I BELIEVE that the general public needs to be aware that Barrett's have submitted an appeal against the Forest of Dean District Council's of the planning application for some 110 houses in Sedbury which has been refused twice.

The appeal is to be conducted by public inquiry procedure. The Planning Inspectorate Reference is: APP/P1615/A/14/2220590.

If you wish to make any further representations – whether you did initially or not – concerning this appeal, then three copies should be sent by post to the Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN, by August 12 or email your representation to   melanie. [email protected]">[email protected] quoting the reference number. The procedure for the appeal process can be found at http://www.planningportal.gov.uk">www.planningportal.gov.uk

Following the second refusal to grant planning consent for the houses, we thought it would be interesting to find out the costs incurred  in obtaining Counsel's advice which was mentioned by the group leader planning at the planning meeting, and submitted a Freedom of Information request.

The costs were £900. (feel free to spend our Council Tax like Monopoly money, if you will).

It subsequently transpired that the Counsel's advice did not contain any new evidence to support the second presentation of the planning application to the planning committee.

We asked for a copy of Counsel's   advice, and also for the questions which the district council had submitted to Counsel.

Both were refused citing professional legal   privilege. Perhaps the recent revelations and a slapped wrist by the Judiciary may persuade the planners to adhere to their very own Core Strategy procedures and to administer them accordingly.

– John Powell, Sedbury.