JIM WON'T FIX IT

A Peasant has commented on the previous post as follows

"The lack of visual literacy of the planners is unparalleled - just look how they have wrecked Whitsome Hill and many other places. Planning in the Borders is beyond a joke. How can this issue be progressed?"


I don't know the background to the rape of Whitsome Hill but don't generally blame the planners but their political masters and the odd rogue Councillor who forces through daft decisions-either out of sheer dimness, illiterate cussedness or following a discretely hidden agenda of his (usually) own. I hate to be a bore on the subject but a fine example of this beast is Big Dim Jim the member for Eyemouth/Coldingham and one of the three councillors for Eastern Berwickshire. I used to see him in action when I was a Huttonian by both domicile and inclination but I am still marking his card-hence yesterday's Post. And this week's Berwickshire carries yet another example of his style: moving across the Whiteadder to Foulden as you can read here

Granted Big Jim knows the area; he has been around long enough but I suspect what he understands about what or what not constitutes a an important historical remains could be inscribed on one of these new 20p pieces with something missing-an apt metaphor this. Yet he can still proudly say : "I suspect that the cottages won't be of significant importance historically."
Fortunately, in this case, he has not been able to stop the involvement of genuine experts-not that their opinion will impress him unless it is in his favour.

You will observe Dear A Peasant that (from his declaration of interests) that Mr B F is a member of the NFU (see here) and it is therefore instructive to note that most 'development' proposals put forward by a farmer or landowner (often the same difference)automatically earns his support seemingly irrespective if its merits and the views of the local community.And when the opinions of the official planning staff are also against the applicant it is all too frequent that he can get his point of view rammed through the Berwickshire Area Committee.

A Peasant : raise your sights

(Image is of a nice bit of Berwickshire just crying out for development. Get those pretty scrubby trees out of the way and a posh estate in before you can say 'next credit crunch')

Labels: . inappropriate develoment, Berwickshire Area Committee, Big Jim Fullarton, Border Planning

  ¶ 10:41 AM