CONFLICT between next door neighbours over a home extension took to the floor of Thurrock Council on Thursday.
Now members of the Council’s planning committee have voted to visit the scene of the dispute, in Victoria Avenue, Grays.
Mr Neil Donovan, who lives at number 76, has applied for permission to build the extension – and has already started building work, despite not having permission.
A large brick wall has already gone up, prompting a protest from neighbour Ken Gaylor who took to the chamber to express his opposition.
In a detailed and impassioned plea to councillors he told how he had no objection to a previous glass conservatory on the back of his neighbour’s house but he now faced living against a brick wall.
Mr Donovan had previously applied for an extension which had been turned down, but he had already erected one of its walls. That angered Mr Gayler, who said: “There are a number of anomalies in this which makes a mockery of the system.
“The previous conservatory was a glazed structure, but for the past six months now we have been faced with a brick wall which is an imposing structure.”
He said he was angry and disappointed that no action had been taken against the wall, which had been built without planning permission, saying: “There is no policing of these actions, which creates controversy.”
A planning officer, who had recommended approval of Mr Donovan’s latest proposal, accepted that the wall was illegal, but that enforcement action hadn’t taken place because officers wanted to “work with the applicant to find a solution.”
Councillors are to visit the site before making a decision.
This is a joke item isn’t it?? how the hell can someone apply for planning permission and then build the structure before it is passed and then have a planning officer just wash over this illegal structure by saying they want to discuss it with the applicant.
TBC planning committee are a joke, if this was built prior to approval then the structure must be taken down until such time that the plans have been completley approved, TBC Planning Department need to start growing a pair of kahunas and start enforcing the laws that they are there to protect rather than being lillylivered about everything.
The crazy world of Thurrock planning.
I just wonder why the council are playing it softly,softly.
Who is Mr Donovan related to?, is he deemed a threat because he has ignored protocol, he so obviously has no respect for his neighbours, or is he just ignorant to the fact he has broken planning laws.
For me it doesn’t matter what the issues are, KNOCK IT DOWN NOW, then planning officers should reconsider the planning application, remembering the obtrusion of his neighbours, there are probably light issues in the neighbouring property, if the offending wall is solid, it may not be best suited.
Makes you laugh doesn’t it, these same people turned down an application for 95 properties on the old GAFC football ground, as the project was not in keeping with the plans for our town centre, asking for a revision,so its not an issue in Victoria Avenue then!
With the Planning problems over the last few years very much to the fore I am amazed as Lambo and Confused are at the antics of planning dept.
Sadly it would appear that if you build something without permission on balance in Thurrock you will get away with it.
If you build it…they won’t come.
No my neighbour is a joke. I had full planning permission before i started the build and stopped building works to make an amendment as i wasn’t going to build the second storey extension. I followed full planning procedure and went through the amendment process. Unfortunately i live next door to a bored bust body.