Phone 4342 2070 Fax 4342 2071

2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Medical centre gets the nod

 

Gosford Council has approved plans for a medical centre behind Radford's Amcal Chemist in West St, Umina.

The decision came in the face of a campaign by a neighbouring property owner, Mr Ed James, to prevent the development and to formalize a rear lane way for public use.

The council had earlier received a petition signed by well over 850 people supporting Mr James as well as two public submissions and a petition with 49 signatures in relation to the application.

The council decided that the owner of the land through which the laneway ran had a right to build and approved the application to do so.

Commenting on an officers' report to the council, Cr Lynne Bockholt said: "The report makes it clear that there has not been any formal rear lane access since 1989."

She said people had property rights which meant the owners had a right to build.

Mr James told Peninsula News: "Our factory has been here for over 40 years and has existing use rights dating back to 1962.

"We have no access to the property at the rear despite inaccurate information to the contrary.

"Without that access, our factory will continue to operate through and across the main street.

"The factory is above the chicken shop, not in the residential house. The factory yard is in front of the house.

"Though having been told by council that we would get rear access in good time, we expected to have it shortly after council took private property and made the lane behind the paper shop between Alfred and Bullion Sts.

"The majority of the main street properties in our block have asked in writing that council consider formalising the existing use that has served the community for over 25 years with the full knowledge of the owners.

"Council has ignored that along with other correspondence," said Mr James.

"It is becoming tiring telling this to people who have a vested interest in remaining ignorant of the facts.

"I can only hope that over the coming months something will change."

Jonathan Reichard, February 26