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FJ Morris are amending plans for Concept Park/Kirby barns .

October 3rd 2007

Update: South Northants Council has written to inform us that the Plans for Concept Park have been withdrawn. I understand that the owners of the building, FJ Morris Contracting Ltd have written to local residents informing them that they are working with designers and planners to produce plans more in keeping with the village. This news is greatly welcomed.

The original story is below, but clearly this has been superceded by the news above.

September 6th 2007

Plans for a building which would have a serious visual impact on the rural nature of our village have been APPROVED (!) by the Parish Council which is meant to represent our views.

Other villagers have also complained and if you haven't yet, you have until 13th September to write to Mr Longbottom, at South Northants Council, Planning Department, Springfields, Towcester, Northants, NN12 6AE, quoting reference, S/2007/1066/P.

The people building the new barn are a company called Harris who wish to relocate their Swing & Tackle company here.

In an open letter to Planning office at South Northants Council, local resident, Paul Smith, explains his concerns:

Re: Planning Application No. S/2007/1066/P

Dear Mr. Longbottom, (open letter also published on www.puryend.co.uk)

I write with regards the above named planning request to build a modern barn in front of the old Kirby Farm barns. I wish to express my concerns in the strongest terms about these plans.

I have been to the council to view the plans and it is clear that this new barn will be a blight on the landscape. The plans show that the barn is set into small recess. This demonstrates that the architects acknowledge that the barn is not in keeping with the area, however the recess is not nearly deep enough.

I really must encourage you to actually come to the village and see for yourself. If you stand anywhere between the church and Pury End (on what is commonly known as the Warren) you will see what a detrimental impact this new barn would have on our rural idyll. I do not wish to stand in the way of progress, but equally I do believe we must protect our heritage. These barns have stood for hundreds of years, in a design in keeping with the landscape and they, and the villages deserve protection.

I am told that the Parish council approved these plans. I must say I am very surprised by this.

I enclose a photo taken from “The Warren” to show what a serious impact this barn would have. It shows that this historic view is seriously under threat. You may not be aware but archaeologists believe that Queen Boudica’s last stand against the Romans happened less than 200 yards from the barns, in the same valley. Surely this heritage needs protecting?

At the very least I would request that you force the company to lower the height of the barn significantly.

Please let me know the decision of the planning committee, plus if you approve the plans, please let me know what recourse I have to appeal the decision through the courts.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Smith

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