Letter The Stray - Only time will tell...

How can he predict it is not?

Only time will tell and then it will be too late. Any change will be the thin edge of the wedge.

He goes on to say that removing the set-up and dismantling time from the 35 days at present allowed is a change the council would like to consider.

He notes that the Christmas market would then only occupy two days rather than four.

If, for all events, set-up and dismantling time equals display time then the 35 days use of the Stray becomes 70. That is one day in five throughout the year.

The Duchy of Lancaster’s homes plan (remember they gave The Stray to Harrogate) will now go to the Planning Inspectorate, due to the council’s failure to determine the plan within the 13 weeks time limit.

That seems a long enough time for a committee to consider and unanimously reject an application. Why the delay?

Of course, as the council does not have a Local Plan, the outcome of the referral to the Planning Inspectorate may well be influenced by Government housing policy. Build more houses!

As there is a bid to protect the Pinewoods (which with Valley Gardens forms a green wedge into the centre of town) why is the council intent on selling their nurseries for housing development?

That would only compound the adverse effect of Taylor Wimpey’s 122 new houses near the Pinewoods.

John Laird

Darley