It could take months before we know the outcome of the planning application submitted by Mactaggart & Mickel over 6 months ago. 

The Planning Officer, Andrew McIlraith tells us this week that the Drainage Impact Report has been sent for comment to the Councils engineers, Scottish Water and SEPA - so far no response. The Council will not, he says, accept the Mactaggart & Mickel statement that Scottish Water has no objection without Mactaggart & Mickel demonstrating with flow information etc that the foul sewer connection will be satisfactory.   Because of workload the Council engineers are unlikely to respond for another 3 weeks, the planners will then contact Mactaggart & Mickel to tell them what they want. At first he suggested that the application could at the earliest go to the June committee but on reflection thought that it could run the summer unless they decided to recommend it for refusal. 

SEPA’s Head of Environmental Protection & Improvement, Robert Kerr, tells us: 

With regard to the drainage impact assessment, we have recently received a copy from the Council and what Andrew McIlwraith has advised you in respect of it's content is correct.  The major portion of the assessments relates to the SUDS design and outlet arrangements with only a brief reference to the foul drainage proposal.  In the assessment, this refers to the correspondence between Scottish Water and T Lawrie & Partners, dated 6th February, where it is quoted that "there is sufficient capacity in the Erskine Waste Water Treatment Works and the local network to service the demands from your development.  Foul only flows will be accepted to the combined sewer.  Surface water must be drained on a totally separate system direct to a storm water sewer or local water course." A

t the present time we have not received any update from SW in respect of the surcharging problem and in the circumstances we could only advise the Council that it would be inappropriate for a connection to the foul sewer be made until the surcharging of the sewerage system is remedied. 

You may be aware that we (SEPA) have not been consulted on the original; application and have only been sent a copy of the drainage impact assessment in respect of the proposed development at Quarry Brae and Manse Crescent.  We will be replying to the Drainage Impact Assessment in due course.  We are also contacting Scottish Water requesting an update on their investigation into the surcharging problem.” 

HALL says: 

Just what is the point in asking SEPA and Scottish Water to comment on a Drainage assessment which the Council aren’t going to accept?  

Why waste everybodies’ time? 

It just gives credibility to the thought that the planning authority is bending over backwards to help the applicant.  David Martin must be spitting blood at yet another case where his officers are giving the wrong impression.   

We think the situation is absurd.  Mactaggart & Mickel’s application is plainly not acceptable to the planning authority.  

They have had over six months, involving negotiations with the planning authority, to submit another one.  

Nobody seems to know what the next move is going to be.  

The current so called revisals are substantially different to the scheme the Council thought they were gong to get.  

There is no justification for yet more private housing. 

Planning Advice Note 40 has something to say on this situation.  Under article 71 it says that where the substance of the proposal has been altered the application should be withdrawn and a revised application submitted.  It also says that the planning authority should be prepared to refuse permission rather than wait indefinitely for amendments. 

What more reason does the planning authority need to allow them to refuse the application rather than wait for further information indefinitely? 

Maybe the planning authority is afraid of an appeal.

What a mess.