ON page 4 of the Craven Herald of August 1 under the headline 'Conversion proposal rejected' is an article about the planned residential conversion of an old barn on Main Street, Long Preston being refused on appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.
The reasons for refusal being that the development would harm the character and appearance of the Long Preston Conservation Area and would adversely affect the significance of non-designated heritage assets.
On page 44 there is an estate agents advert for various residential development sites. One is in Long Preston and is described as an exciting residential development opportunity on land with full planning permission for ten new build dwellings and for sale at silly money.
Taken separately what's on those two pages might not raise any eyebrows, but on the aerial photo showing the development land one can see the barn refused planning permission because it would ruin the character of the area.
The barn is literally a couple of yards the other side of the boundary dry stone wall from the exciting development land for ten new properties.
Can anyone in the planning department please explain to me why an old barn which has stood there for many years will suddenly become a cultural eyesore with a few windows and a letterbox added to it, yet a field that has never been built on and with a footpath running across the middle of it right next to this barn is an exciting prospect? Strange!.
Paul Morley
Long Preston
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