[Russ]

When you say planning permission was sought, that indicates it had been applied for. Seeking it and discussing it around a table are 2 very different matters. Your original post made it sound like your friend had told you permission had already been applied for.

I get really annoyed when it's suggested that NPT is trying to turn everything in to flats etc. OK many have been built but they've all been done legitimately - the exception of course is the Jersey Beach Hotel but the lasting conspiracy around that was the potential developers were allegedly behind its destruction, not the council.

I hold NPT council in pretty high contempt but suggesting they're behind some sort of conspiracy? No way. Since your clarification I accept you weren't suggesting that but so many people are happy to believe that the council had been arranging the fire for weeks/months etc is just silly.

It makes no sense whatsoever for the council to destroy the borough's main money-maker. Why people are putting around rumours of underhanded tactics on the part of the council I'll never understand.