Building firm is latest to threaten council with ombudsman (From Warrington Guardian)

Building firm is latest to threaten council with ombudsman

A SMALL Warrington construction company is threatening to take the borough's planning chiefs to the Local Government Ombudsman.

Heathfield Builders will be the second group to report the council over failing to adequately inform them of limits on planning applications. Two weeks ago, Anthony Shay, of Great Sankey, was complaining to the ombudsman for the same reason. The Penketh-based builders waited more than four months to be told their application for one detached and two semi-detached homes between 40 and 50 Southdale, Penketh, was unacceptable.

A spokesman for the company said: "It has taken four months and cost us £440 to be given a piece of A4 paper they could have given us before we put our application in."

John Groves, borough council development control manager, said: "The council provides every opportunity for potential developers to explore the likely response to a planning application before it is submitted.

"There is no benefit to the council to receive applications which it will almost certainly refuse. If an application is likely to be considered to be contrary to a policy a potential applicant will be advised accordingly."