I FELT compelled to write to you after alighting the train at Warrington Central Station to be confronted with a most garish sight.

The side of the Grade-II listed former coaching house; The King’s Head which, according to an article in your publication, is at the centre of a planning row, has been rendered in bright orange!

My understanding of the current dispute is that the owners of the Kings Head erected a conservatory (a temporary structure) at the back of the property.

Apparently, it is attached to the back of a previous extension built in the nineties and does not infringe upon the listed portion of the property, which only applies to the front aspect.

I have frequented the establishment on a number of occasions recently and I am impressed by the improvements that have been made, especially the increased capacity that the conservatory has facilitated.

And during the last Super League season, I considered the place a very accommodating and safe environment in which to enjoy a pre-match drink with my wife and daughter.

You can imagine therefore my shock when confronted with this horrendous new render.

I went inside to ask why this has been allowed and I was told that the planning department had allowed this modern render to be applied to the property, despite English Heritage requesting that a more appropriate lime render be used.

How typical is this of our planning committee?

The conservatory, which in my opinion no way infringes upon the building’s character and is undoubtedly a community asset, as well as the fact that it cannot be seen from outside the building, is being opposed by them.

Yet they have no problem with allowing this terrible render to be applied to the building that can be seen by all and sundry and any visitors to the town!

ADAM REGAN Warrington