Hi Martin This is certainly as important a matter as Marsworth. If this was posted previously on this forum or (any of my other haunts) last November when the application was made then I for one didn't spot it. I have to say I don't read you blog so didn't spot it there last week.
The point about Marsworth was that lots of people spotted the application either as consultees or by monitoring the relevant local authority website so we were pretty effectively mobilised to deal with it. I for one would have done exactly the same if I'd known about Burscough in time. If as you suggest it wasn't public knowledge until you spotted the BW notice then we as a community of people who care about waterways heritage need to work out what we collectively can do to make sure that no more heritage is lost by the back door as this seems to have been. I can say with a degree of confidence that this could not have happened unnoticed in Staffordshire, Cheshire or the West Midlands as there are people (including me) who keep an eye on planning applications in all those areas. I had assumed that this was the case everywhere else so the only way that stuff could be lost unexpectedly was when it "fell down" (or was filled in the recent case of a BCN basin) on a Sunday without permission. Evidently it isn't the same in that area :( It sounds to me like BW should respond on the matter of consultation and I'm glad you brought it to the BWAF table for that reason. I know they sold the site in 2008 but does that mean they don't have to make sure that proper consultation has taken place? It's an interesting question and not one I'm sure I know the answer to. Thanks for raising the matter, even if we're to late to save this particular building. Incidentally, noting Steve's comments about it still being open to consultation, I saw that but it also said it went to committee in November so I suspect they've just failed to update part of the site. Is there anyone in that part of the world who can confirm the current situation one way or the other? Steve
