Previous post; Emlyn's Barn Take 2
Incredibly, the Planning Committee have decided to go on another site visit to view Council leader Emlyn Dole's barn conversion before making a decision.
One of the main reasons put forward for this was the interest from the press...obviously a very important material planning consideration.
Equally remarkable was that the 'sensitive' identity of the applicant was also put forward as a reason.
The application has been effectively kicked into the long grass in the hope that interest will wane and the spotlight move elsewhere.
As a reminder, this was originally recommended for refusal last year after enforcement action revealed that the original permission granted in 2012 had not been complied with. The committee then went on a site visit and approved the application contrary to the officers recommendation.
Site visits often have that 'effect'...
This retrospective application today (as I explained in my previous post) was again recommended for refusal, this time on different policy grounds.
The site visit is entirely unnecessary and is a deliberate move to stall the decision. Cllr Dole has continued to develop the site without the proper planning approval, flagrantly ignoring planning rules.
So much for setting an example as Council leader.
I also wonder whether each stage has been passed by building regs, and could it have been legally inspected anyway, without planning permission being issued?
According to the Llanelli Herald, and as their pictures show, the builders were there yesterday, if they crack on it should be all finished before the planning committee bus turns up for a repeat performance in a few weeks time.
They will then return to the Chamber where no doubt the site visit will be as 'effective' as it was last time.
I suppose the position of council leader does have a few perks after all.
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Incredibly, the Planning Committee have decided to go on another site visit to view Council leader Emlyn Dole's barn conversion before making a decision.
One of the main reasons put forward for this was the interest from the press...obviously a very important material planning consideration.
Equally remarkable was that the 'sensitive' identity of the applicant was also put forward as a reason.
The application has been effectively kicked into the long grass in the hope that interest will wane and the spotlight move elsewhere.
As a reminder, this was originally recommended for refusal last year after enforcement action revealed that the original permission granted in 2012 had not been complied with. The committee then went on a site visit and approved the application contrary to the officers recommendation.
Site visits often have that 'effect'...
This retrospective application today (as I explained in my previous post) was again recommended for refusal, this time on different policy grounds.
The site visit is entirely unnecessary and is a deliberate move to stall the decision. Cllr Dole has continued to develop the site without the proper planning approval, flagrantly ignoring planning rules.
So much for setting an example as Council leader.
I also wonder whether each stage has been passed by building regs, and could it have been legally inspected anyway, without planning permission being issued?
According to the Llanelli Herald, and as their pictures show, the builders were there yesterday, if they crack on it should be all finished before the planning committee bus turns up for a repeat performance in a few weeks time.
They will then return to the Chamber where no doubt the site visit will be as 'effective' as it was last time.
I suppose the position of council leader does have a few perks after all.
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| The original barn, before being demolished by Cllr Dole. |
Archived webcast now available here. This application is 2 hours 30 minutes into the meeting.