hitchin to replace the Hitchin Football Club site.

Unlike the previous application there is no layout plan showing the sports facility which we find strange but if it is similar to that seen previously it will be an extremely controversial development in the green belt.

Each of these applications are not a planning application. It is purely to ask the Planning Department whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is required, despite the fact that details below state that an Environmental assessment is not required. Only planning officers can decide this, which is why no-one has been consulted. Apparently, we are told, it isn’t worth us writing now; a proper planning application would appear in due course.

Keep Hitchin Special are strongly opposed to a development like this in the green belt for a variety of reasons which include erosion of the green belt between Hitchin and Stevenage, Highway issues, safety of young people walking or cycling to and from the site, noise and artifical lighting affecting residents in St Ippolyts etc. etc.

We will also strongly oppose a redevelopment of top field as per the plans submitted as being inappropriate and unsuitable on highway grounds.
We have written to the planning department and await a reply.
Kind Regards
Chris Parker
Keep Hitchin Special

Details of Planning Application - 12/01902/1SO
Application Details Documents
Consultation

Application registered Consultation period Awaiting decision Decided Appeal Appeal decided

Application Type: Screening Opinion
Date Received: 01/08/2012
Registration Date: 01/08/2012
Consultation Start Date: 01/08/2012
Earliest Decision Date: No date
Target Date for Decision: 22/08/2012
Location: Land at Stevenage Road and Hitchin Lane opposite Kingshott School, Stevenage Road, Hitchin
Ward Name: Hitchwood Offa and Hoo Ward
Parish Name: St Ippolyts
Sub Area: Not applicable
Conservation Area: Not applicable
Listed Building Grade: Not applicable
Environmental Assessment: Environmental assessment not required
Target Recommendation Date: No date
Expected Decision Level: Delegated
Easting/Northing: 519748.909388687/227799.38638935
Statutory Class: Not available
Proposal: Screening Opinion: Proposed community sports facility
Case Officer: Tom Rea
Case Officer Tel: 01462 474565
Case Officer Email: [email protected]

Status: Registered
Agent: Vincent and Gorbing
Sterling Court
Norton Road
Stevenage
Herts
SG1 2JY
Applicant: New Road (Clifton) Ltd
c/o Agent
Press Date: No date
Site Notice Date: No date
Neighbours Responses Received: 0
and Representatives: In Favour: 0
Click here for a list
Against: 0
Petitions: 0
Comments: 0
Committee Site Visit Date: No date
Committee Meeting Date: No date
Decision: This case has not yet been decided
Appeal Received Date: This case has no appeals against it

nigelapp

2 updates regarding the Save Top Field Campaign posted on their facebook page shared here for those who are not on facebook

MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE METTING HELD 10TH SEPT

Present: Simon Kirbyshire, (Chair) Tony Sudweeks, John Keene, Richard Cooper, Jackie McDonald. Guests - Lloyd Briscoe, David Billing and Ellie Clarke. Also attended as observers - local residents Simon Maddison, Colin Hewett and Tony Riley.

Guest Speaker and Discussion: Lloyd Briscoe, Chair of SFCSA, explained the representations he is making to the Federation of Football Supporters in keeping Hitchin Town Football Club at Top Field. One feasible possibility is because of Topfield's historical significance it could be considered to become an "English Heritage" listed site. This is something Lloyd will be raising at the next regional meeting of the FSF. John, Tony and Richard all contributed to the discussion on this issue.

New Road Top Field Feasibility Plan:

Councillor David Billing expressed his views on the Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Opinion triggered by the feasibility plan. Following questions and discussion David felt that the screening opinions should involve the contributions of ordinary people and not just the enviornmental agency and officers. David would be writing a letter to The Comet Newspaper to this effect. It was discussed and acknowledged by the Chair that an Environmental Assessment Impact might not in itself provide sufficient opposition to the development of Top Field to deliver the objectives of the STF campaign.

Stop Stiippo Discussion and Proposals:

Richard outlined his views and proposals for the Save Top Field's Campaign way forward in relation to New Road's proposed swap of Top Field with land at St. Ippolyts (opposite Kingshott School) as the site for a new Sports Complex to be run by an HCCT owned "not for profit" management company that would include facilities that will be available for HTFC. Richard stressed that we should initially focus on stopping this development to prevent or at least delay the release of Top Field for commercial development. Richard proposed writing to the HCCT to view the Charity Commission Scheme Governing Document and the correspondence between the Commission and HCCT regarding the validity of HTFC's Top Field lease. Ellie stated that the Scheme document was already available to the public. Richard to revise his draft letter in the light of this, requesting just the lease correspondence. Ellie also raised the fact that the NHDC's Local Plan is not up to date; they have not adopted a "core strategy", "Land Allocations" or "Development Policies" documents. They only have "Saved Policies" from their 1996 Plan which leaves Hitchin very vulnerable.

Petition: It was agreed that the Petition should be put on hold for now as the timing of it was crucial in line with the forthcoming screening option and likely EIA. It was also agreed that when the Committee do put a Petition out in the near future that it should also reflect the impact and effects on green belt land in St.Ippolyts.

Next Committee Meeting and Venue: It was proposed that we should look at changing the venue of the Committee Meetings to The Radcliffe Arms as there was a separate meeting room in there which would be more suitable. Jackie would look at booking this. Proposed date for next meeting is Monday 8th October 2012 at 7.30 pm.

Meeting closed at 8.50 pm.

nigelapp

Second of those Facebook updates

Save Top Field Campaign - Hitchin

The Committee would also like this opportunity to remind all of our supporters and the town of Hitchin that Hitchin Town Football Club have put out a call to turn out on mass for this Saturday's home game against Stourbridge to show your support for the club staying at it's rightful home at Top Field which has been it's ground since 1928 - for over 80 years!

This is an opportunity for the town to demonstrate that we overwhelmingly oppose the plans by New Road to build a proposed retail store on Top Field and also oppose plans to re-locate the Football Club on greenbelt land opposite Kingshott School.

Save Top Field Campaign will be conducting a live radio interview with BBC 3 Counties Radio this Saturday morning at 0.7.45 am to help rally support for the match which is due to K/O at 3 pm.

Regards and very best wishes to you all,

See you Saturday

Sarah_G

Does anyone know what is happening with this campaign now. There seemed to be a lot of activity to start with but it seems to have quietened down. Are there any updates from anyone?

Save Top Field Campaign - Hitchin shared a link.

Welcome to the Hitchin Forum!

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