Two DNA committee members met with Councillor Suzette Nicholson again on 25 October 2012 to discuss topics related to the current status of the planning application. It appears that the application may be discussed at a Planning Committee meeting within a few weeks, though no firm date is available yet. It is not yet clear whether the Council Planning Department will recommend granting or refusing the application. Suzette is continuing to help in keeping us informed and clarifying the situation - we are all aware that little has been heard from the Council since the period for comment on the application ended last January.
What is clear is that once a date is announced, the Planning Officer's report is available, and the date for application to be decided by the Planning Committee is announced, we will have to work hard to reinforce DNA's case in the short space of time which will be available before the meeting.
Councillor Nicholson has met with and assisted the DNA from time to time since the School announced its proposals in 2011, and also (with Councillor Langhorne) attended our meetings with Hampton School, and her involvement has been very helpful.