Advice to Roy Pointer
Back to listEnquiry
- From
- Roy Pointer
- Date advice given
- 12 February 2015
- Enquiry type
As the examination has progressed and the ExA has managed to draw more information from the Applicant, our residents? community has experienced a growing concern and interest in what the project might entail both in size and operational duration. This has become marked with the advent of the ?so called? turbine mitigation option. Many people who had not previously registered as IPs now wish to register their objections.
Can you advise whether, if such people write to PINS, their representations will be made available to the ExA for consideration as part of the process, always providing that they are made before the closing date of 11 March?
Advice given
As you are aware the deadline for registering as an interested party in the examination closed on 23 June 1014.
The ExA can use its discretion to accept representations from parties other than registered interested parties. The ExA can and has already exercised that discretion in this case on a number of occasions, particularly in respect of deadline VIa where the ExA expressly requested views on the turbine mitigation option, paragraph 5.9 of the ExA?s letter of the 13 January refers. Whilst it is noted that a number of representations submitted for that deadline are stating their objection to the development as a whole, and may not be seen as expressly related to the mitigation option the ExA felt that accepting the representations for that deadline adhered to the Wheatcroft principles.
I would like to explain that the process for registering as an interested party is to enable people to participate in the examination as a whole. The purpose of written representations is to provide the ExA with submissions and evidence regarding issues which are important and relevant to the consideration of the application and not to solely to express an objection.
It is important to note that when parties submit their representations, consideration of the application is based on the quality of the planning issues; and from this perspective, it is unlikely that greater consideration will be given to a high number of representations from different parties who are all raising the same/similar points. It is often more beneficial for people to form groups and submit joint representations. Therefore if there are local people who have not registered as an interested party they can ask that you, as an organisation, represent them for the remaining examination period. We would strongly advise that members of the public consider carefully if they have any new evidence that should be submitted to the examination authority prior to writing to us.
There is no deadline in the examination timetable for general submissions; the next deadline for submissions is 5 March 2015 which includes provision for the following submissions:
? Comments on ExA?s revised draft DCO ? Comments on responses to ExA?s second written questions ? Comments on ExA?s RIES ? Receipt of any further information as requested ? Comments on additional representations on the merits of the Turbine Area Mitigation Option
I would like to re-emphasise that the ExA?s consideration is based on the quality of the planning issues; and there is no greater weight accorded to a high number of representations from different parties who are all raising the same/similar points, therefore should you wish to make further representation for PCBA or on behalf of members of the public you are representing on the matters listed above, these should be made to the Inspectorate by midnight on 5 March 2015.