Go-ahead for ‘shed’ outside home in spite of objections
COUNCIL planners have backed a resident applying for planning permission for ‘a shed,’ after she was accused by neighbours of making “false declarations”.
Rossendale council’s development control committee gave the go-ahead to Lois Lees’ application for a timber summerhouse in front of 15 Water Street, Whitworth.
The committee approved the proposal immediately and without further discussion.
The meeting heard the plan had received five objections, including from neighbours and also Whitworth Town Council, who had complained about impact on waste collections. Principal planning officer Lauren Ashworth added that there was one letter of support.
The planning officer’s report stated: “The objections related to the following: Concerns regarding the culvert running underneath and potential flood risk; Concerns that the summerhouse is too large
and out of keeping for area; Inadequate access arrangements; Too close to adjoining properties; False declarations made on the original application.
“A number of the objections received as part of the consultation phase related to a culvert that is thought to run under all the front gardens along Water Street. Both the Environment Agency and the LLFA (Lead Local Flood Authority) have been consulted as part of this application with no objections being received.”
Whitworth Town
Council’s objection stated: “It was resolved that council strongly object to this planning application. Members have concerns that a summer house would look out of place.
“Additionally, the refuse department have had issues collecting household waste from these properties in the past and this development would add more complications.”
Recommending the development for conditional approval, Ms Ashworth said the design was acceptable and its location would not give rise to amenity issues such as overlooking, or loss of light.
The house owner told the hearing they had been “accused of breaking the law” by objectors by not declaring that an age old culvert ran near the site. But Mrs Lees said: “We didn’t even know where the culvert is. We have never had any issues with flooding in 20 years. We have had some issues with our neighbours historically.
“The next door neighbour had no issues with the proposals. It’s not even a building; it’s a large shed.”