13 August 06
The Asda Application May Be Deferred Until September
The following is taken from the Agenda for the Planning Committee of Highland Council for 16 August 2006
Head of Planning Recommends A Deferment Until September

Development Control
8. Erection of Class 1 Retail Foodstore, Petrol Filling Station, Associated Car Parking, Landscaping, Access Road and Roundabout; Servicing; Playing Field Provision and Associated Community Facilities and Car Parking in Outline at Pennyland Farm, Thurso, Caithness (06/00038/OUTCA)

At its special meeting on 26 June 2006 the Caithness Planning, Europe, Development and Tourism Committee refused Planning Permission for the above development, against the recommendation of the Director of Planning and Development.

The following Notice of Review was received:
�We wish to rescind the decision of the Caithness Area Planning Committee of 26th June to refuse Outline Planning Permission for the erection of a Class 1 foodstore, petrol filling station, associated car parking, landscaping, access road and roundabout, servicing, playing field provision and associated community facilities at Pennyland Farm, Thurso, Caithness and substitute the recommendation for approval with conditions proposed by the Area Planning Officer.

Signed:
Mr A I MacDonald, Mr W N Fernie, Mr D Flear, Mr R Durham, Mr J H Green, Mr W Fulton, Mr R W Barclay, Mr D Allan.�

There is circulated Report No C-P-154-06 dated 30 May 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development, previously submitted to the special meeting of the Caithness Planning, Europe, Development and Tourism Committee on 26 June 2006, together with a draft extract from the minutes of that meeting.

There is also circulated Report No PDET-56-06  dated 8 August 2006 by the Director of Planning and Development recommending that consideration of this item be deferred until the meeting of the Committee to be held on 27 September 2006.  At that time, the application will be considered under the Hearings Procedure.

5 August 06
Asda support petition now at 2860

2 August 06
For Anyone Wanting To Support Asda Planning Application
Here is who you should write to in support of any planning application -
The Planning Application Reference for Asda is 06/0038/OUTCA
And address the letters to
Mr Iain Ewart
Caithness Planning and Building Standards Manager
The Highland Council
Market Street
Wick

2 August 06
Asda Petition at 2859 at5.35pm

19 July 06
Asda Petition At 2822 at 9.15am

10 July 06
Asda Petition At 2765 at 12.20pm

7 July 06
Asda Petition At 2725 at 9.00pm

6 July 06
Asda Petition At 2695 at 9.40am

4 July 06
Asda Petition Still Climbing As total Reaches 2607
- at 2.05pm

3 July 06
Petition Stands At 2553 As at 5.25pm

3 July 06
Asda proposal to be reconsidered - BBC

Planning and Development Councillors

30 June 06
Asda Petition Still Climbing with total Standing at 2262 at 11.00am Today
The lead story in today's John O'Groat Journal - "Silent Majority" in favour of Asda" following Thurso community council meeting.  Bob Earnshaw the vice-chairman expressed his views following the meeting where there was only one dissenting voice with the majority of the committee reiterating the views of the public expressed in many places already.  Mr Earnshaw is quoted in the JOG today saying "While I can understand the objections from the immediate residents, I feel the council through the area planning committee has failed to grasp an opportunity.  As with most planning application of this nature what is rarely heard is the silent majority who overwhelmingly support this plan"   Read today's "Groat" for the full story.

29 June 06
Councillors Submitted A Notice Of Amendment On The Asda Issue Today In Inverness
Councillors Alistair Macdonald, Bill Fernie, David Flear and John Green from Caithness were today joined by Councillors from other areas in signing the application for a Notice Of Amendment to the planning application for outline planning permission which was turned down on Monday 26 June in Thurso.  The four other councillors who signed the notice of amendment were Richard Durham, Duncan Allan, Bill Fulton and Billy Barclay.  The purpose of the Notice of Amendment is to have the decision reversed at the full planning committee in Inverness on 16 August.

29 June 06
Asda Support Petition Stands At 2172 at 10.00pm
Several threads on the Message Board continue to attract entries.

28 June 06
Asda Petition Still Climbing - 1850 at 11.15pm

27 June 06
Asda Petition Signatures Soar To Over 1200 in 24 Hours
Signatures have poured onto the Asda support petition all day.  The message board is brimming with supporters comments and views of the main thread are now over 5200 again in less than 24 hours - a new record on the web site.

27 June 06
Asda Story On Press and Journal Web Site By Ian Grant
Readers can add their own comments on this story by going to the bottom of the page.  Another chance to let Scotland know how Caithness residents feel about this.

27 June 06
Online Petition To Support Asda Application Rockets on the Petition Web Site
As at 11.10am today the numbers signing the online petition is rocketing.  350 folk have signed and numbers are growing by the minute to make this one of the fastest ever petitions seen in the far north.  Since last night when this all got going over 2600 people have checked out Asda thread on the Message Board where overwhelming support and disgust at the decision is being expressed.  This is one of the fastest ever growing threads on Caithness.org as it only began last night.

27 June 06
ASDA Online petition reaches 100 at 12.15am On Tuesday

Who Voted For Or Against ASDA Outline Planning Application?
As there folk still asking who voted which way on the ASDA application at the planning committee in Thurso here it is again -
Voted Against the Application -
Thurso West - Roger Saxon
Thurso Central - Donald Mackay
Thurso East -  Tom Jackson
Wick Councillor - Graeme Smith (also used his casting vote against the application)
Voted To Accept the Planning Officers Recommendation To ACCEPT the Application
Wick West - Bill Fernie
Caithness Central - David Flear
Caithness North East - John Green
Caithness North West - Alistair Macdonald
Two Councillors Were Unavailable
Pulteneytown - Katrina MacNab
Caithness South East - William Mowat
The way the vote went
The vote was split 4 for and 4 against and chairman Councillor Graham Smith used his casting vote against the application.  The paper with the proposals can be found HERE