Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Mum’s anger over ‘eyesore’ extension
A Coatbridge mum has been left seething after an “eyesore” of a school extension was built directly across from her home.
Margaret Lynch says the new building at St Bartholomew’s Primary has been erected with little correspondence and no consideration from North Lanarkshire Council, upsetting several of her neighbours too.
Situated adjacent to her house on Dunvegan Avenue, the extension will be used as a nursery for children before they start school.
But Margaret, 40, is concerned the building will devalue her property, as the view from her front windows has been severely hampered.
The mum- of- two said: “It’s a total eyesore and I’m worried my house will plummet in price.
“I can see nothing from my living room now and from my bedroom I’m just looking onto a roof.
“I phoned the council when I heard about the extension and they took a note of my call and said they’d phone back, but I didn’t hear anything.
“I learned about the extension being built when I was up at the school one day but was told by staff there was nothing that could be done to oppose it.
“The only official warning I was given was a letter from the company who installed it – the day before the extension was finished.”
NLC have dismissed Margaret’s claims regarding correspondence, citing planning permission was not necessary due to the location of the building.
Education officer Paul Corrigan said: “The extension to St Bartholomew’s Primary School was identified by NLC’s education, skills and youth employment as necessary to provide early years accommodation for 15 two to three-year-old children.
“The position of the extension was chosen due to the need to keep both new nursery classrooms in close proximity to the building for staffing, security and operational reasons.
“Planning permission was not required as the extension falls under the terms of ‘permitted development.’”
However a furious Margaret insists she wants the matter personally clarified by the local authority.
She went on: “I just want some kind of proper explanation.
“I phoned and left my number several times but have had absolutely no response from them.
“This all began in March when I heard about the plans and has been a losing battle from the start.”
Margaret, who is married to husband Jason, says the extension has impacted on her family in several ways.
Her sons, aged 10 and seven, attend St Bartholomew’s and Margaret says the extension prevents her from watching her boys play at lunchtime.
She added: “Before, I was able to look up and see them in the playground but now all I can see is this extension.
“We’re planning on moving to a bigger home as we can’t extend. But I’m worried this eyesore will reduce the value of our house by thousands.
“We don’t have a back garden either so when the weather is nice the front garden is where we go to sit and enjoy ourselves.
“Now all we have to look at is this monstrosity.”