Hayle Mill

An appeal has been submitted to the UK Planning Inspectorate because
Maidstone Borough Council have failed to reach a decision on the
planning application submitted in August 2003. The Council had a
statutory responsibility to make a decision within 8 weeks but had
not done so after 20 weeks. This is despite over a year's
discussions before the planning application was submitted, despite
the fact that Hayle Mill is listed as Priority A on English
Heritage's Buildings at Risk Register and despite the fire that
destroyed Hayle Mill House in June and which could have devastated
the whole Mill.

Livesey have produced a very ingenious, realistic and
architecturally sound solution to the many problems of converting a
complex building made largely from timber. If you would like more
details, please email me at simongreen [at] aol__com.

The objectors are back out in force and it is worth remembering that
one of their leaders said, when the last application was in, that
the best thing to happen to the Mill would be for it to "melt into
the landscape like other mills in the valley that have disappeared".
He did not explain that this really meant letting it collapse or
burn down. They encouraged people to write in to oppose the
application. I am therefore urging you to support the application by
writing to the Planning Inspector and please feel free to forward
this email to anyone who you feel might like to do so as well.

If you would like to help please write immediately in triplicate to:

    The Planning Inspectorate
    Room 3/07 Kite Wing
    Temple Quay House
    2 The Square
    Temple Quay
    Bristol BS1 6PN

Your letter should arrive no later than January 17, 2004.

Please start your letter:

   "REFERENCE APP/U2235/A/03/1134984 AND APP/U2235/E/03/1134283
    HAYLE MILL, MAIDSTONE

   "I am writing to support the above application for the
    restoration and conversion of Hayle Mill." (or similar wording
    making it unambiguous that you are a supporter).

Formality and logic go down well in letters to planners. Explain who
you are and why you are interested in Hayle Mill. You may like to
mention that despite the best efforts of the family the Mill has
been waiting for restoration for 16 years since 1987 and as a result
has been deteriorating and in particular has been dreadfully robbed,
vandalised and damaged by arson since the last application was
rejected in 2000. A variety of other proposed uses have been
explored and been found unviable. The possibility of only converting
parts of the Mill without any "enabling" replacement build (taking
up less ground area than the ugly modern buildings being removed)
does not stack up financially despite misguided statements to the
contrary and the Heritage Lottery Fund have told the objectors that
they would not provide any grant aid. P J Livesey specialise
entirely in restoring historic buildings ranging from mills to
mansions and hospitals. You may want to emphasise the need for the
Mill to be looked after by a company with this level of experience,
capability and commitment.

NB If you have already written to Maidstone Borough Council, your
letter should have been sent on to the Planning Inspector. You
should also get a letter from the Council saying this. You can of
course write to the Inspector direct, particularly if you have any
extra points to make.

I would appreciate a copy of whatever you send in so that we have a
picture of the support and be assured it will finish up in our
wonderful archive collection.

Although it is disappointing that yet again the local council have
failed to deal with this building promptly and properly, we are
confident that the Planning Inspector--who will hold  a Public
Enquiry in early 2004--will bring a high level of professionalism
and objectivity to the careful consideration of the application.

Any support that you, your friends and colleagues can provide will
be greatly appreciated. Hayle Mill is running out of time,
particularly in light of the recent loss of the house to the fire. A
key feature of the plans is of course to reconstruct the house to
its former glory.

Simon Barcham Green


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 17:48
                Distributed: Tuesday, December 30, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-17-48-008
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