Save Stansted Village put up a splendid defense of Stansted’s Bentfield End conservation area and rural setting a planning inquiry last week.

I can’t heap enough praise on Simon Thompson for his forensic scrutiny of Taylor Wimpey’s 140 home proposal on the edge of what I described in my statement to the inquiry as “the remaining oasis of rural village ambience” in Stansted Mountfitchet. Mr Thompson was ably supported throughout the three days’ inquiry (5-7 November) by James Hogg. Both can be seen in the foreground of the photograph.

Simon Thompson (second right) and James Hogg (right) of Save Stansted Village put Taylor Wimpey under the microscope at Bentfield Green planning inquiry.

SSV were what’s known as Rule 6 participants in partnership with Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council. They sat alongside the district council’s own barrister and planning consultant. SSV had clearly done a thorough job in researching the weaknesses in Taylor Wimpey’s case. They brought a detailed local knowledge that the professionals could not be expected (and did not) match. This really was localism in action.

People from Stansted who spoke up against Taylor Wimpey were Cllr Geoffrey Sell, Cllr Janice Loughlin, Cllr Keith Mackman, Alison Mansfield, Cllr Joe Rich, Kenneth Gerard, Ray Woodcock and me.

We must now wait several weeks to see whether the planning inspector decides in favour of the local community and localism or in favour of the developer and rigid planning guidance.