A few posts up the page, Im no longer a NIMBY but now Im a NIABY
.Not really
.Ive already said that Im broadly in favour of electrification throughout the whole UK rail network
.Ah well at least I wont ever be accused of being a NIMBYSIDGAF I hope
.
I have been asked several times about what I mean by reference to NRs lack of Social Responsibility
.Maybe a quick recap and timeline of NRs approach and lack of due process to this Project in relation to the AONBs might explain
.
NR produced their first Environmental Statement Volume 1 in October 2012, with supplementary Statements following over the next few months
.In relation to the AONB, the Environmental Statement Volume 2 South Oxfordshire District Council ( SODC ) was released in December 2012 and Environmental Statement Volume 1B South Oxfordshire District Council ( SODC ) in January 2013. All three documents included identification and assessment of environmentally sensitive areas in the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs AONBs which would be affected by the Project.
There then followed some basic consultations between NR and SODC and other affected Parish Councils during 2013 and early 2014, but as the final Electrification Design Plan was not released until December 2014, the consultations resulted in SODC and Parish Councils being required to give consent through Schedule 2 Part 11, etc, etc without even knowing exactly what they were consenting to. The date December 2014 is particularly strange, as NR started tree clearing and the first piling works in the Goring Gap in 2013, and erecting the first pylons in late summer 2014. It is safe to assume, therefore, that the extent and type of pylons, gantries, etc, was known within NR but was not communicated to SODC and Parish Councils until after the works had started. This is what I mean as lack of Social Responsibility.
As part of its statutory obligations, NR was supposed to consult with the AONBs and affected Parish Councils on the extent and type of mitigation where the Project would adversely affect environmentally sensitive areas. Quite simply they failed to do so and have now admitted this in their statement released in April 2015 which included an apology for failing to do so due to In our Environmental Statement for electrification work in the area, we committed to consulting on mitigation measures at the detailed design stage. We apologise for this and are now in a position to work with the community on possible mitigation measures So NR are now prepared to start discussing possible mitigation measures almost 18 months after tree clearing and piling began, and six or eight months after the first pylons and gantries were installed. This is what I mean as lack of Social Responsibility.
The first of these promised consultations, in April 2015, was cancelled at short notice by NR as they did not wish the meeting to be attended by the public and by residents of affected communities. Meanwhile, the erection of pylons, and by now gantries, continued in the AONB without any mitigation measures having been offered by NR and discussed with the AONBs and affected communities. This is what I mean as lack of Social Responsibility.
The first Consultation ( albeit behind closed doors ) eventually took place in early May 2015, almost three years later than it should have been, and by which time, although maybe because, NR had already undertaken sufficient engineering works and tree clearing so that any meaningful mitigation in terms of types of pylons and gantries cannot be reversed. This is what I mean as lack of Social Responsibility.
Subsequent to the meeting, at which NR appeared to be surprised to learn that they have failed to meet their statutory obligations under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 ( as amended ) and under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, NR agreed to provide a revised consultation plan including proposed mitigation measures. Although received late, NR provided written replies to questions raised and discussed at the meeting. The replies stated, quite categorically, that NR had no plans to address the findings and conclusions of their own Environmental Statements, particularly in relation to the design and type of pylons and gantries to be used. Although this was no surprise, the surprise was that NR have taken this position knowing that they are required to adhere to the findings of their own Environmental Statements and change their infrastructure plan which is, in fact, a statutory requirement in an AONB. To have replied in this way, knowing that they are in breach of their statutory obligations was either deliberate obfuscation or plain stupid. This is what I mean as lack of Social Responsibility.
However, NR offered, as a potential mitigation, to carry out a retrospective tree planting programme alongside the track through the AONB when the engineering works are completed. But as this is impossible within the boundaries of the track, it would require (1) the purchase of land alongside both sides of the track, much of which is peoples gardens, and (2) it is unlikely that trees up to 60ft high can be purchased and successfully replanted even if the land is acquired, this appears to be a throwaway attempt at providing mitigation proposals. This is what I mean as lack of Social Responsibility.
A second meeting was held a few days ago. In addition to the representatives of the affected communities, the meeting was attended by the Planning Officer of the Chilterns AONB who provided evidence that NR has failed in its statutory requirements vis-à-vis the area of electrification in the AONB. This includes, amongst others, failure to hold proper consultation; failure to take account of the statutory requirements of the major environmental impact of the development within the AONB; and failure to mitigate harm to AONB landscapes on and off site. In a sudden turnaround, NR have now confirmed, in writing, that if required ( and which is understood to mean if required by Legal Ruling, presumably ) they will take remedial action in the Goring / South Stoke area So somewhat late in the day, someone inside NR has started to realise that many of NRs actions, or inactions, over the past couple of years, have been illegal and / or unethical. This is what I mean as lack of Social Responsibility.
Finally, for those of you more interested in the progress of the Project, subsequent to the June meeting, all engineering work appears to have stopped in the area between the south east of Goring to as far as the Moulsford Viaduct, with numerous unpaired pylons and gantries still lying at the side of the track waiting installation. Hopefully someone in NR has started to take their statutory responsibilities, if not Social Responsibilities, seriously, perhaps.
