House problem too close to home for Connel OAP
A CONNEL woman has been left distraught after a planning mistake led to a house being built too close to her property.
Ann Colhart’s 28msq extension, which has been there for 14 years, wasn’t included in the plans and has resulted in a house being built nine metres away from her property, when guidelines state it must be at least 18.
The 71-year- old, who has lived in her home for 32 years, first became aware of the problem as plots three and four of the development to expand the village progressed.
Mrs Colhart contacted the planners at the beginning of May and work was halted as a solution was sought.
Mrs Colhart said: ‘It’s been very stressful and my privacy has been invaded. Everyone who walks in says that it [the nearest house] has to be taken down. People from the village come up to look at it and say this can’t be allowed.
‘We never had neighbour notifications about it and, even if we had, I wouldn’t have known about distance guidelines.’
Mrs Colhart now avoids being in her extension because, when she enters, she is forced to look at the housing development.
‘It’s so overpowering,’ she said.
‘This was the hub of the house. We would have meetings here and socialise, but now people are all so busy looking at that development; they just can’t believe or accept it.
‘It could have been very attractive and it gets me in such a state.
‘It should not be allowed. The most annoying bit is they keep trying to whitewash it and hope we will go away.
‘I have told them from the start the solution is to take it down. Their [the council’s] guidelines, which they say they enforce firmly, are being ne- glected. They did not show the extension, which has been here for 14 years.
‘If that had been picked up at the beginning, we would not be sitting here discussing it now.
‘They are both at fault: the planners and the developers. Part of a solution included a wall and a hedge and we thought that was another appalling suggestion.
‘I feel sorry for the people who would be moving in.’
A spokesman for Argyll and Bute Council said: ‘ The developer obtained planning permission in 2014.
‘In assessing the application, a full site assessment was not undertaken.
‘We would like to take this opportunity to apologise for this unfortunate situation and for any distress caused.
‘It is not possible to say with any certainty whether, had the proximity issue been highlighted, planning permission would have been granted, with conditions, or not.
‘The planning permission is valid. We accept we have fallen short of our own standards, as established in our local development plan, and we want to provide a remedy that is acceptable to all parties.
‘Nothing has been decided. A number of options are currently being considered, with a report set to go to the council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee in early course.
‘It would not be appropriate to go into any details on options at this time, given that they have a direct impact on third parties.
‘ We will be keeping in touch with the complainant and the developer as this matter progresses.’
Councillor Kieron Green, for Oban and Lorn, said: ‘Having visited and seen the properties affected, I fully understand the concerns that have been raised.
‘It would be helpful if all those involved in the decision-making process now could also view the site first hand to appreciate the severe and lasting impact of having two houses this close.
‘I know our planning department has admitted shortcomings which have led to this situation and I hope lessons can be learned to avoid this happening again.’