Residents could call for judicial review over Culcheth plans

Clr Chris Vobe Clr Chris Vobe

RESIDENTS are exploring a possible judicial review after plans for a detached house in the garden of a bungalow in Culcheth were approved.

The scheme on Hob Hey Lane was approved on Wednesday by members of the council’s development control committee.

But Clr Chris Vobe (LAB - Culcheth and Glazebury) said he was ‘extremely concerned’ by the way the application was handed.

He claimed that nearby neighbours had received copies of the original plans - but those plans had since been amended, and neighbours had not had the opportunity to comment on the revised documents.

He said: "Councillors were baffled as planning officers admitted that changes to this application had been made, but that no consultation with residents had taken place.

"This is a fundamental breakdown in the democratic process.

“Residents have the right, whatever their opinion, to submit comments and views on applications.”

He and parish councillor Jacqui Johnson said the height of the new house would dominate the area.

He added: “In light of a lack of proper consultation, and questions over the process, residents are now exploring a potential referral to the Local Government Ombudsman and reserve their right to seek judicial review."

Comments(3)

Muskrat says...
12:56pm Tue 19 Feb 13

This is not the first time WBC Planners have been guilty of this. The LGO report for the Marton scandal also found issues with plans being changed.
here is a link to the LGO report
http://www.lgo.org.u
k/complaint-outcomes
/planning/planning-a
rchive-2011-12/warri
ngton-bc-09-014-399/


DIRECT QUOTE FROM LGO REPORT

16. Development was to be carried out in accordance with the application and
approved plan. These records have been destroyed. Copies of the decision
notice are attached to subsequent applications for the planning permission to be
renewed. The Council has not, however, retained an approved set of plans. There
are photocopies of three sets of plans on a later file but, although they have dates
and numbers written by hand in the margin, none has the Council’s “Approved”
stamp. It cannot be known whether these are copies of the original approved
plans or copies of plans inserted on the file later to look as though they might be.

says it all really!

Karlar says...
2:08pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Cllr Chris Vobe is right to be extremely concerned we should all be when we hear:
# Lack of consultation with the residents.
# Drawings being amended but not disclosed to the residents.
# Questions over the process

These failings that have been heard so many times before, they have become the norm for our planners. Anyone trying to argue lessons have been learned by our planners, needs to have a serious look at what they done before.

When this scheme was first posted it was apparently recommended for acceptance by the officers who said it would cause no harm the local amenities.

The time for excusing this behaviour, has long passed. How can councillors or residents, accept the views of planners, who after 25 years in the job are now said to be “inexperienced” and so let off with a tap on the wrist whenever they revert to type?

Raymond Ashley says...
3:23pm Tue 19 Feb 13

These people will never learn, and in my opinion they should all be locked up and the key thrown away.30 years I have been investigating WBC from the most historic comertial property in Burtonwood
and even predicted that the Council would stitch the last FRAUD scandal up
and the did exactly that in paying a Barrister from Manchester to do just that with Tax payers money, and not a single one of them SACKED?
Raymondashley@talkta
lk.net

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree