01/03/2024
In connection with the consultation leaflet posted through residents’ doors. It is understood that this group are made up of immediate neighbours of Bromham Mill and other residents.
All information with regard to the planning application is available online and the various minutes of Parish Council meetings, over several years, has the discussions and decisions taken in relation to Bromham Mill. Information has been in the broadsheet and on noticeboards and social media.
Bromham Parish Council have been sensitive to concerns of neighbours but also realise the importance of this asset and do not want to see it go into further disrepair. Bromham Parish Council worked tirelessly for a period of almost 5 years to negotiate and agree a long lease for Bromham Mill and then worked for a further 2 years on the planning application. In doing so, the Parish Council sought to make the proposals acceptable to neighbours, endeavouring to address as far as we could neighbours concerns.
Planning permission was given in January 2024, and it was voted for unanimously by the Planning Committee at Bedford Borough Council. The Parish Council are now working on sequencing the project in line with the planning consent and the conditions imposed. It is intended that further consultation will take place with the village as the project evolves. Funding for the project if agreed will come from CIL monies gained from new development in the village. N.B. if we do not spend the CIL money on this project we would have to find another as it has to be spent within 5 years or we give it back to the developers.
The plan is for the coffee shop to move into the front barn (the current tenant has worked with the Parish Council in terms of the layout), the mill is re-established as a museum and art gallery, and the Mill House and original stables will house small business. The plan also includes 6 new small business pods at the rear but this will only be developed if there is a sound business case and a good level of interest
The Parish Council has a lease for 100 years and needs to make the site work with proper regard to generating revenue from compatible uses. Any business tenant must, therefore, be sympathetic to the surroundings and, of course, the impact on neighbours will be considered i.e. noise levels etc and any activities are regulated by a premises licence and planning conditions.
The proposals do involve the careful relocation of the badgers; they are in the centre of the mill site – this has always been the case, as evidenced in the minutes, but the relocation will happen properly in line with the requirements of the planning consent and conditions.
It is rather disappointing that after the considerable efforts and progress made to date residents feel it necessary to create this action group. That said, the Parish Council is keen to better understand their concerns and will always ensure that, as far as is possible, their reasonable views help inform the next steps
