How To ObjectWe want our supporters to be aware of this situation as we seek explanation and accountability. Your continued support is invaluable to us, and together, we will ensure that the integrity of our documents and proper process is upheld.
Our Q4 document (Q4 Response to Ecological Appraisal Report by AECOM 040123) sent to the planners for uploading to the planning portal last week has just been discovered to have been substantially altered. Read the letter we have just sent to the planners below for the full story.
One of the pages that was summarily removed contained our photos of the Owl on a bungalow adjacent to the development site.
DOWNLOAD the complete document here
Thank you for your support.
Dear Planners
We write to you regarding the recent alterations made to our document – Q4 Response to Ecological Appraisal Report by AECOM 040123. The Quarterlands Group considers that changes made to our submission, including the removal of content without prior discussion with us or our consent requires an explanation and reversal. The failure to notify us of each alteration also needs to be explained.
Changing the Group’s objection to the Ecological Appraisal Report appears to jeopardise the operation of the standard procedures and obligations in respect of the management of public comment in respect of planning applications. To have taken such action without discussion or recourse to the Group is not only discourteous it appears an abuse of process.
An immediate explanation for the decision taken to delete/ alter our response is required. We also require rectification of this interference with the consultation process through the immediate reinstatement of the original response submitted by the Group to the Planning Portal (attached). The full and unaltered version of our response should be made available unless there are stated reasons for the alterations made which are also detailed on the document uploaded to the Portal.
Making alteration without discussion, explanation or reason demonstrates a fundamental lack of respect for responders and due process. It also raises serious concerns about the integrity of how public consultations are managed as you failed to notify the Group of the changes made and the reason for same. You also failed to ask the Group to make any necessary changes to its response.
We note that redaction involves the obscuring of unwanted content while maintaining the document’s original structure. Your removal of pages and individual paragraphs from pages constitutes tampering with our objection. Actions which are difficult to comprehend or tolerate.
As already noted an immediate explanation is required for the decisions reached in respect of each change/deletion to our response with an information as to why there was no discussion with us or request made to us to make amendments ourselves. We also would request an assurances from you that such practices have not happened before and will not be repeated in the future.
Failure to provide a satisfactory response will leave us with no choice but to pursue appropriate remedies for what we consider to be an abuse of process.
A prompt response to this matter is sought within the next 5 working days.
Sincerely,
Quarterlands Group
