Extremely frustrating, yes. After over two hours of presentation and debate, a split committee believed that the application was not 'minor' and that 10 new rental apartments should
not be constructed in Seaton Village (the final vote was 2-1 with the Chair abstaining on a technical ground). Frustratingly, though Planning and the Councillor's Office supported the application, neither chose to depute or make written submissions to that effect. Embarrassingly, but shrewdly politically, the Councillor even tweeted the following yesterday evening (far too late for any real effect, obviously):
View attachment 557294
There was a groundswell in support over the weekend too. While the NIMBYs went from 39 letters of opposition to 45 by cut off, the 'approve' side went from 26 letters in support to over 100 (I can't give a definite number because there are several that were sent but don't yet appear on the City's website). There are a few ways forward, but that is for the consultant team and the Green Street to decide.
Extremely frustrating stuff.