Planning Application

03 Febuary 2010
Type: GBC News

We have been informed that our application for change of use of the above property from a residence to a Buddhist Centre has been refused on the grounds that the Highways Department will not give their consent. As far as the house is concerned, the South Hams District Council has no objection; it is just the Highways Department that we are up against, and they are adamant in their refusal even though we have offered to restrict the number of cars to at most what it is now. The present owners have no such restriction and if they sell to a private buyer they could also have as many cars as they like coming in and out of the driveway, so their refusal doesn't really make sense to us.

What we have decided therefore is to appeal their decision because at this stage we have little to lose by doing so. That could, of course, take several months and also the property which is still on the market could be sold in the meantime.

Looking at the broader picture, therefore, we think the best thing to do is to try to find another property or a suitable combination of alternatives, and if we find something suitable before we get the results of the appeal, we think it would be better to go for the alternative rather waiting for the results of the appeal.

We wish to thank all those who wrote in support of the application — it was an impressive stack of letters and emails — and we ourselves were impressed.

We look forward to sending you more positive news in the future.

Yours in the dharma,

Richard

Richard St Ruth
Golden Buddha Centre