Dear “Hancock, Nigel” <Nigel.Hancock@rotherham.gov.uk>
Thank you for your response.
Please inform me why the illegal signs were not required to be removed ASAP until the planning application had been received and then approved?
As far as I’m aware no such provision or offer was made to the Dalton and Whiston citizens. They were told that no planning permission had been requested, granted or approved and they should remove the offending items ASAP, and failure to do so would result in legal action against them from RMBC.
It seems to me that RMBC is treating its “friends” with a much different approach to the interpretation and enforcement of the law than it is the citizens who reside here, pay local and national taxes here, and thus bankroll you and your organisation.
Please respond to my further questions without delay.
Yours Sincerely,
Donald H. Buxton
— On Mon, 24/9/12, Hancock, Nigel <Nigel.Hancock@rotherham.gov.uk> wrote:
From: Hancock, Nigel <Nigel.Hancock@rotherham.gov.uk>
Subject: RE: N.B. UPDATE – Fw: URGENT – TAKE NOTE – Fw: Re: FW: FOI Request – 247
To: DON BUXTON, “ChiefExecutive” <ChiefExecutive@rotherham.gov.uk>, “Akhtar, Jahangir” <Jahangir.Akhtar@rotherham.gov.uk>
Cc: “Mower, Karen” <Karen.Mower@rotherham.gov.uk>, “FreedomofInformation” <Freedomofinformation@rotherham.gov.uk>, “Herring, Luke” <Luke.Herring@rotherham.gov.uk>
Date: Monday, 24 September, 2012, 7:33
Dear Mr Buxton,
I can confirm that an application for advertisement consent has been submitted (RB2012/1399) and is currently being checked to ensure that all the information that we require is there.
I will ensure that you are notified once the application has been validated.
Kind regards
Nigel Hancock
Development Manager – North
Development Management
Planning and Regeneration
Environment & Development Services
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
From: DON BUXTON
Sent: 23 September 2012 16:20
To: Hancock, Nigel; ChiefExecutive; Akhtar, Jahangir
Subject: N.B. UPDATE – Fw: URGENT – TAKE NOTE – Fw: Re: FW: FOI Request – 247
Dear “NigelHancock” <Nigel.Hancock@rotherham.gov.uk>
cc – chiefexecutive@rotherham.gov.uk Jahangir.Akhtar@rotherham.gov.uk
Further to my e-mail to you of 3 September (see attached + Photo0001) in which I updated you to the fact that RMBC’s request to MyPlace management to remove the illegal advertising from the side of their MyPlace Rotherham had thus far been ignored, I am now attaching a further x3 photos of the same building/location taken today on ?23 ?September ?2012, ??15:05:58 which clearly show the illegal signage to be still attached to the building in clear contravention of RMBC planning regulations.
I am now seriously concerned that RMBC may bring our country’s laws into disrepute by an apparent lack of willingness to enforce our democratic laws with the same vigour as that which was eagerly and harshly enforced against the two citizens of Dalton and Whiston when they infringed planning regulations.
It surely cannot be right in a supposed democracy that two citizens in Whiston and Dalton have the full weight of the law directed at them to ensure compliance with the law, and yet the MyPlace Rotherham seems to be enjoying a softly-softly old-boy-network approach from those tasked with the enforcement of our planning laws.
Please inform me as a matter of urgency what your department has done about this matter thus far, and what further steps you intend to take to categorically ensure the removal of the signage until such time as the appropriate planning application has been received and approved by RMBC.
Yours Sincerely,
Donald H. Buxton