Council asks police to examine objections to rugby club planning application

A council has made a referral to the police amid concerns that objections to a planning application for a new sports facility may not have been made by the person whose name was registered to the objection.

Central Bedfordshire Council has received 2,742 objections to the application for a change of use of land at Sundon Road from agricultural to a facility incorporating a rugby club.

A report prepared for a meeting of the council’s development management committee today (12 February) noted that the application had undergone three rounds of consultation, which included the initial consultation and a consultation following amendments to the scheme.

The council initially received 1,526 objections as a result of the first consultation exercise. A further 634 and 565 responses were received following the reconsultation.

The report said: “However, the Council have strong reason to believe that a significant number of the objections received may not be legitimate. The Council believe that significant number of the objections received may not have been made by the person whose name is registered to the objection.

“The Council have referred this matter to the police to investigate. No investigation has yet taken place by the Police, however the Council will continue to support the Police if and when the matter is investigated.”

It added: “Notwithstanding this, it is the contents of the objections made which are considered and given weight in the determination of a planning application, not the volume or numbers of objection. Therefore, the report below acknowledges each of the responses received, and the material considerations raised are given weight in the determination of the application. As such, the volume of objections is not considered to be important and is given no weight. Weight has only been given to the contents of the responses which are summarised below and considered throughout the report.”

The planning application has been recommended for approval. The report said it was considered that the harm to the Green Belt, and other harm, is "clearly outweighed by material considerations which, when taken together in the overall balance of considerations, represent very special circumstances justifying the grant of planning permission".