UNHAPPY NEIGHBOURS AND RETROSPECTIVE PLANNING PERMISSIONS AT VICTORY CHURCH CWMBRAN - WELSH OUTPOURING ANTICS

I have already detailed extensively in previous articles the aberrant theology of Victory Church and the concerns for the vulnerable adults in the care of Victory Outreach. Furthermore, the lifestyles of Richard Taylor and Andrew Parsons are known to be excessive and funded by Victory Outreach UK. It has also come to my attention that the local community are also suffering at the hands of Richard Taylor and Victory Church in Cwmbran. The local community in near proximity to Victory Church are experiencing serious problems: noise issues, traffic problems and antisocial behaviour including alleged drug trafficking, drunkenness and threatening behaviour. Considering the “outpouring” meetings are taking place five nights a week until late at night, it must be an absolute nightmare for the residents of Greenforge Way. These problems have reached such a point that there have been official complaints and meetings between local residents and Torfaen County Borough Council with Councillor Elizabeth Haynes representing the residents.

Below are some of the comments I have received from the local residents:

“The pastor claims that his congregation are unemployed and on benefits and yet the car park is always full of high performance cars, brand new Jaguars etc.”

“Drug dealers have been caught and exposed behind the church in the past.”

“…..my mother will no longer walk the dog once dark because of the intimidating behaviour of their congregation.”

“Last night my mum had cause to call the police on the “church” yet again as at 11:30pm there was extremely loud singing and music from their premises that meant none of the residents nearby could get any peace.”

“The council have now been contacted regarding the noise issue so we shall wait and see what happens next . . .”

“…..it would appear to the local community that they STILL have no planning permission to run a café from the building and that everything was granted retrospectively”.

“The local council informed us residents of a speed restriction initiative that would be introduced along Greenforge Way but ONLY along the part where the church is. As you can imagine this has not gone down well with residents as the speed issues affect further up the road where houses face directly onto the road.”

“There are several other local independent councillors and ex- councillors showing as members of the congregation. This may explain how they seem to be 'above the law' when it comes to planning and permissions.”

From the very outset it appears that Taylor has ridden roughshod over the local residents and has not acted with integrity. The Change of Use to a church was sought retrospectively with no consultation or consideration given to the local community:

At the local PACT meeting residents brought up the matter of the “change of usage” for the building that now houses Victory church. Cllr Haynes did some investigation and this was the response she received from Torfaen County Borough Council:

1. Change of Use to a church - Change of use planning permission was sought retrospectively (ref. 10/P/00424). The application was submitted on 17 August 2010 and approved using officer delegated powers on 3 February 2011. A site notice was put up but no neighbour consultations undertaken.

2. Café - The café was retrospectively registered with the environmental health team in May 2012.The Café currently has no planning consent and is subject to enforcement.

3. Car Wash - The car wash planning permission was sought retrospectively (ref.11/P/00617). The application was submitted on 22 November 2011 and approved using officer delegated powers on 7 March 2013. A site notice was put up but no neighbour consultations undertaken.

4. Trees - Private landowners have responsibility for their own trees.

5. Signage – Signage does not have any approval and is also subject of current planning enforcement investigation (ref.13/ENF/193). There was previously more signage than currently exists but Neighbourhood Services have already acted on this issue insofar as it relates to highway land.

6. Consultation - Given that the neighbouring properties are on the other side of the roundabout it wouldn't be the norm to consult them directly as they do not adjoin the planning application site. The site notice is all the Authority is required to put up and that is what was done on each occasion.

Failure to obtain planning permission is commonly known as a “planning breach”. A tactic regularly used by unethical companies to get round planning permission is to apply for permissions retrospectively. Tesco is one example of a large company who have a “habit” of applying retrospectively for permissions:

http://www.nomillroadtesco.org/resources/retrospective-applications/

http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/calling_the_shots.pdf

Richard Taylor shares this unrighteous “habit” of repeatedly applying for permissions retrospectively. From a Christian perspective the underhand tactics used by big business are worldly and unrighteous, but this clearly does not bother Taylor. He will not let a little thing like Godly principles and honourable behaviour stand in the way of Victory Church and the so called “outpouring”. From a worldly point of view these tactics are wrong and unacceptable ….......... how much more should the Christian community be an example to others?

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2/12)

Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! (Psalm 106/3)

The above is very concerning indeed. Such is the blindness of those following Richard Taylor and this “outpouring” at Victory Church that it has to be spelled out that this is definitely not the way that God's people should behave. The onus is on Christians to follow the law and rules of governing bodies.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience......(Romans 13/1-5)

Where is the Christian witness to the local residents of Greenforge Way? Richard Taylor wants to take “Wales for Christ”, but he does not even treat the local residents with consideration and in a way that would honour the Lord! The way Christians go about things is critical because the end can never justify the means.

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2/12)

They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9/3)

"Dear Councillor Haynes
Thank you for your email dated 17th July in response to our consultation on a proposed road safety scheme to be implemented on a section of Greenforge Way between Springvale roundabout and the A4051 Cwmbran Drive roundabout.
Whilst it is accepted that there is no residential frontage on this section of Greenforge Way, it was identified and prioritised as being a length of road that would benefit, for the reasons stated in my original email, from the introduction of these measures and our wish to provide an ‘area wide’ consistency to the road environment/layout to motorists in this area of Cwmbran. in recent years similar type schemes have been applied to the length or sections of Henllys Way, Penylan Way, Thornhill Road, Ty Gwyn Road, Fairwater Way and others. It is also the case that the section of Greenforge Way, where the national cycle route crosses the carriageway close to the roundabout, has been highlighted by the Accident Statistic Study Group (ASSG) as an area of concern due to the number of recorded personal injury collisions occurring on Cwmbran Drive roundabout and it’s approach roads.
In terms of this section of Greenforge Way, this site was prioritised on a regional basis via the Regional Transport Consortia, using their road safety prioritisation tool and was successful in receiving grant funding. It is not the case that this section of Greenmeadow Way was being prioritised over any other section.
However, I can confirm that due to concerns raised previously over the highway layout (lane priority) and vehicular speeds along this 3 lane section of Greenforge Way, a double white lining (DWL’s) system was applied to prevent overtaking manoeuvres and give clarity of priority in both directions to motorists travelling this section of road. In addition to the DWL’s this site has for some time and continues to be, a site of mobile camera enforcement, aimed at addressing concerns over vehicular speeds.
It is felt both the above measures has and continue to have an impact on road safety on this section of Greenforge Way and there are limited additional measures, if any, other than those involving substantial engineering works to physically reduce the width or completely re-design the highway layout along this road that would significantly alter motorists behaviour. Implementing such a scheme is outside the scope of the funding currently available and even in the event of a bid being put forward to the RTC for prioritisation, as there has been no recorded personal injury collisions in the last 5 years or there are no local attractions e.g. schools on this road, such a scheme is not likely to score highly or be supported.
As such, whilst your comments are appreciated, the Authority remain of the view that the proposed scheme has been appropriately prioritised and when implemented, will have a positive impact on driver behaviour and improve road safety along this section of Greenforge Way. Therefore, it is our intention to precede with the implementation of the scheme proposals as consulted.
In term of consultation, as the proposed scheme did not directly affected those residents living on the 3 lane section of Greenforge Way, it was not felt necessary to consult them directly regarding our scheme proposals. However, as local ward member for the area, I have no objection to you sharing these proposals with any of your constituents within the ward, if you feel this is necessary.
In terms of your suggestion to convert a length of existing path into a formal designated cycle route, I will discuss this with my colleague Pat Bates who deals directly with walking and cycling schemes throughout the borough. If suitable routes are identified and deemed appropriate to be designated as a cycle route, such a proposal could be included in any future Safe Routes in Communities bids to the Welsh Government for funding.
I would also refer to other correspondence in this matter, where we have confirmed we will erect a Speed Indicator Device in the area and I hope this provides some reassurance that we are acting on concerns raised. With reference to your comment about inappropriate behaviour i.e. “………and cars are driving 3 abreast….” I will forward these comments to my colleagues in the Police, as I would suggest that this sort of behaviour is something that can only be dealt with using enforcement powers, as it is a flagrant disregard of the rules and laws associated with driving.
I trust this information is of some assistance and whilst it may not be the response you had wished for, I hoped it has clarified the Authority’s position on this matter.”

Cllr Haynes has some interesting connections with Victory Church:

Cllr Haynes promotes “Unite” at Victory Church on her Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.haynes.796?fref=ts

Cllr Haynes mother, Maggie Berry, and sister, Catherine Bonera, both attend Victory Church. Catherine Bonera calls Victory Church her “worship home”. https://twitter.com/Consultant_cwp

Anita Barnard who is a Facebook friend of Catherine Bonera and Cllr Haynes is also an attendee of Victory Church.

Another Facebook friend of Cllr Haynes is Paul Haynes, the supposed wheelchair bound man who claimed that he was miraculously “healed” (it has since emerged that he did not need a wheelchair on a permanent basis). In common with every other alleged healing at the "Welsh outpouring", Paul Haynes can provide no medical documents to support his claim. http://s4c.co.uk/clic/e_level2.shtml?series_id=510265514

Cllr Haynes has contacted me personally about this article and informed me that both Anita Barnard and Paul Haynes are on her Facebook friends list only because they are a constituents living in her ward.

Cllr Haynes was censured for breaching the Councillors' code of conduct in 2010. Both Cllr Haynes and her sister, former Greenmeadow ward councillor Catherine Lewis (aka Catherine Bonera), breached the Councillors' code of conduct in 2010 and were censured by the Ombudsman for making illegal donations to WECAN Limited of which Cllr Lewis was a director. Torfaen’s ethics and standards committee took the decision to suspend Cllr Lewis, not just for one breach, but for “significant breaches”.

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/8430632.Suspended_Torfaen_councillor_to_appeal/http://www.freepressseries.co.uk/news/8124711.Ten_Torfaen_councillors_break_code_of_conduct/http://www.ilovefairwater.com/home/news

When a local Council receives a planning application they are supposed to notify those neighbours who they think may be affected by it. However this depends on the judgement of planning officers. http://planninglawblog.blogspot.co.uk/p/how-to-object.html

If you believe that the council did something wrong in the way it went about deciding the application and that it caused you problems, then you can complain to The Local Government Ombudsman - http://www.lgo.org.uk/publications/fact-sheets/complaining-about-neighbour-planning-application/

The Local Government Ombudsman is probably the next step that the residents of Greenforge Way should take. However in view of the history I would view this route as merely the next step. The Local Government Ombudsman have a questionable history:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmcomloc/431/431vw15.htm http://local-government-ombudsman-lgo.blogspot.co.uk/ http://buddyhell.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/the-local-government-ombudsman-neither-independent-nor-impartial/

2.7 Compaints

2.7.1 Citizens can complain in the following ways:

d) To the Public Services Ombudsman about any injustice you have suffered as a result of maladministration or where you believe a Councillor or co-opted member of the Council has breached the Member’s Code of Conduct;

http://www.torfaen.gov.uk/en/Related-Documents/Democratic-Services/Councils-Constitution.pdf

Since my advice has been sought, I would suggest taking these problems to the level of MP: http://www.standbrook-guides.com/towns/information/members-of-parliament-in-cwmbran.html

If the police are suspected of not acting correctly then it should be reported (this can be done anonymously) to: https://report.sfo.gov.uk/sfo-confidential---provide-information-in-confidence.aspx

The press (but probably not local) may also be interested.

http://planninglawblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/is-planning-system-corrupt.html

http://www.standbrook-guides.com/towns/information/members-of-parliament-in-cwmbran.html

http://www.name-n-shame.co.uk/

http://www.rotten-boroughs.com/

http://www.peoples-democratic-voice.co.uk/

My prayers continue about this so called “outpouring” .

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgement, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10/26-31)

http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/