It can pay to complain. In the previous issue of NSS we reported on Farmington taking issue with Cherwell District Council for turning down a planning application to use Farmington stone for a development in Bracknell. The council has changed its mind and Farmington stone is to be allowed for the development.

The U-turn is a bit of an embarrassment for the council. When the Area Planning Officer, Bob Duxbury, rejected the application to use the Cotswold quarry\'s stone he complained that the Farmington stone was too yellow/brown and too large. He recommended the applicant, one Mr H Hood, use stone from a quarry at Brize Norton.

Farmington director Martin Robins complained about the decision on the basis that the stone could be produced in smaller sizes and that another house had been built in Farmington stone less than a quarter of a mile away within the previous year.

The council\'s chief executive, Mr G Handley, responded. I understand that the Area Planning Officer does not feel that the Farmington stone used for the adjacent development is particularly successful in terms of matching local stone, he wrote.

However, when NSS contacted the Area Planning Officer he admitted he was not familiar with the other development. He said he planned to go and look at it the following day.

Martin Robins had also questioned the probity of a council officer directing a planning applicant to a particular alternative quarry.

The Chief Executive said in his letter that when one stone was not considered appropriate applicants would expect an alternative to be suggested.

However, the Area Planning Officer told NSS he was not personally familiar with the quarry at Brize Norton he had recommended. He said one of his case officers had mentioned it to him. However, there is no quarry at Brize Norton.

Bob Duxbury met a representative of Farmington\'s at the site in Bucknell that was the subject of the planning application. They also visited the nearby development that had used Farmington stone.

Afterwards the council\'s Chief Executive wrote to Farmington stating that their stone would be acceptable, but a panel to indicate the quality of building would have to be approved prior to the work starting.

It was, and in a letter to the planning applicant dated 23 February the council\'s Head of Planning & Development Services wrote: I can formally confirm that the use of Farmington stone laid in the manner of the panel is satisfactory.

Farmington received the first order for the project of just over £1,000 worth of stone before the end of February.

Farmington have also belatedly received recognition from Stone Federation Great Britain for their stone\'s contribution to The Moorings, Sydney Wharf, in Bath. The project was Commended in the New Build section of the Millennium Natural Stone Awards last year but Farmington stone was not credited with having been used because the entry did not come from them.

In order to ensure they are not missed off the credits, stone suppliers should get involved in entries in the Natural Stone Awards. The next in the series of Awards will be presented in 2002.