City planners are not supporting my mum

I WRITE in answer to the reader’s letter dated December 28 “Communities need to be informed over plans”.

I agree, Derby City planning needs a complete overhaul.

My mother has lived all her adult life, more than 50 years, in her house.

She is 89 years young, housebound and registered disabled, after serving the Derby community as a senior nurse at the DRI, as it was back then.

For the past three years, she has endured the development at her neighbour’s house, large machinery, loud drilling, often causing her house to shake and dislodge her furniture etc, all to the detriment of her health.

A total of four planning applications have been lodged with Derby planning over that period. Three of these were after the buildings were already built, without applications or building consent/control. These structures were built after the refusal of their first application.

Derby planning were made aware of the structures being built at a very early stage and throughout, with photographs.

The most recent application, still pending decision, breaches six fundamental, planning laws. I remind readers, this structure is already built, after the planning enforcement officer failed to act.

I would ask the planning department to consider their responsibility and the fundamental reason why we have rules: I quote: “Rules are established to protect the weaker class in the society since they are at a disadvantage if such regulations are broken.

“When rules are properly set and followed, they provide a stable environment and human co-existence in a community, resulting in peace and order.”

I have repeatedly asked for a planning enforcement officer to visit the site. Their response was, “we only have one enforcement officer”. Is this true?

All the details on the above planning history can be found on the Derby City Council planning portal. Comments on the latest application can be made on the portal, prior to January 15.

My mother needs support, she is not getting it from the planning offices.

Gary Burton, by email