Oh my goodness, once again Gerry appears in the local newspaper which has re published an article from 15 years ago in its look-back section this week. It reports on an article at the time when an application was made for a 26 seater restaurant and a new house. The article ran with the objection of the then Dalkeith and District Community Council, that this application was "taste-less" being right next door to a cemetery. The wonders of the press. We have the original article and it has been correctly quoted some 15 years later. But what was applied for 15 years previously? well the press article is economical with the detail.
An application was lodged for the inclusion of dining facilites in the cemetery lodge cottage showing a potential layout and a proposed change of use. The number of seats could be as many as 26 if all rooms could be utilised to their full potential. To make a change of use would mean that the cottage would no longer be residential and that was never the desire and therefore this application was withdrawn almost as quickly as it was proposed. Permission was very soon after given to operate the cottage as a dining facility on an limited basis; 1 table for 12 people operating 3 days per week with no change of use. This is what was implemented and it is still running today. I wonder how many other small businesses are in operation some 15 years later. Well done G.
But what about the house? wasn't that going to be a new house for a 26 seater restaurant I hear you ask?
Well in 1995/96 we applied in outline only, for a house in the garden ground opposite the cottage and tower. This was an application for a possible home for my mother since we were keen to have her live close by. She died 6 years ago now and her final years were in a house in Ironmills Road that was just perfect for her. I think she didn't really want to be too close to Gerry and I for fear that she would invade our privacy. However, being so close by in Ironmills, she was a regular visitor to our house and was pretty adept at peeling tatties and concasse of tomato. She loved the tower and all the activity and nonsense (mainly from Gerry - why does that not surprise you?)
Just to prove I am not making up this up to distract from the newspaper story, I blogged something last year when I had no reason to know that a local newspaper would re run a story that might send the current batch of complainers to say "I told you so". Since some are convinced that our new house is in fact a restaurant in disguise. Actually - what a good idea, maybe we should re apply now and that would save Gerry teetering across the road with armfuls of crockery; one of the many bizarre statements on the planning system regarding objections to a fence, a store/sitting out area, steps and path widening.
Extract From Last Year
A wooden house in a woodland. The Planning Story.
When we bought a water tower my mum was living on her own in Moredun. What about living next door to us in the cottage? we asked, but she declined. Maybe it was just as well. But as time progressed we thought about building on the site of the cottage drying green and submitted a tentative outline application in 1996 as a possible home for my mum. Not enough detail and insufficient space to build, came back the reply along with the usual host of policy references.
Well in 1995/96 we applied in outline only, for a house in the garden ground opposite the cottage and tower. This was an application for a possible home for my mother since we were keen to have her live close by. She died 6 years ago now and her final years were in a house in Ironmills Road that was just perfect for her. I think she didn't really want to be too close to Gerry and I for fear that she would invade our privacy. However, being so close by in Ironmills, she was a regular visitor to our house and was pretty adept at peeling tatties and concasse of tomato. She loved the tower and all the activity and nonsense (mainly from Gerry - why does that not surprise you?)
Just to prove I am not making up this up to distract from the newspaper story, I blogged something last year when I had no reason to know that a local newspaper would re run a story that might send the current batch of complainers to say "I told you so". Since some are convinced that our new house is in fact a restaurant in disguise. Actually - what a good idea, maybe we should re apply now and that would save Gerry teetering across the road with armfuls of crockery; one of the many bizarre statements on the planning system regarding objections to a fence, a store/sitting out area, steps and path widening.
Extract From Last Year
A wooden house in a woodland. The Planning Story.
When we bought a water tower my mum was living on her own in Moredun. What about living next door to us in the cottage? we asked, but she declined. Maybe it was just as well. But as time progressed we thought about building on the site of the cottage drying green and submitted a tentative outline application in 1996 as a possible home for my mum. Not enough detail and insufficient space to build, came back the reply along with the usual host of policy references.
No comments:
Post a Comment