1 comment

• Comment Link Sunday, 20 March 2022 19:38 posted by Mrs Joanna Brogan-Higgins

  Sir,
  
  I am very unhappy that the planning application which we made for 72 Thames Street was regarded as a subject for such public disdain in your Newsletter. Although the application is a matter for comment on the Planning website, we feel that to make further comment in the manner you did in the Newsletter which was then distributed immediately and widely among our neighbourhood, was we believe unnecessary and ill judged.
  
  For your information, the decision to reject the application was made by the planning officer who failed in his duty to notify both us and the architect in the permitted time of his decision, which would have allowed us to withdraw the application prior to his pronouncement. This failure is something which we will be following up with the Council. His follow up report is also very poor.
  
  It is astonishing, however, to see the alacrity with which LOSRA felt they could gloat in writing on this decision without checking some facts first. The objections which were raised to the application online were some of them so risible (one liners, defamatory and emotive) that the architect did not bother to answer them. The legalities of other objections have been misunderstood. No matter, we will persist with our planning application as we see fit. I am just so extremely disappointed that you did not check to see whether we were members of LOSRA and ask for our opinion or comments also. Perhaps you have forgotten that LOSRA is not simply an institution behind which you can hide, but you are made up of members and those members are people - people who live here and have to live together as a community.
  
  We have never sought to do anything other than settle in this 'village' and plan to be here for a long, long time. I am opening a business on Thames Street which no doubt many of those who read this will visit. They will be made most welcome. I have also recently moved my father who is a Professor to Thames Street and will no doubt also be contributing to the community. As for me, I am a member of SPAB and have been for over 30 years; I am a restorer, and a member of ICON and the BAPCR. You have seriously misjudged the sentiment and thought that has been applied to the very necessary re-building of this house at 72 and although you cannot be expected to know our background, all we have ever done is transform old, dilapidated buildings and make them habitable and beautiful again. We are sensitive to materials and scale and most of all to history. All of this I can demonstrate should you so wish to see proof.
  
  The knee jerk reaction of LOSRA to our application is unfortunate and to be the butt of so much public ill-will is frankly unpleasant and disheartening. This unrestricted singling out of people is not something I wish to be a part of and therefore I would be grateful if you would return my membership fee which I recently paid to become a life member.