Investigating the Blunt's Farm 'fiasco'

8:20am Saturday 4th February 2006

AN action group is launching an investigation to "find out the truth" over the district council's handling of the Blunts Farm golf course development.

Theydon Bois and Abridge Action Group (TBAAG) will approach Epping Forest District Council to review the management of Blunts Farm and to consider whether maladministration has taken place.

TBAAG delivered a five-page letter to the parish council last week, urging it formally to request Epping Forest District Council open an "independent, full, and open" investigation into the granting of planning permission to Blunts Farm Estates and its subsequent management.

In the letter, which was accompanied by a 35-page appendix, the action group described the recent district council decision to proceed with enforcement action, in which lorries may have to return to the golf course to remove excess soil, as a "ludicrous position highlighting the absurdity of the fiasco".

It adds: "It's clear the developer has made excess profits from this exercise whilst managing to obtain favourable decisions and accommodations from the district council."

However parish council chairman John Eaton urged the group to issue the complaint themselves.

"You can do it, we cannot, and you have to take it forward because we can't do anything more other than write to the people of the district council," he said.

TBAAG spokesman Jacqueline Dodman told the Guardian on Friday: "We're disappointed that the parish council won't put forward our complaint but this won't stop us from finding out the truth."

Mrs Dodman added the group would petition Epping MP Eleanor Laing and Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield as well as complain to the district council.

Epping Forest District Council has a five-step complaints procedure, with all initial complaints being forwarded to a member of staff with day-to-day responsibility for the service concerned.

If unhappy with the reply the complainant can forward their issue to the head of service, joint chief executive and the complaints panel before submitting it to the local ombudsman for final review.

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