A dangerous precedent is being set by the National Trust in Heysham to agree to a housing development on land, at now, presently protected. In a laudable attempt to acquire a section of coastline, but being unable or unwilling to reach the 'asking' price, the National Trust has agreed to a compromise; that is for the local council to agree to allow houses to be built on ten per cent of the land and the rest acquired by the National Trust at a reduced price. The land in question was the subject of a DoE public enquiry by the Planning Inspectorate on the 19 October 1992. In the summing up it was noted "...that the road is several metres higher than the southern boundary of the appeal site and accordingly good views of Morecambe bay and the lakeland hills are available over the site from this vantage point ... people frequently sit in their parked cars admiring the view which is something they cannot do further north along the coast because of ground levels and the presence of a wave deflection wall ... I also noted that the public seats had been provided ... for people to look out to sea ..." The appeal was dismissed!

This matter has reached an advanced stage and a small local interest group seems to have been involved for some time and approves of the plan, but admission to this group is not open to all.

The local planning department has confirmed that this land is part of the 'urban landscape' and as such planning permission would not be given unless 'overruled by the local planning committee'.

We would like the National Trust to withdraw from the 'deal' and allow local opinions to be more fully consulted, or other funding to be found so that we can buy the land and give it to the National Trust. We need some help.

Douglas Hurdley, Knowlys Road, Heysham

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