Council cleared after
bitter planning row
by David Skentelbery
A BITTER planning row over the construction of a house in Windmill Lane, Appleton, resulted in Warrington Borough Council being reported to the Local Government Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman has ruled that while there were flaws in the planning process, no injustice resulted from council actions and that the complaint should be pursued no further.
During the lengthy dispute, the complainant was critical of the council and individual officers and challenged decisions at all levels in the planning service, with legal officers and with the chief executive. As a result, both the developer and the council sought advice from counsel.
Town Hall chiefs have acknowledged that some confusion was caused and that some improvements can be made. But in general they saw the Ombudsman’s decision support the council’s approach to the appraisal of the development.
The original complaint was that the council did not deal properly with the application for development of a site adjacent to the complainant’s home, that the house was not built in accordance with the original outline approval and that the council refused to take action to stop work progressing.
Planning chief John Groves said the development was controversial from the outset. Illustrative plans and details of siting were submitted to try and meet objections.
After outline permission was granted, detailed proposals were presented rather than a reserved matters application and this form of submission led to confusion – particularly about the precise siting of the dwelling.
The complainant claimed the building was closer to his property than in the outline application and that enforcement action should be taken. The council acknowledged there had been confusion but concluded the development remained within normal separation distances.
Mr Groves said the Ombudsman concluded there had been no injustice and, indeed, commented that having read the complainant’s description of the new dwelling, he was surprised on visiting the site that it was not more conspicuous or obtrusive. The Ombudsman agreed normally expected guidelines were met and that the council had acted correctly.
However there had been confusion, the Ombudsman had made recommendations to improve the process and these would be encouraged in future.
Secret garden’s final
“open day” of the year
by JOhn Hendon
THE unique Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden, at Grappenhall near Warrington, will be open to the public for the last time this year tomorrow (Sunday).
Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council – who manage the garden – say this will be the final occasion to see the garden this year, although it is hoped to open it more frequently in the future.
The Victorian garden lay neglected for 20 years but has now been restored to something like its former glory.
Extending to four acres, the garden is all that remains of Grappenhall Heys, a large country house built by banker Thomas Parr in 1830. The house was demolished in 1975 and the Walled Garden lay largely neglected until 1995 when restoration work was started by English Partnerships.
In April this year the garden was taken over by Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council, along with a “dowry” to maintain it.
The Walled Garden consists of a working kitchen garden and an ornamental pleasure garden, divided by a yew hedge and both enclosed within a continuous sandstone wall.
The kitchen garden is used by the Warrington Organic and Wildlife Gardening Society who maintain it in Victorian style.
The pleasure garden has three ponds with interesting stone structures and aquatic plants.
Developer loses fight
over garden buildings
by John Hendon
A PROPERTY developer who won the right to extend his garden into adjoining Green Belt land at Thelwall, near Warrington, has lost a battle for the right to erect new buildings on it.
Brian Foden – boss of Warrington-based Briden Construction – appealed against a planning condition which removed permitted development rights from the land adjoining his home at Barondale Grange, in Stockport Road, Thelwall.
But a Government-appointed inspector has dismissed his appeal.
He ruled that planning consent to change the use of the land to residential garden would be inappropriate without strict control over the erection of new buildings.
A spokesman for Warrington Borough Council said planning permission was granted to change the use of the land to a residential garden.
Such permissions were not usual, but in this case the land had a clear association with the dwelling, although it was not possible to establish it was lawfully part of the house.
The inspector’s decision supported the council’s approach of imposing a condition to prevent new development.
Planning permission would now be needed for any new buildings on the new area of garden and any applications would be considered taking into account impact on the openness of the Green Belt.
Police target vandals
in north of borough
by Terry Johnson
POLICE Community Action Team members are to focus on north Warrington with a searching ‘CAT-walk’ around Padgate.
Local residents will join police next Tuesday (Sept 6) in seeking out areas that have suffered from criminal damage, graffiti, litter and vandalism.
Resident groups and local councillors will then work together to try and remove the blight of anti-social behaviour.
The ‘CAT-walk’ will be led from Fearnhead Cross Community Centre by PC Sam Griffiths, at 2.00p.m.
It will be followed by a night walk of the area the following week-end.
Police spokeswoman Holly Simpson, said: “Once the ‘CAT-walk’ is completed, local residents will be invited to take part in a survey to give them a say in how their community is policed.
“The results of this survey and the findings of the area walks will be used to provide a key priority for police and partner agencies.”
Local issues will be thrashed out at a community action meeting on Monday, October 17. The public is invited to attend at the Fearnhead Community Centre at 6.30pm.
Said PC Griffiths: “It gives the chance for everyone to have their say on matters affecting Padgate”.
Warrington’s Whitecross ward was the first area in the borough to trial the Force-wide ‘CAT-walk’ initiative.
Horticultural show
CULCHETH and district Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show will be held at Newchurch Parish Hall on Saturday, September 24 from 2pm until 5pm.
Exhibits of fruit, vegetables, preserves, etc will be on show – and the society would welcome entries from non-members.
Anyone interested should contact the secretary, Mr R.A. Evans, of 3, Ellesmere Road, Culcheth or call him on 01925 766302.
