Comment - Kettering warehouse park campaign victory is perfect example of people power

A previous SWHW protest. Credit: Dan Whitney

We can only imagine the discussions inside the boardroom at Buccleuch Property when they were drawing up warehousing plans for land at Kettering’s Weekley Hall Wood.

Were they expecting some local opposition to the bid? Almost certainly.

Were they expecting the level of opposition that followed? Probably not, you’d think.

SWHW campaigners pictured after the conclusion of the planning inquiry. Credit: SWHW

And you can understand why. All too often we see people moan about planning applications in comments on our Facebook page, but we don’t always then see everybody then make these comments in official objections to the council responsible for making a decision.

It’s even more rare that we see campaigners organise tireless, fearless and meticulous efforts to stand up for the people – but that’s exactly what happened when the Save Weekley Hall Wood (SWHW) group was founded.

Let’s not forget what they were facing, too. This was a group of local people who simply wanted to save a green space that they loved. They were not planning experts – although they might be now – and they did not have deep pockets to help their fight.

It would have been a tough ask whoever they were up against, but they were taking on the development company of the Duke of Buccleuch. He is one of the UK’s biggest landowners with a reported wealth of more than £200m. Applicants Buccleuch Property employed the top-rated junior planning barrister in the country to represent them at a planning inquiry.

But whatever the SWHW group lacked in initial expertise and cash, they more than made up for it with desire, hard work and an understanding of how to galvanise their neighbours. What started out as a social media post soon became a community group with a petition – which attracted more than 24,000 signatures – and a dedicated website.

Backed by volunteers from across the political and social spectrum and led by Green Party councillor Dez Dell, they held fundraisers and marches, sold calendars and hosted community events to make sure everyone in Kettering and the surrounding area knew just how loved this wood and meadow is. Helped by members of the public, they raised more than £30,000 to make sure they were legally represented at the planning inquiry.

While the money certainly helped, what may have gone under the radar is the work by volunteers to ensure planning inspector George Baird had knowledge of the ecological value of the site. The inquiry heard that surveys submitted in a statement as part of the plan either missed or under-recorded the range of species which called it their home as they failed to follow best practice. It was, the inquiry heard, only because of the efforts and diligence of deeply concerned members of the public that the full picture was presented to the inquiry.

We’re sure the efforts of campaigners won’t stop here, with previous talk of trying to have the land designated as a country park.

Had they not battled against this planning application for more than three-and-a-half years it could quite easily have had a very different ending instead of their stunning victory.

It is a fine example of people power – and will give hope to those who are fighting other contentious planning bids in our county.