Beware of the leopard

I need to apologise for saying that the Marsworth Junction canal yard demolition planning application came out of the blue.

The local councillor (Mr Corry Cashman) has kindly pointed out that British Waterways gave full and due notice:

Five planning notices were placed at both the entrance to the site and in the vicinity of the site at points on the tow path, and in Watery Lane and  Church Lane on 4th November 2009. Precise details of these locations is given in the application papers.

The Parish Council discussed the matter (having suspended standing orders) at its meeting on Monday 9th November. It will formally discuss and decide on its response to the application at its next meeting on Monday 14th December.  Members of the public are welcome to attend these meetings.

Comments on the application, should you wish to formally make them, should arrive with the District Council by next Tuesday 1st December.

My point about all this is that while it might have been discussed at meetings by bureaucrats and councillors, there seems to be little consultation in advance about BW's plans.

For example, here's a search on britishwaterways.co.uk for 'marsworth'.  And a hunt on the IWA site draws a similar blank.

Update:  Wozie of NB Oakfield went walkabout at Marsworth today - the picture of the yard from the bridge (see above) is his (thanks!) and he took several others you can see on his own blog.

Time and again, boaters are left feeling like that moment in Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, when Arthur Dent opens his bedroom curtains to see the bulldozer and the smiling man from the local council.

Good lord; I've checked all my photos, I've got almost nothing showing Marsworth yard.  This photo of the junction, taken as I descended the first of the Aylesbury Canal Arm locks (the yard is on the left), is the best I can do.  Sorry.  

You might like to try Ken Kilfedder's photo on Flickr instead - it's very nice. 

Comments

[iain smith]

Reference boats and cruising 'valerie' Aylesbury arm without a boat for some imfo and pictures.

[Andrew Denny]

Halfie, sorry, I was reediting the post to add the bit about the Flickr photo and my own photo vanished from the editor.  Have fixed it.   

[Halfie]

When you say "This photo ... is the best I can do" did you mean to include said photo or link to it? (Neither seems to have happened.)