Commons Bill [Lords]

The planning permission is still relevant precisely because it is so old—new legislation that has been passed since then would mean that nowadays such an application would fall. As it is, there is an understanding that there is an existing planning application. It seems to me that clause 15(4), which allows an application where there has been 20 years’ usage, is ineffective because planning permission in respect of this land was granted before 23 June 2006. There is real tension and conflict between local people who feel that they have a just claim and a developer that has come along with a planning consent going back 30 years. There is a subplot to this. Although at the moment the story is ““so far, so good””, it is thought that the developer, Langridge Homes, does not really want to build houses on the site. It really wants to drive a road through the site, across the ancient track, Dark lane, to gain access to a more valuable piece of land, where it hopes to get a large planning consent for housing. I was pleased with clause 15 and subsection (4), but I am not so pleased with amendment No. 10 and proposed new subsection (4A). I want to advocate strongly the case of people in Calverton for registration of Keenwell as a village green. It has been used as a village green, and is being used as one today. If amendment No. 10 is accepted, those people’s aspiration to establish it as a village green for all time falls. I think that that is disappointing. They would describe it in stronger terms.