Nemesis
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The protection which conservation area status should afford to buildings, trees, and views is too often these days ignored or got around - my local authority is as culpable as the rest - so it was good to see this victory of 'people power':
People power triumphs
South Belfast News
by Gemma Burns
28/03/2007
After more than three years of protests, parliamentary questions and sheer hard work the Malone community has finally managed to exert their people power and quash the controversial planning application on Rushmere House.
The Cadogan Park application has been the centre of one of South Belfast's most furious planning debates since 2004 when an application was made to add two storeys to Rushmere House despite the property being part of the protected Malone Conservation Area.
Since then local people have worked tirelessly to oppose the application with a number of presentations made to Planning Service; 110 individual letters of opposition; questions tabled by local MP Alasdair McDonnell in Westminster; and back up from the Ulster Architectural Heritage Service and a London-based heritage group.
Spokesman for Malone and Stranmillis Conservation and Residents Association (Mascara), Alan Oliver said the decision to reject a planning application in South Belfast should give other residents hope for their own planning fights.
"This is a victorious day for not only the residents of Malone but also the whole South Belfast community," he said.
"You can succeed in fighting these applications, there is hope there for every single resident faced with the prospect of having their quality of life affected by an unreasonable planning application. This time common sense has prevailed.
"At last the Planning Service has sat up and took note that the people are not going to just sit back and let development ride rough shod over their lives and their community. The people have taken back some power and we are all absolutely delighted."
Criteria relating to the Malone Conservation Area states that no one building should be ' more than three stories in height'. The failed extension to Rushmere would have taken it to five stories and residents it insist would have affected the privacy and light quality for its neighbours as well as the character of the protected area.
Fellow Mascara member Mary Carberry said the hard work and dedication of the residents was worth it to see the area's character preserved.
"This decision is a vindication of citizen's rights and an example of of civic discourse and action 'can do'. Other residents can take note," she said.
Last week the Planning Service received a strongly worded letter from the London group Save Britain's Heritage in support of Mascara. The letter from Save Britain's Secretary Adam Wilkinson expressed their strong opposition to the extension.
"The proposals run wholly counter to policy, advice and good conservation practice," wrote Mr Wilkinson
"By extending the existing office block upwards, the strongly negative impact of the building on the conservation area will be radically increased to the extent that the setting of nearby listed buildings will be impinged upon. This is the exact opposite of what should be happening on the site.
"The proposals will not enhance the character of the conservation area - rather they will damage it. The proposals will not preserve the character of the conservation area - rather if passed they will open the door to further inappropriate development within the conservation area."
Mr Oliver paid tribute to the support the group has received in the past three years and commended the Planning Service for their decision.
"Firstly I want to thank the South Belfast News for the support and coverage they have given us over these years. The interest shown by the paper has kept this campaign moving.
"I also want to thank our MP Alasdair McDonnell for his hard work as well as local councillor Ruth Patterson for her input. We are also grateful to the Planning management Board who rejected this application for their sensible decision making and protection of our heritage.
"This is an incredible result for the people of South Belfast and I hope it sets a precedent for other people to fight harmful planning application in their area."
South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell congratulated the residents on their victory.
"I warmly congratulate the residents group for fighting a very vigorous campaign to stop these reckless plans in their tracks. They maintained a high pressure on the planners and this has clearly paid off," said the SDLP deputy leader.
"This victory is an example of the power that a combination of tenacious grassroots campaigning and proper public representation can have.
"Every one of my constituents should be confident that I am active and willing to help them fight grassroots campaigns on their behalf."
A spokeswoman for the Planning Service said the decision was made after careful consideration by the management Board.
"Following careful consideration of the proposal the Planning Service Management Board at a meeting last week has decided that planning permission for the proposal should not be granted based on the advice of the Conservation Area Architect. The decision notice will be issued in the near future," she said.
continued from front
Criteria relating to the Malone Conservation Area states that no one building should be 'more than three storeys in height'. The failed extension to Rushmere would have taken it to five storeys and residents insist it would have affected the privacy and light quality for its neighbours as well as affecting the character of the protected area.
Fellow Mascara member Mary Carberry said the hard work and dedication of the residents was worth it to see the area's character preserved.
"This decision is a vindication of citizen's rights and an example of civic discourse and action 'can do'. Other residents can take note," she said.
Last week the Planning Service received a strongly worded letter from the London group Save Britain's Heritage in support of Mascara. The letter from Save Britain's Heritage Secretary Adam Wilkinson expressed their strong opposition to the extension.
"The proposals run wholly counter to policy, advice and good conservation practice," wrote Mr Wilkinson
"By extending the existing office block upwards, the strongly negative impact of the building on the conservation area will be radically increased to the extent that the setting of nearby listed buildings will be impinged upon. This is the exact opposite of what should be happening on the site.
"The proposals will not enhance the character of the conservation area - rather they will damage it. The proposals will not preserve the character of the conservation area - rather if passed they will open the door to further inappropriate development within the conservation area."
Mr Oliver paid tribute to the support the group has received in the past three years and commended the Planning Service for their decision.
"Firstly I want to thank the South Belfast News for the support and coverage they have given us over these years. The interest shown by the paper has kept this campaign moving.
"I also want to thank our MP Alasdair McDonnell for his hard work as well as local councillor Ruth Patterson for her input. We are also grateful to the Planning Management Board who rejected this application, for their sensible decision making and protection of our heritage.
"This is an incredible result for the people of South Belfast and I hope it sets a precedent for other people to fight harmful planning application in their area."
South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell congratulated the residents on their victory.
"I warmly congratulate the residents group for fighting a very vigorous campaign to stop these reckless plans in their tracks. They maintained a high pressure on the planners and this has clearly paid off," said the SDLP deputy leader.
"This victory is an example of the power that a combination of tenacious grassroots campaigning and proper public representation can have.”
A spokeswoman for the Planning Service said the decision was made after careful consideration by the management Board.
"Following careful consideration of the proposal the Planning Service Management Board at a meeting last week has decided that planning permission for the proposal should not be granted based on the advice of the Conservation Area Architect. The decision notice will be issued in the near future."
she said.
People power triumphs
South Belfast News
by Gemma Burns
28/03/2007
After more than three years of protests, parliamentary questions and sheer hard work the Malone community has finally managed to exert their people power and quash the controversial planning application on Rushmere House.
The Cadogan Park application has been the centre of one of South Belfast's most furious planning debates since 2004 when an application was made to add two storeys to Rushmere House despite the property being part of the protected Malone Conservation Area.
Since then local people have worked tirelessly to oppose the application with a number of presentations made to Planning Service; 110 individual letters of opposition; questions tabled by local MP Alasdair McDonnell in Westminster; and back up from the Ulster Architectural Heritage Service and a London-based heritage group.
Spokesman for Malone and Stranmillis Conservation and Residents Association (Mascara), Alan Oliver said the decision to reject a planning application in South Belfast should give other residents hope for their own planning fights.
"This is a victorious day for not only the residents of Malone but also the whole South Belfast community," he said.
"You can succeed in fighting these applications, there is hope there for every single resident faced with the prospect of having their quality of life affected by an unreasonable planning application. This time common sense has prevailed.
"At last the Planning Service has sat up and took note that the people are not going to just sit back and let development ride rough shod over their lives and their community. The people have taken back some power and we are all absolutely delighted."
Criteria relating to the Malone Conservation Area states that no one building should be ' more than three stories in height'. The failed extension to Rushmere would have taken it to five stories and residents it insist would have affected the privacy and light quality for its neighbours as well as the character of the protected area.
Fellow Mascara member Mary Carberry said the hard work and dedication of the residents was worth it to see the area's character preserved.
"This decision is a vindication of citizen's rights and an example of of civic discourse and action 'can do'. Other residents can take note," she said.
Last week the Planning Service received a strongly worded letter from the London group Save Britain's Heritage in support of Mascara. The letter from Save Britain's Secretary Adam Wilkinson expressed their strong opposition to the extension.
"The proposals run wholly counter to policy, advice and good conservation practice," wrote Mr Wilkinson
"By extending the existing office block upwards, the strongly negative impact of the building on the conservation area will be radically increased to the extent that the setting of nearby listed buildings will be impinged upon. This is the exact opposite of what should be happening on the site.
"The proposals will not enhance the character of the conservation area - rather they will damage it. The proposals will not preserve the character of the conservation area - rather if passed they will open the door to further inappropriate development within the conservation area."
Mr Oliver paid tribute to the support the group has received in the past three years and commended the Planning Service for their decision.
"Firstly I want to thank the South Belfast News for the support and coverage they have given us over these years. The interest shown by the paper has kept this campaign moving.
"I also want to thank our MP Alasdair McDonnell for his hard work as well as local councillor Ruth Patterson for her input. We are also grateful to the Planning management Board who rejected this application for their sensible decision making and protection of our heritage.
"This is an incredible result for the people of South Belfast and I hope it sets a precedent for other people to fight harmful planning application in their area."
South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell congratulated the residents on their victory.
"I warmly congratulate the residents group for fighting a very vigorous campaign to stop these reckless plans in their tracks. They maintained a high pressure on the planners and this has clearly paid off," said the SDLP deputy leader.
"This victory is an example of the power that a combination of tenacious grassroots campaigning and proper public representation can have.
"Every one of my constituents should be confident that I am active and willing to help them fight grassroots campaigns on their behalf."
A spokeswoman for the Planning Service said the decision was made after careful consideration by the management Board.
"Following careful consideration of the proposal the Planning Service Management Board at a meeting last week has decided that planning permission for the proposal should not be granted based on the advice of the Conservation Area Architect. The decision notice will be issued in the near future," she said.
continued from front
Criteria relating to the Malone Conservation Area states that no one building should be 'more than three storeys in height'. The failed extension to Rushmere would have taken it to five storeys and residents insist it would have affected the privacy and light quality for its neighbours as well as affecting the character of the protected area.
Fellow Mascara member Mary Carberry said the hard work and dedication of the residents was worth it to see the area's character preserved.
"This decision is a vindication of citizen's rights and an example of civic discourse and action 'can do'. Other residents can take note," she said.
Last week the Planning Service received a strongly worded letter from the London group Save Britain's Heritage in support of Mascara. The letter from Save Britain's Heritage Secretary Adam Wilkinson expressed their strong opposition to the extension.
"The proposals run wholly counter to policy, advice and good conservation practice," wrote Mr Wilkinson
"By extending the existing office block upwards, the strongly negative impact of the building on the conservation area will be radically increased to the extent that the setting of nearby listed buildings will be impinged upon. This is the exact opposite of what should be happening on the site.
"The proposals will not enhance the character of the conservation area - rather they will damage it. The proposals will not preserve the character of the conservation area - rather if passed they will open the door to further inappropriate development within the conservation area."
Mr Oliver paid tribute to the support the group has received in the past three years and commended the Planning Service for their decision.
"Firstly I want to thank the South Belfast News for the support and coverage they have given us over these years. The interest shown by the paper has kept this campaign moving.
"I also want to thank our MP Alasdair McDonnell for his hard work as well as local councillor Ruth Patterson for her input. We are also grateful to the Planning Management Board who rejected this application, for their sensible decision making and protection of our heritage.
"This is an incredible result for the people of South Belfast and I hope it sets a precedent for other people to fight harmful planning application in their area."
South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell congratulated the residents on their victory.
"I warmly congratulate the residents group for fighting a very vigorous campaign to stop these reckless plans in their tracks. They maintained a high pressure on the planners and this has clearly paid off," said the SDLP deputy leader.
"This victory is an example of the power that a combination of tenacious grassroots campaigning and proper public representation can have.”
A spokeswoman for the Planning Service said the decision was made after careful consideration by the management Board.
"Following careful consideration of the proposal the Planning Service Management Board at a meeting last week has decided that planning permission for the proposal should not be granted based on the advice of the Conservation Area Architect. The decision notice will be issued in the near future."
she said.