Inquiry adjournment due to "cock-up not conspiracy"

After the inquiry opened at West Berkshire's Council Chamber at 10am today, inspector Alan Beckett, who is overseeing the inquiry, was informed by several of around 20 objectors at the inquiry that details submitted with West Berkshire Council’s planning application for the 23-hectare site had recently been amended.
The new details - which Mr Beckett said he himself had only noticed this morning - included increasing the amount of fencing, from an original 3,158m specified in a September 2011 application, to a total 4,032m and a reduction of the amount of gates allowing access onto the common, from 17, to 14.
Lana Wood, a barrister speaking on behalf of the council, said: “What appears to be a conspiracy theory is just a cock-up.”
Objectors then pressed for the four-day inquiry to be adjourned, after pointing out a public consultation on the issue prior to the inquiry had been rendered ineffective as members of the public were oblivious to these changes and had not had chance to comment on them.
Objectors also pointed out there were ongoing issues on commoner’s rights, which were currently part of a legal process and awaited resolution.
Summing up, Mr Beckett said that in the interim West Berkshire Council must post notices on the common and in the press informing the public about the proposals, and in particular details of the current plans, to enable the general public to see where the fencing would be erected.
”Then they can make their views known,” said Mr Beckett, adding: “We may find other objections come in.”
The inquiry was adjourned until Tuesday, January 15 and is set to last four days at a venue close to Padworth Common but which yet to be arranged.
For more see next Thursday's edition of Newbury Weekly News.
Pictured: Objectors at Padworth Common earlier this year.