IN your report of the passing of the reserved matters application to build 150 houses on top of a working stone mine at Pickwick you record Councillor Tony Trotman as commenting “...it’s not always in our remit to refuse something when we don’t have the expertise.” This is an astonishing statement.
Councillor Trotman did have the expertise in the shape of a detailed geological report by an acknowledged expert pointing out the dangers of putting houses right over a progressive mine in terms of stability, noise and vibration.
It does not appear that Mr Trotman made any reference to this report or that he read it and took it into consideration before voting to approve this project.
It was undoubtedly within Councillor Trotman’s ‘remit’ to consider the stability and safety and environmental aspects of this proposed development.
His constituents elected him to act in the best interests of the public. If he felt he did not have the expertise he should have made sure that he did before approving this proposal.
GUY HUNGERFORD
Pickwick
Corsham
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