Legal Challenge Launched Against Herefordshire Council Planning Committee's Procedure Over Approval For Demolishing The Three Counties Hotel

[Hereford Voice]

A group of concerned Herefordshire residents upset at the impending loss of the Three Counties hotel have launched a last-minute legal challenge to try and stop the clearing of the site by persuading the Council to strike out the planning permission given last month for the demolition of the landmark hotel and the building of a new Lidl store.

They hope to take their fight to the High Court if the Council refuses and will attempt to persuade a judge to quash the permission instead through a Judicial Review.

If Herefordshire Council or the Judge agree the planning committee decision was made incorrectly the permission could be rescinded and, the campaigners hope, further applications will be refused. They hope that the hotel will then reopen and serve as a community asset to the residents of Belmont, Newton Farm, and the County in general.

They say the hotel was successful until new owners from Oxfordshire took it over in 2016 from the Price family, who had run the business at a profit for two decades.

They also say the hotel was the only facility within easy walking distance for residents of Belmont and Newton Farm that offered a public bar and restaurant of the same standard – as well as being the only hotel in the area – and the demolition of the hotel would be a great loss to the community.

They say the Council’s planning officers made mistakes in advising elected members on the planning committee in the course of the meeting, in particular stating that Councillors couldn’t refuse permission on ‘loss of community asset grounds’ because officers had already decided the Three Counties wasn’t a community asset and that there were alternative facilities in the area (without naming which facilities they were referring to).

They are also worried about the impact that another supermarket with 1800-2000 odd vehicle movements a day will have on congestion South-side and particularly on the stretch of the Belmont Road adjacent to MacDonald’s.

Council officers had recommended approval for this second application in less than three years despite a large number of objections from members of the public and local Councillors. The planning committee voted to grant permission on officer advice after two hours of deliberation.

They say time is very short in terms of submitting a legal challenge should Herefordshire Council refuse to strike out the permission (JR applications must be before the courts no less than 6 weeks after the decision is made) and anyway who wants to help with costs to contact the organisers via the email below

Email | savethethreecounties@proton.me

#HerefordVoice | #HerefordNews | #HerefordshireNews | #HerefordCommunity | #HerefordLife | #HerefordshireCouncil | #Hereford | #ThreeCountiesHotel

[Adrian Smith]

Much as think the Lidl going there will cause issues, especially traffic/highways safety, this type of JR appeal on the grounds laid it is very unlikely indeed to succeed.

[Hereford Voice]

We understand that a substantial amount of money has already been spent on obtaining a Barrister's opinion prior to this challenge.

Oh and just to clarify, this challenge has nothing to do with Hereford Voice or our admin Colin as we can see that other local pages are guessing as usual and obviously frustrated that we again broke the local news,😉 but clearly they don't have a clue other than to lift snippets from the original article and funding page and come up with their own headlines. If people wish to remain anonymous that is their choice however, all will be revealed if this challenge ends up in the Courts. 

[jane1968]

Last thing Belmont Road needs is another supermarket, surely this will make traffic problems worse

[megilleland]

People may like to check the pollution levels where they live, especially along Belmont Road, using this website by inserting your postcode.

Central Office of Public Interest
Get a free Air Quality report for your address

https://addresspollution.org/

Example: 

THREE COUNTIES HOTEL
HEREFORD

Pollutant one: PM2.5

At this address, the annual average of the pollutant PM2.5 is 8.67mcg/m3. The World Health Organization limit is 5mcg/m3.

These particles, which are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, can cause asthma, respiratory inflammation and even promote cancers.

Pollutant two: PM10

The reading for PM10 at this address is 14.76mcg/m3. The limit is 15mcg/m3.

PM10 can cause wheezing, bronchitis and reduce lung development.

Pollutant three: NO2

The reading for N02 at this address is 12.04mcg/m3. The limit is 10mcg/m3.

Long term exposure to even low levels of this toxic gas increases mortality rates and contributes to the development of asthma, and other respiratory issues.

[Adrian Smith]

5 hours ago, megilleland said:

People may like to check the pollution levels where they live, especially along Belmont Road, using this website by inserting your postcode.

Central Office of Public Interest
Get a free Air Quality report for your address

https://addresspollution.org/

Example: 

THREE COUNTIES HOTEL
HEREFORD

Pollutant one: PM2.5

At this address, the annual average of the pollutant PM2.5 is 8.67mcg/m3. The World Health Organization limit is 5mcg/m3.

These particles, which are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, can cause asthma, respiratory inflammation and even promote cancers.

Pollutant two: PM10

The reading for PM10 at this address is 14.76mcg/m3. The limit is 15mcg/m3.

PM10 can cause wheezing, bronchitis and reduce lung development.

Pollutant three: NO2

The reading for N02 at this address is 12.04mcg/m3. The limit is 10mcg/m3.

Long term exposure to even low levels of this toxic gas increases mortality rates and contributes to the development of asthma, and other respiratory issues.

Very interesting. idling traffic..