Letter: What is the point of the NPA if it isn't going to take action over a breach?

SIR – When the national park authority has admitted a breach in planning rules but then appears not to be committed to taking any further action (A&T, 4th November), it appears redundant.

Their excuse for not proceeding with the change of use of Minstead Village Shop, the Old Bakery, was that there were alternative premises to provide a similar facility.

The only reason an alternative exists, as claimed by the NPA, was the village put in considerable effort and expense in providing a temporary solution while the NPA dragged its heels.

What is the point of having a monitoring and enforcement office if breaches occur and it is left to local residents to try and rectify any loss of facility?

After all, the owner of the tearooms that burnt down a few years back was not allowed to rebuild unless commercial premises were incorporated, when alternatives did exist.

So if you want change of use of your property, it looks like you just ignore any planning breach.

Perhaps this is the new New Forest we are hearing about, to the detriment of the heritage and facilities within our villages.

J.Hadfield,
Minstead