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Una carta formal de oposición a una solicitud de licencia de obras

Nombre:Fecha:

Escribe una carta formal de oposición: indica tu legitimación, concede lo que sea razonable, expón motivos precisos y pide una acción concreta.

Objection to application HB/2291: Millers' Green

14 Linden Row, Harrowby. To: The Planning Officer, Harrowby Borough Council.

Dear Sir or Madam,

Re: Application HB/2291, proposed conversion of Millers' Green into a surface car park

I am writing to register my objection to the above application. I have lived within two hundred metres of the Green for nineteen years, and I write both as a resident and as secretary of the Linden Row Residents' Association.

I appreciate that the town centre has long suffered from congestion, and I do not dispute that additional parking would ease it to some degree. It is, however, difficult to reconcile the applicant's claim that the scheme would enhance the amenity of the area with the loss of the only open space within walking distance of two schools and a care home.

My principal concerns are as follows. First, the transport assessment submitted with the application rests on traffic counts taken during the school holidays and therefore seriously understates likely volumes at peak times. Second, the proposed access road would cross a footpath used daily by several hundred children, a risk that the assessment mentions only in passing. Finally, the loss of eleven mature trees, three of which are protected, is dismissed in a single sentence, with no commitment to replacement planting.

I would respectfully suggest that the Committee defer its decision until the applicant has submitted traffic data gathered during term time and a fuller account of the measures proposed to protect pedestrians. Should the Committee be minded to approve the scheme, I trust that a condition requiring the retention of the protected trees would be attached.

I should be grateful if you would confirm receipt of this letter and inform me of the date on which the application is to be considered, as I wish to address the Committee in person.

Yours faithfully, Nuria Castellanos, Secretary, Linden Row Residents' Association

Elige la mejor opción formal

Elige la opción más adecuada para una carta formal de oposición.

Which sentence best states the purpose of the letter?
- a) I just wanted to say I am not happy about the plan.
- b) Stop this plan right now.
- c) I am writing to register my objection to the above application.
Which sentence acknowledges the other side before objecting?
- a) I do not dispute that additional parking would ease congestion; it is, however, difficult to justify the loss of the Green.
- b) Parking is of no concern to me and never was.
- c) Everyone knows that parking is a poor excuse for destroying parks.
- d) Congestion is not a problem at all.
The assessment mentions the risk to children only ___.
- a) by passing
- b) at passing
- c) on passing
- d) in passing
It is difficult to ___ the applicant's claim with the loss of the only open space.
- a) settle
- b) reconcile
- c) compromise
- d) adjust
Which expression is closest in meaning to "Should the Committee be minded to approve the scheme"?
- a) Because the Committee must approve the scheme
- b) Unless the Committee approves the scheme
- c) If the Committee were inclined to approve the scheme
- d) Although the Committee has approved the scheme
Which request is both firm and appropriately tentative?
- a) I demand that the Committee reject the application.
- b) I would respectfully suggest that the Committee defer its decision.
- c) The Committee must defer its decision.
Which sentence is best for the final paragraph?
- a) Get back to me when you can, OK?
- b) I should be grateful if you would confirm receipt of this letter.
- c) Please do not ignore this letter like the last one.

Completa las frases formales

Escribe una palabra, o la forma entre paréntesis, para completar cada oración.

I am writing to ___ my objection to the above application.
I do not ___ that additional parking would ease congestion.
The transport assessment rests ___ traffic counts taken during the school holidays.
The counts seriously ___ likely volumes at peak times. (understate)
I trust that a condition ___ the retention of the protected trees would be attached. (require)
Should the Committee be ___ to approve the scheme, I trust that conditions would be attached.
Dear Sir or Madam, ... Yours ___,

Tarea de escritura

Un patronato que gestiona un pequeño museo local planea sustituir su sala de lectura por una cafetería. Tú usas la sala de lectura con regularidad. Escribe una carta formal al presidente del patronato, Mr Adeyemi, oponiéndote al plan. Indica quién eres, concede un punto razonable, da dos o tres motivos y pide una acción concreta.

280–340 palabras

Revisa tu texto

He usado un saludo correcto y un cierre formal que le corresponde.
He indicado el propósito de mi carta en el primer párrafo y he dicho por qué tengo derecho a opinar.
He concedido un punto razonable antes de plantear mi objeción.
He dado dos o tres motivos en un orden claro.
He pedido una acción concreta de forma cortés pero firme.
He evitado las contracciones, los signos de exclamación y el lenguaje emotivo.

Respuestas

Elige la mejor opción formal

c) I am writing to register my objection to the above application.Es el comienzo formal habitual, directo pero cortés. Los demás son informales o abruptos.
a) I do not dispute that additional parking would ease congestion; it is, however, difficult to justify the loss of the Green.Primero concede un punto justo y después plantea la objeción. Las demás opciones la desestiman o la exageran.
d) in passingIn passing es la expresión fija que significa «brevemente o sin prestar atención».
b) reconcileReconcile something with something significa «hacer coherentes dos cosas aparentemente opuestas».
c) If the Committee were inclined to approve the schemeShould + sujeto + be minded to es un condicional formal que significa «si la Comisión estuviera dispuesta a».
b) I would respectfully suggest that the Committee defer its decision.Would respectfully suggest es cortés y aun así expresa con claridad lo que quiere el autor.
b) I should be grateful if you would confirm receipt of this letter.Hace una petición cortés y práctica. Las demás son informales o acusatorias.

Completa las frases formales

register / lodge / voice / express / raise / submit / record / stateTodos estos verbos se combinan con objection en una carta formal; register y lodge son los más habituales.
dispute / deny / doubt / question / contest / challengeDo not dispute significa «aceptar como verdadero»; después la oración pasa a lo que el autor sí discute.
on / uponRest on (o upon) significa «basarse en».
understate / underestimate / understated / underestimatedUnderstate significa «presentar algo como menor de lo que es». Counts es plural, así que se usa understate, no understates (la forma de pasado understated también sirve).
requiringLa oración de participio requiring ... describe la condición.
minded / inclined / disposed / prepared / willingBe minded to, be inclined to, be disposed to y be prepared to significan todos «estar dispuesto a hacer algo».
faithfullyUna carta que empieza con Dear Sir or Madam se cierra con Yours faithfully en inglés británico.

Respuesta modelo

Dear Mr Adeyemi,

Re: Proposed conversion of the reading room into a café

I am writing to express my concern at the trust's plan to replace the museum's reading room with a café. I have used the room at least twice a week for six years, and I write as a member of the museum and as a volunteer who helps to catalogue the local archive.

I understand that the museum must find new sources of income, and I do not doubt that a café would attract additional visitors. It is, however, hard to see how the scheme can be reconciled with the trust's stated aim of promoting local history, since the reading room is the only place where the public may consult the town records and photograph collection.

My objections are threefold. First, the plans offer no alternative space for the archive, which would be placed in storage and available only by appointment. Second, the room's quiet is essential to those who work there, many of whom are elderly or students who cannot study at home. Finally, the figures quoted in the consultation paper assume that the café will be profitable within a year, but they include no allowance for the cost of refitting a listed building.

I would therefore respectfully ask that the trust postpone its decision until a full financial assessment has been published and the views of regular users have been sought. I would also suggest that the trustees consider placing the café in the former entrance hall, which is currently unused.

I should be grateful if you would acknowledge this letter and let me know when the matter will be discussed, as several readers would wish to attend.

Yours sincerely, Tobias Lindgren